USS Bataan chosen as game site

This is a press release.

Georgetown to Play on USS Bataan in Navy-Marine Corps Classic

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University men's basketball team will play its game against Florida in the 2012 Navy-Marine Corps Classic on the USS Bataan, announced today by Alvin Brown, the major of Jacksonville, Fla., and the Navy.

Additionally, accompanying Bataan as a representational amphibious ready group (ARG) will be USS Mesa Verde (LPD 18) and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). The Hoyas play the Gators in the Navy-Marine Corps on Friday, Nov. 9, the season opener for both schools and one of the highlight events of a week in Jacksonville honoring military members and their families.

"The USS Bataan and crew will find much more than a game in Jacksonville. This is a well-earned chance for our city to embrace the national spotlight to show appreciation to the brave men and women who defend our country," said Mayor Alvin Brown. "On behalf of thousands of service members and veterans who call Jacksonville home, we are grateful to Secretary Mabus and the Department of the Navy for selecting an amphibious carrier to host the game - and for giving our city a preview of the class of ships being relocated to Mayport starting in 2013."

Department of the Navy officials say the game represents an opportunity to showcase their ships, Sailors and Marines.

"The Navy is America's Away Team; when we are on the job, we operate forward around the globe and often out of sight of the American people," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "This is a unique opportunity to showcase the Navy and Marine Corps team, and to join together to honor our veterans and active duty military. This event reaffirms the Navy's long-term partnership with the City of Jacksonville and the surrounding community."

The Bataan ARG is a representation of the group of ships Mabus announced earlier this year that will be homeported in Mayport beginning the last quarter of calendar year 2013.

The Bataan, commissioned in 1997, is 844 feet long, 106 feet wide and can hold a total of 3,200 crew members and embarked troops. The Bataan's primary purpose is to deliver up to 2,000 members of a Marine Expeditionary Unit; it received the Navy's Humanitarian Service medal for its deployment to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for providing relief to Haiti after an earthquake in 2010. The Bataan was the first Navy ship to arrive on the scene after Katrina and spent 19 days moving more than 1,600 people to safety and delivering more than 160,000 pounds of supplies. The Bataan is currently providing maritime security operations and theater security for the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Middle East.

For more information about USS Bataan, visit http://www.bataan.navy.mil/.

Sponsorship packages for the Georgetown-Florida game went on sale on July 16. The game is being held in conjunction with the Thursday, November 8 Jacksonville Jaguars football game against the Indianapolis Colts during the city's military appreciation week. To purchase your package of choice or for more information about available sponsorship opportunities, please contact the City of Jacksonville's Sport and Entertainment Office at (904) 630-3690 or visit jaxsport.net.