Published: September 21, 2009
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Van Heusen and JCPenney Call on Football Fans to Debate and Vote for Their Choice for the Class of 2010
NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Tapping into the passion and knowledge of pro football fans, Pro
Football Hall of Fame Enterprises, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
[NYSE:PVH] and J. C. Penney Company, Inc. [NYSE: JCP] have teamed up to
provide the first-ever dedicated forum for fans to debate,
discuss, and voice their
choice by voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Class of
2010. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors will have final
say, but the collective Fan's Choice for the 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee
Class will be revealed live on the NFL Network in Miami on February 6,
2010, just prior to the official announcement from the Board.
Pro football fans are invited to visit the Van Heusen Pro Football
Hall of Fame Fan's Choice at www.jcp.com/fans
now and throughout the season to view and experience the most in-depth
coverage surrounding the 2010 Hall of Fame Class selection. The robust
forum will include stats on all 130+ candidates and opinions from
football experts, Hall of Fame players and fans around the country. Fans
are invited to participate in the debate and lobby for their favorite
players, post video messages and vote for their choice for the 2010
class. The collective Fan's Choice will be observed by the accounting
firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
"This is a historic moment for the Hall and for football fans, as it
marks the first time we are endorsing this type of fan voting
forum," said George Veras, President Pro Football Hall Of Fame
Enterprises. "Although the fan's vote will not count towards the
official selection process, one thing is certain, the Hall will hear the
fans loud and clear."
"We are proud to have our Van Heusen brand partnering with
JCPenney and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to unleash the passion of pro
football fans by giving them their own platform to speak up and be
heard," said Allen Sirkin, President and Chief Operating Officer of
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation. "This is the only official
opinion poll on this subject and we're excited to see the debate and
how, ultimately, the Fan's Choice for the Class of 2010 stacks up
against the choices of the Board of Selectors."
In addition to the campaign being centered on jcp.com, JCPenney stores
around the nation will offer eligible fans the opportunity to enter a
text-and-win sweepstakes for exclusive experiences, which include
playing golf with Hall of Famers at Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Spanish
Bay Country Clubs; a VIP trip to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida; and a
VIP experience to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend
including tossing the coin at the 2010 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
"Our partnership with Van Heusen and the Pro Football Hall of
Fame will provide an exciting experience for our customers, allowing us
to communicate our signature style, quality and affordable prices
through a venue that men know and love - football," said Steve Lawrence,
Executive Vice President of Men's Apparel at JCPenney. "As one of
America's largest retailers for licensed sports apparel, we know that
our customers are very passionate about football. We are thrilled to
launch an interactive site with Van Heusen for these fans supported by a
comprehensive marketing campaign that reinforces JCPenney as the
preferred shopping destination for men."
Hall of Fame quarterback, ESPN NFL analyst and program spokesperson
Steve Young cast the first fan vote for the Class of 2010 during the
first of four one-hour television shows titled, "Road to Canton" that
aired on the NFL Network this past Saturday. The series chronicles the
Hall of Fame's nomination and selection process, from an initial list of
130+ eligible retired players, coaches and contributors announced in
September through cuts made in November and January, to the eventual
final selection for the Class of 2010 in February. The series of shows
will feature the Fan's Choice as recorded from votes posted on the Van
Heusen Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan's Choice web site along with
updates, polls, fan videos and other content from the robust site.
"Pro football fans are extremely knowledgeable and have never had a
platform like this to express their passions for who they think should
be in the Hall," said Young. "I'm excited to see who they rally behind
and how their choices compare to those of the Board of Selectors."
The Van Heusen Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan's Choice will also
be featured at select NFL stadiums around the nation. Events will be
held at key NFL match-ups and will feature appearances by Hall of Famers
and memorabilia from the Hall of Fame's permanent collection, as well as
"Fan Face-Off" debates where fans will have the opportunity to go
head-to-head against each other and make a case for their favorite
player. The tour made its first stop at the Chicago Bears season
home-opener on Sunday, September 20th against the Pittsburgh
Steelers. Bears Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, along with
Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swan, participated and interacted with fans.
Visit www.jcp.com/fans
for tour information.
A comprehensive ad campaign will be featured across TV, radio, print,
digital and outdoor, including within ESPN's Monday Night Football, the
nationally-syndicated "Mike & Mike" program, NFL Network, Sports
Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. Digital outlets include ESPN.com,
NFL.com, Yahoo.com, AskMen.com, Brash.com as well as on the 80x60 foot
Times Square Billboard @ 42nd and Broadway.
About Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is one of the world's largest apparel
companies. It owns and markets the Calvin Klein brand worldwide. It is
the world's largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of
goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, IZOD, ARROW, Bass
and G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands, including Geoffrey Beene,
Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, unlisted, A Kenneth Cole
Production, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Attitude, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean
John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud,
Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY and Timberland. Visit www.pvh.com.
About JCPenney
JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,106
department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well
as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet,
jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business.
Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of
national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's
commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart
price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company
posted revenue of $18.5 billion in 2008 and is executing its strategic
plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this
strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended
to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers
by fully engaging the Company's approximately 150,000 Associates to
offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they
shop with JCPenney.
About Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Mission of THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME is to honor individuals who
have made outstanding contributions to professional football; to
preserve professional football`s historic documents and artifacts; to
educate the public regarding the origin, development and growth of
professional football as an important part of American culture; to
promote the positive values of the sport.
Edelman
Heather Ferraiuolo, 212-704-8203
Heather.Ferraiuolo@matter-edelman.com
or
Media:
Phillips
-Van Heusen Corporation
Jason Colin, 212-381-3937
jasoncolin@pvh.com
or
Investor:
Phillips-Van
Heusen Corporation
Mike Shaffer, 212-381-3523
mikeshaffer@pvh.com
or
JCPenney
Quinton
Crenshaw, 972-431-5581
qcrensha@jcpenney.com
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