CHAMPS SPORTS COLLEGE BASKETBALL BRACKET CONTEST

2009 OFFICIAL GAME RULES

  1. NO PURCHASE, CONTRIBUTION OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN:  This Game ("Game") begins at 5:00:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, March 16, 2009 and ends at 5:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (“Promotion Period”). THIS GAME IS DEVISED AS A NON-GAMBLING PROMOTION, and is intended solely for entertainment purposes. From all eligible entries received, the winners will be determined based on their ability to use their skill and knowledge of College Basketball to accumulate the most points in this Game during the 2009 college basketball season.
  2. ELIGIBILITY:  The Game is open to legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Guam, Puerto Rico, and all other U.S. and foreign territories and possessions) ("Eligibility Area") who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and have the ability to enter into valid contracts in their personal jurisdiction of residence.  Only individuals may enter. One entry per person. Additional entries from any individual using different e-mail addresses will be disqualified. The Game is VOID outside of the Eligibility Area and where otherwise taxed, prohibited or restricted.  Sponsor’s employees and excluded residents may play, but WILL NOT be eligible to receive any prizes. Employees and directors Foot Locker Retail, Inc., d/b/a Champs Sports (“Sponsor”), and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, franchisees, dealers, advertising and promotional agencies, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents, their immediate families (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent or grandparent), and those living in their same households are ineligible to win or collect prizes in the Game.  By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of Champs Sports and the judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Entrants agree to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Game and/or these Official Rules.
  3. HOW TO ENTER:  Beginning March 16, 2009 at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, log on to http://www.champssportspickem.com (“Site”) and follow the instructions to complete an official entry form and to select the winners for each college basketball game (“entry” or “entries”). Submit your entry electronically no later than 12:00:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on March 19, 2009 (see Tournament Schedule Below).

    Event Date
    Selection Sunday March 15, 2009
    Round 1 March 19, 2009
    Round 1 March 20, 2009
    Round 2 March 21, 2009
    Round 2 March 22, 2009
    Round 3 (NCAA Sweet Sixteen ®) March 26, 2009
    Round 3 (NCAA Sweet Sixteen ®) March 27, 2009
    Round 4 (NCAA Elite Eight ®) March 28, 2009
    Round 4 (NCAA Elite Eight ®) March 29, 2009
    Round 5 (NCAA Final Four ®) April 4, 2009
    Round 6 (National Championship) April 6, 2009


    In order for any entry to be valid, players must indicate their acceptance of these rules by checking the box next to “I have read and agree to the Official Rules” during the registration process. Entrant will be asked to provide his/her name, e-mail address, phone number, physical address, birth date (if indicated) and to create a username and password for subsequent visits. Entrant also may be asked to answer survey questions or to consent to receive promotional emails. Answering survey questions or consenting to receive promotional emails is optional and does not have to be agreed to in order to be eligible to enter the Game or to win a prize. To complete his/her entry, entrant must click on the "Submit Picks" button.

    Lost, late, illegible, incomplete or misdirected entries are not eligible. Neither Champs Sports nor Sponsor is responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer systems, servers, access providers, equipment, or software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received for any reason, traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any other technical problems related to website entries or any combination of the foregoing, including any injury or damage to an entrant's or any other person's computer.
  4. HOW TO PLAY/EARNING POINTS:  Entrants are required to select projected winners of all 63 games of the Tournament, round by round, that will be played between the dates of March 19, 2009 and April 6, 2009.  Selections must be made before March 19, 2009 at 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time.

    After you sign up, you will have access to an on-line brackets page listing 63 of the 64 eligible Division 1 Men's College Basketball Tournament teams and their round one match-ups.

    Note: The 64th team will be determined by a play-in Tournament game on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. That game will not be counted in this Game. Prior to completion of that game, the 64th team will be listed on our brackets page as "Play-In Winner," and Participants are free to pick "Play-In Winner" in the first round if they want to submit picks before the play-in that game is complete.

    Participants must enter their projected winners of all 63 games of the Tournament, round by round. Beginning with round two, the Sponsor will weigh predictions for each successive round more heavily than the previous round in accordance with the table below. Points will be awarded by multiplying the seeded number of the winning team by the weight assigned to each applicable round. For example, you would receive ten (10) points if you selected the 5th seeded team to win in round two and they did. All winning teams the participant selected correctly will have its seed multiplied by the assigned weighted score and totaled together at the end of each round.

    Round 1 2 3 4 5 6
    Weight per each correct pick 1 point 2 point 3 point 4 point 5 point 6 point


    To cancel player participation in the game, the player is required to send an email to Champs Sports College Basketball Bracket contest at kstich@champssports.com requesting they be removed. All player points earned will be forfeited.
  5. ODDS OF WINNING:  Odds of winning are determined by and depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. A total of ten (18) Prizes will be awarded. The player with the highest cumulative point total at the end of the contest will be, upon confirmation of eligibility and execution of requested eligibility and release documents, the Grand Prize winner. A total of one (1) Grand Prize will be awarded.  A total of one (2) Runner-up prizes will be awarded. The top three winners of each round will be awarded for a total of (15) Round Prizes.
  6. Tie-Breaking Process:  In the event of a tie between two or more players to award the “Round Prizes” will be determined after ALL games have been played in each round and ALL points have been tabulated all winners will be entered in a random drawing. In the event of a tie between two or more players to award the “Grand Prize” and “Runner-up Prizes” will be determined after ALL games have been played in the entire Tournament  by the following method:

    • First, the calculation of total points scored for the final game the participant entered;
    • Second, all winners will be entered in a random drawing.

    Champs Sports and the Sponsor reserve the right to award equal prizes to all tied participants where the sum total of all prizes awarded is equal to the approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the prize designated for that particular prize. In all cases, an entry that does not win a tiebreaker is eliminated from consideration.

  7. PRIZES:  Eighteen (18) prizes will be awarded as follows:

    Winner Prize ARV
    Grand Prize $1,000 Champs Gift Card $1,000.00
    2nd Place Winner (Runner-up) $300 Champs Gift Card $300.00
    3rd Place Winner (Runner-up) $200 Champs Gift Card $200.00
    Top 3 Round Winners $100 Champs Gift Card $100.00 each ($1,500.00 total)



    The total approximate retail value of all Prizes is $3,000.00 ("ARV"). Prizes may not be combined with any other offer.  Winners will be responsible for any and all federal, state, and local taxes incurred in winning and accepting any prizes (including any taxes) and all other expenses incurred in winning and accepting the Prizes.  Winners may receive an IRS 1099 form reporting the value of their prize. By accepting a prize, winners waive the right to assert as a cost of winning said prize, any and all costs of redemption or travel to redeem said prize, and any and all liability that might arise from redeeming or seeking said prize.  The ARV of the prizes set forth above represents Champs Sports' good-faith determination of the retail value thereof.

