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Allstate Insurance Signs First-Ever Sports Event Marketing Deal with 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Allstate Insurance Company has signed on as an Official Marketing Partner for the Third World Championship of women's soccer. It is the first national sports event sponsorship in the company's 67-year history. The category exclusive deal will include rights to Women's World Cup marks and logos, on-field signage, print and television advertising (including TV spots on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2), opportunity for premium distribution, and VIP hospitality and tickets. "Soccer is the fastest growing team sport in the United States and this deal helps Allstate build a greater presence in non-traditional media - it's a great fit for us," said Jill Weaver, V.P. of Advertising and Brand Communications at Allstate. "We are proud that Allstate chose the 1999 Women's World Cup for its first sports event sponsorship experience,: said Organizing Committee President Marla Messing. "It's a reflection of the momentum building for the tournament that a leader in the insurance business has recognized the benefirts of being involved in the event." The Allstate Corporation, the parent of Allstate Insurance Company, is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurance company, insuring one of every eight homes and automobiles in the country. The company provides insurance for more that 20 million customers and has approximately 15,000 agests in the U.S. and Canada. Allstate is also a major life insurer. Adidas Becomes Official Sponsor of 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup The "Icon" will be first ball produced for a FIFA Women's World Cup Adidas has become an "Official Sponsor" and "Official Licensee" of the third world championship for women's soccer. The announcement, made jointly by Women's World Cup '99 President Marla Messing and Adidas America President and CEO Steve Wynne, coincided with a sneak preview of the tournament's official game ball at the Super Show '98 in Atlanta, GA, the largest sports industry trade show in the United States. The ball will be called the "Icon." The "Icon" is the first-ever ball specifically produced for the FIFA Women's World Cup. In both 1991 and 1995 the event used the ball designed for the men's World Cup the previous year. The design of the 1999 Women's World Cup ball will feature a colorful representationor iconfrom each of the seven United States communities which will host Women's World Cup games. Hidden within the ball is the new "Syntactic Foam Technology" which, according to Adidas, makes ball flight more accurate and predictable. At a large gathering of soccer equipment retailers hosted by Adidas, the ball was previewed with the help of Olympic Gold Medalists Kristine Lilly and Sharon MacMillan of the U.S. National Team, who spoke of the commitment of all of the players to making the 1999 World Cup an historic marker in women's soccer. Messing spoke of the tremendous response from the "grass roots" of women's soccer throughout the USA, and how Adidas' support would help ensure that the World Cup would be a major event for women's sports worldwide. Following a video featuring historic and exciting moments in the growth of women's soccer, CEO Wynne stressed that participation in the 1999 Women's World Cup demonstrated Adidas' continuing effort to increase grass roots opportunities for aspiring players coupled with the company's ongoing dedication to bringing advanced performance products to the game. He explained that Adidas would continue its leadership role in the evolution of soccer worldwide and that the 1999 sponsorship would help maintain that position. Adidas' commitment parallels their role in the 1998 Men's World Cup in France. After that event ends they will produce a wide variety of apparel, featuring a line designed specifically for the female athlete, to be available during the months leading to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. © WSW March/April 1998 Coca-Cola Official Sponsor of 1999 Women's World Cup The Coca-Cola Company will be an Official Sponsor of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup as part of a long-term deal with the Federation Internationale de Football Association, covering eight years of FIFA events. "We are extremely pleased to be working with a company that has become synonymous with the sport of soccer around the world," said Marla Messing, President of the Women's World Cup Organizing Committee. "It's fitting that the number one soft drink and one of the fastest growing sports in the world would partner for this event." Coca-Cola has been an Official Sponsor of each men's World Cup since 1978 and sponsored the first Women's World Cup in China in 1991 as well as the 1995 Women's World Cup in Sweden. "Coca-Cola is committed to the growth of soccer at all levels," said Scott McCune, Vice President, Director of Worldwide Sports for The Coca-Cola Company. "The Women's World Cup presents a unique opportunity for us to share and celebrate the passion of the women's game with fans in the U.S and throughout the world." Coca-Cola's relationship with the Women's World Cup includes product exclusivity in the non-alcoholic beverage category, use of the official FIFA Women's World Cup event trademarks and designations in advertising and promotions, and rights to on-field advertising boards. Coca-Cola is the second Official Sponsor to partner with Women's World Cup, along with soccer equipment and apparel leader, adidas, which became an Official Sponsor earlier this year. © WSW May/June 1998