Soccer Fans Take "Control" With Sprint

USA - English

• Latin America - español

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint (NYSE: S), the official sponsor of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ tournament, launched an integrated campaign "Control" that offers soccer fans total access to the game they love. From the first game in Dallas on June 5 through to the finals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on June 25, soccer enthusiasts won't miss a minute with the exclusive Lo2Yo Futbol Sprint ID pack, available on Sprint ID-capable devices as well as from any data-capable Sprint phone at sprint.com/copa. The Lo2Yo Futbol pack is produced by LatCel, Sprint's partner for Latino-based content.

Adding to the ultimate fan experience, Sprint has partnered with the Mexican national team's all-time leading goal scorer, Jared Borgetti, who invites fans to join the action at the Lo2Yo Futbol Experience, an exciting pre-game activity area at select national matches for tech-savvy futbol consumers.  

At the Lo2Yo Futbol Experience, fans will have the opportunity to learn about Sprint's latest technologies, products and services, as well as the opportunity to win prizes by participating in:

• The Lo2Yo! ID Phone Bar, a dedicated area where fans can test the best-in-class Sprint devices and enter for a chance to win a trip to the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ Final
• Lo2Yo GOOOL Commentator. Ever wondered what you would sound like on TV? Sprint gives you the chance to call the play-by-play of a famous Gold Cup goal
• Legendary Meet-and-Greet, a chance to meet Mexican soccer legend Jared Borgetti, who will be on-site signing autographs for all the fans
• Interactive Futbol, a welcoming area that invites fans to step up to and score a goal for a chance at various soccer-themed prizes in this soccer shot station

"Thanks to Sprint, I have the unique opportunity to once again reignite my passion for futbol and connect with my fans at the Lo2Yo Futbol Experience," said Jared Borgetti. "Additionally, the technology Sprint offers gives me peace of mind that I won't miss a minute of the tournament while I'm working and away from the game I treasure."

Fans Take Control of the Copa Oro CONCACAF 2011
Sprint's new campaign "Control" brings the excitement of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ to life through an integrated communications program, created by The Vidal Partnership, the company's lead Hispanic advertising agency. The program kicks off with an interactive digital campaign that challenges consumers to take control of the game they love. "Control" is achieved by logging onto http://www.sprint.com/copa from your PC where online participants, in command of a virtual soccer ball, can test their juggling skills and compete for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ top score, as well as sharing their victory with friends via Facebook® Connect.

Fans' ability to take charge of their passion for soccer can be seen in Sprint's 30-second TV spot, which depicts a soccer fan's skillful control over the soccer ball as if he were an actual player in the middle of a game, while still being present for key moments of his everyday life. The fan dribbles and "heel kicks" the soccer ball through the park, the office, at a scheduled doctor's appointment, and even enjoys up-to-the minute plays, interviews and team status updates during a romantic dinner with his wife. Ultimately, the spot showcases how the Lo2Yo Futbol Sprint ID pack is essential for soccer fans wanting to access exclusive Gold Cup content instantly without disrupting a moment of their day-to-day responsibilities. It also highlights the Samsung Replenish™, the company's first eco-friendly Android™ powered device, available in all Sprint channels, including sprint.com, 1-800-Sprint1, Best Buy, RadioShack and Walmart, at the incredibly affordable price of $49.99 with a two-year service agreement. The campaign includes broadcast segment sponsorships and a digital experience via targeted online media.

"At Sprint we understand how passionate Latinos are about soccer. With that in mind, we seek to provide mobile solutions, like the exclusive Sprint ID Lo2Yo Futbol pack, that give our customers instant access and control of all the Gold Cup content at any given time, wherever they are", explained Kymber Umana, marketing manager for Sprint.  

Additionally, as part of the partnership with Univision Interactive Media, Sprint is able to provide its customers exciting Gold Cup mobile content via its advertising sponsorship, including:

• Live streaming of full-length tournament games, plus alerts for news and results from their favorite teams, all exclusive to Sprint customers
• Live polling during the games
• A sponsored Copa Oro mobile site, which features the latest sports news, real-time updates, and photos

Furthermore, the Sprint ID Lo2Yo pack includes:

• Automatic Twitter feeds by following #CopaOro201
• Video-on-demand
• Ringers, screensavers and more
  

For more information about the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ tournament and to get a list of all the upcoming games visit http://www.goldcup.org/page/GoldCup. Want to learn more about Sprint ID, visit sprint.com/sprintid (in English) and sprint.com/tusprintid (in Spanish). Sprint ID-capable devices include LG Optimus S™, Sanyo Zio™, Samsung Transform™, Samsung Epic™ 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab™ and Sprint ID packs are free to download with an Everything Data plan. Don't have a Sprint ID phone? Not a problem. You can visit sprint.com/copa from any data-capable Sprint phone to get exclusive Gold Cup content (standard data rates apply).  

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 51 million customers at the end of 1Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or http://www.facebook.com/sprint and http://www.twitter.com/sprint.  

SOURCE Sprint