Deal with Youth Sports Marketer is Expected to Fuel Company’s Marketing Services Business and Deliver Greater Access to Large Youth Sports Market
SAN DIEGO, CA AND WALTHAM, MA - June 20, 2005 - Active Marketing Group, a full service promotions agency and a division of The Active Network, Inc., announced today that the company has acquired Vision Sports & Entertainment Partners (www.visionsep.com), a Waltham, Mass.-based youth sports marketing agency. Both organizations have deep ties in the youth sports community and a successful track record executing integrated marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 clients. The acquisition will integrate capabilities from both agencies, strengthen Active Marketing Group's youth sports offering, and provide marketers greater access to the youth sports market. The combined portfolio of services will be delivered through Active Marketing Group (www.ActiveMarketingGroup.com).
"We had momentum building and wanted to continue to grow our business with a company that we believe is ascending even more rapidly," explained Founder Bryant McBride, Vision Sports & Entertainment Partners. "With the company's reach into the active lifestyle market and our deep roots in youth sports, we are now well-positioned to deliver targeted marketing programs that meet client objectives and bring benefits to the families, coaches and volunteers that make youth sports participation possible."
Under McBride's direction, Vision Sports & Entertainment Partners has executed campaigns and established marketing relationships between the local youth sports community and clients such as Snickers, Choice Hotels International and Upper Deck, among others. The seven-member team has grown billings for the agency to more than $2 million. Added Bryant, "National brands turn to us to activate marketing programs on the local level that reach specific youth sports communities and drive retail traffic and revenue. We can do this very cost-effectively." Active Marketing Group has also executed multiple campaigns for youth sports, leveraging soccer, softball and baseball programs for clients including McDonald's Corporation, U.S. Army and Unilever Corporation. "The combined strengths of Active Marketing Group and Vision Sports & Entertainment Partners will enable us to deepen our services portfolio and activate programs that make a powerful impact in the youth sports market," said Matt Landa, president of The Active Network, Inc., and head of Active Marketing Group.
Active Marketing Group serves a client base that includes consumer packaged goods companies, retailers and sports-specific manufacturers, financial institutions, automotive manufacturers, health care organizations, municipalities and more. In April, The Active Network acquired municipal marketing leader Public Enterprise Group (www.publicenterprise.com), adding municipal marketing services to the agency's portfolio.
Active Marketing Group provides the following client services:
- Consumer promotions
- Trade marketing
- Peer-to-peer marketing
- Brand sampling
- Online advertising
- Field/mobile marketing
- Youth sports marketing
- Database marketing
- Municipal marketing
- Public relations
- Research
About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network, Inc. provides technology applications and marketing access to community service organizations worldwide and has earned a reputation as a leading online destination for active lifestyles. The company's application services help organizations increase efficiency, while reducing the cost and complexity of managing community activities and fundraising events. Organizations of all size use the company's technology to automate information collection, activity registration, facility reservation, membership and fundraising management. The Active Network's marketing services offer integrated online and field marketing campaigns that help brands develop authentic relationships with active consumers.
Its consumer properties offer targeted services for the active lifestyle. The Active Network serves local governments, parks and recreation, non-profits, sports organizations and associations, educational and health care organizations, and consumer products corporations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, please visit www.theactivenetwork.com or call 1-888-543-7223.
Contacts
Shelly Burnside
The Active Network, Inc.
shelly@active.com or 858-964-3813
Bryant McBride
Vision Sports & Entertainment Partners
bmcbride@visionsep.com or 781-466-8631