Formerly known as the 2K Sports Classic, the Empire Classic is a collegiate basketball tournament that takes place every year in early November and is broadcast on ESPN to kick off the new basketball season. The Gazelle Group, Inc. launched the tournament in 1995 under the Atlantic City Shootout. 

The following year, the National Association of Basketball Coaches joined the American Cancer Society to rebrand the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic event. After 2012, when the tournament's proceeds went to the Wounded Warrior Project, it was no longer known as the 2K Sports Classic. 

From 2012 to 2014, the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, a college basketball tournament with proceeds going to cancer research, was played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project is the official name of the event that was formerly known simply as the "Empire Classic." On November 22, 2022, at Barclays Center, St John's won the 2022 Empire Classic, defeating Syracuse 76-69 in overtime in the championship game.

How to Buy Empire Classic Tickets

Our goal is to help you quickly and easily choose the Empire Classic event that you desire. We have designed our site with many features to allow a seamless and secure process. This page has all the event listings for Empire Classic. We have separated the nearest event at the top of the screen for ease if you are interested in a location that is not local to your search we have conveniently cataloged those below by date.

We have some fantastic filters set up at the top of the page, allowing you to curate the perfect search. If you would like to see only weekend listings, a specific date, venue, or time of day, we have you covered. There are links on the right side of this page with fantastic customer testimonials and for other popular events similar to your search.

After selecting your perfect Empire Classic event, you will go to our ticket listings page. Here you will have access to our vast seller network with up to date pricing and filters to make your search a breeze. Interactive maps with smooth scrolling and section dividers for any device will allow a seamless experience. Delivery notes and any special instructions will be noted directly beneath the desired listing. Simply click on the quantity selector and then the tickets you would like to purchase in the checkout.

In the checkout, you will be given ample time to review your Empire Classic tickets and select from the available delivery options. We have many different payment options, including all major credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. After reviewing your order details, click on the purchase button to secure your order.