MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced a continuing partnership with Contacto Integrated Media and La Mera Buena FM 107.5 in an integrated marketing and broadcasting partnership between the three organizations. The agreement will include 12 Spanish-language Timberwolves broadcasts in 2006-07, radio advertising, promotional ties, logo identification and community relation's events.
"We are excited to continue this ever-growing partnership between the Timberwolves, Contacto Integrated Media, La Mera Buena and the Latino community and to again increase the number of Spanish-language radio broadcasts we are doing this year," said Timberwolves President Chris Wright. "We continue our efforts to embrace the Latino community and are thrilled that they are part of our family."
“The Timberwolves are a class organization, and we take great pride in the fact that we are continuing a relationship with a partner that has such outstanding qualities," said Contacto Integrated Media President Michael Robles. "It continues to be a pleasure for us to find new ways to engage the Latino Community and encourage it to embrace this team.”
As part of the agreement, 12 Timberwolves home games will be broadcast exclusively in Spanish this season. That is 50% more than the number of games done last season. The radio broadcasts, which will air on KBGY-FM (107.5), mark the fourth consecutive season the Wolves have aired Spanish broadcasts.
“This partnership continues to grow and become more encompassing and beneficial to all involved each season," said La Mera Buena Chief Executive Officer Miguel Ramos." We are honored to be working alongside an organization with such a commitment to the Latino Community.”
Minnesota has one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the nation with over one quarter of a million residents. Hispanics in the Twin Cities, Southern Minnesota and parts of Iowa and Wisconsin are tuning in to "La Mera Buena" 107.5 FM, Minnesota's first 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year Spanish-language FM radio station.
The play-by-play announcer for the games will be Alfonso Fernandez, who also serves in the same capacity with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and MLB'S Minnesota Twins. Additionally, Fernandez has called games in Spanish for the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Rams.
The Timberwolves have made Latino outreach one of the team's major initiatives. The organization has participated in Latino celebrations such as Family Fiesta, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day and La Familia. In addition, the Timberwolves have hosted Latino-themed games with entertainment including Spanish announcers, mariachi bands, special halftimes by Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc and Hermanos Escamilla and postgame talks in Spanish by Wolves forward Mark Madsen. This season the Wolves will be involved in community basketball clinics and in supplying tickets for Latino non-profit organizations.
Timberwolves 2006-07 Spanish Radio Broadcasts on KBGY-FM 107.5
| Day | Date | Opponent | Time |
| Wednesday | November 1 | Sacramento | 7:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | November 22 | New York | 7:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | December 20 | L.A. Lakers | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | December 26 | Chicago | 7:00 p.m. |
| Friday | January 5 | Philadelphia | 7:00 p.m. |
| Friday | February 23 | Phoenix | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | February 25 | Washington | 2:30 p.m. |
| Friday | March 2 | Utah | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | March 13 | Indiana | 7:00 p.m. |
| Friday | March 30 | Miami | 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | April 3 | Cleveland | 7:00 p.m.
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| Friday | April 13 | San Antonio | 7:00 p.m. |
