Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Houston Rockets Toyota Center 1510 Polk Street Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 758-7200 Media Relations Fax: (713) 758-7339
Other Office: 1200 North Federal Highway Suite 307 Boca Raton, FL 33432
Credentials
All requests for working press, photo
and broadcast credentials for
Houston Rockets home games
should be made in writing on
company letterhead at least two
days prior to the game in question.
Direct all requests to Nelson Luis,
Houston Rockets Director of Media
Relations. All credentials can be
acquired at the Toyota Center media
entrance on LaBranch Street.
Directions from:
George W. Bush Intercontinental
Airport to Toyota Center: Take
U.S. 59 South to Downtown Exit ...
turn right on Congress Street ... turn
left on LaBranch Street ... Toyota
Center is located at the intersection
of LaBranch Street and Polk Street.
Hobby Airport to Toyota Center:
Take I-45 North ... exit Scott Street
towards Downtown ... turn left on
Pease Street ... turn right on Austin
Street ... turn right on Clay Street ...
turn right on LaBranch Street ...
Toyota Center is located at the
intersection of LaBranch Street and
Polk Street .
Fax-on-Demand
In conjunction with the NBA
FaxBack, all game notes, rosters,
statistics, schedules and box scores
will be available on the system. The
NBA FaxBack number is (201) 974-
6094.
Game Night
The media entrance is located on
the LaBranch Street side of Toyota
Center. The press door opens two
hours prior to tipoff. Press parking
is at the Toyota Tundra Parking
Garage (connected to the arena)
and the First City Tower Garage (at
the intersection of Lamar and
Caroline). Parking is for working
media only with proper credentials.
Interviews
All interview requests should be
directed to Nelson Luis. The Rockets
coaching staff and players are
available for interviews after practice
only. Players are generally available
before games up to 45 minutes
before tipoff; following games —
after a 15-minute cooling off period
— both coaches will be available in
their respective locker rooms.
Anyone wearing a media credential
will not be allowed to obtain
autographs.
MEDIA INFORMATION
3
Rockets Media Relations
Nelson Luis ..................................................... (713) 758-7337
Director, Media Relations ................................. nelsonl@rocketball.com
Dan McKenna ............................................... (713) 758-7205
Manager, Media Relations .................................. danm@rocketball.com
Tracey Hughes ............................................ (713) 758-7335
Assistant Manager, Media Relations .............. traceyh@rocketball.com
Susan Newquest ......................................... (713) 758-7309
Manager, Corporate Media Relations ............. susann@rocketball.com
Matt Rochinski ................................................. (713) 758-7208
Coordinator, Media Relations .............................. mattr@rocketball.com
Photographers
The photography areas in Toyota
Center are on the baselines opposite
both team benches. No
photographers will be allowed on the
sideline areas in front or behind the
team benches or in front of press
row. Please make all requests to
purchase strobe lighting to Nelson
Luis at least two days prior to the
game in question. Please observe
the NBA rules for player escape
routes — an open area
approximately five feet on both
sides of the basket. For player
safety, we also ask that you do not
leave your camera unattended in
your working area. No tripods are
permitted on the floor.
Practices
All practice sessions will be closed.
Players and staff will be available
for interviews during a designated
access period, either before or after
practice.
General Information
Production Requests
All television/radio production
requests should be directed to Joel
Blank, the Director of Broadcasting
for the Houston Rockets, at (713)
758-7348.
Statistical Services
Complete game statistics, including
the final box score, running playby-play
and quotes will be provided.
For those sitting on press row,
screens with the box score,
percentages, notes and other data
continuously updated, are provided.
A stats screen is provided in the
auxiliary press area and in the press
room as well. Scores of other games
will also be made available. The
Rockets Media Relations
Department will provide faxing
service to all working media upon
request.
Telephone Services
Two telephones are provided on
press row for use by visiting media
members. Five other phones are
available in the Media Workroom.
For additional phone lines, please
contact Kim Cox at (713) 758-7288.
Home Arena ...................................................... Toyota Center
Arena Capacity ............................................................ 18,500
First Game Played in Arena .............................. Oct. 30, 2003
Team Colors ................................................ Red, Silver, White
Conference Affiliation ............................................... Western
Divisional Affiliation .................................................. Midwest
2002-2003 Record .............................. 43-39 regular season
2002-2003 Ranking .......................................... Fifth, Midwest
Web Site Address .................................... www.rockets.com
INFORMATION