Corporate Sponsors Announced for BCA 9-Ball

Official Products Named for 2005 Open 9-Ball Championships

Colorado Springs, Colorado: With the completion of its formal sealed bidding process, the Billiard Congress of America [BCA] announced the winners of official product and service sponsorships for the upcoming 2005 Open 9-Ball Championships, to be held at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, May 15-21. The following companies comprise the presenting, arena and official products lineup:

Official Table: Connelly Billiards

Official Cue: Cuetec

Presenting: Pool Dawg

Official Cloth: Centennial Cloth by Brunswick

Official Balls: Imperial International/Aramith

Official Rack: Sardo Tight Rack

Official Chalk: Tweeten Fibre

Arena: American Poolplayers Association, Billiards Digest

Official sponsors will display their company name, logo, phone number and/or website URL in rotating arena banners at the 9-Ball Championships, just like those used by the NBA in pro basketball games. But unlike 30-second commercial spots, these banners cannot be edited out of footage, assuring each sponsor an equal amount of rotational time to present their message to millions of billiard fans o­n ESPN and ESPN2.

Since the tournament began airing in 1999 it has received added broadcasts each year, with a record 64 hours in 2003 and 49 thus far in 2004. Of the current hours, viewer ratings have jumped from a .29 average rating (253,469 households) for the debut showings of all four rounds in June, to a peak of .49 (431,161) for a single showing of the Men's final in mid-July. ESPN's benchmark rating average for all taped sporting events is .20, making billiards an audience winner.

The sponsorship offers were made available to all BCA Business members earlier in the fall, and minimum bids were matched or exceeded in all but the official furniture and lighting categories. For non-competing products and services, added arena sponsorships may still be available. Interested in picking up any last-minute opportunities? Contact Amy Long, BCA Director of Marketing, for details at 719-264-8300 x104 or by email to amy@bca-pool.com.

Tickets to the event may be purchased beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2005. Find o­nline schedule, pricing and ordering details at the BCA website.

Visit InsidePOOL for updates from the BCA Open 9-Ball Championships.