Brightline, HEAT Team for 'Buzzer Beater' Train

MIAMI – October 16, 2018 – Fans attending Miami HEAT home games will now have a true all-star way to travel to AmericanAirlines Arena with Brightline.

Florida’s only intercity passenger rail service will be the best way to get to and from HEAT games during the 2018-19 season. Beginning on Saturday, October 20, for the home opener against the Charlotte Hornets, Brightline will debut its “Buzzer Beater” train service, which provides a later departure time from MiamiCentral, allowing fans to stay until the game ends. Brightline is also offering $10 one-way rides in Smart service between its three stations on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21, to celebrate the season home opener.

The “Buzzer Beater” will be available for all home games for the 2018-19 season, returning as the official transportation partner of the HEAT. The roundtrip service originating at West Palm Beach and terminating at MiamiCentral, will be the smoothest and most seamless way to see the HEAT take on the NBA’s best teams and players throughout the season.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be taking our partnership with the Miami HEAT to another level,” said Patrick Goddard, Brightline’s president. “With the introduction of Brightline, we’ve established a new way for fans in South Florida to get to downtown Miami with ease. We’re taking that experience up a notch with the ‘Buzzer Beater’ train service -- complete with amenities that will make the HEAT gameday experience stretch from the station to the game and back.”

Fans will be able to enjoy refreshing food and beverage options for the trip, as well as the comfort of bypassing traffic both to and from the arena. If HEAT fans ride in Select service, they will be able to start the game experience early and enjoy elevated food and beverage offerings, like craft beer, charcuterie in the station and bento boxes on the train. Additionally, the new train schedules for the 2018-19 season ensure that fans can travel to AmericanAirlines Arena in plenty of time to get to their seats, as well as depart MiamiCentral station late enough to catch every minute of the action.

There will also be unique gameday experiences for select major games in 2018. Games will be added in 2019.

DATE/OPPONENT/TIP TIME (ET)

Saturday, October 27/Portland Trail Blazers/8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 9/Indiana Pacers/8:00 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 12/Philadelphia 76ers/7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 18/Los Angeles Lakers/6:00 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 20/Houston Rockets/8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22/Milwaukee Bucks/8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 30/Minnesota Timberwolves/6:00 p.m.

Brightline and the Miami HEAT will also roll out ticket packages and experience bundles in the coming weeks.

“Having Brightline as our official transportation partner is a huge win for all Miami HEAT fans,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations. “The ‘Buzzer Beater’ train service is one of the best ways to travel to home games -- not only this season, but beyond. HEAT fans deserve a worry-free way to get to and from AmericanAirlines Arena without contending with the stress of parking and traffic and Brightline provides the perfect solution.”

To kick off the 2018-19 home campaign and the start of the “Buzzer Beater” service, Brightline will host a pep rally at MiamiCentral between 5 and 7:30 p.m., where riders and HEAT fans can receive a unique gameday experience. The pep rally will culminate in a marching band leading Heat fans to the arena.

For a full Brightline train schedule for the 2018-19 Miami HEAT season, be sure to check www.gobrightline.com. Brightline is also offering $10 one-way rides in Smart service between its three stations the following weekend, Saturday, October 27, and Sunday, October 28, to celebrate the next Saturday home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

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