Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
Emirates-&-NBA-Cares-Event-at-San-Antonio
San Antonio, Texas – June 5, 2026: Emirates, the Official Airline Partner of the NBA, has partnered with the basketball association to unveil a newly renovated gym and multi-purpose room at The Denver Heights Community Centre (DHCC), San Antonio as part of the NBA Cares Finals Legacy Projects. The initiative builds on Emirates' partnership with the NBA and the airline's commitment to youth in US communities.
The new gymnasium was revealed during a ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurated by officials from Emirates, the NBA and San Antonio Spurs players. Youth from The Denver Heights Community Centre (DHCC), who stand to benefit from the initiative, were also present at the official reveal of the new recreational space. Leading the formalities at the unveiling event was Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor, R.C. Buford, CEO of SSE, Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact & Inclusion Officer, Harrison Barnes and David Jones Garcia from the San Antonio Spurs, Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner and, Matthew Jones, Emirates’ VP-USA.
The Denver Heights Community Centre serves as a critical hub for youth and families, providing access to safe spaces, recreational programming, and resources that support health, education, and long-term opportunity.
The refurbishment project renovated the DHCC’s gymnasium and multipurpose room, complete with new fitness equipment, scoreboards, backboards as well as major aesthetic enhancements including fresh paint, fresh tiles, new graphics and flooring to result in a new and inspiring space for kids to enjoy. Additionally, the multipurpose room will be upgraded with latest tech and gaming devices.
Courtesy of Emirates, each young participant was presented with a backpack from the airline’s ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection, filled with Emirates and NBA co-branded merchandise. The special upcycled backpacks are created from repurposed Economy Class seat fabric generated from its massive retrofit programme underway. To date, nearly 4,000 sustainable Aircrafted for Kids backpacks have been distributed to schools and community centres around the globe.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a commemorative plaque highlighting the support of the NBA and Emirates in the refurbishment project was placed at the gymnasium. To celebrate the opening of the new facility, local youth participated in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA youth basketball clinic.
Emirates is the Official Global Airline Partner of the NBA, Title Partner of the Emirates NBA Cup, and presenting partner of this year’s NBA Cares Finals Legacy Projects. From supporting youth basketball clinics to creating memorable moments at NBA events, the partnership reflects Emirates’ commitment to bringing people together through sports.
The airline operates to 12 US cities including Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Washington D.C., Seattle, Newark, Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, in addition to New York JFK.
For more information, visit emirates.com.