NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Zignia Live, a premier live entertainment and events company in Mexico, today announced a multiyear partnership that includes a preseason game in Mexico featuring the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Hornets on Oct. 7 at the newly launched Mexico City Arena as part of NBA Mexico Game 2012.

The game marks the NBA’s 18^th visit to Mexico City and the league’s 20^th game in Mexico overall, the most NBA matchups held in any country outside the United States and Canada. Game tickets are available for purchase starting July 20 through Super Boletos (www.superboletos.com).

“NBA Mexico Game is an important part of our 2012 international games schedule and a great opportunity for us to connect with our fans in Mexico and across Latin America,” said Philippe Moggio, NBA Vice President, Latin America.  “As the most frequent international host for NBA games, Mexico will again provide a great showcase for the game of basketball as the New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic put on an exciting show for our passionate fans at the new Mexico City Arena.”

The Orlando Magic will be led by Mexico-native Gustavo Ayon and three-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard.  The New Orleans Hornets will be led by number one overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft presented by State Farm Anthony Davis, 2012 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson, and shooting guard Eric Gordon.

In addition to the oncourt NBA action, the league and its game partners will conduct community events and programs to bring the game closer to fans.

The league first visited Mexico City in 1992, when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs. Mexico became the only international country other than Japan, London and Canada to ever host an NBA regular-season game, when the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks in front of a sold-out arena on Dec. 6, 1997 in Mexico City. Most recently, the NBA staged its 17^th game in Mexico City when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Clippers by 100-99 in October 2010.

Following the announcement of NBA Mexico Game, 10 NBA teams will participate in a total of nine international games this October as part of the league’s 2012 marquee international preseason schedule, which also includes NBA Europe Live presented by BBVA, NBA China Games, and the first-ever NBA Canada Series.

The Dallas Mavericks will play games in Barcelona and Berlin and the Boston Celtics will play games in Istanbul and Milan against top European basketball teams as part of NBA Europe Live presented by BBVA.  NBA China Games 2012 will feature two games between the reigning NBA Champion Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers in Beijing and Shanghai.  NBA Canada Series will include the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks playing in Montreal and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons playing in Winnipeg.

To date, the NBA has staged a total of 107 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 17 counties across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

For additional information about NBA Mexico Game 2012, please visit www.enebea.com.

About Zignia Live
Zignia live is a company known for presenting the best events in the best venues in Mexico year after year, offering the public a unique world class experience. Counting on partnerships with major companies in the live entertainment industry, it brings the best children’s, musical, family, and sporting events to the Mexican public.

About the NBA in Mexico
For the 2011-12 season, NBA games and highlights shows reached nearly every household on a weekly basis via television and broadband: TV Azteca, ESPN, Space (Turner), SKY, Cablemas, Megacable, Cablevision Monterrey, Cinepolis and NBA.TV.  In addition to 19 games that the NBA has staged in Mexico since 1992, the most NBA games held in any country outside the United States and Canada, the league also reaches fans and consumers through regional NBA merchandise licensees. Current NBA team rosters feature two Mexico-born players: Gustavo Ayon from the Orlando Magic and free agent Eduardo Najera.