Vipers Introduce Fan Friendly 2011-12 Schedule

August 29, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release

MCALLEN, TEXAS - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced on Monday that they open their fifth season in the NBA Development League on Friday, November 25 against the Erie BayHawks at 7:00 p.m. at State Farm Arena, the first of 15 Friday and Saturday home games.

Last season the Vipers led the league and set franchise records in attendance by welcoming 116,372 fans during the regular season, for an average of 4,849 fans per game, filling up 85.9% of the available seats, despite playing only eight home games on Fridays and Saturdays, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

"Our fans have been so great to us over the years. Even when we didn't have the most favorable of schedules, we led the league in attendance. Now it's our turn to give back and make it easier for our fans to come out and enjoy some affordable family friendly entertainment," Vipers President Bert Garcia said.

After playing the BayHawks again on Saturday, November 26, the Vipers welcome the Iowa Energy to State Farm Arena for a rematch of the 2011 NBA Development League Finals on Wednesday, November 30 at 10:30 a.m. for Kids Day and on Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m.

The Vipers hit the road for the first time on December 4 when they visit the Bakersfield Jam for a rematch of the 2011 NBA Development League Quarterfinals, followed by two games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, who return after a one year hiatus at their new home, Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.

The Vipers return to State Farm Arena on Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10 for the first of eight games against their arch-rivals, the Austin Toros. The Vipers don't host their other in-state rival, the Texas Legends, until Sunday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m., which will be the fifth of six games between the two teams.

The Vipers make their first trip to Canton on January 14 at the start of a four-game road trip that include the Vipers' first visit to Sioux Falls since the 2007-08 season and a weekend series against the Reno Bighorns in a rematch of the 2011 NBA Development League Semifinals. The Vipers host Canton for the first time on Thursday, February 16 and Saturday, February 18.

The Vipers close the season with a six-game home stand, including games against the Tulsa 66ers on March 30 and 31, in what will be the 66ers' first visit to State Farm Arena since April 27, 2010, when the Vipers completed the two-game sweep of the 66ers for the NBA Development League Championship.

In all, the Vipers play 50 games, 24 of which will come at State Farm Arena. Twenty-two of those home games will start at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. The Vipers play eight Friday, seven Saturday, four Thursday, three Wednesday, one Monday and one Sunday home game.

The NBA Development League Showcase will take place in mid-January. An announcement with specific details on the event will be announced at a later date. Additionally, the All-Star Game is scheduled for February 25 in Orlando.

The Vipers finished 33-17 last year, good for second place in the Western Conference standings. The Vipers defeated the Jam 2-1 in the Quarterfinals and the Western Conference champion Bighorns 2-0 in the Semifinals before falling to the Energy 2-1 in the Finals. The Vipers are looking to become the first team in NBA Development League history to make three consecutive Finals appearances and the second to make three Finals appearances. The 66ers are the only team to make it to the Finals three times, appearing as the Asheville Altitude in 2004 and 2005 and as the 66ers in 2010.

Vipers season tickets start at $200 (plus tax) and can be purchased by calling the Vipers at 972-1144 or by stopping by the Vipers Pro-Shop at 4500 N. 10th St. at Uptown Plaza in McAllen.

2011-2012 SCHEDULE (all times central)

Fri. Nov. 25 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Nov. 26 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Nov. 30 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 10:30 am

Thu. Dec. 1 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sun. Dec. 4 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 5:00 pm

Mon. Dec. 5 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Wed. Dec. 7 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 9 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 16 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Sat. Dec. 17 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 22 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 23 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 31 Rio Grande V. at Maine 12:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 1 Rio Grande V. at Maine 4:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 6 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 7 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 14 Rio Grande V. at Canton 6:30 pm

Tue. Jan. 17 Rio Grande V. at Sioux Falls 7:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 21 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Wed. Jan. 25 Ft. Wayne at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 28 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 2:30 pm

Tue. Jan. 31 Rio Grande V. at Austin 11:00 am

Wed. Feb. 1 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Fri. Feb. 3 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 4 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Fri. Feb. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 11 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Feb. 16 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 18 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sun. Feb. 19 Texas at Rio Grande V. 3:00 pm

Wed. Feb. 22 Maine at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 2 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 3 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Mon. Mar. 12 Texas at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Mar. 14 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Fri. Mar. 16 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 17 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Tue. Mar. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Thu. Mar. 22 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 23 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 30 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 31 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Apr. 6 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Apr. 7 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 HOME SCHEDULE (24 Games)

Fri. Nov. 25 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Nov. 26 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Nov. 30 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 10:30 am

Thu. Dec. 1 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 9 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 22 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 23 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 6 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 7 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Jan. 25 Ft. Wayne at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Feb. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 11 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Feb. 16 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 18 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sun. Feb. 19 Texas at Rio Grande V. 3:00 pm

Wed. Feb. 22 Maine at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Mon. Mar. 12 Texas at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Mar. 22 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 23 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 30 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 31 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Apr. 6 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Apr. 7 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 ROAD SCHEDULE (24 Games)

