The United States Tennis Association today announced that it has extended and expanded its worldwide sponsorship agreement with Fila as the ‘Official Tennis Apparel and Footwear Sponsor’ of the US Open through 2004.
As part of the extension, Fila will create, market and sell — for the first time on an international basis — the US Open Collection of performance tennis apparel and footwear. Jennifer Capriati, Fila athlete and number one-ranked player in the WTA, will wear the ‘US Open Collection by Fila’ on-court at the 2002 US Open which will be televised internationally in more than 170 countries.
‘The Fila-US Open partnership will help to further build and enhance both our brands around the world,’ said Pierce O’Neil, Chief Business Officer, USTA. ‘Fila’s US Open marketing initiative featuring Jennifer Capriati, one of the most captivating athletes in all of sports today, captures the unique style and excitement that is consistent with the US Open.’
‘Fila’s sponsorship and licensing agreement with the US Open is a major cornerstone of the company’s sports marketing efforts and a significant commercial opportunity in the tennis category on a global basis,’ said Jon Epstein, President & CEO, Fila USA. ‘The US Open is the crown jewel of tennis worldwide and Fila is proud to continue our 20-year relationship with this Grand Slam event.’
Fila will implement a fully-integrated merchandising, marketing and retail program around the US Open for the next three years. The company will design and manufacture uniforms for the tournament’s officials, ballpersons and staff and will make Fila/US Open replica uniforms available for sale as official tournament merchandise.
Fila will expand its major retail promotional presence in the New York metropolitan area and throughout the country and its presence on-site during the event at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. The company’s two stores will feature the full range of Fila in-line footwear and apparel, replica US Open uniforms, tournament-specific fleece, t-shirts and headwear and the US Open performance tennis collection. In addition, Fila will continue its sponsorship of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.
Fila launched its first US Open performance tennis collection in 2001 and received tremendous visibility on-court via Fila’s sponsored athletes.
With major sponsorships of the 2002 US Open, Nasdaq-100, Pacific Life Open and the WTA Tour’s Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Conn., Fila is capitalizing on its long and distinguished heritage in the tennis category.
Fila’s sponsorship of three-time Grand Slam Champion Jennifer Capriati, US Open finalist Mark Philippoussis and Italian Open champion Jelena Dokic is further proof of the company’s commitment to the sport.
Fila USA is a subsidiary of Fila Holding S.p.A., headquartered in Biella (Italy). Fila is a leading designer and marketer of footwear and apparel for sport and free time. Fila has created strong brand recognition by marketing products with a high design and style content and by securing professional athlete endorsements. Fila is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange.
Fila’s website is www.fila.com.
The United States Tennis Association owns and stages the US Open and selects the teams that represent the United States in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympic Games. The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in America and is a non-profit organization with more than 630,000 members. It invests all its resources to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to the professional levels. The USTA’s website is www.usta.com.
For further information please contact:
Bruce S. Levy
Assistant Director
USTA Communications
T: +1 (914) 696-7244
E: levy@usta.com