Enterprise Rent-A-Car Teams with Turner Sports Basketball Analyst Kenny Smith to Help Fans Choose the Greatest Pick-Up Moment in NCAA® March Madness® History

ST. LOUIS, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- From buzzer-beater shots and timely free throws to heart-stopping three-pointers and underdog victories, the NCAA^® Division I Men's Basketball Championship is filled with moments that inspire, energize and ultimately pick up teams and their fans. This year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA – and well known for picking up local customers at no extra cost – is helping fans identify the greatest pick-up moment in March Madness^® history.

In partnership with Turner Sports basketball analyst Kenny Smith, Enterprise is launching the "Ultimate Pick Up Moment." Between March 17 and April 3, fans can use an interactive bracket located on the Enterprise Facebook page to vote for the greatest-ever March Madness pick-up moment. Enterprise defines these moments as game-changing plays and performances in which players defy the odds, do the impossible and inspire everyone watching.

"Just as basketball student-athletes work to pick up their teammates and fans through inspirational plays, Enterprise employees pick up customers and co-workers with best-in-class customer service," said Jim Stoeppler, assistant vice president, Enterprise Brand Marketing. "The Ultimate Pick Up Moment engages our customers and basketball fans nationwide in an interactive experience designed around the service feature we're best known for, 'We'll Pick You Up.' As an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA for the past nine years – and as one of the nation's top recruiters of college grads – Enterprise is excited to join NCAA fans in supporting their favorite teams."

"The Ultimate Pick Up Moment adds a new layer of competition that makes this incredible tournament even more fun," said Smith, a college basketball standout at the University of North Carolina who played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship for four consecutive years. "I know firsthand how a big-time play can pick up an entire team and lead them to victory, and I am looking forward to reliving some of these unforgettable moments with passionate fans all over the country. I encourage fans to come back during each round to vote for the moments they think deserve top recognition." 

Patterned on the NCAA Championship format, 16 individual pick-up moments will be paired against one another, and fans will vote on the matchups through four separate rounds of voting. The moments that receive the most votes in each round will advance and, at the end, one ultimate pick-up moment will be crowned champion. In addition, after voting on each matchup, participants can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes, and one grand prize winner will score two tickets plus a trip to the 2015 NCAA^® Men's Final Four™.  For Official Rules, fans can visit the Enterprise Facebook page.

Enterprise's Ultimate Pick Up Moment voting round schedule is as follows:

• Round 1 (8 matchups) – March 17 - March 21
• Round 2 (4 matchups) – March 22 - March 26
• Round 3 (2 matchups) – March 27 - March 31
• Round 4 (1 matchup) – April 1 - April 3

The Ultimate Pick Up Moment program will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign that includes traditional and digital advertising, public relations and social media efforts. Kenny Smith will also take part in the campaign and will be featured in media appearances and online advertising.

Enterprise is recognized as a top hirer of college graduates by CollegeGrad.com and Diversity Employers Magazine, and this fiscal year alone, is hiring nearly 8,500 college graduates and more than 1,500 interns. The new employees will enter into the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Management Training program and Management Internship program.

"Our relationship with the NCAA clearly extends beyond activations around major sporting events," said Stoeppler. "Many of our new hires are former NCAA student-athletes, and we've found that their personal passion, competitive spirit and strong sense of teamwork help them excel at Enterprise."

For more information, official rules and to vote in Enterprise's Ultimate Pick Up Moment, fans can visit the Enterprise Facebook page. Additionally, fans can follow the action on Twitter using #EnterpriseNCAA. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.com. 

NCAA, March Madness and Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founded in 1957 and known for an extensive network of locations, everyday low rates and outstanding customer service, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand that was ranked on BusinessWeek magazine's annual list of "Customer Service Champs" for four years in a row. With more than 5,500 offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise operates not only as a key provider for insurance replacement, weekend getaways and special occasions, but also as a local transportation alternative.

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SOURCE Enterprise Rent-A-Car