Kodak was named a host sponsor in the imaging category
of the '98 Pilot Pen Int'l men's and women's tennis
championships, which begin today at the CT Tennis Center in
New Haven. Kodak will receive on-court signage and be the
title sponsor of the on-site interactive area "Kamp Kodak."
Kodak also owns the rights to distribution and sale of film
and single-use cameras at the event's retail shop (Kodak).
BUCHHOLZ'S BABY: Pilot Pen promoter Butch Buchholz is
profiled in the HARTFORD COURANT, where he discusses his
plans for the CT tournament. For the men's event, last
year's attendance of 82,651 was an all-time low, but the
goal for this year's tourney, boosted by the arrival of Pete
Sampras, is 130,000. One source said the event is paying
Sampras an appearance fee of up to $200,000. Pilot Pen
contributes an "estimated" seven figures a year as the title
sponsor, but company CEO Ron Shaw said the "biggest thing
missing is a second-tier presenting sponsor to help break
the financial fall." An investment of up to $500,000 "would
go a long way toward helping Buchholz and his investors
break even, something they don't anticipate for another
three of four years" (Greg Garber, HARTFORD COURANT, 8/17).
GO EURO? In Cincy, John Eckberg profiled sponsorship of
the Great American Insurance ATP Championship, and wrote
that on-court advertisements start at $20,000 and can reach
"six figures" depending upon visibility to the TV cameras.
Associate Tournament Dir Bruce Flory said that companies
with a European presence see the ads as a way to a reach
Europe audience via TV coverage (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 8/15).
