Hoops for Heroes: Pittsburgh Xplosion Offers Free Tickets to Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS and Military

Offers Starts with Mellon Arena Game
Wednesday, Nov. 9

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 3, 2005 – The Pittsburgh Xplosion, the city’s new American Basketball Association team, announced today that it will honor local heroes by making free tickets available all season to police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The special offer is good for all of the team’s home games at Mellon Arena and the Peterson Events Center. The free tickets, valued at $12.50 a piece, will be distributed on a first come, first served basis at the Box Office on the day of the game. To receive a free ticket, fans must present ID that confirms their current status in the police, fire service, EMS or military.

The offer starts with the Xplosion’s next game on Wed., Nov. 9, at Mellon Arena, where they will face the Lake Erie Rockers. Tip off is 7 p.m. The Xplosion features former NBA players Armon Gilliam and Myron Brown and a blend of talented players with college and professional experience.
“The Pittsburgh Xplosion is proud to honor the many heroes who protect and serve communities throughout this region,” said Xplosion General Manager and Owner Freddie Lewis. “Our Hoops for Heroes ticket offer is our way of saying thanks to these outstanding men and women.”

There is a limit of one free ticket per eligible person for each of the team’s 17 remaining home games. Fans eligible for this offer will also have the option of receiving a $12.50 discount off the price of other Xplosion home game tickets, which range from $25 to $55. This offer is good only at the Box Office; it does not apply to tickets purchased in advance or through Ticketmaster.

To view a complete schedule and get more information on the Pittsburgh Xplosion, visit www.pittsburghxplosion.com. To purchase regular-priced tickets, contact the Mellon Arena Box office at 412-323-1919 or Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.