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 / Modified jan 11, 2017 6:47 p.m.

Mexico City Welcomes Phoenix Suns for Two NBA Games

Mayor hopes to attract more world-class sporting events.

Mexico City angel statue Angel statue at the Monument to Independence in Mexico City.
Ken Kistler

By Jorge Valencia, KJZZ

MEXICO CITY – The mayor of Mexico City is welcoming the Phoenix Suns, who will play two of their regular season home games there this week.

For Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera, this week’s games are a big deal. In 2016, Mexico City attracted the NFL and Formula 1. To start out 2017, the NBA is coming to town.

Mancera told a crowd on Tuesday that he wanted to start the year with world-class sporting events, like this week’s games. The Suns team is sending 150 people to help realize the games and is working with the NBA to promote them

Team President Jason Rowley says he hopes the games will foster good will between Arizona and Mexico.

"Our belief is that we have a lot of connectivity there, and there's a lot of opportunity there to continue to develop our Mexican American and Hispanic fan base."

The Suns will host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday at the Mexico City Arena.

On Thursday, the Suns tweeted about their first practice in the Mexican capitol.

MORE: Arizona, Mexico, News, Sports and Recreation
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