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REAL MADRID TO HOST UTAH JAZZ AS PART OF NBA EUROPE LIVE PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS™
Jazz and Real Madrid to play in second game of NBA Europe Live Tour 2009
 MADRID – June 2, 2009 – The National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz and Euroleague Basketball’s Real Madrid will go head-to-head at the Palacio de Deportes on October 8 as part of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS™ the NBA, Euroleague Basketball and EA SPORTS announced today. The Jazz will also play the Chicago Bulls in London on October 6 in the first game of the tour.
Tickets for NBA Europe Live in Madrid at the Palacio de Deportes can be purchased on-line at www.entradas.com, by calling +34 902 22 14 24 or at Caja Madrid ATM’s.
"For the last three years through NBA Europe Live, I have been able to witness first-hand, the passion and excitement of basketball fans in Europe," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "This year will be no different when two franchises rich in tradition and success play in Madrid. The continued support of Euroleague Basketball and EA SPORTS is a testament to this collaborative effort to further grow basketball in Spain."
Spain has hosted NBA Europe Live games each of the four years (2006-09) and the NBA last visited Madrid in 2007 when the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies played Real Madrid and Estudiantes respectively. The city of Madrid also hosted the Boston Celtics in 1988 in one of the first international games featuring an NBA team as part of the McDonald’s Open.
"We continue to enjoy a fruitful partnership with the National Basketball Association across Europe through NBA Europe Live," said Jordi Bertomeu CEO of Euroleague Basketball. "We hope that we will be able to continue bringing the excitement of the sport of basketball to fans across the globe."
NBA Europe Live in Madrid is the third preseason game the NBA has announced that will be played outside the United States and Canada this October. Along with the Europe Live game in London, the Phoenix Suns and the Philadelphia 76ers will play in Monterrey, Mexico on Oct. 18 as part of NBA Mexico Game 2009. To date, the NBA has staged a total of 93 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 31 cities in 16 countries and territories.
"After three previous NBA games with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors, Real Madrid is getting ready to face its fourth game against an NBA team, the Utah Jazz. Regardless of the result, it will be a true celebration of basketball, where two teams from the strongest basketball leagues in the world will face each other," said Antonio Martin, Director of Basketball, Real Madrid. "All fans of the sport will enjoy an event that will be filled with excitement and great basketball entertainment."
The Madrileños, one of the most successful teams in European basketball history, have earned eight Continental titles and a record 30 Spanish Championships. The current roster features 2006 World Championship gold medalists Felipe Reyes and Alex Mumbru and former Utah Jazz point guard Raul Lopez. This marks the first trip to Europe for the Jazz, having previously played international games in Tokyo and Mexico City.
EA SPORTS will once again serve as the presenting partner of NBA Europe Live, which it has since the inaugural tour in 2006. adidas, American Airlines, Champion and The Coca-Cola Company will return as marketing partners, with Hannspree and Hewlett-Packard supporting Europe Live for the first time. Spalding, the official basketball of the NBA, will again serve as the tour's official supplier. The City of Madrid will partner for the event and join all partners in conducting NBA-themed promotional activities to reach basketball fans in Spain and around the world.
"We’re pleased to continue our support of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS with the second leg of the tour in Madrid," said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. "This is an excellent opportunity for EA SPORTS to continue to globalize our business while also supporting our great partners at the NBA as they expand their global outreach. I know basketball fans will be excited to see Real Madrid hosting the Utah Jazz."
The inaugural NBA Europe Live in 2006 featured the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs playing preseason games in Barcelona, Moscow, Rome, Paris, Lyon and Cologne. NBA Europe Live returned in 2007 with the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors visiting Rome, Madrid, Malaga, London and Istanbul. In 2008, the Miami Heat faced the New Jersey Nets in London and Paris, while the New Orleans Hornets played the Washington Wizards in Barcelona and Berlin.
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