SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Further strengthening its position as a heavyweight of the ticket industry, StubHub today announced a partnership with New York based DiBella Entertainment, one of the world's leading boxing promoters. The relationship establishes StubHub as the presenting sponsor of DiBella's Broadway Boxing series as well as the upcoming "Now or Never" bout between former World Welterweight Champions Ike Quartey and Vernon Forrest at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, on Saturday, August 5th.
The partnership represents StubHub's first step into the boxing ranks. The move also adds to StubHub's growing family of relationships in the sports and entertainment worlds that includes leading NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA teams, along with musical acts across all genres.
"Our partnership with DiBella Entertainment is a perfect way to extend our position as the fans' champion," says Jeff Fluhr, founder and CEO of StubHub. "With its position as one of the premiere boxing promoters in the world, the relationship thrusts StubHub into the forefront of the boxing community. StubHub gives fight fans an open marketplace to buy and sell tickets where convenience and safety reign."
Sporting its FanProtect™ Guarantee, StubHub is the only company to consistently offer unique, exclusive VIP Experiences in a fan-friendly and safe environment -- traits that caught the eye of one of boxing's most respected figures.
"When we evaluated potential distribution partners for our VIP Experience boxing packages, StubHub was a clear winner," said DiBella Entertainment President Lou DiBella. "Not only do they have a well known and admired brand but the company operates in a way that focuses on the customer first. They are a safe marketplace to buy and sell tickets. We are very excited to have them on board as the presenting sponsor for our Broadway Boxing series, as well as for the August 5th boxing extravaganza at the Garden."
Fight fans can now log onto StubHub.com and bid for the VIP "Now or Never" packages, with ringside and lower level seats up for grabs.
"Now or Never" VIP packages include:
-- Meet & Greet Passes with Ike Quartey & Sechew Powell
-- Ringside tickets to the fight
-- Photo opportunity with Ike Quartey
-- Ike Quartey & Sechew Powell autographed boxing gloves
-- Opportunity to meet Lou DiBella, one of the world's foremost Boxing promoters
In addition, starting with the September 20th bout, fans will be able to purchase tickets to DiBella Entertainment's Broadway Boxing series on StubHub.com.
About StubHub
StubHub is the fan's ticket marketplace, enabling customers nationwide to buy and sell tickets at fair market value to a vast selection of sporting, concert, theater and other live entertainment events, even those that are "sold out." StubHub reinvented the ticket resale market in 2000 and continues to lead through innovation. The company's unique open marketplace, dedicated solely to tickets, provides all fans the choice to buy or sell their tickets in a safe, convenient, and highly reliable environment. All transactions are processed and delivered via StubHub's patent-pending FanNetwork(SM) ticket delivery service, supported by seven-day toll free customer service at 1-866-STUBHUB, and backed by an industry-first FanProtect(SM) Guarantee. Company partners include sports teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, leading NCAA athletic programs and media companies including AOL. StubHub is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information on StubHub, visit www.stubhub.com.
About DiBella Entertainment
Lou DiBella is one of the most respected and influential personalities in sports. Over the past sixteen years, his name has been synonymous with world championship boxing. DiBella enjoyed an outstanding 11-year run at HBO Sports, where he was the backbone of the division that vaulted HBO boxing to signature programming status and a ratings bonanza. HBO Pay Per View flourished under his leadership, televising many of the biggest prizefights in the history of the sport.
In May of 2000, he launched DiBella Entertainment (DBE), a full-service sports and entertainment company. DBE is one of the most successful companies in boxing. Serving as matchmaker, television distributor, marketing advisor, and promoter, DiBella has developed an exciting stable of championship caliber, world class fighters.
Jermain Taylor, the undefeated, undisputed middleweight champion of the world after his dismantling of Bernard Hopkins in July 2005 and December 2005 and a 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist has become the rising star in boxing under DiBella's guidance.
About Broadway Boxing
Broadway Boxing, which has been called "the best local boxing series in the country," is a monthly boxing series launched April 22, 2004, featuring ten live shows and two "Best of/Lost Fights Shows" a year. It features New York area fighters on every show, making numerous appearances throughout the series, giving audiences the opportunity to become familiar with the fighters. Fighters ranging from highly touted prospects (Dmitriy Salita, Paulie Malignaggi, Sechew Powell, Andre Berto, Jaidon Codrington and Curtis Stevens) to world champion caliber veterans (Nate Campbell, Joshua Clottey) have appeared on the series. Veterans of the series have gone on to fight in high profile and world championship fights such as Paul Malignaggi, who fought for the World Junior Welterweight Championship at Madison Square Garden on June 10th. Broadway Boxing is seen in over 30 million homes throughout the United States on HDNet, SportsNet New York, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Southeast, Comcast SportsNet West and Comcast Local-Detroit.
