CORAL GABLES, Fla. (November 13, 2001) — Ericsson Open chairman Butch Buchholz announced a new three-year agreement with Tyco/ADT to become the presenting sponsor of the Ericsson Open. The Tyco/ADT logo will be incorporated into the new tournament logo for 2002.
ADT Security Services, Inc., a unit of Tyco Fire and Security Services, is the largest single provider of electronic security services to five million commercial, federal and residential customers throughout North America and Europe.
The partnership will include a Security Caucus presented by ADT Security at the 2002 Ericsson Open. ADT Security is running a similar caucus at the 2001 Tyco/ADT LPGA Championship.
‘As a market leader, ADT Security Services and its parent company, Tyco International Ltd., have an obligation to give something back to the communities and businesses that we serve,’ said Mike Snyder, president of ADT Security Services, Inc.
‘The Ericsson Open is one of the signature tennis events in the world and we are delighted to make this exciting sporting event available to everyone in South Florida and worldwide via television,’ Snyder continued.
‘ADT and Tyco are proud to be associated with professional tennis and we applaud the role models, both male and female, who are playing in this tournament. We are honored to be associated with the professionalism and integrity embodied by the Women’s Tennis Association and the Association of Tennis Professionals.’
‘We are very excited to expand our relationship with ADT,’ Buchholz said. ‘We understand their serious commitment to the business of security and to sports. We are proud to stand with an industry leader like ADT.’
Buchholz also announced the addition of five first-time official sponsors in major categories for the 2002 Ericsson Open: United Airlines (air travel), Championlyte (sports energy drink), Life O2 (bottled water) and Warsteiner (beer).
For the first time in three years, the sponsorship sales were the responsibility of the Ericsson Open staff since the collapse of the $1.2 billion, 10-year deal marketing deal struck in 1999 between ATP and ISL. With his people back in place to sell sponsorships and TWI on to handle worldwide television rights, Buchholz is sure a successful formula is in place.
‘Our people have been ecstatic to be back in a position to sell and service our sponsorships and our success has derived from their enthusiasm,’ Buchholz said. ‘Our staff has the opportunity to be creative with individual sponsors and has created the atmosphere of superior service we have always taken pride in delivering. We always work to provide sponsors with a more than fair return on their investment and will continue to do so.’
Heading into its 18th year, the 2002 Ericsson Open presented by Tyco & ADT will be played March 20-31 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. The tournament, founded by Butch Buchholz in 1985, is owned by IMG. The Ericsson Open is one of nine Tennis Masters Series events on the ATP calendar, a top tier event on the Sanex WTA TOUR calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. In 2001, Andre Agassi won his fourth Ericsson Open title by defeating Jan-Michael Gambill in the final while Venus Williams won her third title by beating Jennifer Capriati in the women’s final. Ticket packages are available now; call (305) 442-3367 for more information or visit the website at www.ericsson-open.com.
Celebrating its 127th anniversary, ADT’s total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical condition monitoring and integrated systems. ADT’s Web site address is http://www.adt.com.
Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC, LSE: TYI, BSX: TYC) is a diversified manufacturing and service company. Tyco is the world’s largest manufacturer and servicer of electrical and electronic components; the world’s largest designer, manufacturer, installer and servicer of undersea telecommunications systems; the world’s largest manufacturer, installer and provider of fire protection systems and electronic security services; and the world’s largest manufacturer of specialty valves. Tyco also holds strong leadership positions in disposable medical products, financing and leasing capital, plastics and adhesives. Tyco operates in more than 100 countries and had fiscal 2001 revenues in excess of $36 billion.
For more information contact:
Ericsson Open:
David Tratner (305) 461-9281
dtratner@ericsson-open.com
Tyco/ADT:
Ann Lindstrom (561) 988-3258
alindstrom@adt.com