Sponsorship & Marketing
GOLFBZ.COM LAUNCHES BZ TO BZ SERVICE
Golf Entertainment has launched GolfBZ.com, an internet business to business resource for golf course, golf range and related manufacturing, apparel, equipment and accessory companies within the golf industry.
INTERACTIVE SEATING DEAL STRUCK
Hussey Seating Company and Seiko Epsom Corp, the global technology company, are to co-develop `an interactive media seating solution? for the sports industry.
OCTAGON MOVES INTO GREECE WITH ACT ACQUISITION
Sports marketing giant Octagon has landed in Greece, after aquiring leading Greek sports agency ACT ? the company behind Athens? successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 2004.
UMBRO MOVES INTO E-COMMERCE
Sporting goods company Umbro is planning to launch a content and e-commerce website in September backed by a major advertising campaign.
PROST F1 TEAM UP FOR #45M SALE
The Prost Formula One team, run by the French four-times world champion Alain Prost, has appointed Credit Suisse First Boston to arrange its sale for about #45m. According to reports, potential buyers include Hidden Creek, a US private equity company, and Vector Motor Sports, a Canadian motor racing concern.
NICKLAUS TAKES GOLDEN BEAR PRIVATE
Golden Bear Golf, Inc. has completed its ?going private? merger with its wholly-owned subsidiary, G.B. Golf Corp.
JAPAN’S SOFTBANK TO OFFER SPORTS NEWS SERVICE.
Major Japanese Internet investor Softbank Corp has affirmed that its affiliate will start an online sports news service in a joint venture with Rivals.com Inc, a U.S. operator of Internet sports news.
SPORTSLINE OFFERS FREE FANTASY
SportsLine.com is to offer its entire suite of Commissioner.com fantasy products free of charge on its flagship CBS SportsLine.com site.
SPORTS.COM LINKS WITH THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB
Sports.com, the mobile and fixed internet provider of European sports content, community and commerce, has been designated as the Official Internet Sports Partner of The Open Championship (opengolf.com) by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
ADIDAS AMERICA BRINGS U.S. OLYMPIC GEAR TO THE WEB
Adidas America is to feature the full collection of official U.S. Olympic apparel online on their Olympic concept shop located at thestore.adidas.com.
KANGAROOS AND KOALAS LOSE OUT IN SYDNEY MASCOT RACE
Sydney Olympic Games marketeers have cruelly ignored the two animals most associated with Australia in their choice of Olympic mascots. Kangaroos and Koala Bears have been sidelined to make way for a new cast of animal stars: the duck-billed platypus, the kookaburra and the echidna (a spiny anteater).
THREAT TO OFFICIAL GAMES SITE FROM AUSSIE RIVAL
The Australian Olympic Committee and host broadcaster Channel 7 have created a web address, olympics.com.au, in competition with the official Games site, olympics.com, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
EXTREME ACQUIRES NEW PRODUCT IN DEAL WITH ISP
The Extreme Sports Channel has signed a deal for the ISF World Junior Snowboarding Championships and Freestyle Frenzy with ISP, the Utah based distribution company.
US OFFICIALS LIFTS BAN ON BODYSUITS
USA Swimming's Board of Directors have voted 15-6 to lift a ban on full bodysuits for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming.
CARMAKERS SEEKING THIRD OF ECCLESTONE’S F1
Five carmakers, including Ford , Daimler Chrysler and Toyota , are in talks to buy a third of Bernie Ecclestone's SLEC Formula One business, reports the Daily Telegraph.
EUROSPORT SETS UP SALES TEAM FOR YOZ BRAND
Eurosport, the European sports channel, is setting up a separate sales team to handle advertising and sponsorship sales of events and youth programming, under the YOZ (Youth Only Zone) banner.
ORIOLES CONSIDER BALLPARK PLANS
Major League Baseball?s Baltimore Orioles are set to sell the naming rights to their Oriole Park ballpark.
FILA RENEWS TENNIS SPONSORSHIP
Fila USA has renewed its agreement with the USTA as official footwear and tennis apparel sponsor of the 2000 U.S. Open Tennis Championships.