New York, NY - On-line sports and entertainment specialistsUltraStar Internet Services LLC announced today that they have entered intoa multi-year partnership with the 24-time World Champion New York Yankees tocreate the team's new official web site.
Under the arrangement, UltraStar and the Yankees will take over all webrelated responsibilities including production and content, advertising,sponsorship, merchandising, a new premium on-line fan club as well as accessto the Internet via www.yankees.com.
The Yankees will become one of the first major sports teams in the world toallow fans to use the team's name as a part of their e-mail address.Starting immediately, all fans are encouraged to reserve an e-mail address(i.e. yourname@yankees.com) which will become activated for each member uponthe launch of YankeesXtreme, the new web site's premium on-line fan club.
In addition to e-mail@yankees.com, YankeesXtreme will offer subscribersexclusive site content, regularly scheduled chats with team players andcoaches, digital photos, archived footage, audio, video, discounts onofficial team merchandise, special ticket offers and numerous on-linecontests. Each member will also be given 2 MB of personal web space, whichcan be viewed by anyone in the world with access to the World Wide Web. Fromthree-dimensional chat rooms to direct-mail access to player mailboxes,YankeesXtreme allows fans to interact with the team in a variety of uniqueways. Anyone with access to the Internet can join YankeesXtreme for only$6.95 per month.
UltraStar and the Yankees are also offering nation-wide, full-service,high-speed, dial-up Internet access. This Yankees branded service is pricedat $14.95 a month, 25%%%% below the average cost of Internet access. This priceincludes membership to YankeesXtreme (a $6.95 value) as well as unlimitedinternet access, a customized Yankees browser, news groups & bulletinboards, daily content (news, sports, weather, stocks, etc.) and customer andtechnical support.
"We are extremely excited about our new web venture, especially regardingthe innovations that YankeesXtreme will deliver," said Joseph Perello, VicePresident, Business Development for the New York Yankees. "Through ourpartnership with UltraStar, we have set out to create a web site thatreflects the history, legacy and unparalleled success of the New YorkYankees."
"Partnering with the New York Yankees is a golden milestone for UltraStar'sInternet sports franchising initiatives," said Robert Goodale, President ofUltraStar. "This major-league online offering invites Yankees fansnation-wide to get up-close and personal with their favorite baseball teamand its players, coaches and staff. For those who can't come to YankeeStadium, we intend to bring all the excitement of the Stadium experience tothe on-line fan. Some of the features of the new web site fans will includebe pre- and post- game quotes directly from the clubhouse, real-timecoverage of games, photos, features, real-time stats and more. History buffswill love the Yankees' Time Machine, a multimedia look at each year inYankees' history."
UltraStar Internet Services LLC is a management, technology partnership thatspecializes in the area of Internet services, bringing major entertainment,sports and fashion clients to the world in a community-based forum deliveredover the Web. UltraStar's philosophy is simple: allow Internet users theopportunity to get "up close and personal" with their favorite personalitiesvia the Internet. Never before has there been a gateway where the privateand public worlds of famous figures has been opened with the continuedsupport, input and materials directly from each personality. The back-endelements of YankeesXtreme are powered by Smart World Technologies LLC.
"We couldn't be more pleased to be working with the premier team in all ofsports."said rock & roll legend David Bowie, BowieNet creator and co-founderof UltraStar. "We hope to build the same sense of community as we did withBowieNet, utilizing proprietary content and cutting edge technology. But,more importantly, we hope to deal with one of the most profound unansweredquestions in all of sports - Paul O'Neill can play drums, Bernie Williamscan play guitar, but who's on bass?"The redesigned web site debuts today at www.yankees.com.
CONTACT:
FRAN CURTIS
ROGERS & COWAN
(212) 545-5856
FCURTIS@Shandwick.com
RICK CERRONE
NEW YORK YANKEES
(718)579-4460
RCERRONE@Yankees.com