Esurance Comes On Board as Official Sponsor of 2010 US Open

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The USTA today announced that Esurance, one of America's top names in personal lines auto insurance, has become an official sponsor of the 2010 US Open. The comprehensive partnership includes on-site presence, media support of tournament television broadcasts, and a robust relationship with USOpen.org, the official website of the US Open.

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On-site at the 2010 US Open, Esurance will be provided with both courtside and ring signage in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as well as a booth on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.  In line with its overall corporate philosophy, Esurance will support the US Open's Green program, by sponsoring distribution of New York City Subway MetroCards at select times during the two-week tournament.  The USTA has instituted a wide-ranging green program at the US Open, one component of which is to encourage attendees to take mass transit to the competition.

"From the very start, we've worked hard to make Esurance a green company and the bigger we grow, the more important this objective becomes," said Gary Tolman, president and chief executive officer, Esurance. "We are proud to partner with the USTA, an organization which shares our commitment to increasing  awareness about the small things each of us can do to help protect our environment for years to come. We look forward to an exciting tournament this year from some of the top names in tennis."

Additionally, Esurance plans to add a US Open "official sponsor" tag to its current television advertising campaign.  Esurance will run the official sponsor ads during the CBS Sports broadcasts of the US Open over Labor Day Weekend and during the Finals Weekend, as well as on the Tennis Channel throughout the tournament.  The direct-to-consumer auto insurance company will also have a significant presence on USOpen.org, the official website of the US Open.  In addition to banner ads, Esurance will be included in USOpen.org's daily e-newsletter.

"We are pleased to work with an innovative company like Esurance, whose support of the US Open will reach fans on-site, online, and on television," said Harlan Stone, chief business and marketing officer for the USTA. "We are especially grateful for their support of our US Open green programs. The programs  have become one of our most successful initiatives in recent years, and have substantially reduced the overall carbon footprint of the tournament."

The 2010 US Open will be held on Monday, August 30 through Sunday, September 12.  The 2009 US Open drew more than 720,000 fans, maintaining its position as the highest attended annual sporting event in the world.  More than 70 million domestic viewers watched the 2009 US Open on CBS Sports, ESPN2 and Tennis Channel, and international broadcasts reached 185 countries.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

About Esurance®

Esurance, a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), provides personal auto insurance direct to consumers online and through select agents, including sister company, Answer Financial. Esurance is dedicated to constantly improving the way people shop for, buy, and manage their auto insurance. By combining the best of technology with industry know-how, Esurance is able to offer hassle-free coverage with 24/7 customer service and claims handling at competitive prices.

Through Esurance's website, www.esurance.com, customers can get instant car insurance quotes, view comparison quotes, buy an Esurance policy, and print their insurance cards -- all in minutes. Esurance also offers policyholders the ability to make policy changes and file claims instantly online, demonstrating its commitment to improving the entire insurance process from quote to claim.

Answer Financial, also a subsidiary of White Mountains, is one of the largest independent personal lines insurance agencies in the country. Answer Financial offers comparison quotes and provides auto and property insurance from more than a dozen top-rated insurance companies through its website, www.answerfinancial.com, and over the phone.

SOURCE USTA