F
UTBOL
DE PRIMERA FORMALLY ACQUIRES THE EXCLUSIVE U.S. RADIO RIGHTS
TO ALL MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM GAMES
Four-Year Contract With AEG Concludes FDP's Purchase of
Highly-Contested Soccer Property
MIAMI (February 27, 2003) - Fútbol de Primera announced today that
it has obtained the exclusive U.S. Spanish-language radio rights for
all Mexican National Team games from AEG, who operate the commercial
activities of the Mexican National Team in the United States.
This four-year agreement covers all games played by the Mexican
National Team, including World Cup qualifying matches and
international friendly matches - a maximum of 50 games in all -
through the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Fútbol de Primera has already
broadcast Mexico's first two international games of 2003, against
Argentina and Colombia, and next will exclusively carry Mexico's
match against Bolivia on Wednesday March 19 live from Dallas, Texas.
This historic partnership is a result of Fútbol de Primera's previous
relationship with the Mexican Soccer Federation, which now formally
includes AEG following their new partnership with the Federation.
"We are very proud to formalize this agreement and begin this new
relationship with AEG, a pioneer of this new soccer era in the United
States and whose ongoing commitment to the game has clearly given
soccer what it needs to continue growing in this country. Since
AEG and Fútbol de Primera are both known for their dedication to
expanding soccer in the U.S., we feel that this new relationship
opens the door for a lot of new opportunities and synergies between
our two companies. Together we hope to create a new standard of
excellence that the Mexican National Team has never before enjoyed
in the U.S.," said Alejandro Gutman who together with Andres Cantor
is the Co-Chairman of Fútbol de Primera.
"There is no better way of reaching the tremendous audience of
soccer fans and fans of the Mexican National Team throughout the
United States than through the Fútbol de Primera network," said
Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO, AEG. "Andres Cantor and
his entire organization share our passion and commitment for the
growth of soccer and, as a result of our partnership, fans of the
Mexican National Team will have a daily, direct link to information
about one of the world's premier soccer teams."
Fútbol de Primera is the leading Hispanic soccer company in the
United States. Fútbol de Primera's properties include the exclusive
U.S. radio rights in all languages to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in
Germany, the 2003 and 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2003 FIFA
Women's World Cup, the 2003 and 2005 FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Youth
Championships, and the draws for each of these tournaments. Last
year Fútbol de Primera exclusively broadcast the 2002 FIFA World
Cup on 104 Spanish-language radio stations in the United States,
and its associated programming was heard on a total of 162 stations
in 7 countries throughout Mexico, Central America and Australia.
Fútbol de Primera's two-hour Daily Show and one-hour Sunday Show,
hosted by Andres Cantor, together are the longest running nationally
syndicated Spanish-language programs in the country. Additionally,
FDP has created a number of prestigious annual soccer events
including the Honda Player of the Year Award, Honda Symposium and
the newly-developed Mexican Soccer Awards which will honor during
an annual ceremony the very best of Mexican soccer.
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the
world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation,
owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such
as STAPLES Center and the London Arena, among others; sports franchises
including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and 8 other hockey teams in
the U.S. and Europe, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids,
Metrostars, San Jose Earthquakes and DC United (MLS), and management
of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks
(WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz; AEG Marketing, a sponsorship, sales,
naming rights and consulting company; AEG Creative, a full-service
marketing and advertising agency and AEG Live, a collection of
companies devoted to all aspects of live entertainment.
AEG is currently overseeing the development of L.A. Live, a proposed
4 million square foot development featuring a 7,000-seat
state-of-the-art live theatre, a 1200-room convention "headquarters"
hotel along with entertainment, restaurant, residential and office
space all adjacent to STAPLES Center. In addition, AEG is
spearheading the creation of The Home Depot Center, a $140 million
national training "campus" designated as an "Official U.S. Olympic
Training Site" by the United States Olympic Committee that will
include major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling,
volleyball, basketball and other sports in southern California.