Football Legends Terry Bradshaw, Warren Moon, Joe Namath, Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders to be Featured in Powerball Advertising Campaign

CLEVELAND, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- America's biggest football stars are beefing up their playbook with the launch of a new $30 million television, radio and print Powerball advertising campaign. Football greats Terry Bradshaw, Warren Moon, Joe Namath, Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders come together in a unique and entertaining promotion that invites fans to join 100 Pro Football Hall of Famers for the first-ever Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Festival at the Cleveland I-X Center May 3-4, 2014. Powerball winners also will have the chance to attend the "Ultimate Tailgate Party" the evening before the Fan Festival through Powerball lotteries in 18 states across the country.

"As a Pro Football Hall of Famer, I realize more than ever how much I owe to the fans who gave me so much support as a player," said Terry Bradshaw, who was inducted in 1989. "I always receive such a warm reception from fans, and this Fan Fest is a great chance to say thanks to the Hall of Fame fans of the game."

Powerball Advertising Campaign

This week, one of America's most popular games, Powerball, will be joined together with America's titans of football, the Pro Football Hall of Famers, in a distinctive ad campaign that will air in the 18 states running the promotion and will highlight the opportunity to meet these greats at Fan Fest.

Taking a look into one couple's decision to play Powerball, the ads showcase the football greats playing games such as darts and billiards, and even "Dancing with the Stars" Season 2 Runner-Up Jerry Rice doing his famous cha-cha (Follow link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvaNfaGiAc4).

Other elements of the campaign feature Warren Moon "going long" on a pass through the aisles of a convenience store and Barry Sanders running right to left across the screen in that same store with Joe Namath behind the cash register for good measure. Each commercial ends with a message from football legend Terry Bradshaw. Additional broadcast ads will rollout in 2014.

Ads will air begin airing in the 18 markets on the following dates:

• New Mexico – currently airing
• North Carolina – Oct. 9
• Kentucky – Nov. 4
• New Hampshire – Nov. 4
• Pennsylvania – Nov. 4
• Rhode Island – Nov. 4
• South Dakota – Nov. 4
• Tennessee – Nov. 4
• Vermont – Nov. 4
• New York – Nov. 4
• Iowa – Nov. 8
• Nebraska – Nov. 11
• Kansas – Nov. 17
• Ohio – Nov. 17
• Indiana – Nov. 19
• West Virginia – Nov. 24
• New Jersey – Dec. 1
• Florida – Dec. 2

Fan Festival

Giving fans the opportunity of a lifetime, the Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates 50 years by allowing people to get up close and personal with 100 Pro Football Hall of Famers at Fan Fest. Joining America's biggest game with America's biggest players, the Hall of Fame is letting America's biggest fans get in on the action May 3-4, 2014, at the I-X Center in Cleveland. The first-of-its-kind event will give fans the opportunity to hear Hall of Famers talk about the upcoming 2014 NFL draft in round table sessions, attend football clinics on a 100-yard football field, be treated to a sports film festival with Hall of Famers as their movie guides and have a chance to get autographs from 100 Hall of Famers. Tickets will be available for purchase in December 2013.

"The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a tribute to the players that have made professional football America's most popular sport and we wanted to celebrate that by bringing the players and fans together for the first-ever Hall of Fame Fan Festival," said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO. "Through the promotion with Powerball, we're able to utilize the legends of the sport to highlight the opportunity for fans to interact firsthand with the players they know and love."

Exclusive Power Players Ultimate Tailgate Party

Through the Powerball promotion, 200 lucky players will win the chance to attend the Ultimate Tailgate Party on Friday, May 2. At an exclusive event on the eve of the Fan Festival's opening, the winners will be able to mingle with all 100 Hall of Famers at the world's largest indoor tailgate party. The private event will include a dinner where Powerball winners and their guests will dine at a table with a Hall of Famer and then participate in a tournament of games (darts, pocket billiards, miniature golf), with another Hall of Famer. For a chance to go to the tailgate party, players from participating lotteries must purchase a minimum $10 ticket for a qualifying Powerball drawing and enter to win.

"We are very pleased to be able to merge the fun of two of America's greatest games," said Tom Romero, chairman of the Powerball Game Group and CEO of the New Mexico Lottery Authority.  "We appreciate the support of these outstanding athletes in helping to raise revenue for the good causes supported by America's lotteries."

For full details log on to http://www.profootballhof.com.

About the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Since opening in 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has grown to become an 118,000 sq. ft. internationally recognized institution and travel destination. A shining tribute to the men who have made professional football America's most popular sport, the Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio. Upholding the mission of honoring, preserving, educating and promoting football, the Hall of Fame:

• Honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to professional football
• Preserves professional football's historic documents and artifacts
• Educates the public regarding the origin, development and growth of professional football as an important part of American culture
• Promotes the positive values of the sport

Contact:
Nicole Okoneski
Rogers & Cowan
310-854-8189
[email protected]

SOURCE Pro Football Hall of Fame