The Odyssey Trust is pleased to announce that Cara Group Travel has been named as the title sponsor of the 2024 Friendship Four U.S. men’s college ice hockey tournament, which will take place at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November.
Based in the Greater Boston area, with offices in both Belfast and Galway, Cara Group Travel is an international travel company that specialises in creating unique group and event travel experiences between the United States and the island of Ireland. Having been associated with the Friendship Four since the tournament’s inception in 2015, Cara Group Travel has continually played an integral role in the growth and development of the cross-Atlantic event, supporting The Odyssey Trust in providing North American student-athletes with unforgettable sporting and cultural experiences in Northern Ireland.
Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The Odyssey Trust, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Cara Group Travel as the title sponsor of this year’s Friendship Four. Cara Group Travel’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural connections and promoting international travel experiences aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Friendship Four. Together, we aim to make the 2024 tournament the most memorable for players and fans alike.”
Founded by The Odyssey Trust and held annually at The SSE Arena, the Friendship Four is the first and only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One men’s ice hockey tournament to be played outside of North America and is designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the Sister Cities agreement between Belfast and Boston.
Sara Stanton, Founder and Managing Director of Cara Group Travel, commented: “I feel incredibly proud that Cara Group Travel has become the title sponsor of the 2024 Friendship Four. For nearly a decade, we’ve been fortunate enough to foster strong relationships with the Friendship Four and have proudly helped to grow the tournament into the prestigious and highly popular event it is today.”
The 2024 Friendship Four at The SSE Arena will see the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Boston University, and Merrimack College go head-to-head at the home of the Belfast Giants over Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.