LIDS Sports Group Unveils Retail Plans for 'The Huddle'

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LIDS Sports Group, the Indianapolis-based company which operates specialty headwear retailer LIDS and sports apparel LIDS Locker Room stores, has reached an agreement with the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee to set up a LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre store within "The Huddle" for the big game.  This special event retail location will be in operation from January 27 through February 5, 2012.

"This is a great opportunity to elevate the LIDS brand and to show our hometown pride," said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher.  "As the nation's leading licensed headwear and apparel retailer, we are a shopping destination every Super Bowl, however it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even greater involvement with one held on our home field."

Key LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre logistical factors include:

• The 23,000 square foot store will absorb the second floor of "The Huddle at Circle Centre."
• Located right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the temporary retail space will be transformed into a fan destination with activities and autograph session opportunities, as well as a wide selection of officially licensed AFC, NFC and Super Bowl XLVI apparel and memorabilia.
• More than 250 LIDS Sports Group corporate office employees will volunteer to staff LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre.  This is in addition to the company's nearly 200 employees that will travel from across the country to support the location.
• LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre hours of operation will be:

In addition, LIDS Sports Group donated uniform apparel for all of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee's volunteers.  Donated garments include a winter coat, Dri-Fit tops, back pack, ear bands, knit hats and mittens.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with LIDS, a hometown retailer, to provide more than 8,000 uniforms to keep volunteers warm as they welcome the world to Indianapolis," said Allison Melangton, president and chief executive officer of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee.  "With great support and representation from local businesses such as LIDS, we will put our best foot forward for fans visiting the great city of Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI."

"The decision to work with the Super Bowl Host Committee to outfit their volunteers and increase our retail exposure was a natural fit within our business model," said Kocher.  "We look forward to working with the committee to showcase Indianapolis as the world class city it is."

Five percent of every purchase made at the LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre location will be donated to the newly established LIDS Foundation to help support its mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of disadvantaged youth by helping organizations that sustain healthy, active lifestyle programs.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce websites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

ABOUT THE 2012 INDIANAPOLIS SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE
The purpose of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, as defined by the NFL, is to centralize the planning and execution of the 2012 Super Bowl through one entity to ensure coordination of all efforts and community resources. The Host Committee serves as an extension to the National Football League in the local community, as the city's ambassador to incoming Super Bowl fans, guests, and corporations, and as a manager of local resources such as city services, event venues, accommodations, and thousands of volunteers. For more information, visit: http://www.IndianapolisSuperBowl.com.

SOURCE LIDS Sports Group