  8. PRIZE AWARDING:  ALL PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED.  Winners will be initially identified, subject to eligibility, on or about seven (7) business days following the Tournament, by Sponsor or its agent, the judge of the game whose decisions are final and binding. Winners will be notified by overnight mail and/or email, at Champs Sport’s discretion, on or about fourteen (14) business days following the Tournament (“Notification”). The identification of winning entrants shall be posted on the “Contest/Events” page of www.champssportslounge.com and available for viewing no earlier than April 13, 2009 or by sending written request in a stamped, self-addressed envelope for receipt no later than May 11, 2009 to:  Champs Sports, Winner Request, 311 Manatee Ave., Bradenton, FL 34239. Winners must provide positive identification in such form as is specified by Champs Sports to claim a prize. Return of Notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Prizes will be awarded only upon winner validation and verification by Champs Sports.  All prizes must be redeemed by the winner no later than thirty (30) days following Champs Sport’s confirmation of Notification. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a winner, the individual who was, at the time of entry, at Champs Sports’ sole discretion, the registered holder of the email account used to enter the Game, will be deemed the eligible entrant.  It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to notify the Sponsor during the Promotion Period if his/her email address changes.  No transfer or assignment of any prize is permitted.  No substitution of any prize will be permitted, except that Champs Sports reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute any prize with either the cash value of the applicable prize that would otherwise have been awarded, or a prize or prizes of equal or greater value, in the event that such prize is unavailable.  If the initially selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim a prize, or if the prize is returned as undeliverable, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected.  Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Champs Sports, Sponsor, and their respective designees to use of winner’s name, likeness, statements, voice, opinions, biographical information and state of residence for promotional purposes in any media without notice, further payment, consideration, credit, or right of approval or review (except void where prohibited by law).  Winners will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within five (5) days of notification/receipt (except void where prohibited by law).
  9. DISQUALIFICATION:  The use of robotic, automatic, macro, programmed or like methods (including without limitation the use of any promotion/game subscription, notification, entry or like sites or service that offers Game entry services "on behalf of" entrant) is strictly prohibited.  Neither Champs Sports nor any Sponsor is responsible for lost, interrupted or unavailable network server or other connections, miscommunications, failed telephone or computer or telephone transmissions or technical failure, jumbled, scrambled or misdirected transmissions, or other error of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic.  Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of this Game, as solely determined by Champs Sports and/or the Sponsors, will be disqualified. If disqualified for any of the above abuses, Champs Sports reserves the right to terminate such person's eligibility to participate in this Game and future contests sponsored by Champs Sports. Entrants further acknowledge that the forfeiture of prize(s) and/or return of any prize(s) shall in no way prevent Champs Sports from pursuing other avenues of recourse such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct. Any attempt to damage any website of Champs Sports and/or the Sponsors, or tamper with or undermine the legitimate operation of the Game, is a violation of these Official Rules as well as criminal and civil laws.  Champs Sports reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any responsible individual to the fullest extent permitted by law.  In the event any portion of this Game is compromised by any virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of Champs Sports which, in the sole opinion of Champs Sports or the Sponsors, corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Game, Champs Sports reserves the right to suspend or terminate the Game.  In no event will more prizes be awarded than those listed above in Section 7.
  10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:  By entering, entrants agree (a) to these Official Rules, and the decisions of Champs Sports, the Sponsors and the judges, which shall be binding and final in all respects; (b) to release Champs Sports from all liability, loss or damage arising out of participation in the Game and with respect to the awarding, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of any prize; (c) to be contacted by Sponsor by mail, telephone and/or email; and (d) acknowledge that neither Champs Sports nor the Sponsors make any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, and disclaim all liability for the provision, quality or nature of any third-party products or services provided to winners. By participating, the winners release Champs Sports and Sponsor, their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, marketing agencies, public relation firms, consultants or contractors from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons (including death) and property that may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, possession, acceptance, enjoyment, use or misuse of a prize, or arising out of participation in this Game, or while preparing for, participating in, and/or traveling to any prize-related activity.  IN NO EVENT WILL Champs Sports, THE SPONSOR OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, marketing agencies, public relation firms, consultants or contractors BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY PARTICIPATION IN THE GAME OR ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GAME, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.
  11. COMMUNICATIONS:  Any information entrants provide to Champs Sports and the Sponsors will be used to communicate with the entrant in relation to this Game. Champs Sports and/or the Sponsors also may share this information with third parties who are participating in this Game.  Champs Sports will collect and use personal data in accordance with its privacy policy available for review at www.champssports.com.
  12. GENERAL INFORMATION: Champs Sports reserves the right to modify these Official Rules for the following purposes: clarifying how the game should be played, how the game will be scored, how winners are determined, and what prizes will be awarded.  Any changes to these Official Rules will be reasonably made with the intention of not materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Game. Neither Champs Sports nor any Sponsor is affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by, any of the teams, coaches or players identified in connection with this Game, and none of the teams, coaches or players is a sponsor of, or associated with, this Game in any way. Team names are the trademarks of the respective teams indicated and are used for factual, descriptive purposes only. All trademarks, logos and images pertaining to the respective teams contained within this Site are the property of the respective teams. This Site is intended for informational and entertainment use only. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Any and all disputes in connection with the Game will be resolved exclusively in the appropriate courts in New York, NY. Should there be a conflict between the laws of the State of New York and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of the State of New York. Each entrant waives any and all objections to jurisdiction and venue and hereby submits to the jurisdiction of those courts. Any and all lawsuits or other disputes that arise relating to this Game must be filed within one (1) year of the last day of the Promotion Period. The failure of Champs Sports to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any part of these Official Rules is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, that part will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain fully in force.

    Sponsored By:  Foot Locker Retail, Inc., d/b/a Champs Sports

    All rights reserved.