ESI Announces Enhanced Xbox 360 Sponsorship of 2008 Fifth Anniversary Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest Tour



All around the country, baseball fans of all ages will get a unique experience at the Xbox 360and Best Buy Home Run Derby Video Game Trailer, featured at the 5th Anniversary Edition of Entertainment and Sports International's (ESI) Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest tour set to begin its minor league itinerary on April 25 at the Birmingham Barons in Birmingham, Alabama and continue in 44 other locations across the nation. The Home Run Derby Video Game Trailer includes a specially constructed stage with multiple hi-def video screens and booming sound where attendees and fellow "band mates" can play Rock Band. Other Xbox 360 titles to be featured at the trailer throughout the tour will be The Bigs, MLB 2K8, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Burnout Paradise and more. In addition, Pitch In For Baseball, a non-profit organization, will be accepting donations of new and gently used baseball equipment throughout the entire tour.

The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, created and managed by ESI, is the first and most extensive traveling baseball festival in history. The tour visits over 50 different ballparks each season with an annual attendance of over 300,000 fans. Taking place during game days and beginning three hours before each game right outside main stadium gates, the event is free to all fans and features more than 20 baseball themed attractions and giveaways including a minor league baseball museum, a midway with batting and pitching cages, carnival games, a special "Rookie Zone" for younger fans, personalized Days Inn baseball cards and Sports Illustrated Kids magazine covers.

Baseball greats Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson have served as National Spokespeople and continue their support throughout this year's season. Xbox 360, Best Buy and ESI have also continued their support of Pitch In For Baseball during this year's tour. "Playing baseball may not solve all of the world's problems, but it can certainly help," states baseball superstar and initiative spokesperson Reggie Jackson. "Every child should have a chance to experience all the great things about baseball, from learning about teamwork and sportsmanship, to the fun of being outdoors with friends and slugging your first home run. I hope baseball fans everywhere will join me in applauding the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, Xbox 360, Best Buy and ESI in supporting the efforts of Pitch In For Baseball." Fans who donate to the special collections tent will be rewarded with valuable coupons from Xbox 360 and Best Buy and an exclusive home team ticket offer.

"We're proud to be a part of the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest," states Mike Fischer, General Manager, US Marketing, Xbox and Games for Windows. "It's a great opportunity for Xbox 360 to showcase our portfolio of family-friendly games in a fun, social environment. We also appreciate the opportunity to partner with Pitch In For Baseball, a great organization that gives back to the community by collecting and delivering new and gently-used youth baseball equipment to underserved communities. We would like to congratulate ESI on this being the 5th anniversary of the tour and encourage everyone to check out this exciting event in their local community."

For more information about the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, go to www.principal.com/funfest. To learn more about Pitch In For Baseball, go to www.pitchinforbaseball.com.





ESI Announces Enhanced Xbox 360 Sponsorship of 2008 Fifth Anniversary Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest Tour