COMMERCE CITY, Colo., Nov. 8 -- The largest soccer sports complex in the world
will be called Dick's Sporting Goods Park when it opens in April, the complex's
owner and operator, Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE), announced today.
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE: DKS) has signed a 20-year naming rights
agreement on the property which includes an 18,000-seat outdoor stadium and
24 full-sized outdoor fields. Dick's Sporting Goods Park will be the home of
the MLS Colorado Rapids.
"It takes a special partner to share a vision for what this sports park
will be and Ed Stack and his team at Dick's Sporting Goods have that
vision," said E. Stanley Kroenke, owner and president of KSE. "Their
commitment to the community and the growth of sports is a perfect match
for what Dick's Sporting Goods Park represents."
While the amount of sponsorship was not disclosed, the duration of the
sponsorship and the size of the project make it one of the largest stadium
sponsorship deals in American soccer history. The deal includes naming
rights, signage and logo identification not just in soccer-specific
programs, but in all programming associated with the fields and any use of
the stadium and fields including other sports teams, special events and
concerts. The stadium is pre-fitted for concert setups of up to 26,000
fans.
"We are thrilled today to be announcing our long-term commitment to
this pinnacle project with our partners at Kroenke Sports," said Jeffrey
R. Hennion, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Dick's
Sporting Goods. "Dick's Sporting Goods Park will be, we believe, the
premier soccer facility in the U.S., bringing the game closer to a broad
spectrum of fans of the game and players of all ages. As the largest
full-line sporting goods retailer in the U.S., one of our primary goals is
to support the communities in which we do business and the growth of youth
sports within those communities. This world-class facility here in Denver,
our ongoing relationship with Kroenke Sports, and our support of Major
League Soccer, demonstrate the ultimate potential of how we can reach this
goal, especially when we have such strong partners with similar
vision."
Dick's Sporting Goods also becomes the exclusive retail sporting goods
partner of the stadium, fields, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Youth Soccer and
NDP Lacrosse. The sports park will serve as the official home of Colorado
Youth Soccer and NDP Lacrosse. Additionally, Dick's Sporting Goods will
become an affiliate sponsor of a number of soccer and lacrosse tournaments
to be held at the site annually.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park serves as the anchor for the 917-acre
Prairie Gateway site being developed in Commerce City, nine miles
northwest of downtown Denver. The Prairie Gateway project is a
public-private partnership between Kroenke Sports and Commerce City. Also
on the site will be a new Commerce City municipal hall, retail facilities,
offices for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a new visitors' center
for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, which abuts the
property.
Pittsburgh-based Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line
sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting
goods equipment, apparel, and footwear in a specialty store environment.
As of July 29, 2006 the company operated 268 stores in 34 states primarily
throughout the eastern half of the U.S.
Denver-based KSE is the Rocky Mountain West's premier provider of live and
broadcast sports and entertainment. KSE owns and operates the NBA Denver
Nuggets, NHL Colorado Avalanche, NLL Colorado Mammoth and MLS Colorado Rapids.
KSE owns a number of Denver-area venues including the Pepsi Center arena,
downtown Denver's historic Paramount Theatre and CityLights Pavilion. The
Altitude Sports & Entertainment regional sports network is owned by KSE as is
the Opera Shop theatrical lighting and design group and Altitude Profit
Consulting retail division. Kroenke Sports is also a partner in the AFL
Colorado Crush.
CONTACT:
Brian Kitts of Kroenke Sports
303-405-1147
or
Jeff Hennion of Dick's Sporting Goods
724-273-3222