AEG, operators of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, and
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF), a global nutrition direct-selling company,
today announced a five-year, multimillion dollar expansion of
Herbalife's agreement with AEG making Herbalife the presenting sponsor
of the Los Angeles Galaxy. The agreement gives Herbalife on-jersey
exposure for its brand beginning with the upcoming 2007 season, which
begins April 8.
"The national and international appeal of soccer and of the Los
Angeles Galaxy club in particular, is a natural fit for our global
philosophy of promoting a healthy, active lifestyle," said Herbalife
CEO Michael O. Johnson. "We have had tremendous success partnering
with many AEG-owned properties in our effort to build our brand image
and allow our independent distributors increased access to new
customers."
A cornerstone of the multi-year, multimillion dollar agreement is
the ability for Herbalife to showcase its brand name on the front of
the team jersey. For the first time in the history of team sports in
the United States, a professional league will allow its franchises to
sell "sponsorship rights" on a primary position of the players'
uniforms. A long-accepted practice for soccer and other teams
internationally, the 2007 MLS season will mark the first time a U.S.
league will permit this marketing platform for team sponsors.
"Without a doubt, this is a milestone event in American sports
marketing," said Shawn Hunter, President, AEG Sports and Chief
Marketing Officer, AEG. "With the tremendous amount of global exposure
the Galaxy is expected to generate in the upcoming season, the time
was clearly right for a professional league in the United States to
create this branding platform."
"The high caliber of play as well as the acquisition of
international players has truly raised the interest and visibility of
MLS in the Untied States and worldwide," said Timothy J. Leiweke,
President & CEO, AEG. "The league's exceptional national broadcast
contracts with ABC, ESPN, HD Net and Univision, the number of new
soccer-specific stadiums opened or being built and the remarkable
success of the recent World Cup ratings in the United States indicates
a new day for American soccer and the sport."
"Additionally, Herbalife's support of the Galaxy raises the bar
for our club while being a tremendous boon for the sport," continued
Leiweke. "We've had the opportunity to work with Herbalife since 2005
and no other company activates a sponsorship as well as they do.
Herbalife sponsorship of AEG properties has grown over the past two
years and their distributors have become a familiar sight at The Home
Depot Center and our other events."
"Soccer brings people together, and bridges across nationalities
and borders," said Greg Probert, Herbalife's president and chief
operating officer. "We have 1.5 million independent distributors in 64
countries. With upcoming Galaxy matches scheduled for the United
States, Mexico and Asia and the worldwide interest in soccer, we'll be
supporting our distributors with branding in their own backyards and
on a global scale."
Herbalife first became a sponsor of AEG-owned and operated events
in 2005. The Herbalife name will appear in conjunction with the team
name on all official team wear and replica jerseys and other select
team merchandise. The agreement also makes Herbalife the official
sponsor of all international and exhibition games; provides it with
increased media exposure, including television commercials and radio
spots; exposure on the 110, 10, 405 and 91 freeways; and Web presence
and sponsorship of Los Angeles Galaxy grass roots and community
programs.
About Los Angeles Galaxy
One of thirteen Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, the Los Angeles
Galaxy were founded on June 15, 1994, and play all of the club's home
games at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State
University at Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif. The L.A. Galaxy are
one of the premier teams in MLS, boasting five championships,
including the MLS Cup (2002, 2005), U.S. Open Cup (2001, 2005) and
CONCACAF Champions' Cup (2000). For more information, visit the
official website at www.lagalaxy.com.
About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in
the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company,
owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such
as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Toyota Park, Toyota Sports
Center, Anaheim Convention Center Arena, El Rey Theatre, Colosseum at
Caesars Palace, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie and NOKIA Theatre Times
Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los
Angeles Riptide (MLL), the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire and
Houston Dynamo (MLS), two hockey franchises operated in Europe,
management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and
the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the
organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of
companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music
performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media
production. Additionally, the company has begun fully developing
London's 28-acre Millennium Dome which includes a 23,000-seat arena,
the O2 and over 650,000sf of leisure and entertainment use within the
'Dome' and additional arenas; The O2 World on a 45-acre site in the
heart of Berlin; Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California;
Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri; as well as Red Bull Park, a
soccer stadium in Harrison, New Jersey; and L.A. Live, a $2.5 billion
sports and entertainment district in downtown Los Angeles. For more
information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.
About Herbalife
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a global network marketing company
that sells weight-management, nutritional supplements and personal
care products intended to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife
products are sold in 64 countries through a network of 1.5 million
independent distributors. The company supports the Herbalife Family
Foundation (http://www.herbalifefamilyfoundation.org) and its Casa
Herbalife program to bring good nutrition to children. Please visit
Herbalife Investor Relations (http://ir.herbalife.com) for additional
financial information.
