BOSTON– America East Conference and Friendship Cottage Cheese have entered into an agreement in which Friendship Cottage Cheese will serve as title sponsor for the 2002 America East Women's Basketball Championship. The event, which will be known as the 2002 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Conference Women's Basketball Championship, will be held at The Chase Family Arena in The Sports Center at the University of Hartford, March 7-9.
"Friendship Cottage Cheese has recently put together “Building Healthy Friendships”- a women’s health education campaign dedicated to encouraging women to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles through nutrition, exercise and friendships with other women," said Joe Murgolo, President of Friendship Dairies. "Having launched 'Building Healthy Friendships,' we hope our relationship with the 2002 America East Women’s Basketball Championship will help us get this important message out to girls and women throughout New York and New England. We hope that fans will support Friendship 'all natural' Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream along with their favorite America East team.”
In addition to its recognition as the sole title sponsor of the 2002 America East Women's Basketball Championship, Friendship Cottage Cheese will also receive television exposure throughout the 2001-02 season as part of the America East Conference package, as well as radio exposure, signage and in-game promotions at the women's basketball championship. Program and ticket advertising for the women's basketball championship is also included. Additionally, Friendship Cottage Cheese will be included in the women's basketball championship logo, created specifically for the championship, and will receive exposure via the conference's web site--americaeast.com.
"America East is indebted to Friendship Cottage Cheese for its support of the America East Women's Basketball Championship," said Chris Monasch, Commissioner of America East. "Its partnership with the conference and Hartford will directly enhance the championship experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans of America East Women's Basketball."
"The University of Hartford is extremely proud to host the 2002 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women’s Basketball Championship and looks forward to an exciting three days of competition in March," said Pat Meiser-McKnett, Hartford Athletic Director. "We are thankful for Friendship and their title sponsorship of the tournament, and applaud their role in promoting women’s athletics and healthy living. President Walter Harrison and I are honored to be the host institution for the first time in our program’s history and to bring this exciting brand of women’s basketball to the community of Greater Hartford."
The America East Women’s Basketball Championship has averaged more than 2,000 fans to each of its tournament sessions since 1998, with an average championship game crowd of 2,883 during that time. The Chase Family Arena has a 4,067 seat capacity.
Ticket information for the 2002 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Conference Women's Basketball Championship will be released at a later date.
Member institutions of America East are University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, Stony Brook University, University of Vermont, in addition to Hartford.