Grizzlies to hold Grizz Week leading up to home opener against Orlando Magic on October 31
MEMPHIS, October 17, 2008 — The Memphis Grizzlies are getting fans across the Mid-South excited about the 2008-09 season with Grizz Week, which will be a series of events around the city of Memphis that culminates with the Grizzlies home opener against the Orlando Magic on Friday, October 31.
Grizz Week tips off on Thursday, October 23 with the Grizzlies “Get on the Bus” tour in which the Grizz Girls and Grizzlies front office staff members will hop on board special Grizzlies themed MATA buses and make stops at various lunch time locations throughout the city from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fans dining at these stops along the “Get On the Bus” tour will receive various items, including free Grizzlies t-shirts, posters, pocket schedules and much more.
On Friday, October 24, the Grizzlies are inviting fans over for lunch for their Eighth Annual Tip-Off Luncheon at FedExForum on Friday, October 24. Fans in attendance will get the chance to rub shoulders with Grizzlies players including rookie O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay, get coaching strategy from Marc Iavaroni and learn more about the business of basketball from general manager Chris Wallace. Silent and live auctions will be held throughout the event. Doors open at 11 a.m., followed by the event and program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50.
The good times keep coming with Grizzlies Roundtown on Saturday, October 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. when Grizzlies players, the Grizz Girls and Street Team will head to local Circle K’s and Sonic Drive-Ins to work gas pumps and drive-thru windows while talking to fans about the upcoming season. Participating Circle K’s include locations at 601 Germantown Parkway and 5341 Poplar Avenue, while the participating Sonic Drive-Ins are located at 7450 Winchester Road and 3790 S. Houston Levee Road.
Join the Grizz Girls and Street Team at the Grand Opening of Dicks Sporting Goods at Winchester and Hacks Cross on Sunday, October 26 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes and receive multiple free items.
On Monday, October 27 the Grizzlies will host their Read to Achieve Tip-Off at A.B. Hill Elementary on 345 E. Olive. The Grizzlies All-Star Reading Team, which consists of Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Hakim Warrick will stress the importance of reading and teach students that education and reading can be fun. After the reading assembly Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay will help dedicate a new Grizzlies Reading and Learning Center presented by Hilton Hotels Corporation at A.B. Elementary, which is the third Reading and Learning Center that the Grizzlies and Hilton Hotels Corporation have opened this year.
Beginning Monday October 27 through Thursday, October 30 fans can look for the Grizzlies Street Team during morning and evening drive time commutes, as they will be handing out various Grizzlies items to fans at multiple locations.
With the Grizzlies opening up the regular season in Houston against the Rockets on Wednesday, October 29, the Grizzlies are set to hold a Road Opener Watch Party for the first game of the regular season at Buffalo Wild Wings at Winchester and Hacks Cross at 7:30 p.m. The Grizz Girls and Budweiser will be on hand, as fans can enjoy beer specials and take home Grizzlies prizes.
On October 30, the team will hold their Get Fit with the Grizzlies Tip-Off at William Herbert Brewster Elementary School at 2605 Sam Cooper Blvd at 2 p.m. Mike Conley, Darrell Arthur, Hakim Warrick and the Grizz Girls will be on hand to lead students in activities that promote physical fitness. The Get Fit Tip-Off marks the start of a four week challenge where fourth and fifth graders in area schools track what they eat and the amount of exercise that they get in order to live healthier lives.
The Grizz Week grand finale will be the Grizzlies regular season home opener against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic on Halloween Night, Friday, October 31 at 7 p.m. A host of exciting attractions are set to take place on Opening Night including pregame and halftime performances from Memphis’ own rock supergroup Saliva, the return of Grizz, the Grizzlies mascot, safe trick-or-treating for kids, Grizzlies Flags presented by First Tennessee Bank to the first 10,000 fans and much, much more.
Tickets to Grizzlies Opening Night and all other regular season contests start at $5, and can be purchased online, at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX, or by visiting the FedExForum Box Office. Group, Power Pack, Season ticket and Party Suite information is available online or by calling (901) 888-HOOP.
Grizz Week Schedule
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 23 | Get on the Bus | Various Lunch Spots in Memphis | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. |
| Oct. 24 | Tip-Off Luncheon | FedExForum | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 25 | Grizzlies Roundtown | Circle K-601 N. Germatown PWY/ 5341 Poplar | 2-4 p.m. |
| Sonic-7450 Winchester Rd/ 3790 S. Houston Levee Rd. | 2-4 p.m. | ||
| Oct. 26 | Grand Opening | Dicks Sporting Goods/ Winchester-Hacks Cross | 12:30-2:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 27 | RTA Tip-Off | A.B. Hill Elementary/ 345 E. Olive | 9 a.m.-10 a.m. |
| Oct.27-30 | Street Corner Blitzes | Various Locations | Drive Time a.m.,p.m. |
| Oct. 29 | Watch Party | Buffalo Wild Wings/ Winchester-Hacks Cross | 7:30 p.m.-TBD |
| Oct. 30 | Get Fit Tip-Off | William H. Brewster Elementary/ 2605 S. Cooper Blvd. | 2 p.m.-TBD |
| Oct. 31 | Opening Night | FedExForum | 7 p.m. |