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BOSTON, MA and BURBANK,
CA, January 9, 2013 ÛÓ New
Balance and Walt Disney Parks
& Resorts announced a multi-year
strategic alliance today that includes exclusive footwear, running-specific
initiatives and co-branding opportunities.
This exciting alliance will bring
New Balance’s innovative, design-forward athletic footwear to the leading
vacation destination in the world, in particular Disney’s thriving sports
business. As part of the collaboration, New Balance becomes the official athletic
shoe of Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and ESPN Wide World of
Sports Complex. New Balance also
becomes the official running shoe for runDisney race weekends and the official baseball shoe of amateur baseball
events at the Sports Complex.
In addition, New Balance
also becomes the title sponsor of the track & field facility at the ESPN
Wide World of Sports Complex, home of the annual Walt Disney World Cross Country
Classic and Disney’s Track & Field Spring Training for high school and collegiate
teams. Future initiatives include the creation of maps for the running trails
at Walt Disney World Resort and fitness programs for Disney resort guests
interested in pursuing healthy options.
“New Balance and Disney
share a commitment to quality and innovation,” says Rob DeMartini, President
and CEO of New Balance. “We are proud to work with Walt Disney Parks &
Resorts to showcase New Balance’s brand excellence and the benefits of an
active lifestyle.”
“Our relationship with New
Balance complements our company’s efforts to provide healthy options
for families during their Disney vacation,” said George Aguel, senior
vice president, Disney Corporate Alliances. “We are excited
about this new agreement and look forward to working with New Balance.”
To commemorate this alliance,
New Balance created a men’s and women’s limited edition runDisney 860v3 running shoe that captures the spirit
of two favorite Disney characters – Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. The 860v3 runDisney edition will be available for purchase at
the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Health & Fitness Expo from January 10-12,
future runDisney Health &
Fitness Expos, special events created jointly by New Balance and Walt Disney
Parks & Resorts as well as branded pop-up shops located at the ESPN Wide
World of Sports Complex.
About
New Balance
New
Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating
responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear,
associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. New
Balance is currently the only athletic shoe company that manufactures footwear
in the U.S. with 25% of our U.S. footwear shipments produced at five New
England facilities. The company also operates a manufacturing facility in
Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 4000 associates around the
globe, and in 2011 reported worldwide sales of $2.04 billion. To learn more
about how New Balance Makes Excellent Happen, please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
ABOUT
WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS
More
than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families
could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant
storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s
leading family vacation destinations ÛÓ Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt
Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba,
Japan; Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland
Resort,
located on Lantau Island. A sixth resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, is currently under construction in
Pudong New District, Shanghai. In addition, Walt
Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the
world’s most popular destinations; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts,
cruise ships, entertainment and attractions.
About runDisney
runDisney is a series of events providing
runners unique opportunities to run through Disney theme parks. Race
participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary
Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their
accomplishments with a Disney vacation. The original event in the series,
the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in
January followed by the Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February,
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler in September and the Disney Wine
& Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November. Disneyland Resort hosts the
Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon
in September during Labor Day Weekend. More than 150,000 running
enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more
information, visit runDisney.com and follow
us on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @runDisney.