Sources say Chicago-based financial services company John
Nuveen & Co. is "close to finalizing" a multi-year deal to become
the title sponsor of tennis' Champions Tour, according to Mike
Reynolds of INSIDE MEDIA. In addition to being title sponsor,
Nuveen's deal also calls for media time on Prime and ABC
telecasts. Nuveen will also receive "enhanced signage" and other
on-site identification through tickets, displays and hospitality
amenities, as well as mentions on all Champions Tour promotional
and collateral materials. Nuveen was a presenting sponsor in '94
for the Tour's stop in Hilton Head, SC. Last year, Nuveen was a
support-level sponsor for all Tour events and title sponsor to
the Nuveen Masters Points system to determine players'
eligibility to enter the season-ending tournament. It is
expected that Nuveen will continue its association with the point
system and final tournament. The company also has taken
commercial time in Tour telecasts. Other Champions Tour sponsors
are Coopers & Lybrand, Corel, Chesebrough Pond's Mentadent and
Citibank. IM's Reynolds & Brockinton note Nuveen's broader
association with the Tour comes at a time when it is expanding to
a year-round circuit with an increasing international reach. The
Champions Tour reached five of the top seven markets and is
scheduled to return to Moscow and include stops in Johannesburg
and Tokyo. Prime will provide most of the TV coverage, but
sources say representatives of Liberty Sports/Fox have had
discussions with the Tour about placing some finals action on
Fox's broadcast network (INSIDE MEDIA, 4/17 issue).
