The Eighth Annual Raiders Fiesta Latina will be held Sunday, September 27th, when The Oakland Raiders take on the Denver Broncos at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiders will pay tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month by showering the stadium with Latino excitement.**
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"We are pleased and proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for the eighth consecutive year," said Raiders Chief Executive Amy Trask. "Our Hispanic Heritage Game is one manner in which we share with our global fan base our commitment to, and leadership in, multicultural initiatives."
When the Raiders decided to dedicate a game to the Latin community, the organization did it with the desire to create an entire game day experience full of Hispanic entertainment. The Raiders are conscious of the diversity of the Bay Area and honor Hispanic heritage in a unique and special way.
From the moment the fans arrive at the Coliseum, they will have plenty of activities to participate in prior to kickoff.Fans are encouraged to visit Raiderville – the very latest in pre-game entertainment – located in the Coliseum parking lot. The game's presenting sponsor, Coors Light, will feature a variety of interactive elements. On the Raiderville stage, the band Latin Touch will welcome fans with salsa beats, there will be a Mexican Folklórico dance showcase and Mariachis will pay a visit.
Representatives from the official Spanish radio station of the Raiders, La Kaliente 1370 AM, Telemundo - the Spanish television home of the Raiders, the Chabot Space and Science Center, and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will also be on hand at Raiderville.
Mariachi Orgullo Mexicano will greet Raiders fans at the West Side Coliseum plaza and then pay a visit to Raiderville. Musical trio Estrellas de Oro will be roaming the parking lots performing for the Raider fan tailgate parties.
Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in Pepsi's "Most Valuable Griller" contest and theme their tailgate parties with Latin-American spirit. The best "Fan Fiesta" will become the winner that week (the contest is season-long) and win great prizes.
Reyna y su Trio del Mar will be performing at the East Side suite level entrance where the trio will serenade fans with famous Latin Trio songs that have influenced the Latin culture through the decades. Local Latino wineries Mi Sueño and Robledo will set up wine-tasting stations in selected luxury suites.
During pre-game ceremonies, the Raiders and Coors Light will honor the National Latino Peace Officers Association. The Raiders will feature a video montage in honor of Latino Astronaut, Jose Hernandez, who is an avid Raider Fan. Hernandez took an Oakland Raider flag with him to the International Space Station on NASA's most recent shuttle mission. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will also be recognized prior to the game.
The Alum Rock School Hispanic Youth Chorus will perform the National Anthem. Brazilian Capoeira will showcase a vibrant Latin-American art form that combines elements of martial arts and dance in the pre-game performance. The Silver and Black plans to welcome special guests the Consuls and Vice-consuls from Mexico, Uruguay, Spain, Chile and Guatemala.
During halftime, the flags of every Spanish-speaking country will grace the field adding a touch of Pride and Poise. Halftime will also offer a variety of Hispanic music performances which include Mexican (Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro) and Peruvian (De Rompe y Raja) traditional dance ensembles.
Fiesta Latina 2009 will feature a special commemorative limited edition beaded necklace. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will help the following diverse non-profit organizations: Buenanueva Foundation, SF Pinoy Jazz Festival and The Hispanic Business, Education & Training, Inc.
The Raiders have long been pioneers, both on and off the field, with regards to the team's global outreach. The Silver and Black maintains a global presence and communicates with the worldwide Raider Nation through the team's official web sites which feature original and translated content in six different languages - Tagalog, Japanese, German, Chinese, Spanish and English.
