Coopers Brewery to sponsor 2000 Nationals

PRESS RELEASE

SAN DIEGO (Monday, October 9, 2000)

The United States Australian Football League ("USAFL") is proud to announce that it has concluded a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Coopers Brewery, Ltd. of Adelaide, South Australia. The deal, the League's first multi-year package, grants Coopers title sponsorship of the USAFL's National Tournament, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, California on October 14 and 15, 2000. The deal also calls for league-wide sponsorship, including advertising on USAFL's website, www.usfooty.com, through the 2001 USAFL season. Pursuant to League policy other terms of the sponsorship agreement remain confidential.

USAFL Founding President, Paul O'Keeffe, said "the synergies between the two organizations are apparent: the USAFL is bringing Australian Football to the United States while Coopers is bringing classic Australian beer to the same market. Both products are uniquely Australian." Glenn Cooper, CEO of the family-run brewery in Australia, discussing the synergies, said "the tag-line 'Real Aussie Footy, Real Aussie Beer' seems uniquely appropriate."

The deal grew out of discussions between O'Keeffe and Cooper earlier this year in Chicago, following an initial contact by Matt Muller of the USAFL's Seattle team, the Geelong Football Club of Seattle. During the following months, Coopers' Export Manager, Scott Harris, and the USAFL's Public Relations and Marketing Officer, Michael Gardiner, continued the discussions leading to the announcement. Coopers' product is imported to the United States by Preiss Imports of Ramona, California.

Australian Rules Football is a fast, free-flowing game that combines aspects of soccer, American Football, rugby and basketball. It is a full contact sport featuring fast pace and athletic skills. The sports rules were codified in 1858 and probably predate all other modern forms of football such as American, Canadian, Rugby Union and League, soccer, and Gaelic Football. Today, Australian Rules Football is a multi-million dollar business in Australia with other leagues in Britain, Canada, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, and here in the United States.

- Paul O'Keeffe
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