Latest news with #FanAppreciationDay
Time Out Abu Dhabi
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
The NBA is coming back to Abu Dhabi this year and the team line-up is huge
Basketball lovers, do we have some great news for you: the NBA is heading back to Abu Dhabi later this year. A collaboration between The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ will feature two big teams – the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The two teams will be playing preseason games on Thursday October 2 and Saturday October 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. This is the fourth consecutive year the NBA has done a preseason pit stop in the UAE capital. The 2024 edition saw the Denver Nuggets go up against the Boston Celtics, plus a super fun NBA Fan Appreciation Day that saw six absolute football legends (Roberto Carlos, Luís Figo, Iker Casillas, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Gerard Piqué) swap the pitch for the hardwood (and plenty of celeb spotting). Wondering who you'll get to on the court? The Knicks will be bringing along the two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges. On the 76ers side, you'll be able to see the 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid doing his thing, plus nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey. No word on when tickets will be available yet but we'll keep you posted. For now, you can register your interest on the official NBA website. Speaking about the NBA's return, H.E., Saleh Al Geziry, director general for tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: 'Hosting The NBA Abu Dhabi Games for a fourth consecutive year, in collaboration with the NBA, reflects our strategic commitment to growing basketball and empowering youth in the UAE and the region. 'We are thrilled to welcome two of the NBA's most iconic teams – the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers – for the games in 2025, and their participation reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.' Bring it on. More things to do in Abu Dhabi The concert line-up for Abu Dhabi in 2025 is looking absolutely insane 2025 is going to POP OFF Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins give a little extra back to their fans to atone for tough year
BOSTON — Maura Bagley was skeptical at the start of the phone call and nervous at the end of it. Bagley, who has been a season ticket holder since the early days of the Fleet Center, picked up the phone to a representative from the Bruins telling her that Cam Neely wanted to talk to her. Naturally she wasn't sure what this was about. Advertisement Was it really Cam Neely? And if so, why was the former Boston star-turned team president calling her? It was in fact Neely and the Bruins team president explained that for Tuesday's 'Fan Appreciation Day,' the team wanted to reward long-time season-ticket holders for their loyalty during a tough year. So he invited Bagley to come to the locker room before the game and read the lineup to the team. It's a ceremonial honor often given to celebrities and former players. On Tuesday, it would be a fan from Nahant. Bagley's bonafides as a fan are solid. In 2011, she and a friend who she met due to their seat proximity in section 301, flew to Vancouver for Game 7 together to watch ther Bruins win the Stanley Cup. They spent just 36 hours in the city before hurrying back to make the parade. Advertisement 'Best money I ever spent,' said Bagley, who was wearing a Shawn Thornton No. 22 jersey to Tuesday's game, in honor of her retired, all-time favorite player, from that team who won in Vancouver. With the Bruins out of playoffs, Bagley planned to temporarily cheer for the Florida Panthers, who have Thornton in their front office and recent Bruins captain Brad Marchand on their roster. But before adopting Florida for a short stint, she had to send this Bruins team off on the right note, but she had a concern. 'I said to Cam, 'Who's the starting lineup because I don't know if I can pronounce some of these guys,' she said. 'There's a lot of new players, and their names are really long.' Advertisement Joe Sacco made it easy when she and her friend Kevin Legget arrived in the locker room. The interim coach handed her a list of nicknames to read— Pasta (David Pastrnak), Geeks (Morgan Geekie), Lindy (Elias Lindholm), Z (Nikita Zadorov), Yoki (Henri Jokiharju) and Bulldog (Jeremy Swayman). The Bruins have had Fan Appreciation Night every year, but because the season was disappointing without a postseason trip, they appreciated their fans a little more and increased the caliber of the gifts. 'Obviously this year didn't go as expected. Our fans are so amazing. They continue to come out and support us. We added a little bit more to it this year,' Neely said. 'When you've been around a long time, especially here with an Original Six team, they've seen a lot. You try to give them more good than bad, but unfortunately, it was a bad year for us this year.' After the NHL trade deadline, Neely said the Bruins staff began discussing what more they might do this year. Advertisement Highlighted among the over 400 things they gave away: A trip to the Stadium Series next year in Tampa. Dinner and watch game experience with Tuukka Rask and Patrice Bergeron A Suite for 2025-26 preseason A TD Garden Package with tickets to seven events. 'We had talked about it internally leading up to this final game. We knew we were doing shirts off our back and what else could we do,' he said. 'We got a lot of great suggestions for what we could add. We want these guys to leave the building happy.' It worked in Bagley's case. She's not a spotlight seeker by nature and the idea of getting up in front of her favorite team to speak was initially intimidating. "It was fun. I was a little stressed out, but once I got in there, I was calm," she said. 'It's unique and it has been a rough year. And we're not really sure how long the roughness is gonna last. So something like this keeps your interest. I was very nervous, but once I got in there I was O.K. I'm happy that I did it. Because it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but it was fun and and they do make you feel comfortable.' More Bruins content
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Longhorns set to host alumni baseball game and fan appreciation
AI-assisted summary The University of Texas Baseball team will host its annual Alumni Game and Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, February 1st at 2:30 p.m. This is the first opportunity for fans to see new head coach Jim Schlossnagle on the field at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Baseball season nearing in Austin. This will be the first time Longhorn fans will be able to see Jim Schlossnagle in Burnt Orange on the turf in a game since becoming the Head Coach in late June. Texas Baseball will host its annual Alumni Game and Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, February 1st, at 2:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Admission to the annual Alumni Game and Fan Appreciation Day is free. This will be the first glimpse of the 2025 Longhorns under Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle, before they head to begin the regular season at the Shriners Children's College Showdown on Feb. 14-16 in Arlington. The season home opener is set for Tuesday Feb. 18, as the Longhorns take on the Houston Cougars from Disch-Falk. According to Texas Athletics, the fan festivities will begin at 10:45 a.m. with the home plate gate open for autographs at that time. Team autographs will run from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. In addition, Bevo XV will be available for photo ops, and fans can play catch in left field until 11:45 a.m. According to the release as well, fans will be able to purchase merchandise in the official team shop located behind home plate. ALUMNI GAME AND FAN APPRECIATION DAY TIMELINE
