DEAG Deutsche Entertainment AG
ots Ad hoc-Service: Dt. Entertainment AG <DE0005513907> DEAG makes its entry into the entertainment- oriented sports sector; Champ Car racing for the first time in Europe on the EuroSpeedway Berlin Brandenburg
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DEAG makes its entry into the entertainment- oriented sports sector; Champ Car racing for the first time in Europe on the EuroSpeedway Berlin Brandenburg
DEAG and the Lausitzring GmbH have concluded a five-year contract with the American CART Inc., Troy/Michigan for the first Champ Car race to be held in Europe, the "German 500" on the Lausitzring. At a press conference held in Berlin today it will also be announced that the Lausitzring has been renamed as the EuroSpeedway. DEAG is involved with a 25,1%-share as co-organiser of the "German 500", and the remaining 74,9% is held by the Lausitzring GmbH.
DEAG and the Lausitzring GmbH have already concluded a long-term exclusive contract for the organisation of concerts and festivals on the Lausitzring site, and with the participation in the "German 500" Champ Car race the DEAG has extended its activities, as previously announced, to include high-profile sports events with a well-developed entertainment component.
The Champ Car races of the CART Series, with internationally-famous drivers including Michael Andretti and Christian Fittipaldi, are comparable with the Formula One Grand Prix races. But whereas the Formula 1 racing cars only reach maximum speeds of up to 220 mph for short periods, the CART racing cars lap the circuits at average speeds more like 240 mph. The Champ Car races are currently held in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Japan. With the races on the EuroSpeedway race track, such events will be taking place in Europe for the first time. In addition, there will also be new events in 2001 in Mexico and Great Britain.
The followers of motor-sports are expected to travel from all over Europe to see this exceptional event. The first "German 500" will take place from 13th to 15th September 2001, and the DEAG expects it to attract at least 60 000 visitors, with overall sales appreciably above DM 20 million. Within the framework of the cooperation agreement with Lausitzring GmbH, DEAG is furthermore responsible for the overall presentation of the event, the organisation of the entertainment elements - in particular the family-oriented shows and accompanying programmes - as well as for the marketing and ticketing.
The cooperation also demonstrates the positive synergy effects with the recently announced joint venture between DEAG, the publishing group Axel Springer Verlag and the majority-owned Lufthansa-subsidiary START Ticket, which will be operating a multimedia market place for events and leisure. START Ticket has concluded a ticketing agreement for the EuroSpeedway involving an innovative operating set-up including a closed-loop booking system with high-security electronic tickets and fully integrated access technology. In addition to ticket sales through travel agencies, call centres, advanced sales outlets or the internet, it is also planned for the first time to have ticket bookings via mobile telephone.
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Original content of: DEAG Deutsche Entertainment AG, transmitted by news aktuell