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| Contact: | Kendra Calvert Blue Equity, LLC Tel: 502.588.7159 kcalvert@blueequity.com | Reggie Dance 5W Public Relations Tel: 212.999.5585 rdance@5wpr.com |
Blue Equity Taps Into Collegiate Sports Properties with Acquisition of Game Seven Sports Marketing
LOUISVILLE, KY, July 2, 2007 - Blue Equity, LLC (www.blueequity.com) today announced the acquisition of Game Seven Sports Marketing, a Kentucky-based limited liability company specializing in collegiate sports properties. Game Seven's business model is based on coaches representation and event management. The acquisition of Game Seven offers Blue Equity a presence within the collegiate sports community while expanding its platform of events. Game Seven, with offices in Lexington and Louisville, will continue to be managed by the firm's co-founders: president Brooks Downing and senior vice president Jason Charney.
Game Seven represents coaches for a variety of representation services while specializing in local, regional and national endorsements. Among its stable of clients, which includes both head and assistant coaches, are Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe, Minnesota basketball coach Tubby Smith, Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek, Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy, Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey and Massachusetts basketball coach Travis Ford. The collection of coaching experience and ability to attract name brand clients continue to preserve Game Seven's position as an industry leader. The company was formed in 2003 with Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino as its first client.
"We are very excited about this opportunity given Blue Equity's vision for its international sports platform," said Brooks Downing, co-founder of Game Seven Sports Marketing. "Blue Equity will accelerate our growth opportunities in the collegiate marketplace, specifically with our coaches, who have a tremendous upside with our expanded resources."
Game Seven's event management team is responsible for a number of high profile events. Last December, the company launched its signature event, the annual Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge in Phoenix. The mobile college basketball doubleheader travels across the United States each year building brand awareness and serving as a fundraiser for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The event is destined for TD Banknorth Garden in Boston this December, Indianapolis in 2008 and Charlotte in 2009.
"As we continue to build this event into the nation's best doubleheader, we will secure and create new college events, both nationally and internationally," Charney added. "Our events division will continue to integrate fully with our coaches division."
Also, G7 owns and manages two USTA Challenger events, the Men's and Women's Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships in Lexington, Ky., and the Men's Ford Tennis Championship in Louisville. These events complement Blue Equity's SFX Worldwide division, which produces and manages a variety of events including the Legg Mason Tennis Championships and represents professional tennis athletes including Andy Roddick and Justine Henin. Additionally, Game Seven manages the University of Louisville Television Network, a statewide network created in 2005 that includes nearly 700,000 homes for live games and more than 6 million homes across the Southeast for coaches shows.
"It's exciting to have the opportunity to bring such a successful Kentucky-based sports property as Game Seven into the Blue Equity fold," said Mike Principe, the Chief Operating Officer at Blue Equity. "We have the potential for enormous growth when you combine our resources with their tremendous network in college sports and position as significant players in this marketplace."
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About Blue Equity
Blue Equity's holdings in sports are comprised of SFX Worldwide, Worldwide Football, Blackwave Sports, Team Championships International (TCI), Humarks and Game Seven Sports Marketing. Current clients include Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, NFL Pro Bowlers DeAngelo Hall, Will Smith and Michael Vick, NBA All-Star Rasheed Wallace, 2007 NBA Lottery picks Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, Australian, French and US Open Champion Justine Henin, US Open Champion Andy Roddick, No. 1 doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan, Minnesota basketball coach Tubby Smith, Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek, Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe, Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy, Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey and Massachusetts basketball coach Travis Ford. 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, Hoop It Up, Let It Fly, Kick It, the Boston Marathon, EliteXC Mixed Martial Arts, the Superstars Competition, the AVP Beach Volleyball tour, Ice Wars, the World Cup of Softball, Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge, the Men's and Womens' Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships and the Men's Ford Tennis Championship.
www.sfxworldwide.com | www.blackwavesports.com | www.teamchampionships.com | www.game-seven.com | www.humarks.com
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, real estate and international trade. Blue Equity is dedicated to helping businesses grow by accelerating opportunity and driving innovation to the marketplace. www.blueequity.com