Published:
American Airlines and NBA Partner on International League Events
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines and
The National Basketball Association (NBA) have reached a marketing partnership
that includes several of the league's most prominent international grassroots
initiatives featuring activities in nine countries.
American Airlines will serve as the official airline of 2008 NBA Europe
Live presented by EA SPORTS(TM), the NBA's European tour, which will return
for its third consecutive year in October. American Airlines will also serve
as a partner of the NBA's first-ever event inIndia, Basketball without
Borders 2008 -- the league's international basketball development and
community outreach program -- which will be held inNew Delhi July 3-6.
American Airlines will also support several other NBA international
grassroots events, including NBA 3 x 3 and NBA Madness inJapan, NBA 3 x 3 in
Mexico, and additional NBA events inFrance,Germany,Italy,Spain,Russia and
the UK. American will have a prominent presence at each grassroots event and
will be incorporated into various on-site activities and promotions.
The partnership is an expansion of American Airlines previous support of
NBA international events, which included Basketball without Borders in
Shanghai, China, in 2006, a preseason game between the Miami Heat and Detroit
Pistons inSan Juan, Puerto Rico, in October 2006, and NBA Europe Live 2007 in
London, which featured a preseason game between the Boston Celtics and
Minnesota Timberwolves.
"Our relationship with American Airlines illustrates the collaborative
nature of our efforts to grow the game internationally and allows us to bring
our fans an authentic NBA experience through a wide range of events and
community programs," said Emilio Collins, Vice President - International
Development for the NBA.
"We are thrilled to announce our international partnership with the NBA
and honored to be an integral part of their charitable programs worldwide,
especially inIndia, which we have served since 2005," said Billy Sanez,
Director - Advertising, Promotions and Corporate Communications for American
Airlines. "American's extensive global reach makes this a particularly
exciting partnership. We applaud the NBA and are pleased to help bring
Basketball without Borders to the world."
As part of 2008 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS, the Miami Heat,
New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards will play
preseason games inBarcelona,Berlin,London andParis in October. Following
NBA Europe Live 2008, NBA teams will have played 48 games in 18 cities in
Europe over the past two decades. Last year's seven NBA Europe Live games
drew more than 10.3 million viewers, 75,000 spectators, and were supported by
23 marketing partners.
Basketball without Borders 2008 will take place inNew Delhi, India;
Istanbul, Turkey; andJohannesburg, South Africa, this summer. The NBA and
International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) global basketball development and
community outreach program unites elite young basketball players to promote
the sport and encourage positive social change in the areas of education,
health and wellness in local communities. To date, Basketball without Borders
has featured more than 250 current and former NBA players, coaches and team
personnel from 30 different teams who served as camp coaches and mentors for
more than 1,200 young athletes from more than 100 countries and territories on
five continents.
NBA Madness, the NBA's interactive basketball lifestyle event consisting
of basketball activities, musical performances and special appearances by NBA
players, dance teams and mascots, will visitTokyo, Japan, August 29-31. NBA
3 x 3 is focused on developing future generations of NBA fans by growing the
game of basketball internationally. It consists of regional basketball
tournaments where winning teams from each respective region will advance to a
championship game. The event visitedMexico City on May 24 and 25, and will
visit six Japanese cities includingTokyo,Osaka,Nagoya,Fukuoka, Sendai, and
Takamatsu in July and August.
About American Airlines
American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle
and the AmericanConnection (R) airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries
with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more
than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users
with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information
and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld (R)
Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the
airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and
benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve
nearly 700 destinations in over 140 countries and territories. American
Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR
Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, the AmericanConnection (R)
airlines, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks
of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)
AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(R)
Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.
The address is http://www.aa.com
SOURCE American Airlines
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Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
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