DALLAS - Reaching out to Hispanics in Texas and around the world continues to be a Mavericks initiative. Demonstrating the team’s desire to share the excitement of Mavs basketball to Hispanics, the Mavs offer fiesta theme nights, Spanish-language fan guides, a television show, merchandise, radio broadcasts and secondary audio programs in Spanish, an expanded Spanish section on the team Web site and Hispanic-themed watch parties.

“Dallas Mavericks basketball is an equal opportunity thriller. People from all walks of life can get excited about this team,” said Will Patton, marketing manager for the club. “Extending the Mavericks message of non-stop, action-packed fun to Hispanics is part of our overall mission to reach out and actively engage fans throughout the region. Communicating the excitement of the Mavs effectively to Hispanics in our community is important and each year we take steps to extend that dialog to more Hispanic fans.”

Fiesta Nights
This season the Mavs have brought back the popular Fiesta Nights, four dedicated evenings that showcase different aspects of the Hispanic culture at Mavericks home games. The first Fiesta Night of the season presented by 1270 KESS AM will be this Thursday, November 21st, when the Mavs host the Houston Rockets. “Latin Express,” a local Tejano band, will perform pregame on the South Plaza and throughout the game on the Budweiser Sound Stage. Fans will receive Eduardo Nájera flip cards, courtesy of State Farm, as they enter American Airlines Center and during halftime Latin Dance Force will entertain the crowd. After the game, Nájera will sign autographs in the Center Club. Additional Fiesta Night dates are Fri., Dec. 20 vs. Utah, Sat., Feb. 15 vs. Miami and Thurs., March 20 vs. San Antonio.

Spanish Language Booklet “A Toda Velocidad”
The Mavs have also put together “A Toda Velocidad,” a booklet which serves as a pocket guide for the Mavericks and NBA basketball. It features an interview with Mavs forward Eduardo Nájera, Mavs player and dancer bios, rules of the game and much more. These booklets will be distributed at all four Fiesta Nights, door-to-door in the Hispanic community, in the Spanish newspaper El Heraldo and through a partnership with the Dallas and Fort Worth Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. The booklets can also be found online at dallasmavericks.com.

Spanish Radio Broadcast and SAP
For the third-consecutive season the Mavs will broadcast all regular season games in Spanish on 1270 KESS AM with Edgardo Lopez calling the action. In addition, for the second-consecutive season, Mavs fans can listen to the over-the-air broadcasts in Spanish on UPN Ch. 21 and KTVT Ch. 11 via the secondary audio program (SAP), compliments of Bimbo.

This season, for the first time ever, the NBA will feature 15 games on Telemundo and Mavs Spanish play-by-play announcer, Edgardo Lopez, will serve as an analyst for the broadcasts. The Mavs January 12th contest vs. the LA Clippers in Los Angeles will be featured on Telemundo.

Spanish-Language Television Show
At the beginning of the season Mavs Spanish play-by-play announcer Edgar Lopez hosted the premiere of “A Toda Velocidad” Temporada 2002-2003 de los Dallas Mavericks. The 30-minute show featured highlights from last season’s memorable run through the Western Conference, as well as interviews with Mavs forward Eduardo Nájera and Mavs Dancer Delmar Reyna. The show also spotlighted the Mavs involvement in the community with the NBA’s Read To Achieve program and the fan entertainment experience at American Airlines Center.

dallasmavericks.com
The Mavericks Web site features an international page with a Spanish section that includes game previews written by Edgar Lopez, press releases and the Spanish-language booklet “A Toda Velocidad.”

Watch Parties
While the team is on the road, the Mavs will host watch parties at various Hispanic-owned Metroplex locations. At the watch parties fans can meet Mavs Dancers and play on the Mavs Street Team’s FOX Sports Net Big Shoe Inflatable, as well as win tickets and Mavs merchandise.

Merchandise
The Mavs merchandise department is expanding its collection to include Spanish-language apparel. T-shirts with the “A Toda Velocidad” slogan will be available at the American Airlines Center Fan Shops.