Bull Run Subsidiary Also Selected to Oversee Corporate
Sales for the American Bicycle Association (ABA)
LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Thoroughbred Racing
Association (NTRA) and Host Communications, Inc. have announced the
appointment of Host Communications as the NTRA's sponsorship sales agency.
Host Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Bull Run Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL), is known for its long-time marketing
representation of the NCAA and its men's and women's Final Four. Over the
past 25 years, Host Communications, a sports, events, lifestyle and affinity
marketing and management company, has secured numerous quality sponsors and
corporate partners for its collegiate, high school, grassroots and association
properties.
A full-time NTRA account executive will be named by Host Communications to
head up its national sales efforts and will be based in Lexington, Ky. The
NTRA in-house team will be led by Bryan Pettigrew, who has been promoted from
Special Assistant to the Commissioner to Vice President-Sponsorships,
effective immediately.
"We're very pleased with our new relationship with Host Communications and
optimistic about recruiting additional sponsors," said NTRA Commissioner Tim
Smith. "Thanks to our new coordinated sales approach with the Breeders' Cup,
we have the possibility for the first time of anchoring sponsorship and media
packages with Championship Day races. The initial response from the
marketplace is very encouraging and the involvement of Host Communications
will help us maximize these opportunities."
"We're genuinely excited about the future of NTRA horseracing as a
sponsorship and media property," said Host Communications' Chief Executive
Officer W. James Host. "With the rich asset base of the NTRA and overall
growth of the sport, the value to selected corporate partners is as strong as
any sponsorship opportunity we've seen. We're honored to have been selected."
Host will speak at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's
Symposium on Racing, Friday, Dec. 8, in Tucson, Ariz., where he will discuss
Host Communications' outlook on the sports sponsorship landscape and analyze
racing opportunities within that landscape.
In addition to being named sponsorship sales agency for the NTRA, Host
Communications has been selected to oversee corporate sponsorship sales for
the American Bicycle Association (ABA), which is based in Phoenix. According
to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, the ABA is the world's largest cycling
association, with 252 local BMX racing facilities, 26 National Series BMX
events, 48 Regional Series BMX events and 60,000 members (ages 3 - 65). Host
Communications, in its first endeavor in selling extreme sports, will serve as
the ABA's sales agent to bring Corporate America closer to the BMX racing
audience. In addition to its member base, the ABA produces a national,
monthly print publication named The BMXer, receives television event coverage
via FOX Sports Net, and its (ababmx.com) web site generates more than 1.5
million hits each month.
Lexington, Ky.-based Host Communications recently was named by
SportsBusiness Journal as one of the top five sports marketing companies in
the world. Host Communications, founded in 1972 as Jim Host & Associates,
provides multimedia, promotional and event management services support to
universities, high schools, athletic conferences, associations and
corporations. More information is available at http://www.hostcommunications.com.
SOURCE Bull Run Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.hostcommunications.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/232438.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 232438
CONTACT:
W. James Host, CEO of Host Communications,
Inc., 859-226-4202
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