LG Electronics Makes Full-Court Press in Houston During NCAA® Final Four® Week

HOUSTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics USA, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA®, is taking over Houston as the city gears up for the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four®.

Throughout the week, Houston residents and college basketball fans from across the country will enjoy a host of LG-themed events and initiatives. Activities include LG's next-generation 3D TV showcase at the Tip-off Tailgate events outside Reliant Stadium, LG "Do March Right" sustainability projects, and activities at the Bracket Town™ ultimate fan experience, where the fan-favorite LG Coaches' Cook-off™ will be held, featuring NCAA coaches competing head-to-head in the LG Kitchen for charity.  

"We are thrilled to build on our partnership with the NCAA for the 2011 tournament, and expand our major presence throughout the always-exciting Final Four week events," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA. "Through an immersive fan experience in Houston, LG is tapping into college basketball fans' passion, and we're proud to offer Houston locals and visitors the opportunity to be part of the action and create even more excitement surrounding the championship games."

LG Experience at NCAA Bracket Town

At the NCAA's Bracket Town Refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero™, the NCAA Final Four ultimate fan fest (George R. Brown Convention Center from March 31 – April 4), LG's 4,500-square-foot exhibit houses a host of fan-friendly activities with the LG Kitchen as its centerpiece. This interactive area engages consumers with products from LG's home entertainment, home appliance and mobile phone categories.

Highlights include a "Buzzer Beater Obstacle Course" featuring the latest laundry and vacuum products, and a "3D Me" display that allows fans to see themselves shooting hoops on LG's Cinema 3D HDTVs. World-famous street style dunker and ball handler, "The Professor," will also be part of the LG fan experience, showing off his skills and entertaining attendees. An "LG Smart Coach" exhibit will feature LG SMART TVs where users have the opportunity to use the LG Magic Motion remote to maneuver through NCAA Basketball content on LG HDTVs. Bracket Town attendees are also invited to relax in LG's Courtside Seats and watch exciting basketball moments from this year's tournament.

LG Coaches' Cook-off

Top NCAA men's basketball coaches will trade in their playbooks for aprons at the LG Coaches' Cook-off in the LG Kitchen at Bracket Town taking place on Saturday, April 2 at 12 noon CDT and Sunday, April 3 at 1:30 p.m. CDT.  Game time prep and play will include chopping, seasoning and sauteing with celebrity chef Tim Love serving as head referee. At this fan-favorite event, LG is making a donation in the participating coaches' names to Coaches vs. Cancer, a program that unites the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches in the fight against cancer.

LG Cinema 3D Consumer Experience at NCAA Tip-Off Tailgate

LG will also host an interactive fan experience at the Tip-off Tailgate Presented by Infiniti® in the Blue Lot outside of Reliant Stadium, home court for the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four games. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience LG's next-generation Cinema 3D HDTVs. LG Cinema 3D uses a similar 3D technology as employed in movie theaters. Because the glasses do not need to sync with an emitter, viewers can watch from nearly any angle in the room. The reasonable cost of the glasses also makes it easier to buy as many pairs as needed to host family and friends for a 3D sports night. Attendees are invited to compare LG Cinema 3D technology to conventional 3D and choose which they prefer by shooting a basketball into the corresponding basket. Participants will also have a chance to win their very own LG Cinema 3D HDTV. The Tip-off Tailgate is open to game-ticket holders only.

LG "Do March Right" Green Initiatives

The NCAA is going green, and LG is leading the way on major sustainability projects taking place during Final Four week.

As part of the LG Electronics Recycling Program, Houston residents had an opportunity to "Do March Right" and get rid of old TVs, computers and other electronic equipment in an environmentally-sound manner free of charge.  More than 30,000 pounds of used, unwanted, obsolete or damaged consumer electronics were collected at the special NCAA eCycling drop-off event on March 26 at Reliant Park.

For this exciting pre-game warm-up event for Final Four week, LG joined forces with Waste Management Recycle America, the Official Sustainability Partner of The Big Dance Concert Series and Bracket Town, as well as the Houston Final Four Local Organizing Committee. Along with this recycling initiative, residents were invited to join LG and take the "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" pledge.  In related in-store promotions, LG and local retailer, Conn's, encouraged consumers to replace old electronics with new ENERGY STAR® products.

Back at NCAA Bracket Town, energy efficient products, from ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators and washing machines to HDTVs and computer monitors will help LG educate fans about energy savings. LG is a pledge driver for the EPA's "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign. Visitors to LG's Bracket Town experience will be able to take the pledge and enter into a sweepstakes for the chance to win an ENERGY STAR qualified LG LED HDTV.

About LG Electronics USA

A proud Corporate Partner for the NCAA, LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA, Inc.