PRESS RELEASE - Issued September 25th, 2006
Molten scores slam dunk with sponsorship of British Basketball League
Molten, the world’s leading manufacturer of inflatable sports balls, is to sponsor the British Basketball League (BBL) in a three year deal in which Molten’s new and distinctive, 12-panel G-Series basketball will become the exclusive and official BBL league and club ball. The announcement follows hot on the heels of Molten’s recently announced sponsorship agreements with the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association (July 2006).
Valued at £150,000, the sponsorship package, which commences this month (September 2006), includes a supply of the Molten G-Series basketball and other Molten products as well as cash, which is to be directly invested by BBL in a scheme to develop basketball in the clubs’ communities. The objective of this scheme is to increase the membership in England Basketball (the sport’s governing body) and improve club development and competition. (A similar, highly successful scheme, piloted in one region last year, accounted for over 10% of England Basketball’s 2005/6 increase in membership.)
A further element of the sponsorship agreement is that the unique 12-panel Molten G-Series basketball, which is FIBA approved, is to be depicted in the newly launched BBL logo (see above) and all Molten products, including digital scoreboards, are to be available exclusively online via the BBL web site (www.bbl.org.uk). In addition, the Molten G-Series basketball is to be used in all BBL games, cup games and championship finals as well as all junior development programmes, community projects by BBL Clubs and any other events which the BBL undertakes.
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Bob Hope, chairman of Molten Sports and one of the original founders and owners of successful BBL team, the Birmingham Bullets, said:
“We are thrilled to announce our sponsorship agreement with the British Basketball League. This is the first time Molten has been the official ball of any basketball league in the UK and it also marks our second prestigious basketball deal in as many months. With the Molten G-Series basketball now the official match ball of the British Basketball League and the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association, as well as being the official game ball of the forthcoming Beijing Olympics, it is surely set to be the latest ‘must-have’ ball.”
Comments Paul Blake, chairman, British Basketball League:
“We are very pleased to have established this excellent relationship with Molten and Bob Hope, particularly as Bob was a founder member of the BBL back in the 1980s. The Molten G-Series basketball is recognized as a world class ball. Indeed, it is the official match ball for all forthcoming European, World, Olympic, Paralympic and World Wheelchair championships. Therefore it is essential that BBL teams, who will be providing players for the GB international programme, are also playing with it.”
ENDS
Digital images of the Molten G-Series basketball are available on request.
For further information regarding Molten please contact:
Penelope James, Penelope James Public Relations
Tel: 01303 844555 E-mail: penelope@penelopejamespr.com
For further information regarding BBL please contact:
Andy Webb, British Basketball League
Tel: 0870 445 0606 E-mail: andy.webb@bbl.org.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
BRITISH BASKETBALL LEAGUE
The BBL - British Basketball League - is an independent company, owned by its member clubs, which has run the top men's professional league in the UK since 1987. It operates a system of franchises over the UK stretching from Plymouth in the south west to Glasgow north of the border.
The BBL is a major contributor to the development of the sport at all levels and its member clubs place a large emphasis on work undertaken in their local communities.
The 2006/07 season is to be the League’s 20th and promises to be the most successful to date both on and off the playing court.
Contact BBL on T: 0870 445 0606 (UK only), E: mail@bbl.org.uk
Web: www.bbl.org.uk
MOLTEN
The Molten Corporation manufactures a wide range of sports balls from soccer balls and basketballs, to volleyballs and netballs. Established in Hiroshima, Japan in 1958, the corporation boasts unparalleled international recognition of its ball products. Molten Sports is the dedicated distributor of Molten products in the UK and Ireland.
Molten’s G-series basketball, is the new global standard in basketballs. It was heralded by the basketball industry as an inspired technological development when it was launched in 2004 and was immediately approved by FIBA (International Basketball Federation). It has been used in all FIBA competitions worldwide since September 2004 and is currently the official game ball for the following events
British Basketball League (BBL) - 2006-2009
Great Britain Basketball International Games - 2006-2009
Great Britain Wheelchair National League - 2006-20012
The Olympic Games – Beijing 2008
The Paralympic Games – Beijing 2008
Word Championships for Men – Japan 2006 & Turkey 2010
World Championships for Women – Brazil 2006 & 2010
World Wheelchair Championships – Birmingham 2010
European Championships for Men – Spain 2007
European Championships for Women – Italy 2007
Commonwealth Games – Melbourne 2006
Euroleague - 2006
The radical Molten G-Series basketball is manufactured in 12 panels, rather than the traditional 8. It is packed with ground breaking, Molten patented, technology to enhance player performance including increased rebound speed and playability, as well as improved ball control and shooting accuracy.
Contact Molten Sports on T: 0800 298 8217
E: info@moltensports.co.uk
Web: www.moltensports.co.uk