Sun. Dec. 4 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 5:00 pm

Mon. Dec. 5 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Wed. Dec. 7 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 16 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Sat. Dec. 17 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 31 Rio Grande V. at Maine 12:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 1 Rio Grande V. at Maine 4:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 14 Rio Grande V. at Canton 6:30 pm

Tue. Jan. 17 Rio Grande V. at Sioux Falls 7:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 21 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 28 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 2:30 pm

Tue. Jan. 31 Rio Grande V. at Austin 11:00 am

Wed. Feb. 1 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Fri. Feb. 3 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 4 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 2 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 3 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Wed. Mar. 14 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Fri. Mar. 16 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 17 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Tue. Mar. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

2011-2012 FRIDAY HOME SCHEDULE (Eight Games)

Fri. Nov. 25 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 9 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 23 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 6 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Feb. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 23 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 30 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Apr. 6 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 SATURDAY HOME SCHEDULE (Seven Games)

Sat. Nov. 26 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 7 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 11 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 18 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 31 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Apr. 7 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 THURSDAY HOME SCHEDULE (Four Games)

Thu. Dec. 1 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 22 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Feb. 16 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Thu. Mar. 22 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 WEDNESDAY HOME SCHEDULE (Three Games)

Wed. Nov. 30 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 10:30 am

Wed. Jan. 25 Ft. Wayne at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Feb. 22 Maine at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 MONDAY HOME SCHEDULE (One Game)

Mon. Mar. 12 Texas at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

2011-2012 SUNDAY HOME SCHEDULE (One Game)

Sun. Feb. 19 Texas at Rio Grande V. 3:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Austin Toros (Eight Games)

Fri. Dec. 9 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 16 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Tue. Jan. 31 Rio Grande V. at Austin 11:00 am

Wed. Feb. 1 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Fri. Feb. 10 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 11 Austin at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Wed. Mar. 14 Rio Grande V. at Austin 7:30 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Texas Legends (Six Games)

Sat. Dec. 17 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 28 Rio Grande V. at Texas 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 29 Rio Grande V. at Texas 2:30 pm

Sun. Feb. 19 Texas at Rio Grande V. 3:00 pm

Mon. Mar. 12 Texas at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Iowa Energy (Two Games)

Wed. Nov. 30 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 10:30 am

Thu. Dec. 1 Iowa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Reno Bighorns (Five Games)

Fri. Jan. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 21 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Tue. Mar. 20 Rio Grande V. at Reno 9:00 pm

Fri. Apr. 6 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Apr. 7 Reno at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Bakersfield Jam (Five Games)

Sun. Dec. 4 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 5:00 pm

Thu. Dec. 22 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Dec. 23 Bakersfield at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 16 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 17 Rio Grande V. at Bakersfield 9:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Tulsa 66ers (Four Games)

Fri. Mar. 2 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 3 Rio Grande V. at Tulsa 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 30 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Mar. 31 Tulsa at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Erie BayHawks (Two Games)

Fri. Nov. 25 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Nov. 26 Erie at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Canton (Three Games)

Sat. Jan. 14 Rio Grande V. at Canton 6:30 pm

Thu. Feb. 16 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 18 Canton at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Los Angeles D-Fenders (Four Games)

Mon. Dec. 5 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Wed. Dec. 7 Rio Grande V. at Los Angeles 9:00 pm

Thu. Mar. 22 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Fri. Mar. 23 Los Angeles at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Maine Red Claws (Three Games)

Sat. Dec. 31 Rio Grande V. at Maine 12:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 1 Rio Grande V. at Maine 4:00 pm

Wed. Feb. 22 Maine at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Idaho Stampede (Two Games)

Fri. Feb. 3 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Sat. Feb. 4 Rio Grande V. at Idaho 8:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Dakota Wizards (Two Games)

Fri. Jan. 6 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 7 Dakota at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Sioux Falls (One Game)

Tue. Jan. 17 Rio Grande V. at Sioux Falls 7:00 pm

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (One Game)

Wed. Jan. 25 Ft. Wayne at Rio Grande V. 7:00 pm

NBA G League Stories from August 29, 2011

• Wizards to Open Season Thanksgiving Weekend - Dakota Wizards
• Vipers Introduce Fan Friendly 2011-12 Schedule - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
• Jam Announce 2011-12 Season Schedule - Bakersfield Jam
• Energy Release 2011-12 Schedule - Iowa Wolves
• Mad Ants Announce 2011-12 Schedule - Indiana Mad Ants
• Armor Announce 2011-12 Schedule - Springfield Armor
• 2011-12 Red Claws Schedule Announced - Maine Celtics
• Canton Set to Open Their Inaugural 2011-2012 Season at Home Against Iowa Energy - Cleveland Charge
• Austin Toros 2011-12 Schedule Released - Austin Spurs
• Tulsa 66ers Tip off NBA D-League Season on November 25 - Tulsa 66ers
• BayHawks 2011-12 Schedule Set - Erie BayHawks
• Skyforce Announces 2011-12 Schedule - Sioux Falls Skyforce
• 2011-12 NBA Development League Schedule Announced - G League
• Stampede Schedule Released - Idaho Stampede

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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