ESPN Events’ owned-and-operated softball invitational is back for its eighth year at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida. The event will run from February 18-21, with Shriners Children’s Hospital returning as the title sponsor.
The 11-team field consists of teams from six different conferences, and includes national runner-up Texas Tech, as well as eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year.
- Clemson
- East Carolina
- Florida State
- Liberty
- Oklahoma State
- South Carolina
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- UCF
- Virginia Tech
- Washington
The 2027 event will be the eighth year that the City of Clearwater has teamed up with ESPN Events to host the elite invitational. The Clearwater Invitational will return to President’s Day weekend in 2028.
The event schedule for the 2027 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational will be released this fall, followed by the on-sale date for tickets. For more information, visit www.clearwaterinvitational.com. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2026-27 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, nine college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premier regular-season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events accounted for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
Follow ESPN Events on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube pages.
About Shriners Children’s:Shriners Children’s improves the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting innovative research, and offering outstanding education programs for medical professionals. Children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care, regardless of the families’ ability to pay, and receive all care and services in a compassionate, family-centered environment. For more information, please visit shrinerschildrens.org.
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Explore scenic waterways, dive into food that is more than a meal, and immerse yourself in the perfect blend of beach town nostalgia brimming with art-lined avenues of energy, excitement and action throughout the year. Shine a little brighter in St. Pete-Clearwater, where sunshine meets substance, and immerse yourself in BEACH.CULTURE.
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