The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has signed a new agreement with the leading sports marketing and media company ISL Worldwide. ISL will become FIBA’s marketing and television partner for the EuroLeague competition, handling promotional and commercial activities for the next four seasons until 2004.

Creating the new EuroLeague Brand

Starting with Season 2000/2001 in September next, the EuroLeague competition will be given a completely new look: new name, visual identity and appearance. This important move will dramatically improve exposure of the sport and its major club teams throughout Europe.

The new EuroLeague identity will be promoted through the competition’s various broadcast partners and licensees who will be appointed by ISL. In addition, ISL will market the Official EuroLeague Basketball as well as all commercial rights associated with the annual climax of the competition, the ‘Final Four’. During the first stage of the agreement, all other marketing rights will be retained by the clubs.

European Basketball has its own unique style and drama that people recognise and celebrate. The new brand identity, together with the excitement, passion and diversity of European Club Basketball will ensure a dramatic development in the sport’s popularity and put the FIBA EuroLeague and its clubs at the forefront of public attention.

The income derived from the contact will be redistributed by FIBA to the 24 clubs taking part in the League according to the results achieved by the clubs and the television monies arising from the various markets.

The implementation of all organisational aspects, for instance, scheduling of games, co-ordination of the clubs’ obligations and all logistical matters will be handled by the EuroLeague Office, a limited company which will be founded by FIBA for this purpose. The office will be headquartered in Munich under the direction of Mr. Leon Wandel (Belgium).

This groundbreaking concept will be launched in detail by FIBA and ISL during the Final Four of the EuroLeague 1999/2000 which will take place in Thessaloniki (Greece) from
18 – 20 April 2000.

Borislav Stankovic, Secretary General of FIBA said: ‘We are very much looking forward to continuing our successful co-operation with ISL. Their approach and the efforts they have made in the creation of the new branding and marketing concept for the EuroLeague have made them the logical partner to further build on the position basketball has achieved in Europe and the rest of the world.’

Jean-Marie Weber, Chairman of ISL Worldwide said: ‘In our business strategy Basketball is one of the core sports because it represents a huge potential for growth especially with the younger generation. Our goal is to further strengthen basketball and the EuroLeague into the premier indoor sport in Europe.’

Continuing a Successful Co-operation

ISL and FIBA first began working together in 1990 when ISL were FIBA’s exclusive worldwide marketing and television (excl. Europe and USA) partner for FIBA’s major events including the World and European Championships. In 1998 the relationship was modified: FIBA entered into a six-year agreement with ISL for all worldwide television rights (excl. North America) for the major FIBA events and decided to be responsible for the marketing aspects themselves.

Background information about ISL Worldwide and the ISMM Group

ISL is the world’s leading independent sports event media & marketing group. It markets on behalf of international sports federations and other governing bodies on an exclusive worldwide basis event media and marketing rights including TV, video and other electronic media rights, sponsorships, licensing & merchandising rights and all related services.

ISL and its affiliate companies CPG (Copyright Promotion Group), En-Linea, PRIME Consulting and Sponsorship Research International (SRi) are part of the ISMM (International Sports Media & Marketing) Group. The ISMM Group serves its business partners and sponsor clients with 460 staff members in 34 offices located in the world’s major markets.

ISL’s major business partners include the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the Union of European Football Association (UEFA), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), ERC-Rugby, Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP Tour Inc.), the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and others.

For further information on ISL Worldwide, respectively the ISMM Group, please refer to ISL’s homepage at www.islworld.com or ISMM’s homepage at www.ismmgroup.com