The Wait Is Almost Over - The "Southwest Rink at Skyline Park" Officially Opens This Friday, Nov. 23

DENVER, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For a third consecutive year, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is bringing back the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park for outdoor ice skating in the Mile High City beginning Friday, Nov. 23. The Rink is located in Skyline Park next to the historic Daniels and Fisher Clocktower and near the intersection of 16th and Arapahoe streets. Skating will once again be FREE to the public with the option to bring skates or rent a pair for just $2.

To test the ice and build buzz leading up to the grand opening, Southwest Airlines and the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) hosted a broomball-style shot contest this afternoon – participants were given the opportunity to take a shot on goal and winners received one of 20 roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines.  Event attendees included Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks, and DDP President and CEO Tami Door.

To kick off the holiday giving season, Southwest Airlines also announced a $5,000 donation to Volunteers of America (VOA).  And rink-goers can join in the giving by dropping off a pair of gloves, mittens, or socks benefitting VOA throughout the rink season in exchange for a FREE skate rental. Jim White from Volunteers of America was in attendance to accept the donation.

"The opening of the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park during Thanksgiving is quickly becoming a Denver tradition and a favorite event of mine to kick off the holiday season," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.  "The Denver Spirit is showcased in the collaboration among Southwest Airlines, the Downtown Denver Partnership and Denver Parks and Recreation that provides such a fun, inexpensive winter activity for friends and families alike in Downtown Denver."

"We had more than 42,000 Denver residents and visitors lace up their skates last year at the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, so we're thrilled to begin the countdown to the official grand opening on Friday," said DDP's Tami Door. "The Rink brings low-cost entertainment and Southwest's signature Spirit to the heart of the Mile High City, while also helping activate our core Downtown area. Ice skating is truly fun for all ages, so we encourage everyone to come out to Skyline Park this winter."

"Three years running and we could not be more excited about the entertainment and activation planned for the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park," said Beth Harbin, Southwest Airlines Senior Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach.  "Southwest is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Downtown Denver Partnership for another year of winter fun and events. We're thrilled that the Rink continues to be part of the Mile High City's unique spirit that we all know and love."   

The Southwest Rink at Skyline Park will be open seven days a week from Friday, Nov. 23, through Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2013.  Visitors can participate in "Learn to Skate" sessions for kids and adults on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Southwest will sponsor free skate rentals on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year's Day (Jan. 1), Southwest's seventh anniversary of Denver service (Jan. 3), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 21) and Valentine's Day (Feb. 14). The Rink also will host broomball games beginning in January. For more information, visit southwestrink.com

Last year, the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park welcomed more than 42,000 skaters—more than 11,000 people over the inaugural season. The Rink also saw eight marriage proposals, 24 broomball teams, 12 occasions of live music, and 2,728 fun giveaways for different events. The Rink is made possible by a public-private partnership among the DDP, City of Denver Parks and Recreation Department, and Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on Jan. 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to three destinations.  The airline currently operates 163 daily nonstop flights to 54 destinations from Denver.  Southwest is also actively engaged in the community through sponsorships of the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Nuggets, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver's Road Home, the Mile High Pedicab Company, and many more local organizations.  To learn more about Southwest's dedication to Denver, visit: www.southwest.com/denver. 

About Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit business organization that creatively plans, manages and develops Downtown Denver as the unique, diverse, vibrant and economically healthy urban core of the Rocky Mountain region. For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 42^nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 46,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating passengers boarded, and including wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and six near-international countries. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People and Planet.  To read about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good corporate citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines