NAO 2014

NAO 2014

2014 NORTH AMERICAN OPEN SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS –

Comprehensive & Reinforced Branding On A Global Stage

WHY SPONSOR SQUASH?

The North American Open Squash Championships offer compre-hensive and reinforced branding opportunities for the title spon-sor year-round through active fan engagement for spectators attending the six-day event, online, through PR, streaming, and social media, an international television highlights package, and customized promotions.

Twenty million people play squash in 185 countries. The current No. 1 male player hails from Egypt, challenged by British, French and a multitude of international stars. The No. 1 female player is from Malaysia giving the sport a truly global presence from the USA to Europe and including Asia, India and the Middle East.

Most importantly, squash players and fans represent a highly tar-geted and sought after demographic of men and women with me-dian incomes of more than $300,000 and an average net worth of nearly $1,500,000.

Squash players are business owners and senior executives in upper management throughout corporate America along with research physicians, architects, attorneys, and ac-countants.

Squash players are highly educated. 98% of squash players are college graduates with 57% having gradu-ate degrees. Eighty-five colleges sent teams to the nationals in 2013, including all the Ivys, Stanford, UVA, and Vanderbilt.

Forbes Magazine has ranked squash as the “world’s No. 1 healthiest sport” ahead of rowing, running, and swimming, mak-ing an association with the sport of squash highly desirable.

Adult players are engaged, passionate, and loyal. In a 2013 survey by US Squash, more than 90% of respondents play frequently, and 65% have played for more than 10 years.

Nicol

David, is

currently

ranked

world

number 1

in women’s

squash.

Ramy Ashour, is

currently ranked

world number 1 in

men’s squash.

NAO 2014

The North American Open Squash Championships of-fers parity in prize money for men and women with at total initial purse of $100,000. The North American Open is one of only two prize money events on the PSA (men’s) and WSA (women’s) professional tours world-wide offering equal prize money. The other is the U.S. Open, and both of these events are owned and oper-ated by US Squash, the national governing body of the sport and the worldwide leader in prize money parity.

“Any time you can achieve equality in any field of en-deavor—be it in sports or in life—everyone wins,” said Hall of Fame tennis great Billie Jean King, who 40 years ago led the charge for equal prize money at the

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN OPEN SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS

“The North American Open Squash Championships, hosted by George Washington University in a world-class venue, provides an outstanding spec-tator experience with superb courtside client entertainment.”

US Open Tennis Championships.The North American Open Squash Championships, hosted by George Washington University in a world-class venue, provides an outstanding spectator ex-perience with superb courtside client entertainment. Courtside seating accommodates 1,000+ spectators surrounding the state-of-the-art portable glass court.

The tournament, which was first held as a men’s championship in 1966, will add a women’s division for the first time in 2014. The men’s and women’s draws for the 2014 North American Open Squash Champi-onships will feature players from more than 20 coun-tries including the world’s top professionals.

NAO 2014

In the 1970s and 80s, the NAO was the pre-mier squash tournament in the U.S. And re-ally in the entire western hemisphere: noth-ing was bigger. The NAO was the pinnacle, the most important men’s pro event, biggest prize money, biggest crowds, truly the most covered championship in the country and in the world, after the British Open and World Open.

Nearly all of the watershed moments in men’s pro squash in America happened at the NAO:

• The famous 1967 final in Montreal in which two brothers battled into a fifth game until younger brother Ralph Howe beat older brother Sam Howe 15-13.

• The classic 1975 final in Mexico City in which Sharif Khan, looking for his seventh straight title, lost to Victor Niederhoffer, the last time an amateur has won the title. • The 1982 NAO in Cleveland when Mike Desaulniers finally wrested the no.1 rank-ing away from Sharif—he’d been no.1 since 1969.

• The famous 1985 NAO on the stage at Town Hall in New York, which had a prize money purse of $75,000, at the time the largest purse ever in U.S. history ($163,000 in 2013 terms)—it was here in front of a thousand spectators, Jahangir Khan, the world’s greatest player ever, almost lost to American journeyman Tom Page in an epic five-game match.

HISTORY AND PRESTIGE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OPEN (NA0)

NAO 2014

SQUASH IN THE UNITED STATES

The United States has the fastest growing squash par-ticipation of any country worldwide. The most recent data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) shows a remarkable 82% growth between 2007 and 2011 to more than 1.2 million players. Participa-tion in junior squash events has increased 400% in the same period with more than 1,500 youngsters vying for national interscholastic championships annually.

GLOBAL SQUASH

Squash TV, launched in 2010 by the PSA, has revolu-tionized access to the top level of the sport on a global basis with more than 300 matches broadcast live via the PSA’s video-on-demand service.Among the global networks with dedicated coverage of major squash events are Sky Sports, Ten Sports, One World Sports, Bloomberg TV, Fox Sports and the inter-national news service, SNTV. The PSA and WSA World Series represents 120 tour-naments played year-round from Australia to Argentina, South Africa to Mexico, and Kuwait to Canada, among other major international markets.

NAO 2014

MARKETING ANALYSIS

The vision of US Squash is for all people to have the op-portunity to enhance their health and well being through the sport of squash.

“By promoting the sport of squash at the highest level we celebrate the best in the world, while at the same time accomplishing the goals of increasing the avail-ability and awareness of squash, and laying the founda-tion for providing the needed resources to introduce the benefits of squash to as many new players as possible.”

—Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO, US Squash

The title sponsor of the North American Squash Cham-pionships will receive extensive, quantifiable advertising and tangible marketing benefits as well as creating an association with a sport that is perceived as healthy. In addition, there are opportunities to encourage a wide range of youth participation through cause-related mar-keting efforts providing intangible benefits.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

US Squash will tailor the benefits of title sponsorship of the North American Open to the sponsor’s objectives on a local, regional, and international scale year-round.

Title sponsorship also includes designation of the title sponsor as an Official Sponsor of US Squash, which provides marketing and branding benefits across the US Squash total inventory of tournaments and pro-grams. Online and magazine advertising and a social media presence are also included. From high-end hospitality including player appearances to naming rights for event-related activities, including Hall of Fame, Sportsmanship, and other awards, the North American Open Squash Championships will de-liver outstanding branding opportunities.

SQUASH MAGAZINE WWW.SQUASHMAGAZINE.COM

E-NEWS SENT TO ENTIRE US SQUASH DATABASE OF MORE THAN 35,000 SUBSCRIBERS

WWW.USSQUASH.COM

The title sponsor can promote products and services on the #1 most visited squash site in the

United States

NAO 2014

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The National Urban Squash & Education Association (NUSEA) is the official charity of US Squash. A por-tion of all event proceeds will go directly to fund after-school enrichment programs serving disadvantaged youth nationwide.

These programs operate year-round and provide an intensive experience for talented and motivated stu-dents seeking to fulfill their potential both on the court and in the classroom.

Impressive results have been generated to date:

• 1,000 students have been served from Baltimore, Boston, Bronx, Chicago, Denver, Harlem, New Ha-ven, and Philadelphia

• 100 per cent of urban squash participants have graduated from high school

• 93 per cent of urban squash graduates have earned college degrees

• 10 US cities participate in squash and education activities

• $10 million in private high school and college scholarships have been awarded to 150 urban squash graduates

Umbrella naming rights for the program and for local chapters are available for companies and individuals seeking cause-related marketing opportunities.

NAO 2014

Category Exclusivity

Value: $100,000

The title sponsor receives category exclusivity with no competing brands participating as sponsors of the event. The name of the title sponsor is always used in the name of the event and becomes indelibly associated with the event. Title sponsor is included on all event materials and publicity.

SPONSORSHIP VALUATION

Broadband Streaming

Value: $15,000 - $25,000

The title sponsor banner placement on the front wall of the show court serves as a standing advertisement for the company in the international television highlights package and the Squash TV video on demand service.

There are a number of broadcast elements including graphics, on-air mentions of the sponsor, and video reviews.

(Additional sponsor logo placements are available for presenting sponsors in low positions on both the front wall and back wall.)

NAO 2014

Advertising

Value: $ 45,000 - 55,000

Advertising includes title sponsor logo on all promotional and marketing materials

Posters 500 posters @ 200 clubs and other locations nationwide

Post Cards 1000 post cards to 2.5 impressions per card = 2,500 impressions

Magazine Four full pages Squash magazine at an ad rate of $2,000 per page with a circulation of 10,000 with 2.5 readers = 25,000 per issue x 4 issues = 100,000 impressions

Website Year-round advertising exposure on US Squash website

Media Coverage

Value: $ 35,000 - 45,000

The North American Open Squash Championships are promoted year-round by US Squash on its website and in e-newsletters, both editorially and in advertising. In addition, the PSA and WSA promote the North American Open Championships on an ongoing basis in their calendars and editorial. Squash Magazine and other newspapers and periodicals cover the event.

A Washington, DC-based PR agency will promote the event year-round.

NAO 2014

On Site Experience

Value: $20,000 - $25,000

State-of-the-art Daktronics LED video and scoreboards enhance the live streaming of the event to spectators.

Interactive fan activities, food and beverage service, merchandising, and exclusive client entertainment opportunities in the GW Colonial Club will provide a first-class experience.

Hospitality and Tickets

The title sponsor will receive 1000 tickets for the six-day tournament with a value of $20,000. These tickets include premium courtside inventory that include food and beverage and are ideal for client entertainment.

Special Events

Value: $15,000 - $25,000

There are a number of special events preceding and during the tournament including Kids’ Day, President’s Reception, GW Day, sponsor clinics, and on-court presentations of awards for local and national squash supporters and players. Sponsorships are available for many of these activities. Estimated value of these activities that are promoted online and in marketing materials is $30,000.

NAO 2014

US SQUASH OFFICIAL SPONSOR

Designation of the title sponsor as an Official Sponsor of US Squash provides marketing and branding benefits across the US Squash inventory of tournaments and programs. Website, email, and magazine advertising are included year-round. Official Sponsor promotions and entitlement of programs will be developed to align with sponsor marketing objectives. A detailed marketing plan will be designed with the sponsor to cross-promote with US Squash and its partners.

SUMMARY

The North American Open Squash Championships provide the title sponsor with exclusivity and an integrated branding and marketing opportunity (including designation as Official Sponsor of US Squash) targeted to an upscale consumer at a cost-efficient value offering year-round activation in local, regional and international markets.

TOTAL TITLE SPONSOR VALUATION $255,000 - $305,000