[September 27, 2005] Action Sports Media and the University of South Florida Enter Long-Term Marketing Agreement; New Executive Team Delivers Benchmark Deal Less Than a Month After Taking Over Leadership of Action Sports Media Tweet KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 27, 2005 -- Action Sports Media, Inc., a leader in the $27.5 billion collegiate sports marketing industry, today announced a 10-year agreement with the University of South Florida (USF) that provides USF with state-of-the-art scoreboards and signage. Located on the USF campus in Tampa, the Sun Dome is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility that seats more than 11,000 for a variety of events, and is home to the USF Bulls men's and women's basketball teams. The multimillion-dollar marketing agreement is designed to increase advertising revenues while simultaneously enhancing the overall atmosphere and fan experience at the Sun Dome. With USF recently entering the historic Big East Conference, this marks one of the most exciting times in Bulls athletics history. Armed with its new scoreboard technology and other fan-focused improvements, the Sun Dome will host perennial powerhouses such as the Cincinnati Bearcats, UConn Huskies, Villanova Wildcats and Seton Hall Pirates. "This is a dynamic opportunity to enhance the game-day atmosphere for fans at the Sun Dome, and Action Sports Media is excited to support USF by providing technological advances in its facility signage," said Gordon Whitener, CEO of Action Sports Media. "I'm very proud of the Action Sports Media team for delivering such a significant new signage deal, which includes naming rights, less than a month after our acquisition. It's exciting to have a new relationship with a prominent Division I school, and we believe it's the first of many value-creating deals to come for Action Sports Media." Through the agreement with Action Sports, the Sun Dome will be fitted with advanced-technology scoreboards and advertising signage from Daktronics, one of the world's largest suppliers of electronic scoreboards, computer-programmable displays, and large-screen video displays and control systems. "The scoreboards will greatly enhance the appearance of the Sun Dome and provide a totally different atmosphere for not only the fans, but the players as well," said Robert McCullum, head coach of the USF men's basketball team. "Combined with the other improvements planned, fans are going to be treated to the total collegiate basketball experience." The new Sun Dome scoreboard and signage equipment includes ProStar(R) and ProAd(R) video displays and advertising panels. The advanced systems also include computers and video processors that are used for controlling equipment as well as maintaining accurate game clocks, scores and shot clocks. The new scoreboards and signage will complement other USF enhancements to the Sun Dome including a new basketball floor and season ticket packaging upgrades. "It is our intention to provide fans with the best experience possible when supporting all of our programs at USF, from arrival to departure," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard said. "The latest round of upgrades to the facility and ticketing system is a major step toward accomplishing that goal for men's and women's basketball." About Action Sports Media, Inc. Action Sports Media, Inc., (www.actionsports.com) provides niche collegiate sports marketing services, specializing in athletic venue media rights. Action Sports services its contracts by selling advertising and signage sponsorship rights at various sports venues, and the company has exclusive contracts with premier athletic programs in powerhouse NCAA conferences including the Big East, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 10. The company also markets a software package, Game Ops Commander, that enables scoreboard operators to manage the audio portion of their game-day production; more than 900 groups have licensed Game Ops Commander. Action Sports Media is a privately held company whose principal investor is Parallel Investment Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm that invests in growing, entrepreneurially led U.S. companies. Parallel (www.parallelip.com) has offices in Dallas and Los Angeles. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]