CHICAGO – The Professional Bowlers Association kicked off its 2015 season on January 1 with a full complement of companies, highlighted by long-time partners Ebonite, Brunswick, Storm and MOTIV, participating in its Product Registered program.
The PBA Product Registered program was created to provide participating companies a variety of opportunities to showcase their brand-name products, logos and/or other product identification in PBA competition across America and around the world. The introduction of the extensive multi-media PBA Network in 2014 has expanded those opportunities to an unprecedented level.
PBA Product Registered companies are eligible to participate in a year-round schedule of tournaments televised by ESPN and CBS Sports Network, on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame and on the PBA YouTube Channel, in a wide range of social media outlets and more. Bowling product manufacturers have the opportunity to sponsor teams in the PBA League, place premium products in Concrete Software’s popular PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, and showcase star players in PBA50 Tour and more than 160 regional tournaments conducted annually.
Returning to the PBA Product Registered program is Global Manufacturing with its 900 Global, 3G and AMF300 brands. Representing 900 Global will be 17-time PBA Tour champion Chris Barnes, and 2000 U.S. Open champion Robert Smith, who is returning to health after chronic back ailments forced him to the sidelines.
Product visibility opportunities available to participating companies also include on-air signage on ESPN and CBS Sports Network, exposure on High 5 Gear’s dye-sublimated player jerseys, billboards and commercial messages with international exposure, extensive social and electronic media exposure, online bowling programming through an expanded schedule of Xtra Frame events, presenting sponsorship of Senior Tour and PBA Regional events among other marketing opportunities.
“The PBA is continually developing opportunities to help our sponsors market their products,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “In recent years PBA has expanded exposure opportunities through our extensive PBA Network, which reaches bowlers and fans around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
PBA’s partnership with World Bowling, the international governing body for tenpin bowling, and the creation of a new PBA Japan Regional program have expanded the PBA’s presence internationally. The participation of U.S. and international PBA players brings greater attention to PBA Product Registered brands to a worldwide audience of bowling enthusiasts. During the 2015 season, the PBA and World Bowling will cooperate in supporting nearly a dozen international tournaments.
The PBA gains more mainstream and bowling media than any other outlet in bowling through media exposure on programs such as ESPN SportsCenter, Around the Horn, Pardon The Interruption, SportsNation, The Howard Stern radio and publications ranging from New York Times, ESPN The Magazine, and Sports Illustrated among many others.
2015 PBA Product Registered Companies
Full Registration
900 Global
Brunswick
Columbia300
DV8
Ebonite
Hammer
MOTIV
Radical
Roto Grip
Storm
Track
Grassroots Registration
AMF300
National Footwear
3G
Brunswick
Dexter
Storm
Full Accessories
Masters
Robby’s
Turbo 2-n-1 Grips
Vise Grips
Accessories Limited
High 5 Gear
Mongoose Products
Powerhouse
Accessories Grassroots
KR Strikeforce