It's pretty clear when people in Vancouver ask the question, "Who's gonna run this town tonight?" that the answer isn't Kanye and Rhianna. The answer is Steve Nash.
He runs that town, from the local fitness center to the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps. And who can forget that whole Olympic torch-lighting thing.
So, when Nash wanted to get the Suns a pre-season game in his town, it probably only took a few calls to make it happen, and as sweetener, the event's host was more than happy to kick back some scratch to Nash's foundation.
It's all good, though, and beats the heck out of playing a pre-season game in Mexico (which the Suns did last year). Of course, that trip prompted one of Nash's finer directorial moments as well.
From the official press release:
Vancouver, B.C. – Canucks Sports & Entertainment and Rogers Arena announced today that Vancouver will host an NBA Pre-Season game between the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, October 6th.
The Phoenix Suns pre-season home game at Rogers Arena will feature Victoria, BC, native Steve Nash along with a roster that includes Grant Hill, Jason Richardson and former Raptor Hedo Turkoglu. The Toronto Raptors roster features Andrea Bargnani and recently acquired former Suns guard Leandro Barbosa. In October of 2009, the Phoenix Suns hosted the Portland Trailblazers at Rogers Arena in a sold-out pre-season game.
Tickets for the game range from $21.25 to $98.50 plus applicable fees for bowl seats and a limited number of floor seats will be available, please inquire for availability and prices.
Fans can purchase tickets beginning, Saturday, July 24th at 10:00 am and they are available through Ticketmaster.ca, Charge-by-Phone 604.280.4400 and all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment will once again make a donation to the Steve Nash Foundation with partial proceeds from the event going to the local BC community.
Since 2005, the Steve Nash Foundation's programs have assisted BC children in accessing health and education resources. Through platforms like BC grants, the Foundation has funded capital projects and initiatives for child-focused non-profits delivering health and education services to British Columbia's youth in cities all over the Province, from the Sunshine Coast to Steve's hometown in Victoria to East Vancouver and further east in Salmon Arm and north to Smithers.
Fans will also have the opportunity to make their own assist to the Foundation through additional donations via Ticketmaster at the time of ticket purchase.