SPRINGFIELD, MA October 22, 2009 – On Thursday, Nov. 5th from 6-8 p.m., the Springfield Armor will host an NBA Development League Draft Party at the MVP Pub in the Sheraton Springfield in the Monarch Place Building in the heart of Downtown Springfield. The event is at no cost to the public and includes free food and drink specials throughout the evening. The restaurant will validate parking in the 91 North and South lots only if you bring your time stamped coin.
Daniel F. Walsh, VP & Managing Director of the Sheraton remarked, “As the official hotel of the Springfield Armor, the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel is pleased to be hosting the Armor’s Player Draft Celebration at our MVP.pub. We are sure that during the upcoming basketball season- the Armor fans will enjoy pre and post-game visits to our restaurant and bar.”
During the 8-round draft, Armor fans will watch to see who Head Coach Dee Brown and Assistant Coach Kevin Whitted select to join the team. All fans that purchase a Season Ticket, Flex Ticket Booklet, or Group Night, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. will be allowed in the “War Room” for a portion of the Draft where Coaches Brown and Whitted will be selecting the team.
The draft will be televised on NBA TV and streamed live online on NBA.com (www.nba.com/dleague) beginning at 7 p.m. (EST). The live selection show highlights the ninth-annual draft which offers NBA D-League teams the opportunity to build their rosters from a pool of promising players.
“This is the exciting part - when the roster starts to take shape,” Head Coach Dee Brown said, “I’m ready to get the players drafted, into Springfield and prepared for training camp.” Brown will make an appearance at the MVP Pub on the 5th as he starts to put his roster together for the first ever Springfield Armor season starting in less than 40 days.
During the telecast, NBA TV host Rick Kamla will share the stage with NBA D-League Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert to provide insight into the draft proceedings and the composition of NBA D-League team rosters.
The Albuquerque Thunderbirds will select first in the Draft, as determined by lottery drawing at the NBA D-League’s annual coaches meeting held in Dallas on Sept. 29, 2009. The Springfield Armor will have the 14th overall selection.
