MIAMI, April 20 – The Miami HEAT has announced that it will bring back one of its most popular fan promotions with the return of its 48 Hours of Intense HEAT promotion.  First executed prior to the start of the 2000 Playoffs, 48 Hours of Intense HEAT challenges HEAT fans to remain seated for 48-consecutive hours in front of the AmericanAirlines Arena from 5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23 until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, immediately prior to the start of Game 3 of the HEAT vs. Hawks First Round playoff series. Despite rain, wind, and heat (among many other distractions!), contestants must endure the elements for a chance to win the Grand Prize of a pair of Lower Level tickets to all 2009 HEAT Black is Back Playoffs home games and a pair 2009-10 Lower Level Season Tickets, plus free parking and free concessions for each game during the 2009-10 season.  Additional prizes will be announced prior to the start of the promotion.         

Fans who sit for at least the first four-consecutive hours will win a pair of tickets to Game 4 of the HEAT vs. Hawks playoff series. Fans who endure all 48 hours will win a pair of playoff tickets to every HEAT home game during the 2009 HEAT Black is Back Playoffs. In the event of multiple contestants lasting the entire 48 hours, a HEAT trivia tiebreaker will be conducted to determine the Grand Prize winner.

During the 48 Hours of Intense HEAT promotion, contestants will dine on traditional arena fare from Levy Restaurants, including hot dogs, popcorn and Pepsi soft drinks and will have the chance to interact with the four-time “Most Popular Dance Team in the NBA,” the Miami HEAT Dancers, the Xtreme Team, and Burnie, the HEAT Mascot. In addition, 48 Hours of Intense HEAT contestants will be allowed to participate in special contests and activities which will allow them to win other great prizes, including temporary “immunity” from the sitting competition. HEAT players may even stop by to interact with the contestants!

Registration begins at 3:00 p.m. and is limited to the first 200 fans 18 years of age and older. Contestants must present valid identification and proof of residency during the registration process. Rules will be strictly enforced. The HEAT will provide food, water, umbrellas, and other services throughout the competition. Frequent restroom and stretching breaks will also be allowed. Contestants are encouraged to communicate with the outside world during the 48 Hours competition by updating their Facebook and / or MySpace pages or by having followers keep up with them via Twitter. Updated photogalleries will be posted throughout the contest on the 2009 HEAT Black Is Back Playoffs website.

The 2009 HEAT Black is Back Playoffs are presented by Miccosukee Resort & Gaming.

