Twenty-two-year-old institution will continue serving up great
food, funds for Bishop Verot Catholic High School
The Culligan City of Palms Classic may have changed venues starting in 2016, but Donny O’s Backcourt Café is coming along for the ride.
After 22 years as its host, Bishop Verot Catholic High School helped grow America’s preeminent boys’ high school basketball tournament to the point where an alternative venue would soon be necessary. The classic found a warm welcome at Florida Southwestern State College, which is expected to complete construction on the new SuncoastCredit Union Arena this fall.
Officials were determined to continue the involvement of Bishop Verot, which had been so instrumental in the success of the tournament. Many attendees and participants cannot remember a time when Donny O’s Backcourt Café was not an integral part of the tournament experience. The Culligan City of Palms Classic is pleased that this tasty institution will remain. As always, proceeds will support BishopVerot athletics.
While FSW will provide snacks and drinks inside the arena, BishopVerot booster Donny Overholser and a staff of volunteers will serve up his famous gourmet treats to help fuel the action all day long during the six-day tournament, which happens every December. The move toFSW represents a full-circle process, as its predecessor, Edison State College, was the tournament’s original host. Overholser set up his food tent when the Classic first came to Bishop Verot in 1994.
Bishop Verot Principal Dr. Denny Denison said, “For as long as Bishop Verot hosted the Classic, Donny has been there to feed the appetites and enthusiasm of players, coaches and fans. We are thrilled that he has been invited to continue this fine tradition and will represent us as this wonderful tournament continues to grow in the years ahead.”
For more information, visit www.cityofpalmsclassic.com. Culliganreturns for its fourth year as Title Sponsor, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Presenting Sponsor for the third year.
About the Culligan City of Palms Classic
Founded in 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local, holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded its scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and over the past 31 years, has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared. Classic Basketball Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing the Culligan City of Palms Classic. For more information and to sign up for the eNewsletter, visit cityofpalmsclassic.com.