Wilson Partners with Nickelodeon to Offer Spongebob Squarepants Children's Tennis Racquets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melanie McGeough
8700 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago,
773-714-6703
MMcGeough@wilson.com
08/26/05 - [CHICAGO]- He is famous as Nickelodeon's fun-loving, sea-dwelling sponge and now he is encouraging kids to be active by bringing his enthusiasm to the world of sporting goods in a special line of tennis racquets for youth. Wilson Racquet Sports, the No. 1 brand in tennis, partnered with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products to create a line of SpongeBob SquarePants tennis racquets that hits stores in early 2006.
"SpongeBob SquarePants is a cultural icon adored by kids," Sherice Torres, Vice President for Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, said. "Partnering with Wilson is a great opportunity to use his loveable character to encourage fitness and get kids excited about playing tennis."
Wilson's SpongeBob SquarePants line of tennis racquets is targeted to boys and girls ages 2-11 and is available in 19", 21" and 23" lengths. The rackets feature Nickelodeon's beloved, eternally optimistic character who has charmed millions of hearts as the No. 1 show on television for kids ages 2-11*. SpongeBob SquarePants is visiting Wilson's store at the US Open to meet with fans on Saturday, August 27 at 11:30 a.m., following Arthur Ashe Kids' Day.
"The SpongeBob SquarePants tennis rackets are a great opportunity for Wilson to continue to address the growing youth market and help maintain our leadership position in tennis," said Rick Kerpsack, Vice President of Sales for Golf and Racquet Sports at Wilson.
Wilson Racquet Sports is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment and owned by Amer Sports. Wilson designs, manufactures and distributes sporting goods throughout the world and focuses on making technologically advanced products which help all players play better.
Wilson's core sport categories include: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf, Footwear and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis). For more information, visit www.wilson.com.
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) manages the merchandise licensing, home video, music, book and interactive software businesses for Nickelodeon brands and characters as well as the properties of Comedy Central, Spike TV and MTV Networks International, as well as some non-Viacom properties. In addition, NVCP manages the merchandise, interactive, book, and wireless licensing for Paramount Pictures properties. The NVCP business represents over $4 billion in retail sales. Nickelodeon, MTV Networks, Comedy Central and Spike TV are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
*Marketing Evaluations: 6/04, as provided by Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products
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Links:
www.wilson.com
