FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Geoff Garmhausen
Director of Marketing & Communications
BEST/Blue Equity, LLC
333 East Main Street, Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40202
Tel: 502.588.7152
ggarmhausen@experienceBEST.com
BEST FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH STARGAMES AND JERRY SOLOMON ON EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS
LOUISVILLE, KY, September 8, 2009 – BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television www.experienceBEST.com) announced today a partnership with StarGames, a sports and entertainment firm located outside of Boston, Massachusetts. StarGames, led by CEO Jerry Solomon, has produced such events as the BNP Paribas Showdown and Nancy Kerrigan’s Halloween on Ice and operates Ivan Lendl’s Champions Academy in Sarasota, Florida. StarGames will work closely with BEST in content generation and production of various events across the BEST platform.
As one of the country’s top sports marketing executives, Solomon brings more than 25 years of experience to BEST as he collaborates and creates future events with BEST. “This new relationship with BEST should prove to be very exciting as we look to create new events and sports properties. By having access to BEST’s additional resources I am hopeful that we will be able to exploit more of the opportunities that come our way,” said Solomon.
“Jerry and I worked well and successfully together for 13 years at ProServ, thus I am personally delighted that he will be joining the BEST team,” said Donald Dell, Group President, Tennis, Television and Events for BEST. “Because of his great creativity, knowledge and experience of the sports marketing business, and outstanding people skills, Jerry will be a great asset for our working team at BEST.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Jerry Solomon and look forward new and creative event ideas he can bring to the table,” said Michael J. Principe, Managing Director of BEST. “This collaboration will once again position BEST to capitalize on additional opportunities in the industry, enhance our own properties and add additional owed content to our growing portfolio. I look forward to our work together.”
About BEST
BEST is a unified full-service sports and entertainment company. Current clients include Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, Reggie Bush, DeAngelo Hall and 2009 NFL Draft first round picks Aaron Maybin and Percy Harvin,; NBA All-Stars Shawn Marion and Rasheed Wallace, as well as 2009 NBA Lottery picks Ricky Rubio and Earl Clark; ATP #1 ranked doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan, WTA #8 ranked player Victoria Azarenka and WTA #9 ranked player Caroline Wozniacki. Media & Event properties include the US Open Tennis Championship, the French Open Tennis Championship, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, numerous US-based ATP tournaments, Rock ’n Racquets, the Boston Marathon, the Superstars Competition, Ice Wars, the World Cup of Softball, The Hall of Fame Showcase, the Men’s and Women’s Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships and experiential grassroots properties Hoop It Up, Kick It and Let It Fly. www.experienceBEST.com
About StarGames
StarGames (www.stargamesinc.com) is a fully integrated sports marketing, management and entertainment company. StarGames represents current and former professional athletes including Nancy Kerrigan and Ivan Lendl; produces original content for mass media distribution such as Halloween on Ice, History of Hockey East and Rock Chalk Championship; and operates its own broadband television channel. In 2008, StarGames orchestrated the return of professional tennis to Madison Square Garden with the sold-out NetJets Showdown between Grand Slam champions Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. In 2009, StarGames brought women’s tennis back to the World’s Most Famous Arena as the BNP Paribas Showdown hosted the top players in the world competing for the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup, broadcast live on HBO. Most recently, StarGames has partnered with eight-time Grand Slam Champion Ivan Lendl to open Ivan Lendl’s Champions Academy for elite junior athletes in tennis and golf.
About Blue Equity
Blue Equity, LLC is an independent, private equity firm based in Louisville, Kentucky. It is committed to actively investing growth capital and business expertise in enterprises with solid development potential. Blue Equity forms strategic partnerships with existing management teams and leverages its expertise and relationships to stabilize, strengthen and grow lasting value. Investment efforts and managerial expertise are focused on the operation of a global and diversified portfolio of business enterprises, including opportunities in media, publishing, sports and entertainment, financial services, health care and real estate. Blue Equity is dedicated to helping businesses grow by accelerating opportunity and driving innovation to the marketplace. www.blueequity.com
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