CHICAGO, Ill. – August 13, 2001 – Chicago Sport & Social Club, a sports institution among Chicago’s active professionals and the city’s largest organizer of recreational adult sports leagues, is taking its fall operations to the next level with online registration from The Active Network, the organization announced today. The new partnership with The Active Network – the industry’s web registration leader for participatory sports – will also provide online registration for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Sport & Social Club, which starts fall registration on September 1. Both sports clubs, which were recently re-launched under new ownership, suspended operations in January when funds ran out from previous owners, StreetZebra.com
For Chicago residents, the five-year deal enables thousands of club members to register and pay online for more than ten different sports and 120 leagues. Members can now register from their computers within minutes, submit payment through a secure server, and receive immediate registration confirmation via e-mail. This partnership will also enable the club to post seasonal schedules and standings online for easy access by their participants. The club’s new owners will be able to access back-end, data management tools to streamline the entire registration process, handle daily administration and manage future growth. The club estimates that more than 75% of its Chicago members will register online.
For Melissa Halac, the deal’s timing is perfect. Halac, a Chicago member since 1996, was among the first people to register online through The Active Network for the club’s fall season. An accountant, Halac signed up for the coed football league at the Lincoln Park south fields – the club’s most popular fall sport. “The club is back and making it even more convenient for busy people like me to get signed up for the season. I registered in less than three minutes, paid with a credit card and found a confirmation in my e-mail inbox when I was done," said Halac.
Jason Erkes, new president of Chicago Sport & Social Club and Golden Gate Sport & Social Club, agreed. “Our partnership with The Active Network is loaded with benefits for all of our members and will ensure quality service for our clubs now and into the future. Using technology, we will be able to provide better service and more information to all our participants."
“Two of the biggest players in the recreational sports industry have joined forces to deliver top services in two major markets. This is great news for athletes in these cities," said Jon Belmonte, The Active Network’s chief operating officer. According to Belmonte, who was also an early member of the Chicago club, the company plans to work closely with Jason and his team to grow each other’s businesses.
Chicago Sport & Social Club, which serves an estimated 65,000 members, organizes recreational adult sports leagues across ten sports, including beach and indoor volleyball, softball, soccer, football, basketball, floor hockey, running, dancing and bowling. Members can register online at www.chicagosportandsocialclub.com. Fall leagues will be starting throughout the month of September and registration is open until the league starts.
Golden Gate Sport & Social Club, on Lombard in San Francisco, offers adult leagues for grass and indoor volleyball, basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, softball, football, floor hockey, ultimate Frisbee and racquetball. Registration for the fall season begins on September 1 and members can register at www.ggsportandsocialclub.com. Registration for both clubs can also be accessed at www.active.com.
The Active Network
The Active Network, Inc. is a leading provider of technology and marketing solutions for the participatory sports and recreation industry. The company’s network of online and offline properties, which includes Active.com (a href="http://active.com">www.active.com), eteamz.com (www.eteamz.com), RecWare (www.recware.com) and Active Sports Marketing Group, provide registration and data management tools, enterprise software systems, website development, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, and commerce and membership benefits. Located in La Jolla, California, The Active Network and its properties generate an estimated 50 million monthly page views, provide registration for more than 20,000 events and leagues worldwide, and deliver offline recreation management solutions to more than 1,000 park and recreation agencies in North America. For more information, visit www.theactivenetwork.com or call 1-888-543-7223.