ESPN extends Dick Vitale through 2027-28, launches event in his honor

ESPN announced Monday that it reached a new multi-year contract extension with Dick Vitale, keeping the legendary broadcaster with the network through the 2027-28 season. This deal will bring his tenure with ESPN to nearly 50 years.

Since joining the company in its inaugural year in 1979, Vitale has called over 1,000 college basketball games and built a legacy marked by passion, energy and excellence.

His numerous honors include induction into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Recently, he was awarded the prestigious Dean Smith Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and was recognized with the Winged Foot Award by The New York Athletic Club, introduced by former ESPN president George Bodenheimer.

Beyond broadcasting, Vitale has been a tireless advocate in the fight against childhood cancer, with his efforts through the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund helping the V Foundation award over $105 million in research grants.

In celebration of his contract extension and 86th birthday, ESPN Events, in partnership with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, announced the launch of a new annual men’s college basketball event honoring Vitale. The inaugural game is set for Tuesday, November 4, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., and will feature a matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Duke Blue Devils.

“ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,” Vitale said. “(ESPN chairman) Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is ‘Awesome, baby’ with a capital A!”

ESPN continues to honor Vitale

Dick Vitale told me long ago that previous ESPN management had told him he had a contract for as long as he worked at the company. The current group of executives has continued to hold up that promise. The addition of a tournament named after him is a nice piece of business to honor someone who helped build ESPN’s place in the sport.

Whether you thought Vitale was too over-the-top or too beholden to his favourites — both of these points have merit — his passion for college basketball has always been clear. His commitment to fighting cancer has been noble. It’s nice to see ESPN extend him for a couple of years. I hope he gets to go out — whenever that is — on his own terms. — Richard Deitsch, media reporter

(Photo: Stew Milne / Getty Images)