Knicks, Tourism Ireland Turn The Garden Green For St. Patrick’s Day

NEW YORK, March 1, 2006: -- The New York Knickerbockers today continued to expand their celebration of New York’s ethnic heritage, signing Tourism Ireland as the presenting sponsor for their special St. Patrick’s Day celebration game, on Friday March 17 when the team takes on the eastern conference defending champion Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. The night will have a decidedly Irish flair, with in-game entertainment, giveaways, food specials, and…for the first time ever…the Knicks donning green uniforms.

“We are all aware of the diversity of culture in New York and the common ground that sports, especially events at Madison Square Garden, presents to so many groups,” said Hunter Lochmann, Knicks vice president of marketing. “This partnership with the Tourism Ireland will not only be an outstanding platform to showcase the beauty of Ireland and the upcoming Ryder Cup, but it will also provide a unique opportunity to put a very festive cap on one of the biggest ethnic celebrations in New York every year..St. Patrick’s Day.”

“Tourism Ireland is delighted to be associated with this very special celebration of St. Patrick's Day at Madison Square Garden. Through the various elements of the promotion we hope to interest New York Knicks fans in visiting Ireland - either for the Ryder Cup or indeed at another time,.” said Joe Byrne, vice president for United States and Canada, Tourism Ireland. “ We have the utmost confidence in the exceptional quality of Ireland's vacation destination product and expect that this year, more Americans than ever before will discover Ireland.”

Tourism Ireland will use the night as a platform in arena, on the Knicks television and radio broadcasts and on the Knicks website, nyknicks.com to promote Ireland as a vacation destination along with the upcoming Ryder Cup 2006, which will be held from September 22-24. Giveways and contests will all be themed to draw awareness and drive travel to Ireland for golf’s greatest team event.

It will be the fourth time this season that the team will have a strategic partner for an ethnic celebration. Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York was a sponsor of “Una Tarde De Ritmo” and “Asian Hertiage Day,” and Coca Cola will sponsor the upcoming “Una Noche de Ritmo” on March 21 vs. Toronto as well.