48 HOURS OF HEAT CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  This contest is only open to legal residents of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, who are 18 years or older.  Employees of the Miami Heat Limited Partnership, AmericanAirlines Arena, the National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, owners, employees and agents and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, siblings and children) and/or those living in the same household (whether related or not) of each are not eligible.  Void where prohibited by law.
2. The contest will begin on April 23, 2009 at 5:00 PM (EST) and end on April 25, 2009 at 5:00 PM (EST).
3. HOW TO ENTER.  The first 200 contestants who sit outside of the AmericanAirlines Arena (Arena) in the designated area beginning April 23, 2009 at 5:00 PM (EST) will be entered into the contest.  Except with respect to bathroom breaks which must be taken in the designated facilities on the Arena premises, all contestants who remain seated until 9:00 PM, April 23, 2009 will be a second prize winner.  On or about 5:01 PM, April 25, 2009, all contestants who successfully sit at the Arena during the entire previous 48 hours will be deemed first prize winners and be eligible to participate in a trivia contest to compete for the grand prize.  The contestant with the highest score will be the grand prize winner.  
4. ODDS OF WINNING.  Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received on or before each drawing date.  Winning contestants must sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/ Prize Acceptance Form prior to participating in the competition.  In the event a contestant fails to do so, another contestant will be selected.
5. PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE VALUE.  SECOND PRIZE WINNER – All contestants (up to 200) will receive two (2) tickets to a 2009 NBA Playoffs Atlanta Hawks v. Miami HEAT first round basketball game to be staged at the Arena either Saturday, April 22, 2009 or Monday, April 27, 2009 (ARV $22,000).  FIRST PLACE PRIZE WINNER – All contestants (up to 200) who successfully sit at the Arena during the entire 48-hour period described above will receive two (2) tickets to all 2009 NBA Playoff basketball games in which the Miami HEAT competes and which are staged at the Arena (ARV $312,000).  GRAND PRIZE WINNER– One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded to the contestant who successfully sits at the Arena for 48 hours and wins the trivia contest.  The contestant will receive: (a) one (1) parking pass and food and beverage voucher for each 2009 NBA Playoff basketball games in which the Miami HEAT competes and which are staged at the Arena ($705); (b) two (2) Miami HEAT season tickets, one (1) parking pass and food and beverage vouchers for the 2009 – 2010 basketball season (ARV $7,138); (c) a voucher for a seven (7) day Carnival Cruise for two (2) people (ARV $1,200); (d) an autographed 2008-2009 Miami HEAT team basketball (ARV $350); and (e) a Two Hundred Dollar ($200) Miami Hoops Gear gift certificate (ARV $200).  Total ARV $343,593.  The location of the tickets will be solely determined by the Miami HEAT.  Carnival Cruise vouchers may be subject to travel restrictions, conditions and limitations.  Further, the grand prize winner of that voucher must use them within one (1) calendar year of the date of receipt.  Companion must be 18 years of age or older as of the date of prize delivery and must travel on same itinerary and at the same time as the winner.  Winner and travel companion must execute liability/publicity releases prior to issuance of travel documents.  Prize is non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein at the Miami HEAT’s sole discretion. Miami HEAT reserve the right to substitute a prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason.  Winner is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use.  Odds of winning a prize depends on the number of eligible entries received.  All expenses and incidental costs not expressly stated in the prize descriptions above, including, but not limited to, transportation, meals, personal charges, security fees, additional improvements, or other expenses or incidentals are the responsibility solely of the winner.  No cash back or credit will be given for any reason. The 48 HOURS OF HEAT CONTEST prize winners will be notified by email or telephone.  If winner cannot accept a prize as specified by the Miami Heat, prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.  Prize winners will be required to respond to the phone call and/or email notification within twenty four (24) hours indicating whether he/she can accept the prize.  If no return call or email is received within the time allotted, an alternate winner will be selected.  The alternate winner(s) must also respond to the phone call and/or email within twenty four (24) hours.  The 48 HOURS OF HEAT CONTEST contestants will be required to complete, sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release within two (2) days of prize notification.  In the event of noncompliance within any of these time periods, ineligibility or the inability to compete in the contest in accordance with the specific arrangements, prize will be forfeited and an alternate contestant selected, if there is time to do so prior to the contest.  If applicable, only one (1) alternate contestant will be selected.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.  Miami Heat Limited Partnership, the AmericanAirlines Arena, the National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., NBA Media Ventures, LLC, Basketball Properties, Ltd., Miami-Dade County, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising/promotion agencies and each of their directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively the “Companies”) are not responsible for lost, late or misdirected mail, entries, email, or for lost, interrupted or unavailable satellite, network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website or other connections availability, accessibility or traffic congestion, miscommunications, failed computer, network, telephone, satellite or cable hardware or software or lines, or technical failure, or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions, computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic or network.  Entries become the property of Miami HEAT and will not be returned or acknowledged.  Entrants who tamper with or abuse any aspect of this Contest, or act in violation of the Official Rules, or act in any manner to threaten or abuse or harass any person in relation to this Contest, as solely determined by the Miami Heat, will be disqualified.  Any attempt by a person to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and Miami Heat reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent of the law.  Companies are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or any other persons’ property related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or the acceptance of the Prize.  The Miami Heat shall resolve all disputes in its sole discretion.  By accepting a prize, winner agrees to release, hold harmless and indemnify Adaptive Creations, Inc., Miami Heat Limited Partnership, the AmericanAirlines Arena, the National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., NBA Media Ventures, LLC, Basketball Properties, Ltd., Miami-Dade County, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising/promotion agencies and each of their directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively “Released Parties”) from and against any and all liability, losses, damages, rights, claims and causes of action (however named or described) of any kind resulting from or arising out of the participation in the Contest and/or the acceptance, possession, receipt or use of any prize, including without limitation, personal injuries, death and property damage.  By participating in this Contest, participant agrees to be bound by all the Official Rules of this Contest.
7. PUBLICITY.  Acceptance of prize offered constitutes permission to use winner's name, biographical information and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion without further compensation as permitted by law by Miami Heat Limited Partnership, the AmericanAirlines Arena, the National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., NBA Media Ventures, LLC and/or each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising/promotion agencies.
8. WINNERS LIST.  For the names of the winners: send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by May 30, 2009 to: “48 HOURS OF HEAT CONTEST,” 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33132, ATTN:  Marketing.