Yahoo! Sports Signs as NHL Sponsor

Yahoo Inc. announced sponsorship deals with the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA).

As part of the sponsorship program, Yahoo Sports will become an official media sponsor of the 49th NHL All-Star Game, as well as the official online balloting arm of the NHL All-Star international showdown. Financial arrangements were not disclosed.

Through Dec. 15, hockey enthusiasts will be able to visit the front page of Yahoo Sports and cast an online vote for their favorite NHL All-Stars. The 49th NHL All-Star Game will be played on Jan. 24 at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Fla. and broadcast at 4 p.m. ET on Fox in the United States and on CBC/SRC in Canada.

Yahoo Sports will become an official sponsor of the 1999 NHL All-Star Weekend to be held in Tampa from January 23 to 24, 1999. Yahoo Sports will receive several promotional opportunities, including a Yahoo dasherboard that will be displayed during all All-Star Weekend. Yahoo Sports will also be a presenting sponsor of the “Cool Cuts” segment on NHL Cool Shots, the League’s national weekly lifestyle television show.

“We are extremely pleased about this new relationship with the National Hockey League, as it enables us to link hockey fans worldwide via the Internet,” said Cindy Bishop, brand manager, Yahoo Sports. “Our sponsorship of the online fan balloting program offers our users an innovative opportunity to become active in the decisions that impact their favorite sport.”

“Through our association with Yahoo Sports, we are making hockey easily accessible to everyone on the Internet, especially the more than 40 million worldwide viewers that use Yahoo each month. Our relationship with them will help broaden the visibility of hockey,” said Edward horne, group vice president of marketing for NHL Enterprises.