NBA Mexico Game To Feature Orlando Magic & New Orleans Hornets

Here is the official word from the Magic:

"NBA MEXICO GAME 2012 TO FEATURE ORLANDO MAGIC AND NEW ORLEANS HORNETS THIS OCTOBER– Game Marks the NBA’s 18th Visit to Mexico City and 20th Game in Mexico –  NEW YORK, July 19, 2012 – 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 18th visit to Mexico City and the league’s 20th 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.” 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 17th 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. The remainder of Orlando’s preseason schedule will be announced in August."

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, ESPN Florida’s Magic Insider (http://ESPNFlorida.com) and is the co-host of the ESPNFlorida.com Insiders Show Sunday mornings at 10:00 am EST. Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Facebook and follow him onTwitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here)