Coke Zero Seeking Qualified ''Job Candidates'' Who Never Back Down During NCAA(R) March Madness(R)
Coke Zero to "Hire" Four College Hoops Fans Who Refuse To Compromise When Watching the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
NCAA basketball fans, it's time to polish up those "resumes." Coke Zero, known for never backing down in delivering real Coca-Cola taste and zero calories, is launching a nationwide "job search" to "hire" four fans who never back down when it comes to following all of the exciting action of NCAA March Madness. No 4.0 grade point averages needed. Only diehard fans with unbridled passion and enthusiasm for everything college hoops need apply.
The four individuals who are chosen for the Coke Zero "Ultimate Dream Job," will assemble in San Antonio, TX, site of the 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four(R), where they will be "challenged" to watch every minute of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
The four new "employees" will live in "CokeZeroVille" beneath the official giant Coke Zero Tournament Bracket at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio from Sunday, March 16, through Saturday, April 5. There they will view every game on television and or laptop computers via NCAA March Madness on Demand and blog about their experience online. If these fans complete this unusual job, they will be escorted by an NCAA basketball legend into the Alamodome on Saturday, April 5, to sit in the lower level for the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Semifinals.
"NCAA basketball fans are among the savviest and most demanding in all of sports and are uncompromising about immersing themselves in March Madness," said Caren Pasquale Seckler, group director, Low Calorie Colas, Coca-Cola North America. "That never back down attitude that sets NCAA basketball aficionados apart is shared by Coke Zero drinkers who never compromise when it comes to enjoying real Coke taste and zero calories."
Ideal candidates for the Coke Zero "Ultimate Dream Job" should be intense, relentless, dynamic, unpredictable, dramatic, inspiring, authentic and youthful. Applicants should embody the passion and tenacity of NCAA March Madness and believe that anything is possible, including improbable upsets. Those with the right stuff should apply for one of four Coke Zero job openings at www.cokezerodreamjob.com. Resume submissions must be 200 words or less and explain how the candidate never backs down when consuming the heart-pounding drama of NCAA March Madness. They must also include a photo demonstrating spirit and creativity.
"Through this distinctive call to action, Coca-Cola is creatively highlighting the central role that fans play in adding to the excitement of NCAA basketball and March Madness," said Greg Shaheen, NCAA Senior Vice President for Basketball and Business Strategies. "This is a dream opportunity for any NCAA basketball enthusiast and we look forward to seeing which four candidates get the chance to follow NCAA Championship action from San Antonio."
Prior to the start of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, Coke Zero will announce the four new hires, as selected by a panel of judges. Once in San Antonio, the employees will begin their assignment -- to never back down by watching all games of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship leading up to the NCAA Men's Final Four. The CokeZeroVille digs will be outfitted with flat screen televisions, satellite television service and WiFi Internet access to enable the participants to follow every game via NCAA March Madness on Demand.
Beginning February 14, entries for the Coke Zero Dream Job Challenge can be submitted at www.cokezerodreamjob.com. The entry period concludes at midnight on February 27, 2008. Official rules and more information are also posted on the site.
The four participants can also use the Coke Zero "Bracket-O-Matic" to help them fill out their individual NCAA March Madness brackets. For the second season, fans who visit www.bracketomatic.com, can use a special online tool to weight different preferences -- such as "underdog," "dynasty," and "offense." Based on their selections, the Bracket-O-Matic then automatically fills out their bracket. Coke Zero's NCAA March Madness program features even more elements including packaging and point-of-sale materials adorned with special NCAA Men's Final Four graphics, branded vignettes that air during NCAA basketball game broadcasts, and extensive brand sampling and activation in San Antonio.
Coca-Cola is an Official NCAA Corporate Champion, the Official Fan Refreshment of the NCAA and partner with the NCAA in an 11-year association which includes beverage marketing and media rights to 88 NCAA Championships.
About the Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions -- AT&T, Coca-Cola and Pontiac -- and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners --DiGiorno, Enterprise, The Hartford, Lowe's, Sheraton and State Farm.
NCAA, Final Four and March Madness are licensed by or trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released February 14, 2008