PAC-MAN Virtual Challenge Has Kicked Off

Giants Enterprises, the development and entrepreneurial arm of the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball franchise, announced a brand new worldwide PAC-MAN Virtual Challenge today as part of the partnership between the Giant Race Series presented by Alaska Airlines and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. in celebration of PAC-MAN’s 40^th Anniversary. As part of the growing Health and Wellness initiative developed by Giants Enterprises, this unique partnership with Santa Clara based leading interactive entertainment company BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. aims to excite and inspire families and individuals from all backgrounds to participate in fitness lifestyle events.

Starting today, and in celebration of PAC-MAN’s 40^th birthday, participants can sign up to be a part of the PAC-MAN Virtual Challenge (race-sfgiants.com/PACMAN), where they can walk or run 40 miles to receive a limited edition 40th Anniversary PAC-MAN medal (pictured below), commemorative race bib and finisher’s sticker to showcase their accomplishment.

The announcement is one of many activities and partnerships that leading entertainment company BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. announced today as part of a global celebration of PAC-MAN’s 40th birthday. The video game and pop culture icon PAC-MAN crosses over the hill into his 4^th decade by starring in a bevy of new video games, product partnerships, and brand collaborations, including the Virtual Challenge.

“We are thrilled to wish PAC-MAN a happy 40^th birthday and celebrate by launching a new worldwide Virtual Challenge. With the current global health pandemic affecting all of us, the reality of virtual engagement is something that each and every one of us is managing. We wanted to create a worldwide opportunity for fans, families, and friends to find new ways to celebrate in healthy ways. And out of that excitement generated this 40-mile challenge encouraging everyone to complete the miles at their own speed and get rewarded with some amazing PAC-MAN themed items,” said Stephen Revetria, President of Giants Enterprises.

Participants are challenged to devote more time to running outside (or inside), to stay healthy and fit and encouraged to do their best PAC-MAN impression by walking, jogging or running on their own time, anywhere in the world (including on your treadmill at home). Participants will be tasked to complete all 40 miles of this challenge by Sunday, September 6, and will meet at a virtual finish line to celebrate the conclusion of the Giant Race Series presented by Alaska Airlines in San Francisco.

“The subject of health and staying fit is more relevant to the PAC-MAN brand today than ever before. As PAC-MAN enters his 40’s, he’s become more aware of living a healthy lifestyle and hopes to inspire his fans to do the same by partnering with Giants Enterprises,” says Dennis Lee, Director of Brand Marketing of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.  

Born on May 22, 1980, PAC-MAN immediately rose to meteoric popularity, first in video game arcades, then on the pop culture stage with hit song “PAC-MAN Fever” and through an array of branding and entertainment appearances throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. With a brand recognition rate of 90% around the world, PAC-MAN’s image and brand continues to be one of the most recognized on the planet.

About the Giant Race Series:  The Giant Race Run/Walk Series presented by Alaska Airlines represents the perfect combination of running and baseball. With annual events held in Scottsdale, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco, the Giant Race unites an array of Giants-inspired themes at every level of professional baseball. After stops in Scottsdale during Spring Training and at Minor League facilities in Sacramento (Triple-A, Sacramento River Cats) and San Jose (Single-A, San Jose Giants), the Series ends on the field at Oracle Park with a 20,000-participant race on the flattest and fastest course in San Francisco. The San Francisco Giants and Giants Enterprises have worked together to give baseball fans and running enthusiasts an unforgettable journey of run, walk, fitness, and training experiences all season long. For more information, visit www.giantrace.com.

About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

About Giants Enterprises: Giants Enterprises is dedicated to the curation and development of new ventures complementary to the San Francisco Giants franchise by delivering larger-than-life experiences to millions at Oracle Park and beyond. At the intersection of sports, entertainment, meetings, events, tourism and hospitality, Giants Enterprises provides the rare combination of people and places to create giant impressions for locals and visitors from around the world. When it comes to making memories, Giants Enterprises believes in being bold as illustrated by past programming including the notable sports events such as the 34th America’s Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, and the annual Giant Race series. For more information visit www.giantsenterprises.com.