SFX gains marketing yardage with ISI buy

Purchase signals entertainment-sports promotions mix

By RICHARD KATZ

NEW YORK -- Concert and live-event promoter giant SFX Entertainment on Thursday agreed to acquire Integrated Sports International, a full-service sports marketer, for an aggregate purchase price of $14.1 million and 60,000 shares of SFX Class A common stock.

ISI was founded in 1993 by its president and CEO Frank Vuono and executive VPs Fred Fried and Steve Rosner, all of whom will remain in their current positions.

ISI specializes in consulting corporations, teams and venues on their sports sponsorship/marketing programs, and representing athletes and coaches for marketing and broadcasting opportunities.

"We created ISI nearly six years ago to help our clients be ahead of the convergence of the sports and entertainment worlds," Vuono said. "We applaud SFX's foresight in acquiring companies who are uniquely positioned to leverage their assets across all entertainment and sports platforms, both domestically and internationally.

"These new platforms will enable us to create greater marketing opportunities for our current and prospective clients," Vuono said.

Wide world of sports clients

ISI's client list includes the NFL's Steve Young, Vinny Testaverde and Warren Moon; the NBA's Hakeem Olajuwon and Jayson Williams; broadcaster Boomer Esiason; and teams the Houston Astros, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.

SFX Entertainment is the largest diversified promoter, producer and venue operator for live entertainment events in the United States. Upon completion of pending acquisitions, it will have 71 venues either directly owned or operated under lease or exclusive booking arrangements in 29 of the top 50 markets, including amphitheaters in nine of the top 10 markets.

In the last 12 months, more than 32 million people attended approximately 11,650 events promoted and/or produced by SFX, including more than 5,200 music concerts, 5,700 theatrical shows and 300 specialized motor sports shows.