First Time Black Friday Midnight Opening Draws 15,000 Guests to Mall of America®

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Nov. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Mall of America® welcomed more than 15,000 shoppers on Black Friday at midnight, generating the largest opening of any Black Friday in the history of the Mall. At 10 a.m., Mall of America had seen 81,000 guests walk through the doors and plans to break the record set last year of 200,000 visitors. Three hundred of those shoppers snapped their way to cash and prizes totaling $30,000 for the World's Largest QR Code simultaneous Snap+Win event.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111125/CG12545)

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, eager contestants began lining up in hopes to snap one of the 100 QR codes (Quick Response codes) embedded in a 50' by 30' MOA™ logo on the Rotunda floor with their own smart phone. At 6, 7 and 8 a.m., 100 guests stood by their code and waited for the cue to snap. Upon snapping the tag, the guests were directed to a web page that revealed their prize.

"Each year, Mall of America strives to offer our guests something fresh for Black Friday," said Maureen Bausch, executive vice president of business development at Mall of America. "With QR codes gaining momentum, the Snap+Win event gave us a unique opportunity to educate guests on the emerging technology and win some cash while having fun!"

Mall of America is also offering guests the chance to snap a QR code to win a $1,000 shopping spree from Black Friday through Dec. 23. Holiday Snap+Win codes will be placed on food court tables, digital signage and on the back of guest service staff t-shirts. Guests will use their smartphone to snap the tag and enter through an electronic entry form. The winner will be drawn and notified on Christmas Eve.

About Mall of America®

Mall of America is the nation's largest retail and entertainment complex. At 4.2 million square feet, MOA is home to more than 520 world-class shops; Nickelodeon Universe®, the nation's largest indoor family amusement park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium; Moose Mountain Adventure Golf; Theatres at Mall of America® - a 14-screen movie theater with VIP theatre and more. The Mall opened in August of 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Follow Mall of America on Facebook and Twitter or visit our blog.

SOURCE Mall of America