INTERNATIONAL PLAZA TEAMS WITH TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Released: 05/03/07
CONTACTS:
Nina Mahoney, International Plaza (813) 342-3780
nmahoney@taubman.com
Elizabeth Vocke, Hill & Knowlton, (813)775-6206,
elizabeth.vocke@hillandknowlton.com
Katherine Howbrook, Hill & Knowlton, (813) 775-6210
katherine.howbrook@hillandknowlton.com
INTERNATIONAL PLAZA TEAMS WITH TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
TO CREATE LOONEY TUNES-THEMED PLAY AREA
TAMPA, FLA., May 3, 2007 — International Plaza is teaming up with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to create an interactive, indoor Looney Tunes play area, Taubman Centers (NYSE:TCO), which owns the Tampa mall, announced today.
The innovative playscape lets kids rub elbows with three-dimensional, baseball-playing Looney Tunes favorites, from Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to Pepé Le Pew and the Tasmanian Devil. Embedded, pressure-activated sound chips will emit cartoon sound effects each time a child steps on them, making the play area sound as good as it looks. It opens Thursday, May 3 at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Devil Rays teammates Carlos Pena, Greg Norton and Ty Wigginton will be on hand until noon May 3 for the playscape’s unveiling. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and a Warner Bros. animator/designer will join the festivities throughout the day, too, and return Friday, May 4 as well.
"This sponsorship is a terrific fit for our ball club," said Rays President Matt Silverman. "It helps us reach out to one of our most important fan bases - families - and positions us in the heart of one of Tampa Bay's most popular destinations - International Plaza."
The major league team will have a significant presence at International Plaza as part of the sponsorship. In addition to exclusive naming rights of the Children’s Play Area and the honor of being the exclusive sports team of International Plaza, Devil Rays will sell tickets at the shopping center year round and occasionally sell merchandise at a booth near the Play Area. The Rays will host events at International Plaza, including multiple performances by the Rays Spirit Team at Bay Street. In turn, International Plaza will co-sponsor the Rays annual December holiday party for needy children at Tropicana Field.
“When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays stepped forward as our local sponsor, our baseball theme fell right in place with all the Looney Tunes characters,” says Nina Mahoney, International Plaza marketing & sponsorship director. “I know it’ll be a hit with everyone.”
International Plaza is only the third shopping center nationwide to have this interactive, indoor Looney Tunes play area. The play area evolved from a national alliance between Taubman and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The first such playscape opened at Taubman’s Northlake Mall in Charlotte, N.C., in
September 2005. The one at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, Va., opened this January. Each one is custom designed to capture the passions of the community and in Tampa’s case, for its beloved Devil Rays.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have proudly represented Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region since 1998. The organization and its foundation are committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interaction and charitable contributions.
International Plaza and Bay Street, located near the southern edge of Tampa International Airport, is a 1.26 million square foot enclosed two-story regional shopping center with an adjacent open-air “lifestyle” area known as Bay Street at the Plaza. The shopping attraction offers more than 200 specialty stores and 15 restaurants, plus Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Dillard’s. International Plaza & Bay Street is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Restaurants’ hours vary.
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LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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