DALLAS MAVERICKS TO PLAY FC BARCELONA REGAL IN BARCELONA

AS PART OF NBA EUROPE LIVE 2012 PRESENTED BY BBVA™

-- Palau Sant Jordi to Host Contest Between 2011 NBA Champions and 17-time Spanish Champions --

-- BBVA to Serve as NBA Europe Live Presenting Partner for the First Time through Multiyear Partnership --

NEW YORK and BARCELONA, June 28, 2012 – The 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks will play a preseason game against 17-time Spanish Champions FC Barcelona Regal of the Euroleague on Oct. 9, 2012 at the Palau Sant Jordi as part of NBA Europe Live 2012 presented by BBVA™ the National Basketball Association (NBA), Euroleague Basketball, and BBVA announced today at a special press conference held in Barcelona.

The sixth edition of the NBA Europe Live Tour continues the tradition of NBA teams travelling to the continent to play in a series of preseason games against top Euroleague opposition.

Tickets for the game at the Palau Sant Jordi arena will go on sale soon with details to be announced shortly.

“We are excited that the Dallas Mavericks will travel to Spain this year for NBA Europe Live presented by BBVA,” said Benjamin Morel, Senior Vice President, NBA Europe. “Spain has played host to a variety of NBA events in recent years as the game of basketball continues to captivate and excite our fans.  With the support of the Euroleague, BBVA and our partners, this matchup further demonstrates our commitment to bringing live events to our dedicated fans in Spain.

Barcelona will be the final stop of a four-game tour as part of NBA Europe Live 2012 presented by BBVA. The 17-time NBA Champion Boston Celtics tip-off the tour with a game against five-time Turkish Champions Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 5 at the state-of-the-art Ulker Sports Arena. Prior to the game in Barcelona, the Dallas Mavericks will play a game against eight-time German Champions Alba Berlin at the highly successful O2 World in Berlin, Germany on Oct. 6. The Celtics play their second game against 25-time Italian Champions EA7 Emporio Armani at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy on Oct. 7. The tour culminates with the game between the Mavericks and FC Barcelona Regal on Oct. 9 at the Palau Sant Jordi.

“Since 2006 both of the leading basketball competitions, Euroleague Basketball and the NBA, have been coming together to offer fans spectacular basketball and this year is no exception,” said Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief Business Development Officer. “Some of the best and historic teams from the NBA will face off with some of the strongest Euroleague and European teams for some exciting preseason games to warm up for the next season.”

As part of a multiyear partnership, BBVA – the official bank of the NBA – will serve as the presenting partner of NBA Europe Live for the first time, with Turkish Bank Garanti, which is part owned by BBVA, to be the presenting partner of the game in Istanbul. adidas will return as a Pan-European partner, a position it has held for all six editions of the tour, with American Express also returning as a partner providing premium ticket access to Cardmembers across the Tour. Foot Locker and Kia Motors Iberia will also join as partners in celebrating the game in Barcelona.

"Through NBA Europe Live, BBVA will help bring the excitement of the NBA live to Barcelona for fans inSpain," said Mafe Laverde, Director of Sponsorships, BBVA.  "As part of the tour, fans will also be able to experience world-class basketball first-hand in Italy, Germany and Turkey, the latter being an important country for BBVA given its investment in Garanti Bank. Serving as the presenting partner of NBA Europe Live reinforces our global sponsorship strategy, intended to provide extraordinary content to fans through our brand. As the official bank of the NBA, BBVA shares the values of effort, self-improvement and teamwork embodied by the best basketball league in the world.”

Following the NBA Europe Live Tour 2012, over 450,000 fans will have attended 32 Europe Live games in 12 cities since the inaugural NBA Europe Live series that took place in 2006.  In total, 60 games featuring 25 NBA teams will have been played in 18 cities in Europe since 1988.  

Extensive community events and programs will again compliment the on-court action in each of the four cities.  As part of its NBA Cares initiative, the NBA family has helped create and build 23 places in Europe where children and families can live, learn or play in nine European countries. NBA Europe Live 2012 will also consist of a range of activities for fans in addition to the games, including interactive fan events, basketball development programs, player appearances and more. 

- courtesy of Dallas Mavericks