Industry Press Room - Athletic Business

Friday, November 18, 2011

Sport Builders Named Official Tennis Court Construction Company of USTA Middle States

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Sport Builders Inc.

READING, PA (November 11, 2011) – Sport Builders, a premier tennis court construction, resurfacing and maintenance services company based in Reading, Pa., has been named the Official Tennis Court Construction Company of the USTA Middle States (USTA MS). USTA MS, encompassing Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and northwestern West Virginia, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the game of tennis to everyone who wants to play.

“For more than a decade, Sport Builders has been helping tennis enthusiasts enjoy the benefits of this exciting sport,” said Sport Builders Founder and President Matt Jacobs. “We are proud to partner with USTA MS in bringing the joy of tennis to all those who wish to pursue the game. At Sport Builders, we believe strongly in giving back to the sport and the communities that have contributed so much to our success.”

As USTA MS Official Tennis Court Construction Company, Sport Builders will sponsor USTA MS’ Building a Tennis Community (BATC) initiative, which promotes the sport of tennis by providing tennis clubs, parks, recreation agencies, schools and other programs with opportunities to earn financial support for equipment, uniforms, travel, program support, marketing and related needs. Sport Builders’ three-year sponsorship of BATC is effective immediately.

“Middle States is proud to have Sport Builders as its Official Tennis Court Construction Company,” stated Ben Zislis, Director of Community Development at USTA MS. “In addition to completing countless court projects throughout our section, Sport Builders is also dedicated to USTA Middle States’ Building a Tennis Community, and developing the growth of tennis in any way possible.”

A leading tennis court contractor, Sport Builders has been serving the mid-Atlantic region and beyond for more than a decade. Utilizing cutting-edge procedures and top-of-the-line equipment and materials, Sport Builders offers a full complement of services and products relating to tennis court construction and maintenance. The company is well known for providing outstanding customer service to its wide range of clients, including country clubs, tennis clubs, resorts, colleges and universities, municipalities, homeowners associations and private residences.

For additional information on becoming involved with BATC, contact Zislis at 610-935-5000 ext. 232 or zislis@ms.usta.com.

About Sport Builders
Since 2000, Sport Builders has offered premier tennis court construction, resurfacing and maintenance services to sport enthusiasts throughout the Northeast. Conveniently based in the mid-Atlantic region, Sport Builders brings cutting-edge procedures and top-of-the-line equipment and materials to its complete construction and reconstruction capabilities, including hard courts, Har Tru and HydroCourts, clay and ClayTech courts, indoor tennis courts, QuickStart tennis courts, air structures and one-of-a-kind projects. Tennis court resurfacing, restoration and maintenance are also company specialties. Associated services such as fencing and lighting installation and maintenance, court conversions, laser lifts and grading, acrylic coating systems, court customization (logos), irrigation systems, court maintenance and enhancement products, and installation and maintenance of basketball courts and multi-sport surfaces are also available.

For further information, please visit www.sportbuilders.com or contact President Matt Jacobs at matt@sportbuilders.com.

Posted At 3:16 PM • Comments (0)

John Deere Golf Discontinues Irrigation Sales

Posted by AB Editors

Source: John Deere

CARY, N.C. (November 18, 2011) – John Deere Golf recently announced that the company is discontinuing its golf irrigation business. Signature Control Systems will begin selling golf irrigation products through its own distribution network, including select John Deere Golf distributors worldwide.

Under the terms of the agreement, irrigation sales will no longer be a part of the John Deere Golf portfolio, but the company will support customers who have installed John Deere Golf irrigation systems.

“John Deere Golf’s irrigation customers will continue to receive the same outstanding support they’ve come to expect from our irrigation sales staff,” said Gregg Breningmeyer, global golf segment manager, John Deere Golf. “For additional support, John Deere Landscapes will continue to stock and provide replacement parts at more than 400 locations across the U.S.”

This strategic realignment will enable both John Deere Golf and Signature Control Systems to focus on their core equipment competencies.

