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| Contact: | Kendra Calvert Blue Equity, LLC Tel: 502.588.7159 kcalvert@blueequity.com | Charlie Bernard 5W Public Relations Tel: 212.584.4278 cbernard@5wpr.com |
Joakim Noah, Charismatic Star of Two Time NCAA Champs Florida Gators Inks Long Term Deal with Le Coq Sportif
Poised for Brand Equity and Sponsorship Success, Bulls 1st Round Draft Pick Dives into Lucrative World of Sponsorship DealsLOUISVILLE, KY, November 7, 2007 - Two weeks in to his first season as a professional basketball player, the Chicago Bulls lottery pick Joakim Noah has signed a six year endorsement deal with Le Coq Sportif. Pursued by both Nike and Adidas, Noah decided to sign with the French footwear and apparel brand his father, Yannick, has endorsed for years.
Joakim Noah is a two time NCAA champion and known for his magnetic, charismatic personality. These traits and the fact that he comes from a family lineage marked by tremendous accomplishments in professional tennis by his father, Yannick Noah, are not lost on sports marketing pros. His agents, Donald Dell and Bill Strickland, insist that Joakim is primed to take the sponsorship world by storm and will no doubt become a household name in America and abroad before long.
Donald Dell, who cut Michael Jordan's deal with Nike that eventually led to the establishment of the Jordan brand, noted that Noah's deal with Le Coq Sportif gives him equity over time, based on the success of the company. U.S. marketing support will initially be limited to print, with TV expected in 2009. Marketing support in France is expected to begin sooner, since Yannick Noah's celebrity status is nearly unrivaled in the country, especially since he now has a successful career as a pop singer.
"Joakim is such a captivating athlete that his connection to fans will be immediate, and the brand loyalty they associate with him will grow exponentially over the years, " said Dell, a president at Blue Equity, LLC, a private equity firm based in Louisville, Kentucky, and known for its representation of world class athletes and events.
Combine Joakim's international appeal with the fact that the NBA will continue to be aggressive in it's pursuit of international markets and you have the exact persona that the league and brands like Le Coq Sportif are looking for in order to expand their appeal.
Noah is used to the buzz that has surrounded him and his game on the court since winning back to back championships at the University of Florida, and is excited about his NBA prospects and the opportunities they will present, stating "I'm truly grateful to be playing in the NBA, and am looking forward to my career. I have the utmost confidence in Blue Equity to handle my marketing opportunities off the court as well".
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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