MWW Group Tapped to Lead PR for 'Go Newark HoopFest' and the Arrival of the Men's 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament in Newark

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the five largest independent public relations firms worldwide, announced today that it has been hired by The GoNewark Sports & Entertainment Committee to promote "GoNewark HoopFest," kicking off on Wednesday, March 23rd.  From March 23rd – 27th, Newark's Prudential Center will host the 2011 NCAA East Regional Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The national event will welcome basketball fans from across the country to Newark and showcase the cosmopolitan city's role as a sports, arts, entertainment and culinary center.

MWW Group will employ a mix of traditional media outreach, grassroots communications and a robust social media campaign to promote the HoopFest events and encourage sustained tourism to Newark, a significant driver to the city's economic health. The events will serve as a catalyst for bringing Newark's lively culture and diversity to the forefront.

"The Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament is arguably the nation's most anticipated and beloved sporting event, and the arrival of the tournament in Newark presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the tremendous resurgence that has taken place in Newark," said Michael Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group.  "The 'GoNewark HoopFest' initiative will help to both celebrate Newark as a prolific sports city, as well as a cultural destination that is on par with the greatest cities in our country."

"GoNewark HoopFest" will host various free sports and entertainment activities at the Prudential Center and throughout the city surrounding the NCAA Tournament, and over the course of the next four months. Newark's proximity to New York City, easy access via mass transit and diverse cultural offerings has made the city an important cultural center in the tri-state area.

For more information about GoNewark HoopFest, go to http://www.GoNewark.com/HoopFest, visit Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GoNewark, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GNHoopFest.

About THE GO NEWARK SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE

The Committee appointed by Mayor Cory A. Booker is a cross-section of local business leaders and government officials organized to support GoNewark HoopFest and other big events that will be coming to Newark in the future. The list of member organizations (in formation) includes: Brick City SERVES/Office of the Mayor, City of Newark, Continental Airlines, Governor's Office of Volunteerism, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Ironbound Business Improvement District, Marriott, Newark Alliance, Newark Business Action Center, New Jersey Devils, Newark Downtown District, Newark Regional Business Partnership, NJ Transit, Port Authority of NY&NJ/Newark Liberty International Airport, PSEG, The Star-Ledger, Unionwear, Verizon, and representatives of many of Newark's other hotels.

About Prudential Center

Prudential Center opened in October, 2007 and is the first new arena built in the New Jersey, New York Metropolitan area in more than 25 years. The Rock is home to the three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball, the NBA's NETS Basketball, and in 2011 the WNBA's New York Liberty, Newark National Invitational, the NBA Draft and the NCAA East Regional Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Prudential Center is slated to host over 200 concerts and events in the coming year featuring some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment.

About MWW Group

MWW Group is one of the five largest independent public relations firms worldwide and is known for its results-driven approach to public relations and “Aim High. Deliver” commitment to client service. MWW Group is a different kind of agency.  Passionate, driven, highly experienced professionals with an entrepreneurial attitude, strategic thinking and flawless execution.  At MWW Group, we’re game changers, provoking new ways of thinking for ourselves and our clients.  This attitude and ability results in category re-defining campaigns and the delivery of outstanding results for our clients, exceeding their expectations and business goals.  In 2010, MWW Group was named Strategic PR Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report, Digital Firm of the Year and Team of the Year by PR News and has consistently been named one of the Top Places to Work in PR by PR News.  For more information visit www.mww.com and follow MWW Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE MWW Group