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up over to the new BMO Centre in Stampede Park CALGARY, July 2, 2009 – Spurred on by 97 years as the official bank of the Calgary Stampede, BMO Financial Group upped the ante in 2009 to commit to the largest corporate sponsorship in Stampede history by acquiring the naming rights to the newly-expanded Roundup Centre in Stampede Park for the next ten years. Starting with this year’s Stampede, the 500,000-square-foot, year-round meeting and trade show facility will be known as BMO Centre. While increasing its Stampede sponsorship to the highest level-Stampede Champion-BMO will continue its longstanding support for:
New for 2009 is an increase to the bank’s presence during the Stampede with ‘The BMO Kids Zone,’ an interactive play area on Saddledome Lane which features ten full days of great family fun including:
“Our employees in Alberta are very proud to have provided banking services to the Stampede since the first Stampede in 1912 and to have been a sponsor for three decades,” said Ted McCarron, Senior Vice President, Prairies Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. “BMO is excited to see the first fruits of Stampede Park’s billion dollar development plans come to life. This enterprising and community-led group will continue to play a significant part in transforming Stampede Park into a multi-use community park where citizens can work and play and where visitors can be entertained year-round,” added McCarron. BMO Financial Group also announced a new perks program for the Stampede that delivers unique and unexpected privileges to BMO customers who attend the festivities. The Calgary Stampede BMO Power of Blue experience will include:
“In looking at our sponsorships we wanted to stretch ourselves beyond brand awareness and find ways to engage our customers with real and meaningful benefits,” said Sandy Bourne, Vice President Advertising, Corporate Sponsorship & Events, BMO Financial Group. “The key is to make our customers feel special at BMO-sponsored events, such as the Calgary Stampede. We aim to deliver unexpected, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime, opportunities,” added Ms. Bourne. BMO Mosaik MasterCard also incorporates the BMO Power of Blue activities into their marketing plans with three large midway locations showcasing the Stampede MasterCard and AIR MILES reward miles program information, and by rewarding existing customers with Stampede Store 15 percent discount coupons. An additional nine BMO Bank of Montreal ABMs brings the total to 25 in Stampede Park during the ten day “greatest outdoor show on earth.” - 30 - Official Bank of Giddy Up since 1912.
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