Graham
Staff member
from bpaa.com & pba.com
Multiyear Agreement with Strike Ten Entertainment Brings 'The Joy of Pepsi'
To Bowling Centers and Professional Tours Nationwide
GREENDALE, Wis., October 21, 2002 – Strike Ten Entertainment and Pepsi-Cola North America have entered into a new, multiyear agreement, making Pepsi the "Official Soft Drink of Bowling," the number-one participation sport in the United States.
In addition to refreshing bowlers and bowling fans across the country, Pepsi will provide media and promotional support for the sport's leading membership organizations, which represent 3.4 million sanctioned league bowlers nationwide. Participating organizations include the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), which represents more than 3,100 bowling centers nationwide, the American Bowling Congress (ABC), Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA). The pact also includes men and women’s professional tours – the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA).
"Partnering with Pepsi, one of the world's most admired brands, is quite a boost for our industry," said Strike Ten Entertainment President Frank DeSocio. "Pepsi's innovative marketing ideas and support will enable our membership organizations to exceed a number of objectives – from driving consumer traffic to BPAA centers and promoting pro tours and sanctioned leagues to raising bowling's profile even higher."
"Pairing America's most popular recreational sport with its preferred cola is the quintessential 'win-win' scenario – a perfect 300 for both sides of this partnership," said Karen Porter, National Account Sales Manager for Pepsi-Cola North America. "Millions of people of all ages from all parts of the country love bowling. We're thrilled to be to supporting their favorite sport and bringing them 'The Joy of Pepsi.'"
The new agreement also gives Pepsi title sponsorship of the PBA Pepsi Open (November 20-24 in Springfield, Pa.), as well as category exclusivity on PBA telecasts and opportunities to run consumer promotions targeting ABC and WIBC sanctioned league bowlers and open play (non-league) bowlers. The YABA also will receive major support, including entitlement of the annual Youth Championships, which had been sponsored for the past 22 years by Coca-Cola.
"We are extremely happy to have Pepsi providing a key sponsorship not only with the PBA, but with the entire bowling community," said PBA President and CEO Steve Miller. "Pepsi has made a long-term commitment to the industry, and we feel that our increasing ratings and exposure will help ensure a wonderful partnership."
The PBA began the U.S. portion of its 2002-2003 season on October 9 in Wichita. Last season the PBA showed remarkable growth, including an 18% ratings increase for its ESPN telecasts, a 20% membership increase and a 35% increase in tournament entries. Other new PBA sponsors include Banquet Foods, Odor-Eaters and VIA Bowling. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.
The agreement also gives Pepsi entitlement to a PWBA summer event in 2003 that will be telecast live on ESPN, and product exclusivity on the PWBA’s national tour.
“Having Pepsi-Cola as a corporate partner is a great addition for PWBA. As bowling continues to grow in popularity, more major corporations are looking at our sport as a way to promote their products," said PWBA President John Falzone.
Through the 2002 spring/summer tour, PWBA TV household impressions climbed 57 percent and ratings jumped 43 percent from the 2001 season. On October 7, the American Forces Radio and Television Service began carrying PWBA broadcasts and will continue throughout the 2003 season. For more information on the PWBA, log on to www.pwba.com.
Strike Ten Entertainment, based in Greendale, Wis., provides a wide range of marketing services for the bowling industry, including corporate sponsorship sales, promotions and public relations.
Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com )is the $4 billion refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo, Inc. (www.pepsico.com)in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi ONE, Pepsi Twist, Pepsi Blue, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Sierra Mist, Mug, Slice, Aquafina, FruitWorks, Dole single-serve juices and SoBe. The company also makes and markets North America's best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.
Multiyear Agreement with Strike Ten Entertainment Brings 'The Joy of Pepsi'
To Bowling Centers and Professional Tours Nationwide
GREENDALE, Wis., October 21, 2002 – Strike Ten Entertainment and Pepsi-Cola North America have entered into a new, multiyear agreement, making Pepsi the "Official Soft Drink of Bowling," the number-one participation sport in the United States.
In addition to refreshing bowlers and bowling fans across the country, Pepsi will provide media and promotional support for the sport's leading membership organizations, which represent 3.4 million sanctioned league bowlers nationwide. Participating organizations include the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), which represents more than 3,100 bowling centers nationwide, the American Bowling Congress (ABC), Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA). The pact also includes men and women’s professional tours – the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA).
"Partnering with Pepsi, one of the world's most admired brands, is quite a boost for our industry," said Strike Ten Entertainment President Frank DeSocio. "Pepsi's innovative marketing ideas and support will enable our membership organizations to exceed a number of objectives – from driving consumer traffic to BPAA centers and promoting pro tours and sanctioned leagues to raising bowling's profile even higher."
"Pairing America's most popular recreational sport with its preferred cola is the quintessential 'win-win' scenario – a perfect 300 for both sides of this partnership," said Karen Porter, National Account Sales Manager for Pepsi-Cola North America. "Millions of people of all ages from all parts of the country love bowling. We're thrilled to be to supporting their favorite sport and bringing them 'The Joy of Pepsi.'"
The new agreement also gives Pepsi title sponsorship of the PBA Pepsi Open (November 20-24 in Springfield, Pa.), as well as category exclusivity on PBA telecasts and opportunities to run consumer promotions targeting ABC and WIBC sanctioned league bowlers and open play (non-league) bowlers. The YABA also will receive major support, including entitlement of the annual Youth Championships, which had been sponsored for the past 22 years by Coca-Cola.
"We are extremely happy to have Pepsi providing a key sponsorship not only with the PBA, but with the entire bowling community," said PBA President and CEO Steve Miller. "Pepsi has made a long-term commitment to the industry, and we feel that our increasing ratings and exposure will help ensure a wonderful partnership."
The PBA began the U.S. portion of its 2002-2003 season on October 9 in Wichita. Last season the PBA showed remarkable growth, including an 18% ratings increase for its ESPN telecasts, a 20% membership increase and a 35% increase in tournament entries. Other new PBA sponsors include Banquet Foods, Odor-Eaters and VIA Bowling. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.
The agreement also gives Pepsi entitlement to a PWBA summer event in 2003 that will be telecast live on ESPN, and product exclusivity on the PWBA’s national tour.
“Having Pepsi-Cola as a corporate partner is a great addition for PWBA. As bowling continues to grow in popularity, more major corporations are looking at our sport as a way to promote their products," said PWBA President John Falzone.
Through the 2002 spring/summer tour, PWBA TV household impressions climbed 57 percent and ratings jumped 43 percent from the 2001 season. On October 7, the American Forces Radio and Television Service began carrying PWBA broadcasts and will continue throughout the 2003 season. For more information on the PWBA, log on to www.pwba.com.
Strike Ten Entertainment, based in Greendale, Wis., provides a wide range of marketing services for the bowling industry, including corporate sponsorship sales, promotions and public relations.
Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com )is the $4 billion refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo, Inc. (www.pepsico.com)in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi ONE, Pepsi Twist, Pepsi Blue, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Sierra Mist, Mug, Slice, Aquafina, FruitWorks, Dole single-serve juices and SoBe. The company also makes and markets North America's best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.
