Baseball Fans Encouraged to Enter Contest to Win Cubs-Cards Tickets for the Teams' Anticipated September Rematch at Wrigley Field

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The bases are loaded for another Chicago Cubs versus St. Louis Cardinals ticket giveaway and Verizon Wireless encourages patrons of the Old Capitol Farmers' Market to stop by for their chance to win.

Entries are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays through August 27 at the Verizon Wireless booth located on the Farmers' Market grounds and from vendors throughout the Farmers' Market. Contest forms may be filled out and deposited on site during regular market hours. The contest is free and open to anyone 18 years and older.

"There's a long history of rivalry between the Cubs and Cards, and fans aren't afraid to show their loyalty or passion," said Tracy Nolan, region president for Verizon Wireless. "I'd estimate Springfield has about a 50-50 split in Chicago and St. Louis team preference, which makes this Verizon Wireless baseball ticket giveaway so exciting!" The winner, who will be notified by phone on August 28, will receive four tickets for the September 4 game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The current contest marks the company's second Cubs versus Cardinals ticket giveaway this season.

Verizon Wireless awarded the first set of tickets to avid Cubs fan Kathleen Gresham, of Springfield, who reveled in the 6 to 5 Cubs victory over the rival Cardinals on July 5.

"I don't know what I was thinking," Gresham said, as she explained her arduous trek to Chicago with three close friends — all of whom are Cardinals fans. She said they razzed her all the way to Wrigley Field, feeling truly confident because a Cardinal victory the previous day had knocked the Cubs down to third place in the National League's Central Division.

Gresham said her friends' confidence grew with the Cardinals opening a 5 to 0 lead in the first two innings. But, the Cubs battled back and won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. In the end, it was Gresham who had bragging rights for the trip home.

In spite of some sweltering temperatures, Gresham and her friends had a great time at Wrigley Field where they met "a bunch of friendly people" around their seats on the left field line. Just one in a crowd of 38,953 Cubs and Cardinals fans, Gresham was a winner before the game even got started.

"I'm so glad I entered Verizon Wireless' contest," Gresham said. "It was a great game!" Now all of Springfield can wonder: "Will I be the next big winner?"

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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