“Both John Deere Golf and Signature Control Systems remain committed to our relationship and committed to the industry,” continued Breningmeyer. “Through our core competencies, both companies will help superintendents create the best possible playing surfaces at their courses.”

About John Deere
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity.

Posted At 3:14 PM • Comments (0)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Russell Athletic to Recognize High School Teams Triumphing Over Adversity With 'Fight Like Dylan Award'

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Russell Athletic

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Russell Athletic today announced the launch of the "Fight Like Dylan Award," a $50,000 uniform and equipment grant, honoring the late Dylan Rebeor of Columbia, Tenn., who lost his battle with colon cancer at the age of 16 on Dec. 3, 2010. Rebeor was a wide receiver on Columbia Central High School's football team, but died just hours before his team won their first state championship in 58 years. Reflective of Rebeor's character and consideration of others, rather than asking the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a trip to Hawaii, or the opportunity to meet his favorite athlete, Dylan's final, selfless desire was for his beloved team to receive brand new uniforms and equipment for the 2011 season.

"People of Dylan's exceptional caliber are extremely rare," said Gary Barfield, executive vice president, Russell Brands, LLC. "When we heard his story of courage and strength, Russell Athletic wanted to honor him and the ideals he represented. We are proud to introduce the Fight Like Dylan Award in his memory."

To be eligible for the Fight Like Dylan Award, teams must post a submission on the Russell Athletic Facebook page explaining how they overcame a challenge or triumphed in the face of true adversity while embodying the spirit and courage represented by Dylan Rebeor in his battle against cancer. Anyone is eligible to submit an entry on behalf of their favorite high school team by logging onto facebook.com/russellathletic. Entries will be accepted from Nov. 17 until Dec. 15.

"In spite of everything he went through, Dylan always cared more about others than himself," said Heather Rebeor, Dylan's mother. "We're honored that Russell Athletic is going to keep Dylan's spirit alive through this award and hope it serves as an inspiration to others to never give up when facing difficult challenges."

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy and current Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Colt McCoy will serve on the Fight Like Dylan Award selection committee, along with Dylan's mother and Columbia Central High School head coach, Vance Belew. The winners of the inaugural "Fight Like Dylan Award will be announced at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Tues., January 3, 2012.

For more information and to submit an entry for the Fight Like Dylan Award please visit facebook.com/russellathletic. The full Official Rules for the contest are available on that site. To learn more about Russell Athletic's products visit RussellAthletic.com. Join the "Together We R" movement by visiting the official blog.

About Russell Athletic
For more than 100 years, Russell Athletic, a division of Russell Brands, LLC, has supplied America's athletes and teams with the latest innovations to help them perform at their best and is a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college and professional levels. Russell Athletic's active wear and collegiate licensed products are broadly distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains and college bookstores. For more information, please visit www.RussellAthletic.com.

Posted At 2:33 PM • Comments (5)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Gatorade Announces Sports Performance Nutrition Partnership with IMG Academies

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Gatorade

CHICAGO, IL— Gatorade and IMG Academies are changing the world of sports nutrition research by elevating their existing partnership.
These sports performance industry leaders have teamed up to develop a comprehensive sports nutrition curriculum for IMG Academies students as well as a sports science research lab on-site to gain athletic performance insights.

As the “Official Sports Performance Nutrition Partner” of IMG Academies, Gatorade opened a Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) performance laboratory on IMG Academies’ Bradenton, Fla., campus. The satellite GSSI lab location allows GSSI the unique opportunity to work with, test and counsel some of the world’s most elite professional and amateur athletes, with the mission of helping the athlete improve performance through sports nutrition.

GSSI scientists will conduct a series of tests under varying conditions – both in lab as well as on the field of play. The scientific findings will be used to help the athletes reach their individual and specific performance goals. In addition to testing, GSSI and IMG Academies’ nutritionists and performance specialists will also develop a sports nutrition educational curriculum that will be utilized by the Academies’ full-time students and camp participants year-round.

