Official Rules

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN

 

SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: “MidWest BasketBall TXT2WIN ®" Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") begins at 12:01AM EST on January 12, 2004 and ends at 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2005 (the "Sweepstakes Period").

 

HOW TO ENTER:

 

A.        To enter using text messaging:

 

If you are a Verizon Wireless service subscriber, during the Sweepstakes Period, send a text message from your handset to Verizon Wireless addressed to 59581 for one of the following teams:  (a) Chicago Bulls fans (“Bulls Fans”) send a text message with the word “BULLS”; (b) Cleveland Cavaliers fans (“Cavs Fans”) send a text message with the word “CAVS”; (c) Indiana Pacers fans (“Pacers Fans”) send a text message with the word “PACERS”; and (d) Detroit Pistons fans (“Pistons Fans”) send a text message with the word “PISTONS”.  After you send the text message, you will receive a welcome message on your wireless phone and will be automatically registered into the Sweepstakes.  Text messaging is not available in all areas.

 

If you are not a Verizon Wireless service subscriber and have a cell phone with another cell phone provider, during the Sweepstakes Period, call 800-506-3974, provide the requested information, and designate the team that you will be playing for.  After you call, you will receive a welcome message on your wireless phone and will be automatically registered into the Sweepstakes. 

 

After you are registered, you will receive trivia quizzes (“Trivia Questions”) about the specific team you signed up for, including team history, records, and fun facts.  You will have up to 12 hours to reply by text message with your answer. Each response you send in reply to the Trivia Questions will be counted as one entry in the Sweepstakes, up to a maximum of 110 entries per person during the entire Sweepstakes Period, allocated as follows:  (a) Bulls Fans will receive Trivia Questions from approximately January 12, 2005 until approximately April 20, 2005 over 22 games (22 games with 5 questions); (b) Cavs Fans will receive Trivia Questions from approximately January 12, 2005 until approximately April 20, 2005 over 24 games (19 games with 5 questions, 5 games with 3 questions); Pacers Fans will receive Trivia questions from approximately January 12, 2005 until approximately April 20, 2005 over 22 games (22 games with 5 questions); and (d) Pistons Fans will receive Trivia Questions from approximately January 12, 2004 until approximately April 20, 2005 over 26 games (6 games with 5 questions, 20 games with 4 questions).  You will be charged for the messages sent and received from your handset according to the terms in your Rate Plan with your carrier.  You may opt out of receiving the Trivia Questions at any time by simply replying “QUIT” to any text messages you receive in connection with the Sweepstakes.  All entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2005.

 

B.         To enter without using text messaging: If you wish to enter for free without sending a text message, during the Sweepstakes Period, send a 3 ½” x5 ½” postcard with your name, address, date of birth, daytime area code and phone number, email address and the name of one of the four teams above that you are entering for, to Verizon Wireless-MidWest BasketBall c/o Upoc Networks, Promotions Dept. 65 Broadway, Suite 602, New York, NY 10006.  All mailed entries must be postmarked by April 20, 2005 and received by April 27, 2005. You may enter up to 110 times during the Sweepstakes Period, but each entry must be on a separate postcard. Postcards mailed in envelopes will be discarded and not considered for Sweepstakes entry. 

 

C.        Send your entry via text message, or postcard as described above. No purchase is necessary to enter.  Multiple entries for more than one team by the same individual using one or multiple phones will be discarded.  All entries become the sole property of the Sponsor, as defined below, and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Delivery of prizes requires a street address (no P.O. Boxes). Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, illegible, mutilated, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected or postage-due entries, which will be disqualified. No facsimiles, mechanical reproductions, alterations or forged entries. All entrants must have a text messaging two-way capable handset and digital service in order to enter the Sweepstakes using the text messaging method.

 

ELIGIBILITY: The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Military installations in foreign countries, anywhere outside of the U.S. and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Employees of Verizon Wireless, the National Basketball Association (the “NBA”) or any of its member teams, and NBA Properties, Inc. (collectively “NBA Entities”), Upoc Networks, and their family members, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their advertising, sweepstakes and production agencies are not eligible to enter.

 

RANDOM DRAWING: Prizewinners will be selected in a random drawing on or about noon EST on April 28, 2005 from all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received, and will not be enhanced by any purchase.

 

PRIZES:

 

First Prizes:  One (1) First Prize for each team, for a total of Four (4) First Prizes – Two (2) tickets to a home game for the applicable team, date to be determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion.  Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): US$170 each.

