BayHawks 2010-2011 Schedule Set
Team's third season tips off in Erie November 19
Erie, Pennsylvania, Monday, August 9 - The Erie BayHawks tip off the 2010-11 season with back-to-back home games against the Springfield Armor on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20, Game time each night is 7 p.m. The opening weekend marks the start of Erie's third season in the NBA Development League and the first time the BayHawks will begin the season at home.
"The season starts a week earlier this year, providing us to the opportunity to open at home - which we're thrilled about," said BayHawks president Matt Breese. "Overall this is the best schedule we've seen in our first three seasons due to the number of weekend dates, diversity of opponents and reasonable travel schedule."
Highlights of Erie's home schedule include:
-Sixteen (16) of the team's twenty-four (24) home games are weekend dates (six Fridays, six Saturdays and four Sundays).
-The BayHawks face every team in the league at least once and eight (8) different opponents travel to Erie to play (Springfield, Maine, Dakota, Sioux Falls, Fort Wayne, New Mexico, Iowa and Tulsa).
-Four (4) Thursday games will be "Buck Nights" in which fans can purchase Smith's hot dogs, popcorn, soda and beer for just one dollar each. Tickets start at just five dollars.
-The annual "School Kids Jam" presented by UPMC Health Plan is set for Tuesday, March 8 with a special 11 a.m. tipoff.
Plans are underway for numerous other promotional nights including the popular "Affiliate Nights," with both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, in which their respective dance teams and mascots perform throughout the game. A full schedule of promotions and special events will be announced at a later date.
For the second consecutive year, the league will feature two conferences, East and West, with the Texas Legends replacing the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference will consist of the BayHawks, Dakota Wizards, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Iowa Energy, Maine Red Claws, Sioux Falls Skyforce and Springfield Armor, while the Western Conference includes the Austin Toros, Bakersfield Jam, Idaho Stampede, New Mexico Thunderbirds, Reno Bighorns, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Texas Legends, Tulsa 66ers and Utah Flash.
The BayHawks will also take part in the 2011 NBA D-League Showcase that will take place from January 10-13 at the South Padre Island Convention Center in South Padre Island, Texas.
**The entire 2010 -11 BayHawks schedule accompanies this announcement below.
Complete details of the NBA Development League's full schedule can be found at www.nba.com/dleague.
The Erie BayHawks are the NBA Development League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors. The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league featured 16 teams - including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor, while a new team, the Texas Legends, will join the League for the 2010-11 season. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front-office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
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