“The opening of the GSSI Performance Laboratory at IMG Academies offers us an opportunity to make GSSI science more readily accessible to a wider breadth of athletes in more sports, across varying skill levels,” said Asker Jeukendrup, global senior director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and professor of exercise metabolism and director of the human performance lab at University of Birmingham in England. “As the GSSI footprint grows, so does our ability to study more athletes, gain additional insights into what helps them perform better and help them understand how and why sports nutrition is a proven vital component for their training.”

For more than three decades IMG Academies has helped athletes maximize performance by pairing technological analysis and top-notch coaching in order to provide an unparalleled competitive edge. This partnership will allow IMG Academies to leverage Gatorade’s 40-year history of studying the best athletes in the world, and its wealth of sports nutrition knowledge and insights.

“We have an ongoing partnership with Gatorade and the opening of a GSSI performance laboratory is a critical step in growing our partnership and delivering on our shared mission to meet the needs of athletes and help them elevate their performance to the next level,” said Sam Zussman, Managing Director, IMG Academies. “Our shared passion for education coupled with a commitment to optimizing sports nutrition and athletic performance will lead us well into the future.”

About the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI)
The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) was founded in 1985 to help athletes optimize their performance and safeguard their health through research and education in hydration and sports nutrition science. Headquartered in Barrington, Illinois, GSSI staff scientists study the effects of exercise, the environment and nutrition on the human body using the latest scientific technology and equipment. In addition to the GSSI's own exercise physiology, biochemistry and exercise sensory labs, GSSI also works with leading scientists from universities around the world to further research in exercise science and sports nutrition. The Institute has become a truly international organization in recent years and currently serves nearly 110,000 members in over 145 countries worldwide.

About IMG Academies
IMG Academies, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, is the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex dedicated to developing the TOTAL ATHLETE™. For more than 30 years, IMG Academies has helped countless youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes reach their full potential in sport and life, by providing expert coaching, tailored programs and world-class facilities within an energetic environment across a 400-acre campus.

Today the Bradenton, Fla.-based campus attracts 20,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries annually. The Academies consists of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy and adjoining IMG Academies Golf and Country Club, IMG Madden Football Academy, IMG Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse and Soccer academies – all supported by the IMG Pendleton School and IMG Performance Institute’s multi-faceted training disciplines. IMG Academies also conducts camps, clinics and events year-round, while providing support to teams and federations around the world. Find more info at www.imgacademies.com.

Posted At 11:13 AM • Comments (28)

"Let's Move!" Tennis Courts Get New Life

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Sport Court

Sport Court to Donate Courts Used During White House Event to
Charlie Norwood Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.

Augusta, Georgia, November 7, 2011—Two Sport Court® tennis courts—used last summer at the White House as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” events—will be donated to the Charlie Norwood Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (CNVAMC) in Augusta during a ribbon-cutting ceremony November 9 at 10am.

The ceremony will be held in the auditorium at the Uptown Division on
Wrightsboro Road in Augusta.

“The CNVAMC is appreciative of the support and generous donation of the tennis courts,” said Robin Brown, acting public affairs officer at the
medical center. PowerGame was selected primarily because of its performance and safety features, providing the highest shock-absorption rating among all outdoor modular surfaces.

Sport Court, headquartered in Salt Lake City, is the “Official of Modular
Court” for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and 10 And Under Tennis. Two of Sport Court’s full-size PowerGame™ tennis surfaces will be given to the facility.

The CNVAMC is the only VA facility with a unique partnership with an active duty Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB), which is located at Fort Gordon, GA. The Active Duty Rehabilitation Unit at CNVAMC was formed in 2004 as result of Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense collaboration to provide rehabilitative medicine for injured service members returning from Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND).

