PUMAŽ and Foot Locker Europe Launch Beach Ball
Fans Enjoy the Sun, Sea and Sand While the Pros Battle it out on the Pitch
Herzogenaurach, Germany, June 4, 2004 - PUMAŽ and Foot Locker Europe have partnered to launch Beach Ball, a unique event surrounding the football championships in Portugal this June. Focusing on the fans, Beach Ball is a co-ed 4-on-4 beach football tournament hosted at Praia do Homem do Leme in Porto June 12 - 14.
The Beach Ball weekend of events will kick-off Saturday with a VIP tournament mirroring the schedule of matches being played in Portugal by the pros. Some of the players will include Swedish footballer Mats Magnusson, UK band Ladytron and Mani from Primal Screamm. Following the VIP finals on Sunday will be the winners of the Foot Locker consumer contest with the consumer final being held Monday afternoon.
The consumer contest is being promoted with a TV spot running on MTV, in-store displays in over 430 Foot Locker locations across Europe and on-line mini site at footlocker.puma.com. The TV campaign and in-store creative have a similar look to PUMA's new Italia campaign, which focuses on two die-hard Italian football fans. The Foot Locker spot features the two fans as they try to find their way to Portugal for the Beach Ball tournament.
To compete in the Beach Ball tournament, prospective players can enter their team to win at any Foot Locker in Europe. Consumers enter a full team of six at point of sale with the winner from each market announced June 1st. The contest winners will consist of eight teams from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany/Austria, Benelux, Denmark/Sweden and the UK. The winning team of each market wins an all expense trip to compete in the Beach Ball tournament in Porto, Portugal June 12 - 14.
The Praia do Homem do Leme beachfront venue also lends itself to spectators to soak up the sun, sea and sand. Event production agency CMC International will create a grandstand area for fans to view the Beach Ball tournament. To add to the atmosphere, local DJ's will spin between each round of the competition and a headlining act will close out Saturday's events.
About Foot Locker Europe
Foot Locker Europe is a division of Foot Locker, Inc., the world's largest athletic specialty retailer. Foot Locker is the place to get the latest and greatest from the worlds leading brands. Foot Locker prides itself on its exclusive collection, which has established Foot Locker as the retailer that is sought out by a discerning customer base. The highly trained Stripers, whose expertise is an integral part of the Foot Locker concept, illustrate the Foot Locker passion for gear.
PUMAŽ is the global athletic brand that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA's unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries. For further information please visit www.puma.com.
PUMA Media Relations
Lisa Beachy
International PR
+1 617 488 2945
Foot Locker Europe
Brand Manager
Tania Proietti
+31 347 32 3300