| 08282002 |
| John Labatt Centre to open in October 2002 as new home of the OHL’s London Knights |
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Labatt Puts New Label on London Entertainment & Sports Centre August 28, 2002 (London, ON) - Labatt Breweries Ontario today announced a long-term agreement with the City of London and Global Spectrum for naming rights to the new multi-purpose entertainment and sports facility in downtown London. Labatt Breweries will name the venue John Labatt Centre, in honour of Labatt’s founder, John Kinder Labatt. “Labatt Breweries has once again clearly demonstrated its commitment to the London community,” said London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco. “The John Labatt Centre will be a place where our citizens will come together to celebrate sport and entertainment. We are thrilled that Labatt has chosen this facility to honour its founder and one of London’s corporate legends.” The John Labatt Centre, built at a cost of $45 million, features three levels of seating, including two public levels and one premium seating level. The premium seating includes 38 luxury suites, five group sales suites and 1,000 club seats. The building has a seating capacity of 2,800 for theatre production, 9,100 for hockey and 10,000 for concerts. “Labatt has grown into one of Canada’s most successful companies by building on our company’s London roots and the skills and energy of its citizens,” said Luc Guens, President, Labatt Breweries Ontario. “This new partnership between Labatt and the City of London builds on more than $1 million annually Labatt invests to support and promote worthwhile local community initiatives.” The new facility will feature the John Labatt Centre name and logo on the outside of the building, as well as inside at center ice, on the scoreboard and web site and on all facility and London Knights materials, including game programs, tickets, pocket schedules, media guides, print advertisements, TV advertisements and other team and arena-related printings. “This is the beginning of a tremendous partnership, not only for the new facility, but for the entire London area,” said Peter Luukko, President of Comcast-Spectacor Ventures and Chairman of Global Spectrum. “Labatt Breweries Ontario has an incredible reputation for its commitment and support for events and activities in the community. We can’t think of a better partner to work with at this great new facility. We look forward to many successful years at the John Labatt Centre.” In addition to the John Labatt Centre, Labatt’s commitment to the London community is far reaching. Local Labatt community support has included the creation of John Labatt Park for sports, the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre at the University of Western Ontario, support of the 2001 Canada Summer Games and regeneration of the Covent Garden Market. In addition, annual fundraising events such as Labatt 24-Relays have raised nearly $5 million to help improve health care for patients and families of London and Southwestern Ontario. “We identified Labatt as a potential key partner in this project from the very beginning,” added Global Spectrum President Michel Sauers. “They are committed to the community, which is very important to Global Spectrum and to the future success of the John Labatt Centre.” In keeping with company policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Labatt Breweries Ontario operates breweries in Toronto and London, employing approximately 1,100 people. Together, these two breweries are responsible for 40 per cent of all beer produced by Labatt across Canada. The London Brewery, birthplace of Labatt, is also home to Labatt’s Technology Development Centre, where Labatt’s patented Ice Brewing process was invented. Following a $50 million expansion in 2000, the London brewery’s production capacity increased by three million hectolitres – or 36.5 million 24-bottle cases. The London facility brews more than 80 per cent of all Labatt beer exported to the United States, including Canada’s leading beer export Labatt Blue, the third most popular imported beer in the U.S. Global Spectrum, which manages more than 30 arenas, stadiums and convention centers, is part of the Comcast-Spectacor family of companies, which includes Comcast-Spectacor Ventures, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Bowie Baysox, the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Frederick Keys, the First Union Center, the First Union Spectrum, Comcast SportsNet, Flyers Skate Zone, Ovations Food Services and Global Skate Zone. For more information, please contact: Bob Chant, Director, Public Affairs Holly Kjeldgaard |