“This is a great example of two large government entities working together to pool resources,” said Brown. “Active Duty Rehabilitation remains the only inpatient program dedicated to the treatment of active duty service members. The therapy provided here is done in an environment conducive to the rehabilitation of young service members with state-of-the- art equipment and prosthetics.”

“We greatly appreciate the commitment shown by the USTA and Connor Sport Courts in promoting the healing journey and recovery of our wounded troops through this very generous donation of tennis courts,” said Tom Kilgannon, President of Freedom Alliance, a military support non-profit partnering with the USTA on this project.

“With Veterans Day and National Military Family Appreciation Month
approaching, I cannot think of a more appropriate time to honor and support the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women for this country throughout the year,” Kilgannon said.

Also contributing are Connor Sport Court International, the USTA and John (Chic) Ciccarelli, of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Bonita Springs, Florida. Mr. Ciccarelli is a member of the board of Connor Sport Court International.

Sport Court Dealer CBA Sports of Norcross, Georgia, completed the
installation.

Mr. Ciccarelli contributed to the project in the name of his nephew, Eric
Burns, who is a veteran of both the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, for
which he’s now a helicopter pilot. Eric served in Korea, Honduras and Iraq. He will be deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012, as a Medevac pilot.

About Sport Court
More athletic events are played on Connor Sport Court International surfaces than on any other sports flooring in the world. Sport Court® is a
registered trade mark of Connor Sport Court International. Since 1974, it
has identified the original and authentic modular sport surface,
continuously improved and patented to provide the highest levels of quality and performance. Connor Sport Court is proud to be the only sports surfacing company in the world that is independently audited and verified as “Zero Waste” and fully ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Posted At 11:08 AM • Comments (2)

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Aston-Bell Sports Creates Easton Speed Institute

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Easton-Bell Sports

November 9, 2011; (Van Nuys, CA) – – Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. – a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment and accessories under the Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn brands – today announced its largest and most aggressive commitment in skate innovation through its recent purchase of MLX Skate’s technology. The newly created Easton Speed Institute will combine MLX’s innovative skate insights with Easton’s design and engineering prowess, leading to a new skate concept expected to be in market for the 2013 hockey season.

“As a brand, Easton is at its best when it reinvents categories with game-changing innovation,” said Chris Zimmerman, president of Easton brands. “We believe there is a unique opportunity to provide a new approach to the art and speed of skating. I am excited that Easton is committing to the skate category in a way that parallels our leadership in hockey and lacrosse sticks, baseball and softball bats, and helmets.”

Dave Cruikshank, four-time Olympian speed skater and founder of MLX, has joined the Easton Speed Institute as Chief of Speed, bringing with him a lifetime of work, skate research and development, and a new approach to making hockey players faster. As an international skater for 16 years, Cruikshank has achieved numerous skating accomplishments including: Junior World Champion 500m; Olympic Trials Gold Medalist; World Cup Medalist; and four-time USA Olympic Team Member.

“The Easton Speed Institute is about innovating a fresh approach to hockey skate designs that speaks to optimizing speed and creating the ultimate skater’s skate. The Easton Speed Institute will reinvent how a hockey skate performs, and I am thrilled to be a part of this new team that will create game-changing products,” said Cruikshank.

“Bringing Dave and MLX’s technology into the Easton family gives us the ability to reinvent skates in a way no one has before. Dave’s remarkable insights into the world of power skating are an exceptional compliment to Easton’s expertise in performance engineering and design,” said Zimmerman.

Cruikshank founded MLX to optimize the potential of both National Hockey League players and grassroots athletes by designing superior equipment with the key elements of comfort, protection and performance. The company’s roots are based in using a powerful new approach to skate performance that has been known to speed skaters for the past two decades. With the development of Easton’s new skate, the MLX skate brand will no longer be marketed.

Cruikshank will be joined by Easton veteran Dmitry Rusakov, who will lead a team of designers, engineers, developers and biomechanical experts to drive innovation. The Easton Speed Institute will be located at Easton’s headquarters in Van Nuys, California and in West Allis, Wisconsin.

