2011 BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game A Social Sensation

HOUSTON, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2011 BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game that tipped off NBA All-Star 2011 last Friday proved to be an exciting event and is drawing rave reviews, not only by the sold-out crowd that packed the Los Angeles Convention Center, but by the record number of fans who watched on TV and fans who participated via Twitter. The viral nature of the social networking site was readily apparent as fans caught up with Bieber Fever voted musician Justin Bieber the Most Valuable Player of the BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110223/DA52857)

The ESPN telecast of the 2011 BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was the most watched in the event's history, drawing 2.3 million viewers, up 12 percent over last year's game according to Nielsen Media Research. The game was also one of the top trending topics worldwide on Twitter leading up to and continuing throughout the game. At the conclusion of the game, the hashtag #bbvacelebgame was the #2 trending topic worldwide, trailing only "Twitter Mobile," a promoted topic by Twitter.

Additionally, during the 2011 BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, participants including Justin Bieber, Mitch Richmond, Scottie Pippen, Nick Cannon, Jason Alexander and Jalen Rose were all top trending topics worldwide.

The East team, coached by Bill Walton (Basketball Hall of Famer), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), and Bill Simmons (ESPN.com columnist) defeated the West team, coached by Magic Johnson (ESPN analyst, Basketball Hall of Famer), Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and Ty Burrell (Modern Family), by a score of 54-49. Basketball Hall of Famer, Scottie Pippen, led the East team with 17 points. However, it was the 16-year old Bieber who excited the crowd with his deft dribbling abilities and solid performance including eight points, four assists and two rebounds. Following the game, Bieber was presented the MVP trophy by BBVA Compass Senior Executive Vice President and head of Retail Banking Shelaghmichael Brown.

Also participating in the game were legendary NBA players Rick Fox, Mitch Richmond, Jalen Rose, AC Green and Chris Mullin, and WNBA players Tamika Catchings and Swin Cash. Celebrities included famous names such as Common, Michael Rapaport, Romeo Miller, Trey Songs, Nick Cannon, Zac Levi and Rob Kardashian.

In addition to the Celebrity Game, BBVA, the Official Bank of the NBA, also participated in the NBA's All-Star Day of Service by helping refurbish Virgil Middle School in Los Angeles through its U.S. subsidiary BBVA Compass. Joining the more than 50 BBVA Compass volunteers were Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and NBA Legends Dikembe Mutombo and David Robinson.

In January, the NBA and BBVA launched the Team. Works. in Schools(SM) initiative to refurbish schools throughout the BBVA Compass Sunbelt footprint. Earlier this year, BBVA Compass teamed up with NBA Cares on a Team. Works. in Schools initiative to refurbish Jesse Jones High School in Houston. As part of the revitalization, the school received new paint, landscaping, and a complete renovation of the library and technology center, including new computers, printers, books, and other educational resources. The total investment of the revitalization of Jesse Jones High School by BBVA Compass exceeded $200,000. This was the first of six such projects between BBVA Compass and partner NBA Cares. Team. Works. in Schools revitalization projects planned for later this year include schools in Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth, McAllen, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

BBVA joined the NBA in September 2010 as part of a comprehensive multiyear marketing partnership which makes BBVA the Official Bank of the NBA, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) in the United States, Spain and Puerto Rico.

This Spring, BBVA Compass and the NBA will team up for a grassroots basketball tour called Team. Works. on Tour(SM). The mobile tour will feature a 67-foot, 18-wheel truck that transforms into 6,000 square feet of basketball activities. These activities include two basketball areas, a technology area where fans can play the latest NBA video games, and a video wall with NBA game footage and BBVA Compass product and service information. The tour is scheduled to be held in 10 communities within the BBVA Compass Sunbelt footprint and will allow fans to experience an authentic NBA environment. The communities scheduled at this time include: Albuquerque, Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville, Phoenix, the Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio.

About BBVA Group

BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA) is a financial services group with more than euro 557 billion in total assets, almost 48 million clients, 7,400 branches and 107,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA provides its customers around the world with a full range of financial services. The BBVA Group maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico, Latin America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. BBVA is also developing strong operations in Asia, specifically in China, and has just entered the Turkish market with the acquisition of a 24.9% stake in the Turkiye Garanti Bankasi, the first bank of Turkey.

As of December 31, 2010, BBVA has a market capitalization of euro 38 billion and it is listed in the main international stock exchanges, London NYSE and Madrid, among others. BBVA reported in 2010 recurrent attributable profit of euro 4.6 billion. BBVA is one of the top leading Euro zone banks in terms of ROE and efficiency. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 716 branches including 380 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 65 in California, 77 in Arizona, 45 in Florida, 36 in Colorado and 20 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass is the 15th largest U.S. commercial bank based on deposit market share. Additional information concerning BBVA Compass can be found on our website www.bbvacompass.com.

Editor's Note:

BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank. Compass Bank, member FDIC.

SOURCE BBVA Group