ESPN launched The Store at ESPN.com, a new retail
operation offering ESPN-branded merchandise never before available on the Web,
both league- and team-licensed goods, and authenticated memorabilia.
Coinciding with the launch is a sweepstakes promising dozens of prizes,
including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl XXXIII and framed,
autographed Joe Montana jerseys for four first-prize winners.
“We’ve focused our efforts on providing the secure, seamless,
convenient and fun online shopping experience the users of ESPN.com have told
us they want,” said Chuck Davis, senior vice president, e-commerce, Buena
Vista Internet
Group.
ESPN-branded products include apparel and merchandise sporting the ESPN logo
and the logos of ESPN studio shows, including SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight,
NFL Countdown and RPM 2Night.
League and team logo merchandise will be available at all times, the firm
said, including
jerseys, caps, sweatshirts and watches. The Store also carries a full line of
sports memorabilia items authenticated by ESPN, including a Babe Ruth
cancelled check (exclusive to ESPN), a set of unused tickets for the 1997 U.S.
Open signed by Jack Nicklaus, and signed gloves and photo from Muhammad Ali.
All sweepstakes entrants automatically qualify for a $5 discount off a one-
year subscription to ESPN.com’s ESPN Insider premium area, said the company.
ESPN.com is produced by ESPN Internet Ventures, a unit of Buena Vista Internet
Group. ESPN Internet Ventures also produces the official sites of the NFL,
NBA, NASCAR, WNBA and Outside magazine, and includes Monday Night Football
Online and Bowl Championship Series Online.