About Easton Sports
Easton Sports is a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse equipment for both sports professionals and enthusiasts. Easton Sports focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and performance including the #1 bat in the College World Series®, Women’s College World Series®, Little League World Series®, and Slow-Pitch Softball, as well as the #1 stick and #1 glove in the National Hockey League. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton Sports employs over 1,200 people worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, Canada and Sweden. For further information, please visit the company online at www.eastonsports.com.

About Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, the company has 31 facilities worldwide. More information is available at www.eastonbellsports.com.

Posted At 4:17 PM • Comments (0)

Friday, November 04, 2011

Entre Prises Climbing Walls Joins Forces with Top30 Climbing Walls

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Entre Prises Climbing Walls

Entre Prises Climbing Walls of Bend, Ore., has announced that it has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Top30 Climbing Walls.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to bring these two great teams together. This, once again, reinforces our position as the world leader in climbing wall manufacturing and installation,” said Antoine Richard, CEO of Entre Prises.

Founded in 1992, Top30 is a Spanish company based in Asturias. It is the market leader in Spain and Norway, and well known in the climbing community for its involvement in the competition world and team of sponsored climbers. The company's recent appointment as the sole official partner of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and the organizer for three World Cup events has been the latest of its significant accomplishments.

This alliance is not a coincidence; the two teams share the same vision and adhere to the same values. Top30 will therefore keep its operational autonomy and contribute to the development of the group by continuing to put the company's experience and passion at the service of its customers and the development of climbing.

More information on Entre Prises Climbing Walls:
www.entre-prises.com

More information on Top30 Climbing Walls:
www.top30climbingwalls.com

Posted At 1:27 PM • Comments (0)

BSN SPORTS™ Awards Victory Grant

Posted by AB Editors

Source: BSN

November 3, 2011, Dallas, Texas: BSN SPORTS ™ (flagship division of Sport Supply Group, Inc.), the nation’s largest sporting goods distributor to schools and leagues, today announced the first major Victory Grant, awarded to the St. Philip’s School and Community Center of Dallas, which provides a strong academic environment and athletic programs for inner city children from low income families. Many of the students come from single parent homes, and the school’s curriculum emphasizes team work, sportsmanship, and discipline. The new equipment will be used to help improve and expand athletic programs that would have been otherwise impacted by ongoing funding challenges. Dr. Terry Flowers, Executive Director and Headmaster for St. Philip’s, commented, “St. Philip’s provides a college preparatory education fueled by a confluence of spirituality, self-determination and service to others. Athletic and after-school activities provide real-world ‘rehearsal’ space where our kids can test and refine these qualities before they graduate. We are grateful to BSN SPORTS – and all of our generous benefactors – for their ongoing commitment to this mission.”

BSN SPORTS’ Victory Grant Program is an unprecedented one million dollar commitment to provide free equipment and uniforms to school athletic programs and recreation leagues in need. In doing so, BSN SPORTS is affirming its long-standing commitment to serve as the ‘Best Supply Network in Sports’ in both name and deed by combining their unparalleled reach with the personal service and knowledge of 250 local team sports professionals.

“In this difficult time for our nation’s education system we are aware that athletic departments and after-school programs have been particularly impacted,” said Adam Blumenfeld, the Chairman and CEO of BSN SPORTS. “This is just the beginning, and we look forward to awarding more grants this year.”

Programs nationwide are invited to apply for Victory Grant consideration via BSN SPORTS’ 250 local field representatives or online at www.BSNSPORTS.com/sponsorme . Grants will be allocated on a rolling basis and are open to all organizations. Athletic programs at the elementary school level can apply for US Games Fit Funds program at www.usgames.com/sponsorme.

To learn more, please visit www.bsnsports.com or the BSN SPORTS blog blog.bsnsports.com, and for daily company updates and industry news, join us on Twitter and Facebook.

Posted At 11:20 AM • Comments (1)