Founding Partner Health Net will Present Free-to-the-Public Lifestyle Festival at the Amgen Tour of California
LOS ANGELES, February 15, 2008 - Health Net, Inc. and AEG today announced details of the third annual Health Net Lifestyle Festival at the Amgen Tour of California, which will be located in each finishing city of the race. The Health Net Lifestyle Festival is an interactive, eight-day, free-to-the-public "festival" that will travel with the internationally sanctioned professional cycling stage race.As a founding partner of the Amgen Tour of California, Health Net will be the presenting sponsor of Stage 6, in which the peloton races from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita on February 23, as well as present the daily Health Net Lifestyle Festival.
The Health Net Lifestyle Festival gives cycling enthusiasts a place to experience the spectacle of race day in the hours leading up to the exhilarating stage finish. Located near the finish line of each daily stage, the festival will feature race-day activities such as health screenings, cancer awareness education, bicycle stunt shows, live music, food, entertainment, sweepstakes drawings, bicycle safety, family activities, and interactive displays and presentations featuring more than 40 participating companies.
"Health Net is committed to helping people live healthy lives," said Mark Morgan, chief commercial officer for Health Net of California. "Our sponsorship of the Lifestyle Festival exemplifies our commitment and aids attendees in securing valuable information that helps them make healthy decisions." The festival also will give the public an opportunity to explore professional cycling while awaiting the peloton. A big-screen TV featuring live coverage of the race will help keep spectators apprised of the exciting race action. Fans also will be able to watch the explosive sprint to the finish and the awards ceremony where jerseys will be presented to the day's top riders and overall race leader.
"The Health Net Lifestyle Festival is an essential part of the race," Kristin Bachochin, senior director of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. "The festival provides an additional opportunity to share the message of health and well-being with the fans and communities that have come together to support the Amgen Tour of California."
The Health Net Lifestyle Festival will offer a unique experience each day, showcasing the local flavor of each of the eight finish cities. Visitors will be able to:
- Get physical with health and fitness tests at the Health & Fitness Expo
- Be part of Amgen and The Wellness Community's Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative, raising awareness and funds to support the millions of people affected by cancer and benefiting The Wellness Community and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
- Collect freebies from Amgen Tour of California sponsors and participating companies
- Enjoy family fun with little ones inside the Kid's Zone
- Check out the Demo Area action with special performers such as BMX stunt riders and local entertainers
- Learn bicycle safety, check your bike at the bike valet and enjoy great bargains on gear, gadgets and more in the Cycling Center
- Pick up cool race merchandise and a commemorative program in the Amgen Tour of California Race Central Pavilion Stay connected with fellow fans and the day's race with live coverage on the big-screen TV near the finish line
The Health Net Lifestyle Festival in Palo Alto, Sacramento, San Jose and Pasadena will also include a "Hydration Zone" where race fans will be able to sample SoBe Life Water. SoBe Life Water is a unique, enhanced water that provides a high level of vitamins and antioxidants. It also is infused with natural herbs and low in calories, without using artificial sweeteners.
Schedule for the 2008 Health Net Lifestyle Festival:
Sunday, Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Palo Alto-Stanford University (Prologue Start/Finish)Monday, Feb. 18, 11:30-4:30 p.m.
Santa Rosa (Stage 1 Finish)Tuesday, Feb. 19, 12-4 p.m.
Sacramento (Stage 2 Finish)Wednesday, Feb. 20, 12-4 p.m.
San Jose (Stage 3 Finish)Thursday, Feb. 21, 1-5 p.m.
San Luis Obispo (Stage 4 Finish)Friday, Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Solvang (Stage 5 Individual Time Trial)Saturday, Feb. 23, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Santa Clarita (Stage 6 Finish)Sunday, Feb. 24, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Pasadena (Stage 7 Finish)For information about getting involved with the Health Net Lifestyle Festival, please contact Brian Watson at 213-742-7388 or bwatson@aegworldwide.com. For more information about the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, which will be broadcast nightly on VERSUS, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
About the Amgen Tour of California
The largest cycling event in America, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style road race presented by AEG that will challenge the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding 650-mile course from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena from February 17-24, 2008.About Health Net
Health Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in California, serving nearly 2.3 million members statewide. It contracts with more than 51,000 physicians, 300 hospitals and 4,600 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Its commercial, HMO, POS and Medicare lines of business have received the "Excellent" accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information about Health Net, visit www.healthnet.com.About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, a Major League Lacrosse team, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.# # #
