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| IBM Continues USTA Relationship,
Including Web Site Hosting |
IBM has renewed its USTA sponsorship for an additional three years, according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, who notes the deal continues a 12-year relationship. As the USTA's official information technology solution provider, IBM will continue to receive rights in hardware, software and IT services and consulting. IBM for the eighth straight year will host usopen.org which received 12.9 million visitors in '02. USTA Chief Business Officer Pierce O'Neil said of IBM: "They really have become the infrastructure of the Open." The "most visible branding" of IBM's sponsorship "will continue to be the radar guns" on court at the U.S. Open. IBM Dir of Worldwide Sponsorship Marketing Rick Singer said, "Most potential customers know our brand by now. We do this to show customers what we're doing for the Open and how that's relevant to what we can do for them. Over the years, it's helped us generate a lot of business." Velocity Sports & Entertainment is IBM's sponsorship marketing agency of record (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/4 issue).