 

Grand Prize:  One (1) Grand Prize – A four (4) day/ four (4) night trip for two (2) people to the 2005 NBA Draft.  Trip includes round-trip coach airfare from major gateway airport nearest winner’s residence to New York City, double occupancy hotel accommodations, transportation to and from a NYC airport, and two (2) tickets to the NBA Draft and NBA Pre-Draft VIP Reception. (ARV US$4,000.  Actual retail value will depend on winner’s place of residence.)  Does not include meals, transfers, ground transportation, gratuities or any other expenses not specifically listed herein.  Travel and accommodations subject to availability; certain restrictions and blackout dates may apply.  If winner cannot travel on specified dates, prize will be forfeited and the prize may be awarded to an alternate.  If for any reason the 2005 NBA Draft does not take place, or takes place on a date other than the date currently scheduled (June 28, 2005), Sponsor reserves the right to award only the trip portion of the prize. 

 

If you send your entry via text message, prizes will be awarded to the name corresponding to the Mobile Telephone Number (MTN) from which the text message originated. If you send your entry via postcard, prizes will be awarded to the name on the postcard. Prizewinners will be notified by text message or by regular mail, email or telephone within fourteen (14) days after the drawing. If winner cannot be contacted, if any prize is returned as undeliverable, or in the event a potential winner does not accept the prize or fails to comply with these rules and requirements, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given. Limit one prize per person. Federal, state and local taxes, including completion of Form W-9 tax, and any and all other expenses related to the acceptance or use of any prize are the winners' sole responsibility. Text Messaging is not available in all areas.

 

RESTRICTIONS:  Prizes are not refundable. Verizon Wireless is not required to offer any substitution for or alternative to prizes awarded under this Sweepstakes. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitutions/cash redemptions. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event a prize is unavailable. Recipients of prizes must have a U.S. mailing address.

 

GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating in this Sweepstakes all entrants authorize Verizon Wireless to provide Upoc Networks with their text messaging address. Information collected in connection with this Sweepstakes will be used in accordance with Verizon Wireless' privacy policy and these Official Rules. In the event of any discrepancy between the privacy policy and these Official Rules, the privacy policy shall control and govern. To review Verizon Wireless' privacy policy, please go to www.verizonwireless.com/jsp/privacy.jsp. Sweepstakes is intended for participation in the United States only and shall be construed only according to United States law. Entrants agree the Sweepstakes is governed by New Jersey law. By participating in the Sweepstakes you authorize Verizon Wireless to communicate with you by text messaging. Prizewinners may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, Publicity Consent, and Liability Release or prize may be forfeited. Winner’s travel companion must also sign a release before ticketing.  Any traveler under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian as their companion.  Minor's parent/legal guardian will be responsible for executing the required documentation.

 

By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and agree: (1) the Sponsor (as defined below), NBA Entities, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, governors, owners, distributors, retailers, agents, assignees, and advertising/sweepstakes agencies may use (unless prohibited by law) their name, voice, city/state of residence, photograph, visual and/or audio likeness for advertising and/or trade purposes, and for any other purpose in any media or format now or hereafter known without further compensation, permission or notification; and (2) to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Upoc Networks, the NBA Entities, and each of their respective advertising and sweepstakes agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with participation in this Sweepstakes, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity and claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery.

 

ADDITIONAL TERMS: If you enter by text messaging, you must have a valid MTN and account. In case of dispute as to identity of entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the MTN. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned a MTN by Verizon Wireless or other carrier or as shown on Verizon Wireless' or such other carrier’s records. Any other attempted form of entry not specified herein is prohibited; no automatic, programmed; robotic or similar means of entry are permitted.

 

Sponsor, the NBA Entities, Upoc Networks and each of their respective affiliates, partners and sweepstakes and advertising agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions or other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical or electronic, which may occur in the processing of the entries or distribution of prizes in this Sweepstakes or which may limit one's ability to enter the Sweepstakes, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's handset, relating to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes.

 

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend this Sweepstakes should it determine, in its sole discretion, that any virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. In such case, Sponsor will select the winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor.

 

If for any reason, (including, without limitation, strikes or other labor difficulties; fires, floods or other acts of God; acts of government or any subdivision or agency thereof; acts of war; terrorist activities (including, without limitation, a real and substantiated threat of terrorist activities); or any other cause which is beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor) the Sweepstakes is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes in any manner that it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion. 

 

Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes, or to be entering the Sweepstakes from locations outside the United States by using one or multiple phones. Additionally, Sponsor reserves the right to prosecute any fraudulent activities to the full extent of the law.

 

WINNERS' NAMES & OFFICIAL RULES: The names of the winners may be obtained after April 28, 2005, by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Verizon Wireless-Midwest BasketBall TXT2WIN Sweepstakes c/o Upoc Networks, Promotions Dept. 65 Broadway, Suite 602, New York, NY 10006. For a set of Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Verizon Wireless- Midwest BasketBall TXT2WIN Sweepstakes c/o Upoc Networks Promotions Dept. 65 Broadway, Suite 602, New York, NY 10006 or visit http://midwest.upoc.com. Requests for winners' names or Official Rules must be received by May 15, 2005.

 

SPONSOR: This Sweepstakes is sponsored by Verizon Wireless (the “Sponsor”), 30 Independence Blvd., Warren, NJ 07059.


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