INDIANAPOLIS---The 2008 Men’s College World Series® will start on Saturday, June 14, with the first game of the MCWS Finals beginning on Monday, June 23, under a new schedule announced by the NCAA® Division I Baseball Committee. The new schedule has the MCWS concluding on Tuesday, June 24, or Wednesday, June 25.

“The Saturday start will allow participating teams an extra day to prepare for the Series, while providing flexibility during the Regional and Super Regional rounds in the event of weather delays,” said Dennis Poppe, NCAA managing director for baseball and football. “The new schedule also provides more competitive equity for the teams playing in the series, especially for those advancing through the losers’ brackets.”

Under the new schedule, games will begin Saturday, June 14 with the “if necessary” game(s) being played Saturday, June 21. No games are scheduled to be played on Sunday, June 22.

 “Each year, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee continues to fine-tune the Series format in order to accommodate the changing needs of those involved,” Poppe said. “In arriving at this new schedule, the committee balanced the interests of the coaches and student-athletes, ESPN and the sponsoring organization.”

 “We knew this change in schedule was a possibility, so it doesn’t come as a complete surprise,” said Jack Diesing Jr., president of CWS of Omaha Inc. “As the sponsoring organization, we’re committed to making this new schedule work for both the fans and the student-athletes.”

“We have adapted to schedule changes in the past and continue to set attendance records each year,” Diesing said. “In 2006, when there were three 8 p.m. games during the Series, we managed to set an attendance record of 310,609. This new schedule offers greater exposure for the event, the NCAA, the City of Omaha and college baseball, which is exciting for everyone involved.”

Team autograph sessions, Fan Fest activities, the Opening Ceremonies celebration and fireworks will be held on Friday, June 13. “In addition, we’re looking at possible ancillary events to be held on the weekend prior to the start of the MCWS Finals,” Diesing said.

A price increase of $1 per ticket will go into effect for the 2008 Series, according to Herb Hames, ticket chairman of College World Series of Omaha Inc. The last increase in ticket prices took place prior to the 2006 MCWS.

Prices for the 2008 MCWS:

The 2008 series also will see the elimination of the single session doubleheader games.

 “In effect, we added two more sessions to the price of a season ticket,” Hames explained. “If two ‘if necessary’ games are required on Saturday, June 21, those games will also be separate sessions.”

Starting times for each session will be 1 and 6 p.m. on days when two games are played and 6 p.m. on days when a single game is played, including all MCWS Finals games. All game times are subject to change.

College World Series of Omaha Inc. is a non-profit organization and the local organizing committee for the annual NCAA Division I Men’s College World Series.

About the NCAA®

The NCAA® is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities.

Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA® championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. NCAA® and Men's College World Series® are registered trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

2008 MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 14

Game 1 – 1 p.m.                                   Teams TBA

Game 2 – 6 p.m.                                   Teams TBA

Sunday, June 15

Game 3 – 1 p.m.                                   Teams TBA

Game 4 – 6 p.m.                                   Teams TBA

Monday, June 16

Game 5 – 1 p.m.                                   Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

Game 6 – 6 p.m.                                   Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Tuesday, June 17

Game 7 – 1 p.m.                                   Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4

Game 8 – 6 p.m.                                   Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Wednesday, June 18

Game 9 – 6 p.m.                                   Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6

Thursday, June 19

Game 10 – 6 p.m.                                  Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8

Friday, June 20

Game 11 – 1 p.m.                                  Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9

Game 12 – 6 p.m.                                  Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10

Saturday, June 21

Game 13 – 1 p.m. or *6 p.m.                  Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 11

            (if necessary)

Game 14 – *6 p.m.                                Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 12

            (if necessary)

* If only game played Saturday

Sunday, June 22

No games scheduled

MCWS FINALS

Monday, June 23

Game 1 – 6 p.m.                                   Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner

Tuesday, June 24

Game 2 – 6 p.m.                                   Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner

Wednesday, June 25 (if necessary)

Game 3 – 6 p.m.                                   Bracket One Winner vs. Bracket Two Winner