DICK'S Sporting Goods and ESPN Introduce "Hell Week"

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), the largest U.S. based full-line sporting goods retailer, and ESPN introduce Hell Week, an original documentary chronicling the Station Camp High School football team as they endure a preseason overnight training camp deep in the Tennessee mountains. The documentary debuts Thursday, Aug. 22 on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Every August, thousands of high school football players return to the field with the goal of winning a championship. Before beginning their quest, their teams must survive a grueling week of conditioning, skills training and football strategy. Hell Week is a unique shared experience that builds character and strong team bonds, and sets the tone for the upcoming football season.

"DICK'S Sporting Goods Films Presents Hell Week provides a behind-the-scenes look into one of the most physically-demanding weeks in all of sports," said Ryan Eckel, DICK'S Sporting Goods Vice President, Brand Marketing. "Hell Week is an incredible story about a team coming together as they work to define who they are on and off the field."

Before getting picked-up by the ESPN Networks, DICK'S Sporting Goods Presents Hell Week began as a hard-hitting online series last August following Detroit's Cass Technical High School's journey prior to winning their second consecutive state football championship.  

"Hell Week has the make-up of what draws communities to high school sports," said Dan Margulis, ESPN Senior Director, Programming & Acquisitions. "Station Camp's preseason mirrors the experience of student athletes around the country in the grueling weeks leading up to the season's first kick. We are excited to give our viewers inside access to a team competing in the weekend's ESPN High School Kickoff action." 

Hell Week will debut on ESPN2 on Thursday, Aug. 22, and also airs on ESPNU through Aug. 26. Station Camp will host Beech High School in its season opener, also airing on ESPN2 as part of the ESPN High School Kickoff on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Noon. This is the team's first game to air on an ESPN network.

For more information on DICK'S Sporting Goods Films Presents Hell Week, visit www.dicks.com/hellweek.  Hell Week was produced by DICK'S Sporting Goods in partnership with Anomaly and Optimum Sports.   

About DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.
DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sports and fitness specialty omni-channel retailer offering a broad assortment of high quality, competitively-priced brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear in a specialty store environment. The Company also owns and operates Golf Galaxy, LLC, a golf specialty retailer. As of August 3, 2013, the Company operated 527 DICK'S Sporting Goods stores in 44 states, 81 Golf Galaxy stores in 30 states and eCommerce websites and catalog operations for DICK'S Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. news releases are available at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/investors.

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities. Based in Bristol, Conn., with 4,000 employees (7,000 worldwide) ESPN Plaza includes 950,000 square feet in 16 buildings on 123 acres (116 contiguous), with additional office space (400,000 sq. ft.) rented nearby. The company is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.  The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.