Black and Hispanic leaders Tuesday credited their combined forces for convincing Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander to give them a share of the lucrative sales of food and drinks at the new downtown arena.

"If this coalition continues to work the way it did, I really think we could change the face of Houston," said Benjamin L. Hall, lawyer for plaintiffs that include the Houston Area Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Black and Hispanic leaders accepted an offer by Alexander that will let minority and women business owners share in food and drink sales at the arena, which is under construction.