AMERICAN EXPRESS ANNOUNCES MAJOR SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WITH AEG VENUES AND SPORTS FRANCHISES AS “OFFICIAL CARD” OF STAPLES CENTER, THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, NHL’S LOS ANGELES KINGS, AND MLS’ LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Deal Delivers a Host of Exclusive Benefits for Cardmembers; Exclusive Presale Ticket Offer To Ray Charles Tribute Event Launches Sponsorship

Los Angeles, September 09, 2004 -- American Express and AEG announced a multi-year, multi-tiered sponsorship agreement that makes American Express the “Official Card” with AEG's marquee Southern California-based venues and teams including STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center, as well as the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) professional sports franchises. The agreement, which designates American Express as a “Founding Partner” of the aforementioned AEG owned and operated venues, delivers in-venue signage and exclusive benefits for American Express® Cardmembers, including early on-sale ticket opportunities, specially designated amenities, and access to some of the ‘best seats in the house' for numerous events.

American Express, which has had a long-standing relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers (who play their home games at STAPLES Center), will now enjoy special ticket access for sporting and special events at the award-winning venues. In addition, a newly created “American Express Event Series” will be presented at STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, and Kodak THEATRE and will include access to some of the best seats for American Express Cardmembers at music, sports and entertainment events throughout the year.

To launch the new agreement, American Express is offering Cardmembers an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets, prior to public sale, for the Ray Charles tribute concert, Genius: A Night for Ray Charles at STAPLES Center on Friday, October 8. Hosted by Jamie Foxx, the “one night only special event” will feature already confirmed performers including Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Al Green, Elton John, Norah Jones, BB King, Reba McEntire, David "Fathead" Newman, Billy Preston, Usher, and Stevie Wonder*. The tribute will be taped to air as a television special on CBS. American Express Cardmembers can take advantage of this offer by using their Cards to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster beginning Sunday, September 12 at noon through Saturday, September 18 at noon.

In addition to early on-sale ticket offers, American Express Cardmembers will be able to take advantage of a number of other exciting and unique benefits throughout the year including:

  • ‘Best Seats in the House': provides Gold Card, and Platinum Card®, and Centurion® members with special access to premium and reserved seating at select concerts and events with specially designated seats at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center set aside for Cardmembers.
     
  • Early On-Sale: allows American Express Cardmembers to purchase tickets, prior to public sale, for several designated concerts and/or events throughout the year.
     
  • Exclusive Cardmember Ticket Window at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center: provides Cardmembers with an easy and fast way to pick up their tickets and handle any special needs before entering the venue.
     
  • Sports Team Ticket Access: provides Gold Card, and Platinum Card members, and Centurion members the ability to purchase club level tickets for individual games throughout the season.
     
  • Signature Series: will provide American Express Cardmembers the opportunity to attend a variety of private events created exclusively for them.
     
  • Platinum Card member Club: a private lounge at STAPLES Center, currently being developed, will allow Platinum Card and Centurion members exclusive access prior to any STAPLES Center event.
     
  • Unique Cardmember Activities: will provide Cardmembers access to events such as coaches clinics, private practices, and ‘meet and greet' receptions with athletes and coaches.

*Talent is Subject to Change

As the “Official Card” of the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy teams, American Express will receive specially designed sponsorship packages for each team which include prominent inventory on radio and television broadcasts, on-field signage at The Home Depot Center for the Los Angeles Galaxy and dasher-board advertisements at STAPLES Center and at the Kings' training facility, HealthSouth Training Center. In addition, American Express will receive unique promotional and programming opportunities for each of the franchises including client and fan receptions, promotional 'give-aways' and in-venue displays among others.

While consumer benefits and special access are the focus of the sponsorship, American Express plans to use the “Official Card” sponsorship in its business activities with suite rentals, receptions, and client service events at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center.

“AEG owns and operates some of the most famous and prestigious venues in the country, and now our Cardmembers will have exclusive, first access to some of the best seats and some of the most exciting and prominent events throughout the Los Angeles area,” said Nancy Smith, vice president, Global Media and Sponsorship at American Express. “When you carry an American Express Card, you are entitled to unique experiences and benefits, and this is just another example of American Express' ongoing commitment to our Cardmembers and the Los Angeles marketplace overall.”

“Our partnership with American Express is clearly one of the most extensive and far-reaching agreements AEG has ever entered into,” said Shawn Hunter, Chief Marketing Officer, AEG. “American Express' investment in our entities – from the STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center to the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy– will allow us to significantly elevate our visibility and enhance the power of our brands throughout the marketplace. We appreciate the confidence American Express has in AEG and our affiliated divisions and we are certain that our assets and partnership will give us the ability to achieve the goals anticipated by both companies.”

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Forum (as exclusive booking agent for sports and entertainment programming), HealthSouth Training Center, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie and Kodak THEATRE (as operator); sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Manchester Monarchs (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), Chicago Fire, DC United, Los Angeles Galaxy, Metrostars and San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), five hockey franchises operated in Europe and management of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz.

In addition, AEG has recently developed and opened The Home Depot Center, a $150 million national training “campus” in Carson, California designated as an “Official U.S. Olympic Training Site” by the United States Olympic Committee that includes major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, volleyball, basketball and other sports.

AEG is currently overseeing the development of L.A. Live, a proposed 4 million square foot development featuring NOKIA Theatre Los Angeles, a 7,000-seat state-of-the-art live theatre, a 55 story, 1200-room convention “headquarters” hotel, Club NOKIA, a 2,500 capacity live music venue along with entertainment, restaurant, broadcast studios, residential and office space all adjacent to STAPLES Center. The company was recently selected to fully develop the 28-acre Millennium Dome and adjacent property located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River and will create new arenas within the Millennium Dome, on a 50-acre site in the heart of Berlin and in Kansas City, Missouri.



Contacts:
Judy Tenzer
212.640.0555
Judy.G.Tenzer@aexp.com