OfficeMax Helps Chicago Park District, Blackhawks Alumni 'Light the Lamp' for the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- OfficeMax^® Incorporated (NYSE:OMX), a leader in office supplies, technology and services, today teamed up with the Chicago Park District and Chicago Blackhawks alumni players to "light the lamp" on the newly-built ice hockey rink at Soldier Field. The ceremony kicked off the OfficeMax^® Hockey City Classic Winter Festival, a two-week celebration of winter activities capped off with the first outdoor collegiate hockey games at Soldier Field.

OfficeMax officials joined Chicago Park District leadership and youth hockey players with Inner-City Education at center ice to kick-off festivities with a ceremonial shot of the puck, alongside Blackhawks legends Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito.

"I want to thank OfficeMax and Intersport for teaming up with the Park District to transform Soldier Field, one of Chicago's greatest treasures, so that it can serve not only a whole new sport, but a new season as well," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Thousands of Chicago families will create a host of wonderful memories in this unique setting thanks to the generosity of these terrific corporate and community partners."

"OfficeMax is proud to sponsor Chicago's Hockey City Classic Winter Festival that has transformed Soldier Field into a unique winter destination for Chicagoland families and visitors," said Ravi Saligram, President and CEO of OfficeMax. "We are committed to serving our hometown, not only as Chicago's source for office supplies, interiors, print, technology and services, but also as a vital business in the life of the city and its people. Making the home of the Chicago Bears accessible to the public for ice skating and other events adds to the extraordinary legacy of Soldier Field that so many of us take pride in here in Chicago."

The OfficeMax Hockey City Classic Winter Festival will include numerous activities scheduled from Feb. 1–18 for Chicagoland residents and visitors through the Chicago Park District, including public free skating¹ Feb. 2 and 18, the High School Hockey Faceoff Feb. 8-9, as well as private ice rentals and community hockey events. Details for the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic Winter Festival are available at www.hockeycityclassic.com.

"The Chicago Park District is pleased to partner with OfficeMax and Soldier Field in this exciting winter festival that promises to give local families and Chicago visitors the opportunity to experience Soldier Field like never before," said Mike Kelly, General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District. "This unique event is just one of the many ways the Chicago Park District works to serve the children and their families of this great city."

"We are proud to invest in this great community where many of our customers, supply partners and associates live, work and play," said John Kenning, Executive Vice President and President of OfficeMax Workplace. "At OfficeMax, we believe in the value of building relationships and in cultivating the stewardship needed to position the greater Chicagoland community to thrive."

On Feb. 17, No. 9 Notre Dame will face No. 4 Miami at noon, followed by No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 19 Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m. Individual tickets for the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic on Feb. 17 are valid for both games and may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at Ticketmaster outlets.

The OfficeMax Hockey City Classic is organized by Chicago-based sports and entertainment marketing agency Intersport in partnership with Soldier Field, the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Sports Commission. For information, including ticket sales and schedule information visit HockeyCityClassic.com. For more information about OfficeMax products and services, visit OfficeMax.com.

About Soldier Field
Soldier Field, Chicago's premier event venue, hosts over 200 public and private events annually. The stadium is owned by the Chicago Park District and managed by SMG, the world leader in venue management, marketing and development. Soldier Field is the first stadium in North America and the only NFL stadium to be awarded LEED-EB Certified status by the U.S. Green Building Council. Visit www.SoldierField.net or call to learn more about its greening initiatives.

About Chicago Park District
For more information about the Chicago Park District's more than 8,100 acres of parkland, 580 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 10 museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312/742.PLAY or 312/747.2001 (TTY). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling, 312/742.PLAY.

About the Chicago Sports Commission
The Chicago Sports Commission is a division of Choose Chicago, Inc. Together, we market Chicago as the premier tourist and sports destination in the world. The Chicago Sports Commission actively recruits and attracts sporting events to Chicago and works to enhance the image of Chicago as a world-class sports town. For more information, visit www.chicagosportscommission.com.

About Intersport
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in the creation of sports and entertainment based marketing platforms. Intersport provides turnkey solutions for global brands by combining two award-winning divisions: Sponsorship & Event Marketing and Television & Digital Media. Intersport owns and operates seven annual live television events: All-Star Football Challenge, College Home Run Derby, College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, High School Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, Hockey City Classic, Women's Basketball Tip-Off Classic and the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game. To learn more about Intersport, log on to www.intersportnet.com, like us on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/IntersportBuzz) or follow us on Twitter (@IntersportBuzz).