DALLAS, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Pizza Patron, the premier Latino pizza brand, has executed an agreement with the American Airlines Center to become the venue's exclusive pizza vendor. The company will operate six concession outlets on the upper and lower levels of the arena concourse.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081203/LAW019)

"This exciting new venture takes our community-based brand and launches it into the mainstream," said Andrew Gamm, director of Brand Development for Pizza Patron. "Pizza's broad appeal makes this a perfect place for us to introduce our brand to an audience that includes many people outside of our core Latino-Hispano customer base."

On Thursday, November 13, Pizza Patron began serving pizza at the American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks and Stars, and America's fourth most lucrative arena according to Forbes Magazine this year.

"We are proud to begin a new partnership with Pizza Patron and look forward to a long relationship. With Pizza Patron's dedication to quality and service, we're excited to offer such a great product to our fans," said Joe Skenderian, VP of Business Development at American Airlines Center.

The menu features seven-inch pan pizzas, an inch larger than what was previously offered in the arena, for $6.50 -- cheese, pepperoni or sausage. The chain will also offer its BreadStix(TM), QuesoStix(TM) and ChurroStix(TM).

"At a time when others are pulling back, Pizza Patron is pressing the gas pedal," said Antonio Swad, founder of Pizza Patron Inc. "We are determined to grow this company and be the next great pizza brand."

Included in the deal are hard visual assets throughout the building including concourse signage, logo positioning on the 360 degree Digital Ring and on the Tri-vision scoreboards located at the North and South ends of the arena. Plans are also in the works to "hawk" pizzas down the aisles during events making this a first for the center.

About Pizza Patron -- Pizza Patron was founded by Antonio Swad in 1986. Since franchising began in March 2003, the brand has grown from four locations in Dallas to 82 locations in six states, with more than 40 additional stores under development. Pizza Patron features festive, Latin-influenced pizza stores that are community-based in Spanish-speaking or predominately Hispanic neighborhoods. Since 2006, Pizza Patron has expanded its menu to include new items such as Patron Dippers(TM), Fiesta Wings(TM), BreadStix(TM), QuesoStix(TM) and ChurroStix(TM). Additionally, they successfully rolled-out their LISTA-NOW READY(TM) pizza program nationally. The carry-out pizza chain also features a variety of different store models including DINE-IN, RAPIDITO(TM) (airports/malls), TIENDITA(TM) (portable mini-store extension) and their LISTA DRIVE-THRU(TM) concept. All pizza dough is made fresh throughout the evening; no preservatives are added or needed. The sauce is prepared fresh in the stores from crushed Roma tomatoes and marinated with a secret blend of herbs and spices. Only 100% mozzarella cheese is used on all pizzas. X-Large pizzas are offered at prices as low as $6 for cheese and one topping and $4 for the same medium AMIGO PIZZA(TM). An X-Large 'La Patrona' deluxe pizza with everything is priced as low as $8.

For more information, visit http://www.pizzapatron.com/.

SOURCE Pizza Patron