Future Shop announces major sponsorship with Maple Leaf Sports and
Entertainment

    
    Leafs GM Brian Burke to speak with media, customers and NHL fans live and
    online via Twitter
    

BURNABY, BC, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - Future Shop scores a hat trick in a new sponsorship deal with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics and MLSE today announced that Future Shop is the Official Consumer Electronics Retailer of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA) and Toronto Marlies (AHL) sports teams. Already a sponsor of MLSE's soccer club, Toronto FC, Future Shop deepens its commitment just before the start of another fun-filled hockey season.

"We're absolutely thrilled to partner with a world-class sports organization in Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment," said Nikki Hellyer , Director of Marketing, Future Shop. "It's about getting the Future Shop brand out there by teaming with a group who carries values like ours - quality, innovation, teamwork - and above all, giving back to the community. We're looking at ways to grow our partnership and are very excited to entertain our customers and fans during the seasons that lie ahead with Leafs, Raptors, Marlies and TFC."

As part of the partnership, Future Shop is the exclusive and official consumer electronics retailer. Future Shop logos and advertisements will emblazon Air Canada Centre and Ricoh Coliseum on LED signage and rink boards. Promotional events with exclusive giveaways will be held during the upcoming seasons as ways to give back to the Greater Toronto Area communities while raising brand awareness.

"Future Shop is a great Canadian brand and the leader in its category who consistently provides outstanding store and online experiences," said David Hopkinson , MLSE's Senior Vice-President of Corporate and Community Partnerships. "We're excited to introduce and extend the Future Shop experience to all our fans."

Maple Leafs fans invited to faceoff with Brian Burke and "Drop the Puck"

On Saturday, September 26, 2009 , Maple Leafs fans are invited to a live forum with Leafs President and GM, Brian Burke . Hosted at Future Shop's downtown Toronto flagship store, fans are encouraged to submit questions in advance and day-of the event via the company's Twitter account, @FS_Connect, as well as on their Community Forum (www.futureshopforums.ca). Future Shop's Community Forum will stream the action live starting at 1:00 p.m. EST . An autograph signing follows the event. For more information, visit www.futureshop.ca/burke.

Also, on Friday, October 2 , Maple Leafs fans and customers are invited to celebrate the start of the hockey season in a party-like atmosphere with Future Shop's Drop the Puck fan festival. From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST at the Eglinton and Laird Future Shop, fans will be entertained by a variety of activities and personalities, including the Leafs Mobile Fans Zone, Carlton the Bear and player appearances from the Marlies and a special Maple Leafs alumnus.

About Future Shop

With 142 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. Future Shop and its more than 10,000 employees are dedicated to providing customers with expert advice about home and entertainment technology both in-store and online. The company hosts an online community forum for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshopforums.ca). To help keep used electronics out of the landfills, Future Shop has an in-store recycling program for seven types of products (see www.futureshop.ca/green). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profits organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/community).

About Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) is one of the premier sports and entertainment companies that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Toronto Marlies Hockey Club of the American Hockey League (AHL), Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), Air Canada Centre and three digital channels - Leafs TV, Raptors NBA TV and GOLTV. MLSE also operates and manages events at BMO Field, home of Toronto FC, and Ricoh Coliseum, home of the Marlies.

For further information: Media contacts: Elliott Chun, Future Shop, P: [phone], E: [email protected]; Rajani Kamath, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, P: [phone]