New Platforms and Opportunities for Brand Partnerships Driven by Property’s Growth
The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) has announced the appointment of ESA member CSM Sport & Entertainment as their sponsorship sales agency of record. We will help the WTA identify, secure and develop commercial partnerships which align with the global leader in women’s professional sport.
The WTA embodies a powerful brand known for breaking barriers and transcending the sports landscape. As the No. 1 watched female sport with an evolving collection of diverse talent, paired with the rising interest in women sports, the WTA has established itself as a top commercial platform for brands.
Micky Lawler, President of the WTA, said:
“Aligning with esteemed brands around the globe who share our ambition for women’s sports has been, and remains, paramount to the WTA’s continued evolution. The WTA has a long history of exhibiting the power of association with some of the world’s most outstanding female athletes. As we appoint CSM as our sponsorship sales agency of record, we are excited to customize new platforms for our partners which will elevate the profile and commercial strength of women’s professional tennis to uncharted levels.”
Ross Meltzer, Executive Vice President, Properties at CSM Sport & Entertainment, said:
“The WTA is one of the world’s preeminent sports properties and we’re thrilled to represent such a storied and pioneering organization. The high interest and participation of tennis around the world combined with the WTA’s unique value proposition is incredibly appealing and we’re excited to share the opportunity with like-minded brands.”
The 2020 WTA season kicked off in early January and encompasses 53 tournaments in 28 countries and regions, culminating with the Shiseido WTA Finals in Shenzhen in November. With record-breaking prize money of over $180 million, enhanced content distribution efforts, and a blend of young rising stars with established veterans, the WTA Tour continues to lead women’s sports with a global audience of 700 million.
About CSM: CSM, part of the Chime Challenger Network, is a global integrated marketing and brand experience agency working across sport, entertainment, media, social impact and more. Driven by a team of 1000+ people in 25+ locations, our purpose is to pursue extraordinary. Connecting with people through their passion points, we build brands, work with rights holders and create live experiences. www.csm.com.
About WTA: Founded by Billie Jean King in 1973 on the principle of equal opportunity for women in sports, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 1,650 players representing 84 nations competing for a record $180 million in prize money. In 2019, the WTA was watched by a record-breaking global audience of 700 million. The 2020 WTA Tour includes 53 events and four Grand Slams, spanning across six continents and 28 countries and regions. The season culminates with the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, offering a $14 million total prize purse and honouring the season’s top singles and doubles players. Further information on the WTA can be found at www.wtatennis.com.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Media enquiries:
Camille Currie, CSM, +1 212 488 1462, camillle.currie@csm.com
Jessica Culbreath, WTA, +1 727.502.1203, jculbreath@wtatennis.com