Infront signs Škoda Auto for Seven Years to 2011 for IIHF World Championships
Zug, Switzerland, 6 October 2004 - Infront Sports & Media, the Swiss-based international sports marketing company, has announced that Škoda Auto has extended its Official Main Sponsorship of the IIHF World Championships in ice hockey for a further seven years, from 2005-2011.
This brings the contract into line with the IIHF partnership with Infront, which in July this year was
also prolonged until 2011. The extension between the IIHF and Infront creates a relationship between a federation and a marketing company that will have lasted 30 years, believed to be unique in sport. It builds on a partnership dating back to 1981 and includes all television and marketing rights to the World Championships, as well as responsibility for the Host Broadcast of the event.
Škoda has been an IIHF sponsor since 1992, which means that the new contract to 2011 will create a 20 year partnership. Škoda Auto’s involvement with this highly successful international event dates back to 1992, when it joined the sponsor family as 'Official Car' of the IIHF World Championships. It has been an Official Main Sponsor since 1993, which ranks as one of the longest standing partnerships in ice hockey sponsorship history.
The contract provides Škoda Auto with a comprehensive package of rights, including title sponsorship, perimeter board advertising, centre circle advertising and as well as the provision of the Official Car Service on-site and around the event. The sponsorship also includes team sponsorship during the IIHF World Championships of the Czech and Slovak Republic teams.
The annual IIHF World Championship reached new heights in 2004, during the most recent tournament in the Czech Republic. There were a record 552,000 spectators, the largest number ever and the event reached 750 million television viewers worldwide during more than 1700 hours
transmission time (70 % of it live). These statistics have confirmed the World Championships as the biggest annual winter sports event in the world.
Mr.Jaroslav Cerný, Spokesman of Škoda Auto, said: 'Škoda has been associated with this event since 1992 and the Official Main Sponsor since 1993, one of the longest partnerships in ice hockey history.
We would not be extending our relationship like this if we were not convinced that we are doing something right! The event appeals to our prime target markets and it is growing all the time, in terms of the exposure and public relations benefits that it provides'.
John Kristick, Executive Director of Marketing for Infront said, 'We are delighted that we can continue this productive relationship with Škoda Auto.. This is special news for the IIHF World Championships as we look ahead for the next seven years. It is also an important achievement for Infront as we seek to further raise the awareness and marketing profile of the property as part of our commitment to the IIHF and commercial partners like Škoda Auto..'
For further information, please contact:
Infront Sports & Media AG
John Kristick
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
info@infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com
This brings the contract into line with the IIHF partnership with Infront, which in July this year was
also prolonged until 2011. The extension between the IIHF and Infront creates a relationship between a federation and a marketing company that will have lasted 30 years, believed to be unique in sport. It builds on a partnership dating back to 1981 and includes all television and marketing rights to the World Championships, as well as responsibility for the Host Broadcast of the event.
Škoda has been an IIHF sponsor since 1992, which means that the new contract to 2011 will create a 20 year partnership. Škoda Auto’s involvement with this highly successful international event dates back to 1992, when it joined the sponsor family as 'Official Car' of the IIHF World Championships. It has been an Official Main Sponsor since 1993, which ranks as one of the longest standing partnerships in ice hockey sponsorship history.
The contract provides Škoda Auto with a comprehensive package of rights, including title sponsorship, perimeter board advertising, centre circle advertising and as well as the provision of the Official Car Service on-site and around the event. The sponsorship also includes team sponsorship during the IIHF World Championships of the Czech and Slovak Republic teams.
The annual IIHF World Championship reached new heights in 2004, during the most recent tournament in the Czech Republic. There were a record 552,000 spectators, the largest number ever and the event reached 750 million television viewers worldwide during more than 1700 hours
transmission time (70 % of it live). These statistics have confirmed the World Championships as the biggest annual winter sports event in the world.
Mr.Jaroslav Cerný, Spokesman of Škoda Auto, said: 'Škoda has been associated with this event since 1992 and the Official Main Sponsor since 1993, one of the longest partnerships in ice hockey history.
We would not be extending our relationship like this if we were not convinced that we are doing something right! The event appeals to our prime target markets and it is growing all the time, in terms of the exposure and public relations benefits that it provides'.
John Kristick, Executive Director of Marketing for Infront said, 'We are delighted that we can continue this productive relationship with Škoda Auto.. This is special news for the IIHF World Championships as we look ahead for the next seven years. It is also an important achievement for Infront as we seek to further raise the awareness and marketing profile of the property as part of our commitment to the IIHF and commercial partners like Škoda Auto..'
For further information, please contact:
Infront Sports & Media AG
John Kristick
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
info@infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com