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New York & Orange, Calif. – Aug. 31, 2004 – Ameriquest Mortgage Company, one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders, announced today a sponsorship agreement with the National Football League (NFL) making Ameriquest the presenting sponsor of ‘NFL Opening Kickoff.’

This represents the first official sponsorship for Ameriquest with the NFL and includes exclusive rights in the mortgage category and presenting sponsor status of ‘NFL Opening Kickoff.’

‘Ameriquest is excited to launch a partnership with the NFL and serve as the presenting sponsor of ‘NFL Opening Kickoff,’’ said Adam Bass, Senior Executive Vice President of Ameriquest Mortgage Company. ‘As the official mortgage company of ‘NFL Opening Kickoff’, Ameriquest is proud to join all Americans in celebrating the start of another exciting NFL season. This sponsorship is an important part of our expanding sports marketing initiative to bring the Ameriquest name to every household in America as we move to become a full-service mortgage company.’

The NFL will open its 2004 season on Thursday night, Sept. 9 with a one-hour pre-game special – – ‘NFL Opening Kickoff’ – – that will salute the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and feature a star-studded musical lineup with performances from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., and Jacksonville, Fla., site of Super Bowl XXXIX.

‘NFL Opening Kickoff’ will air from 8-9:00 PM (ET) on ABC and lead into the season opener between the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium – a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game (ABC, 9:00 PM ET). The show will air following the game in the Rocky Mountain and West Coast time zones.

‘NFL Opening Kickoff’ will feature special tributes to the 2003 Super Bowl champions, take viewers into both teams’ locker rooms and include performances from Gillette Stadium by the BOSTON POPS, MARY J. BLIGE, DESTINY’S CHILD, ELTON JOHN, TOBY KEITH and LENNY KRAVITZ. JESSICA SIMPSON will perform from Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville, where the next Super Bowl champion will be crowned.

‘We are pleased to welcome Ameriquest Mortgage Company as the presenting sponsor of ‘NFL Opening Kickoff,’ one of our key marketing initiatives,’ said Peter Murray, NFL Vice President of Sales and Partnership Marketing. ‘The addition of Ameriquest will help provide a tremendous platform to launch the season and get the nation focused on the NFL.’

Ameriquest’s Airship Freedom will provide aerial shots to air within the league’s ‘NFL Opening Kickoff’ television special from 8-9:00 PM (ET) on ABC.

Area football fans will have the opportunity to play like the pros in Boston, Saturday, Sept. 4-Monday, Sept. 6 at the free NFL Kickoff Football Festival. Thousands of fans are expected to attend the free event scheduled from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and Monday, and 12 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Designed to entertain the entire family, the NFL Kickoff Festival will include various attractions for football fans of all ages, including participatory events, clinics, and autograph sessions with select former players. Ameriquest will sponsor several interactive elements of the NFL Kickoff Festival.

Free tickets will be distributed beginning each morning from Sept. 4-6 at the front gates of NFL Kickoff Football Festival, located at the Fan Pier Parking Lot in South Boston.

Contacts:

Mark Beal
Alan Taylor Comm. (for Ameriquest)
212-714-1280 ext. 225
mark@alantaylor.com
Brian McCarthy
National Football League
212-450-2069
mccarthyb@nfl.com

Byron de Arakel
Gladstone International (for Ameriquest)
949-706-3060
byronwriter@comcast.net