Australian Open Chief Executive Paul McNamee today announced that IMG had been appointed as the exclusive major sponsorship sales agent for the Australian Open.

‘I believe that IMG, with its substantial global network is well placed to pursue this unique opportunity,’ said McNamee.

IMG’s role is specifically to sell the major sponsor package previously held by Ford. This is only the second time in 27 years that the sponsorship has become available.

During Australian Open 2001, it was announced that Ford had entered a new agreement as the official vehicle supplier for the next four years, commencing with the 2002 event.

Managing Director Martin Jolly said IMG was pleased to be appointed as the exclusive sponsorship agent for the Australian Open Tennis Championships.

‘The Australian Open is the nation’s biggest sporting event in terms of international television audience, attendance and corporate support,’ said Jolly.

‘The major sponsor category has been held by Ford since 1985, so we are anticipating significant interest,’ said Jolly. ‘In that time, the event has scaled enormous heights and is now regarded as Australia’s leading international sporting event.

‘In 2001, the event attracted a record attendance of 543,843 and was telecast in 163 countries to an estimated 549 million homes.

‘We have every confidence in our ability to sell the property and are delighted to be working the Australian Open on this project,’ he said. ‘Not only is IMG the global leader in sports sponsorship, we have had a long association with tennis around the world.

‘Given the international profile of the event, IMG will utilise its global sales resources to assist the Australian Open in its endevours to ensure the future growth of the Championships,’ said Jolly.

‘It is not often that a sponsorship opportunity like this presents itself and we look forward to taking it to the market both domestically and internationally,’ he said.

‘We are confident that it will attract substantial interest in Australia and abroad.’

IMG is involved in tennis worldwide, representing or advising all four Grand Slam events for television, marketing or licensing activities. IMG also owns a number of major tennis events around the world including the Tennis Masters Series events at Key Biscayne and Indian Wells.

IMG also manages many of the world’s leading players including Pete Sampras, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Magnus Norman, Australian Open Champion Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, and Venus and Serena Williams.

For further information please contact:

Matthew Mahon
IMG
Tel:(03) 9658 6807
or: 0413 101 860