July 28, 2011

STANFORD, Calif.- Stanford has finalized the itinerary for its upcoming 11-day trip to Spain, which will include games to be played against world-class competition in cities such as Alicante, Barcelona and Madrid.

Highlighting the tour are games against Real Madrid, which has won a record 30 Spanish League championships and eight Euroleague Championships, and powerhouse FC Barcelona Regal, which defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in an exhibition game last October. Making the contest even more memorable, FC Barcelona Regal will be playing its first-ever game against a college team.

Stanford's opponents for the Spain trip are members of the ACB League (or Liga ACB, The Asociacion de Clubs de Baloncesto), which is considered to be the top professional league in Europe and recognized by many as the best in the world after the NBA.

The Cardinal will depart for Spain on Saturday, Sept. 3, arriving in Madrid the following day. After a brief midweek stay in Alicante, the final five days of the tour will be spent in Barcelona before returning home on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

"We are extremely excited for the opportunity to play against elite international competition while enhancing the cultural experience of our student-athletes," said Johnny Dawkins, Stanford's Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men's Basketball. "This is the perfect time for our program to make a trip like this, considering the number of returning players on our roster. Playing teams such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and will only help our young players continue to grow."

The NCAA allows teams to travel overseas once every four years. Stanford most previously toured Italy in 2007, while visiting Australia and New Zealand back in 2001.

Combined with several days of sightseeing along the way, this year's foreign tour represents a tremendous cultural experience for all involved.

Additionally, incoming freshman Chasson Randle will also join his Cardinal teammates on the trip, providing a valuable opportunity to establish chemistry early in the season.

The game scheduling and tour coordination is being handled by Anthony Travel, a sports-based travel and event management company. This summer, Anthony Travel is coordinating international basketball tours for 14 NCAA schools, scheduling over 60 games in 15 different countries.

"We are thrilled to coordinate games between an elite NCAA basketball program and the top professional clubs in the world," said Isaac Heller, International Event Manager for Anthony Travel. "This a groundbreaking moment- the first time that FC Barcelona Regal has ever played an NCAA team. The ability to play world-class clubs like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will provide incredible international exposure to Stanford."

Check back to www.gostanford.com for game and tour updates, and additional trip information.