Univision presents Tecate Premios Deportes.

Univision announced plans to broadcast the “Tecate Premios Deportes” Sports Awards, with this country’s leading imported Mexican cerveza as the show’s title sponsor. A star-studded tribute to sports featuring performances by some of Latin music’s leading entertainers and other luminaries will honor the character and sportsmanship of Hispanic athletes and is scheduled to air on July 20, 2008.

This gala red carpet event will feature ten award categories and tributes to some of the most important athletes of our time. Categories include the North American Soccer (Mexican and American Leagues) Best 11; the North American Soccer Player of the Year; Best Hispanic Boxer; Baseball Hispanic All-Star Team; Baseball Hispanic Player of the Year; Basketball Hispanic Player of the Year; American Football Hispanic Player of the Year; the Legends Award; and the Tecate Athlete of the Year award, which will be given to the Male athlete that rose to the top of his sport in 2007. Consumers will also have the opportunity to vote online through Unvision.com for Best Hispanic Female, Best Hispanic Male Athlete of the Year, All-Star Soccer Team of the Year, and All-Star Baseball Team of the Year.

“No one is more passionate about their sports heroes than Hispanic sports fans,” said David Downs, president of Univision Sports. “And as this country’s #1 destination for Hispanic sports fans, Univision is proud to team up with Tecate to recognize the monumental accomplishments of our favorite athletes.”

“We are proud to be the title sponsor for the inaugural Tecate Premios Deportes, which will recognize and celebrate the exceptional talent and accomplishments of Hispanic athletes,” said Carlos Boughton, brand director of Tecate Brand Equity for Heineken USA. “These individuals possess the qualities of our target audience; they embody the character and perseverance needed to succeed in this country. The Tecate Premios Deportes gives us yet another opportunity to strengthen our connection with our consumers through their passion for sports and celebration of Hispanic role models.”

An academy of professional and ex-professional athletes and sports writers, including famed boxer Oscar de la Hoya, popular Mexican ex-soccer goalie Jorge Campos, ex-football great Tony Casillas, NFL Hall of Fame Recipient Anthony Muñoz, former Mexican soccer coach Jesus Bracamontes, and President of the UANL Tigres Enrique Borja, will nominate and select the most accomplished active Hispanic athletes in the various sports categories. In order to be eligible for these awards, athletes must have participated in a televised professional sport in the U.S. during 2007. Judging criteria will be based on the athlete’s statistical excellence; cumulative impact on their team and in the sport; and their reputation as a role model for the Hispanic community.

In an effort to bring sports aficionados even closer to their heroes, cerveza Tecate and Univision will open the doors to the Pasadena Auditorium and invite them to attend the live show. Fourteen hundred seats will be made available to the public, with ticket sale details to be announced at a later date.