Timberland Hosts "Boots On, Face Off" Event in December to Kick Off 2012 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships

STRATHAM, N.H., Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Timberland is gearing up the city of Minneapolis for Pond Hockey season early this year.  Today, the brand announced plans for "Boots On, Face Off," a boot hockey exhibition game being hosted in conjunction with the 2012 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, where the retailer will sponsor the Boot Hockey category for the second year running.  On December 8, famed hockey greats will take to the ice sans skates, instead donning rugged Timberland® boots for an exciting game at Bryant Square Park, one of the city's premiere outdoor ice skating destinations.

"We've been equipping people for New England winters for generations, and much like New Englanders, residents of Minneapolis embrace the season as a time when they can enjoy some of their favorite outdoor activities," said John Pazzani, vice president, direct to consumer for Timberland.  "'Boots On, Face Off' was designed with the help of our friends at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships to celebrate our new store opening, and what it means to have passion for the outdoors, whatever the conditions may be.  If you want to look great and be protected from the elements, then Timberland is a brand for you."

"Boots On, Face Off" will take place on Thursday, December 8 from 6pm – 7pm at Bryant Square Park Rink, located at 3101 Bryant Avenue South and near Timberland's new store location at Calhoun Square.  Admission is free and the event is open to the public.  Learn more at facebook.com/timberland.

"By extending our partnership with Timberland and collaborating on such a fun and anticipated event, we're driving excitement and getting local fans ready early for the games in January," said Patrick Petschel, director of sponsorships and partnerships at U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.  "The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is something thousands of people look forward to each year, and we're grateful that our new neighbor in town is helping us bring this event to Minneapolis."

The new Timberland® Minneapolis store officially opens November 18 at 3001 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 1170, Minneapolis, MN, 55408.  Store phone: (612) 825-1142. Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 8:30 pm; Sunday 10 am – 7 pm.  The store will offer a full range of outdoor apparel, footwear and accessories, including Timberland's popular Earthkeepers® collection of eco-minded boots and apparel, elite collections such as Timberland Boot Company® and the Abington Collection, and an exclusive, Minnesota-themed Timberland® t-shirt.

Pazzani added, "The combination of our new store opening and this unique event allow us to get to know customers in one of our key gateway cities.  We look forward to meeting lots of new faces in the coming months, and providing great looking, outdoor-tested footwear and apparel to help take folks through the winter and, of course, Pond Hockey season."

About Timberland

Timberland, a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation, is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it.  Timberland markets products under the Timberland®, Timberland PRO®, Mountain Athletics®, Timberland Boot Company® and howies® brands, all of which offer quality workmanship and detailing and are built to withstand the elements of nature.  The company's products can be found in leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland® retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South America, South Africa and the Middle East.  Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" -- forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work.  To learn more about Timberland, please visit www.timberland.com.    

About the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships

The USPHC is the nation's original and largest outdoor pond hockey tournament and features 250+ teams on 25 rinks.  This year's event is set for Jan. 20 – 20 on the frozen waters of Lake Nokomis. Visit www.uspondhockey.com for more information.

CONTACT:
Christina Petroni
Porter Novelli
(212) 601-8164
[email protected]

SOURCE Timberland