National Events Such As '3-v-3 Soccer Shootout' and 'Roundball Ruckus'
To Be Added to Host Communications' Affinity Events Portfolio
ATLANTA, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Bull Run Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL)
today announced that its subsidiary, Host Communications, Inc., has reached
agreement on an acquisition of the assets of Denver, Colo.-based Summit Sports
and Events, Inc. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The
transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days, subject to meeting
all conditions of closing.
Host, based in Lexington, Ky., is an affinity, sports and lifestyle
marketing and management company. Through its Streetball Partners
International division, Host operates grassroots participatory tours including
"Hoop-It-Up(R)" 3-on-3 basketball, the "Toyota Golf Skills Challenge", "NHL
Breakout" 5-on-5 in-line street hockey, "MLB Yard Ball" 4-on-4 baseball, "Let-
It-Fly" 4-on-4 flag football and "MLB International Baseball Festival."
"Summit Sports provides us assets that instantly enhance our affinity
marketing strategies," said W. James Host, CEO of Host Communications. "We
applaud Dan Cramer for building an attractive base of sports and lifestyle
properties, which complement our Hoop-It-Up tour and so many other unique,
affinity marketing programs that are primarily administered by our Streetball
Partners International division."
"The addition of Summit Sports will provide us with an established soccer
tour," Host added. "It also allows our company to immediately penetrate
basketball markets that are not part of the annual Hoop-It-Up schedule. While
Hoop-It-Up events are typically held in urban locations, Roundball Ruckus
events are generally held in mid- to small-sized markets."
Founded in 1989 by Cramer, Summit Sports has 25 employees operating out of
offices in Denver, Boston, Nashville and Lincoln, Neb. Some of the properties
owned by Summit Sports include:
* "Sunny Delight 3-v-3 Soccer Shootout" -- a 65-city national tour of
soccer tournaments for males and females, ages six to 68, with regional
finals and the National Finals at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
in Orlando;
* "Roundball Ruckus" -- a 45-city 3-on-3 basketball tour, attracting
50,000 players annually from March to September, having a National
Finals event held at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.;
* "Budweiser 6-v-6 Soccer Tournament" -- a five-weekend soccer tournament
in Los Angeles, for players ages 21 and older, primarily geared toward
the Hispanic market;
* "Own the Zone 4-on-4 Flag Football" -- an inaugural flag football tour
with plans for a National Finals in 2001;
* "Festival of Performing Arts" -- an upbeat talent competition for
singers, dancers and musicians featuring jazz, broadway, classical and
popular music;
* "Denver Broncos Bowl Youth Tackle Football State Championships" -- a
three weekend event of 150 teams, ages eight - 13.
"We are proud of the programs we have created and the steady number of
participants we've been able to draw year after year," said Dan Cramer, who
played international basketball for 10 years and had a 12-year stint at KPMG
LLP public accounting firm prior to Summit Sports. "It was time, however, for
me to pursue a company that had similar experiences, that could continue to
develop our talent and resources, and help ensure the future success and
growth of our events and Summit Sports."
Robert S. Prather, Jr., President and CEO of Bull Run commented, "This is
a very strategic addition for us. We intend to continue expanding our base of
properties and platforms on which to carry out our mission as a leader in
affinity marketing."
Following the close of this transaction, Summit Sports will immediately
join Host, although event operations for the respective "Summit" and
"Streetball" properties will continue to be overseen by the existing staff,
under the respective company names. Host is currently developing plans in
which its national sales and event management capabilities instantly can add
value to the Summit Sports extension.
Lexington, Ky.-based Host Communications, Inc., recently named by
SportsBusiness Journal as a top five sports marketing company, has more than
500 employees in 23 offices, including a Streetball office in Paris, France.
Founded in 1972 as Jim Host & Associates, the company provides multimedia,
promotional and event management services support to universities, high
schools, athletic conferences, associations and corporations. Host
Communications has its own creative services, printing, publishing, event
management and Internet divisions.
CONTACT: Robert S. Prather, Jr., President & CEO of Bull Run Corporation,
404-266-8333, or W. James Host, Chairman of Host Communications, Inc.,
859-226-4202
SOURCE Bull Run Corporation
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Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/232438.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 232438
CONTACT:
Robert S. Prather, Jr., President & CEO of
Bull Run Corporation, 404-266-8333, or W. James Host, Chairman of
Host Communications, Inc., 859-226-4202
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