SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The NBA Jam Van is returning to the Illinois State Fair, offering fans of all ages an authentic NBA experience.  Operating from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the Jam Van features free basketball and interactive activities, including electronic displays and contests as well as a state-of-the-art video wall showcasing the latest NBA action.

The NBA Jam Van is a mobile version of the NBA Jam Session, the league’s popular fan event that attracts tens of thousands of fans during NBA All-Star festivities.  Since its debut at the 1996 All-Star Weekend in San Antonio, the NBA Jam Van has made more than 600 stops throughout North America and recorded more than 8 million visitors.

“Illinois State Fair is excited to welcome back the NBA Jam Van. It is a highly interactive attraction that energizes young and older fans alike,” said Mark Kolaz, Deputy Director of the Illinois State Fair.

The 2004 NBA Jam Van partners include adidas, America Online, LEGO Company, McDonald’s, Speed Stick 24/7 and Dep.  The tour launched April 9 and continues on to more than 100 event stops through October, traveling more than 150,000 miles and bringing the NBA experience to hundreds of thousands of fans throughout the country.

The 67-foot, 18-wheel Jam Van transforms into 8,000 square feet of free basketball entertainment allowing fans of all ages to play like the pros.  In addition to slamming dunks and sinking three-pointers on two basketball areas with four different size baskets, fans can participate in a huge array of off-court interactive activities.

NBA Jam Van activities include:

• Get-a-Grip/Arm Span/Walk of Fame – Fans can compare their hand size, shoe size and wing span to those of NBA and WNBA players.
• Tall & Short of It – Fans can compare themselves to images of the NBA’s and WNBA’s tallest and shortest players.
• NBA Video Arcade – Video game buffs can play one-on-one in the Jam Van’s video arcade.
• Video Action – The 110” by 78” video display wall showcases the NBA’s hottest action. 

NBA Jam Van contests include:

• Play a.d.i.d.a.s. – Fans have 30 seconds to spell “a.d.i.d.a.s.” from a variety of shooting spots.
• AOL 8.0 Free-Throw Shooting Contest – Fans of all ages have the opportunity to showcase their free-throw shooting skills in this fast-paced contest.
• McDonald’s Beyond the Arches 3-Point Shootout – Fans have 30 seconds to shoot 12 balls from three different locations from behind the three-point line.
• NBA Slam Dunk Contest – Fans at the end of the day can show off their skills on seven-, eight-, nine-foot baskets.
• NBA Trivia Challenge – When taking a break from the courts, fans have the opportunity to test their knowledge on NBA entertainment, players and game-related questions.
• Speed Stick 24/7 Challenge – A crowd favorite from the 2003 NBA All-Star Jam Session, fans have 24 seconds to make baskets totaling exactly seven points from various shooting spots.

Fans can log onto www.nba.com to get a complete NBA Jam Van schedule as well as additional information.

For more information on Illinois State Fair attractions and entertainment, visit the website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.

The 2004 Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 13-22 in Springfield.

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