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RCN Continues Hometown Branding Efforts With Renewal Agreements With Kettler Capitals Iceplex & Patriot Center

^{Published on 2009-12-15 06:28:13 - Market Wire}
 

HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - December 15, 2009) - [ RCN Corporation ] (NASDAQ: [ RCNI ]) announced today renewal agreements as an official sponsor of the [ Patriot Center ] at George Mason University and as the official cable provider and an official sponsor of the [ Kettler Capitals Iceplex ].

RCN is a leading provider of all-digital and high-definition video, high-speed internet and premium voice services to residential and small-medium business customers, as well as high-capacity transport services to carrier and large enterprise customers.

"As the first triple play provider of video, data and voice services to compete with telecom and cable incumbents, we have always championed and promoted the concepts of competition and choice," said RCN's Senior Vice President, Strategic External Affairs and Programming Richard Ramlall. "These local agreements are important to us because we care about the communities we serve, and because they are excellent venues which support local sports teams and entertainment choices."

As an official sponsor and the exclusive official cable provider to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, RCN will receive a range of branding opportunities including website, TVs, dasher boards, ice resurfacing machine and center ice.

The Kettler Capitals Iceplex is a 137,000-square-foot indoor ice skating facility featuring two NHL regulation sized rinks with seating for 1,200 and building occupancy of 2,100. The Iceplex includes a team training center and front office for the Washington Capitals. Combined, the two rinks offer the public 12,000 hours of ice time annually. In addition to the Capitals, other user groups include Georgetown, George Washington University and George Mason University and other local high school and youth hockey teams.

"RCN Business Service's experience and expertise and its strong focus on meeting our needs have proven very productive for both the Kettler Capitals Iceplex and the Capitals' training center," said John Greeley, Washington Capitals Vice President, Corporate Sponsorships. "We look forward to continuing a long, productive and mutually beneficial relationship."

As part of its sponsorship renewal agreement with the Patriot Center, RCN has signage prominently displayed at various locations inside the Center, which is seen by attendees of more than 140 events and basketball games throughout the year. Located on the campus of Northern Virginia's George Mason University, the Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat arena that hosts George Mason basketball games, commencement ceremonies and a wide variety of performances and special events.

"We are truly pleased that RCN will continue as an official sponsor of the Patriot Center," said Patriot Center General Manager Barry Geisler. "We appreciate RCN's commitment to supporting the Center and other local sports and entertainment venues and teams."

In addition to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex and the Patriot Center, RCN-DC has sponsorships or partnerships with local universities, the Washington Nationals, the Washington Redskins and D.C. United.

About RCN Corporation

RCN Corporation (NASDAQ: [ RCNI ]), [ www.rcn.com ], is a competitive broadband services provider delivering all-digital and high-definition video, high-speed internet and premium voice services to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. In addition, through its RCN Metro Optical Networks business unit, RCN delivers fiber-based high-capacity data transport services to large commercial customers, primarily large enterprises and carriers, targeting the metropolitan central business districts in the company's geographic markets. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago. (RCNI-G)