Get Your Game On with New LEGO Sports Toys

Feb. 2003 - LEGO Company is putting a competitive edge on construction toys and retail positioning with innovative products in its newly created LEGO Sports category. The line, prompted by the success of LEGO Soccer, now contains three fresh and popular themes, including Basketball, Hockey and Action Sports.

First announced in 2002, the LEGO Sports brand delivers more than pure build-and-play fun through a stellar line-up of authentic and aspirational alliances with the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NHL Players Association, Gravity Games and two individual Action Sports athlete sponsorships.

A top priority in 2003, the LEGO Sports category is a cornerstone for a successful year with research touting strong youth interest among core LEGO enthusiasts as well as sports fans and collectors. Designed to appeal to a large and diverse audience, the lines offer traditional build-and-play features, as well as the inherent competitive and interactive properties that consumers look for in sporting goods and sports-related toys.

"We have a special commitment to our consumers to always deliver the best. That's their expectation and ours as well," says Andrew Black, president, LEGO Americas. "We've formed alliances with the NBA, NHL, NHL Players Association and Gravity Games as a means of staying true to that commitment by adding authenticity to the product assortment in a meaningful - and playful way."

New Products

LEGO Basketball
LEGO Basketball allows kids to build their own court, then recreate all the action with innovative spring-loaded LEGO mini-figure players who pick up the ball and shoot to score! Key sets include NBA Challenge ($49.99 USD) and Streetball 2 vs. 2 ($19.99 USD). Accessory sets let kids practice their LEGO Basketball skills, and 24 collectible NBA mini-figures - representing some of the hottest NBA players - give kids the power to create their own NBA All-Star teams. Priced from $3.99 to $79.99 (USD), LEGO Basketball currently is available at retail.

LEGO Hockey
"He shoots, he scores!" LEGO Hockey lets kids build teams of head-slammer hockey players, with individual sets including Puck Passer, Slap Shot, Flip Shot and Slammer Goalie ($7.99 USD each). Each player also is packaged in a reusable sports water bottle. Practice sets and a Competition Arena, complete with a rink-like play surface, round out the assortment. Sets are priced from $7.99 to $39.99 (USD) and will be available in July.

LEGO Gravity Games
One of the fastest growing groups of sports comes to life in LEGO Gravity Games - a new line of action-packed play including cool skateboarding and snowboarding stunt sets. Recently signed pro athletes, skateboarder Bob Burnquist, and Olympic snowboarder, Ross Powers, complete the authenticity of this line that includes stunt sticks - allowing kids to use mini-figure skateboarders to perform flips and turns with a simple touch of the hand, and weighted snowboards for downhill speed and adventures. Sets are priced from $9.99 to $49.99 (USD) and will be available in June.

For more information, visit www.LEGO.com

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