Harlem Globetrotters Gear Up For 90th Anniversary; Partner With Five Of The Nation's Leading Agencies

PHOENIX, Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. (HGI) announced today that it has partnered with United Talent Agency, Whistle Sports, Licensing Street and LeadDog Marketing Group – along with incumbent public relations firm Coyne PR – to help promote the 2016 world tour and celebrate its 90^th year of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment.

"The Harlem Globetrotters will make our 90^th anniversary the biggest in our storied history, and we are thrilled to have it come to life with help from these fine agency partners," said Harlem Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. "The Globetrotters have put smiles on people's faces for nine decades and have now engaged a whole new generation of fans who will love this brand for years to come. Coming off our most successful year ever, we're looking to our agencies to build on that success and bring the brand to a whole new level of popularity."

In preparation for their 90^th anniversary, the Globetrotters have partnered with United Talent Agency (UTA), one of the largest talent agencies in the world. With nearly 200 agents representing actors, writers, directors, producers, recording artists and corporate brands, UTA will fit the Globetrotters with the strongest roster off the court. Some of UTA's key clients include actors Channing Tatum, Owen Wilson, and Kevin Hart; directors such as Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuaron, and Judd Apatow; as well as digital stars such as Michelle Phan.

"The Harlem Globetrotters are one of the few truly globally-recognized brands. You can go anywhere in the world, say 'Globetrotters,' and it will put a smile on people's faces, young and old," said Brent Weinstein, Head of Digital Media at UTA. "We are very excited to work with Kurt (Schneider) and his team in order to continue to build the Globetrotters' business, brand and legacy."

In addition to UTA, the Globetrotters have joined forces with Whistle Sports, the first sports social network aimed at serving young millennial fans solely through the social video platforms they live on. Whistle Sports is not only associated with the Harlem Globetrotters, but also professional leagues, such as the NFL, PGA Tour and Major League Baseball, among others.

"For decades, fans had to wait several months for the Globetrotters to come to their hometown, but now they can enjoy the Globetrotters' humor, skill and spirit whenever they want online," said Whistle Sports Executive Vice President Brian Selander. "We're proud to partner with the Globetrotters and make their content immediately available and sharable for millions of fans around the world to enjoy."

The legendary Globetrotters have also partnered with Licensing Street, a boutique licensing and consulting firm headquartered in New York City. Licensing Street's extensive experience runs across a wide range of entertainment properties. Having worked on some of the biggest and most beloved entertainment properties, such as Octonauts, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Chuggington, Licensing Street will support the Globetrotters' efforts with developing licensed properties across all retail channels.

"Licensing Street is proud to be working with this iconic sports entertainment franchise, one that we all grew up with and still enjoy today," said JJ Ahearn, Managing Director of Licensing Street.

Last but not least, the Globetrotters have also brought on LeadDog Marketing Group to help generate excitement for their upcoming 2016 world tour and 90^th anniversary. As an award-winning integrated experiential sports marketing agency, LeadDog creates marketing events and activations that are one-of-a-kind consumer experiences and specializes in brand, cause, sports, food/beverage, and media/entertainment properties. Some of LeadDog's marquee clients include Cirque du Soleil, Amtrak, Intel, ABC-TV, Coca Cola and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

"The Harlem Globetrotters are a compelling, values-driven brand that gives unparalleled access to both its fans and partners through their tour, first and foremost, as well as their digital properties and grassroots activation nationwide," said Dan Mannix, President and CEO of LeadDog Marketing Group. "Their values-first proposition separates them from others in the sports and entertainment space, making them a safe and trusted answer for brands.

"Having seen the Globetrotters play at Nassau Coliseum as a kid is an experience I'll always remember," added Mannix. "LeadDog Marketing Group is honored to be working with this historic organization and looks forward to them putting smiles on kids' faces for the next 90 years."

The North American leg of the Harlem Globetrotters' current 2015 "Washington Generals' Revenge" World Tour will run through May 2015. Featuring some of the greatest athletes and entertainers on the planet, the Globetrotters will perform over 310 shows in North America, bringing their unrivaled family experience to more than 250 cities in 49 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

About United Talent Agency
United Talent Agency is a premier global talent and literary agency representing many of the world's most acclaimed figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment and media, including motion pictures, television, digital, broadcast news, legit theater, video games, books, music, and live entertainment. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film finance, film packaging, branding, licensing, endorsements and representation of production talent.  UTA additionally provides corporate consulting, venture funding and strategic advisory services to companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. UTA operates the brand strategy agency UTA Brand Studio and owns market-leading broadcast news agency N.S. Bienstock. UTA founded and co-owns leading integrated marketing firm United Entertainment Group, A DJE Company, which focuses on branded entertainment for major consumer brands.

About Whistle Sports
Whistle Sports is a digital sports entertainment network engaging millions of young fans worldwide. The company's owners, investors and content partners include sports heroes such as Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning and pro league partners like the NFL, PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Major League Lacrosse, AVP (pro volleyball), Major League Soccer and the Harlem Globetrotters, as well as financial and strategic investors that include Emil Capital Partners, BSkyB, Liberty Global and SeventySix Capital. Whistle Sports currently has studio offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and London. 

About Licensing Street
Founded in 2009, Licensing Street, LLC, is a licensing and consulting firm headquartered in New York City. Its experience includes work on some of the most successful and beloved entertainment properties of all-time. The firm specializes in strategically developing licensed properties across all retail channels.

About LeadDog Marketing Group
LeadDog Marketing Group, Inc. is a 15-year old, 160+ person turnkey experiential marketing solutions agency headquartered in New York City with satellite offices in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Columbus, Boston, and Mexico City. LeadDog was named one of the Top 10 Job Creators in the Advertising and Marketing Industry by Inc. magazine in 2012 and has been on the Inc. 5000 list since 2010. LeadDog was also named to the inaugural Crain's New York Fast 50 in 2012, and has been featured as a top five sports event/experiential agency by SportsBusiness Journal twice in the past three years. LeadDog specializes in brand, cause, sports, food/beverage, and media/entertainment properties. Marquee clients include: Amtrak, Intel, REI, Equinox, Reebok, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2014 NY/NJ Superbowl Host Committee, Citibank, ABC Television, Syfy, and Kohl's. LeadDog is a truly full-service integrated experiential marketing agency with services all under one roof including: experiential marketing, strategic partnerships, design/branding, strategic communications, digital/interactive, social media strategy, and sweepstakes/contests. For more information, please visit www.leaddogmarketing.com.

About the Harlem Globetrotters
Sponsored by World Vision, Greyhound Lines and Baden Sports, The Harlem Globetrotters® are celebrating their 89^th consecutive year, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans-among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents-over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

About Coyne PR
Coyne is a full-service, integrated communications agency with expertise in a variety of industries. The agency consistently displays the knowledge and creativity that has made it one of the fastest-growing agencies. The agency is a member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world's leading partnership of independently-owned PR firms, and prominent clients include The Walt Disney Company, Hard Rock International, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Chrysler, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Shell Lubricants, Columbia Business School and Pfizer. Clients look to Coyne for its amazing combination of unbridled imagination, limitless enthusiasm, unwavering strategic approach and impeccable integrity. Fueled by the agency's mission to be the best place to work, employees deliver high-profile programs that drive visibility, engagement and growth for many of the world's most-trusted brands. The agency has evolved far beyond its PR roots with a dedicated social media practice, an award-winning digital design group and a full advertising and marketing team. Coyne has won more than 750 industry honors in the past decade, including Midsize Agency of the Year by PRWeek, Consumer Agency of the Year, Best Agency to Work For in America and Small Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. 

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SOURCE Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc.