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ElementalTV Debuts Newest CTV Tech Innovation, ELM iQ

ElementalTV

ElementalTV, an emerging media technology company and a division of Adoppler, today debuts its newest connected TV (CTV) tech solution, ELM iQ. The breakthrough CTV technology solution addresses the “last mile” creative problem, which is a major bottleneck for the CTV industry creative development and delivery. It accomplishes this by providing brands, publishers, and agencies to leverage real-time data to create new, compelling, customized creative ad content on the fly, and at scale. Current creative updating processes are manual and time consuming, with constant re-edits proving costly. ELM iQ leverages ElementalTV’s proprietary AI creative composer technology to address this massive slowdown in ad deployment. By pairing ELM iQ’s machine learning with real-time information from a partner’s database, CMS, or API, advertisers can now create and deliver dynamic CTV advertising content with near real-time speed and accuracy. ELM iQ creates new opportunities for brands to generate dynamic ad creative, by rapidly connecting data to develop immersive CTV ad creatives that are highly personalized and localized. The result is faster, near real-time ad executions and creates significant cost savings for brands, publishers, and agencies. “ELM iQ is an advanced technological solution that, we believe, has the power to propel CTV ad innovation to the next level,” says Sergey Lobko-Lobanovsky, Chief Technology Officer of ElementalTV. “Historically, video ad creatives for TV were not updated or refreshed very often, and when they were, it was usually seasonally or monthly. Advertisers today are looking for flexibility and speed to keep up with rapidly shifting consumer sentiments and buying behaviors. With ELM iQ and its smart machine learning technology, we now have the capability to do this in near real time, thus solving for advertisers the challenge of remaining agile and relevant in today’s competitive markets.” With ELM iQ, content creators can now focus squarely on conceptualizing and developing creative, relevant and hyper localized ad content that will resonate with its intended audiences, ensuring a better and more effective overall ad experience. “We see ELM iQ as a win for all stakeholders,” says Shafi Mustafa, VP Product Marketing for ElementalTV. “Viewers will see more dynamic and relevant ads with much fewer duplicate advertiser messages; publishers will benefit from increased bid density as more advertisers are now able to participate in CTV advertising; and advertisers will have the ability to create, update, and personalize creative messages in a highly scalable, low cost manner. This solution is a game changer.” ELM iQ is ElementalTV’s latest next-generation innovation, following the recent expansion of the company’s ELM product suite earlier this month. With the release of ELM, the company announced it surpassed one billion CTV advanced ad impressions in its first year of business. ELM iQ, a product of the company’s focus on rapid innovation, has been in beta with a select number of advertisers and is now available at scale. To learn more about ElementalTV and its solutions, visit www.elementaltv.com. About ElementalTV Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Pasadena, CA, ElementalTV is pioneering the next generation of CTV ad innovation. ElementalTV pushes the boundaries of how technology can immerse an audience’s advertisement experience. Its proprietary vertically integrated platform, ELM, combines a wide range of capabilities including advanced ad decisioning, demand-side platform (DSP), creative optimization, transcoding, and stitching to allow for seamless, next generation ad experience. To learn more, visit elementaltv.com. Contact Details Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.elementaltv.com/

October 26, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena makes history

Amazon

For B-roll assets: https://vimeo.com/638111701/a12df2c060 Climate Pledge Arena officially opens its doors on Friday, October 22 with a performance by Coldplay, appearances by special guests, and a series of special events throughout the weekend. In June 2020, when Amazon announced that the company secured the naming rights to the iconic Seattle arena—home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and WNBA's Seattle Storm. Amazon decided to name it Climate Pledge Arena, in honor of The Climate Pledge, a commitment co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019. The Pledge is a rallying call for action—for companies and other organizations to commit to net-zero carbon by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. The opening is historic, as Climate Pledge Arena aims to set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry, and we hope others are inspired to join us in the ongoing fight against climate change. Building a net-zero carbon certified stadium The project began in early 2017, when the City of Seattle issued a request for proposal to redevelop the historic arena at Seattle Center and entered into an agreement with Oak View Group. Over the past three years, designed by Populous and Rockwell Group and under the guidance of Mortenson, engineering and construction firsts have been achieved. The 44 million pound roof was held up by temporary steel columns while the brand new arena was constructed underneath, doubling the square footage. With a significant investment from Amazon and Oak View Group, Climate Pledge Arena is expected to be the first net-zero carbon certified arena in the world and set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry. The all-electric operations will be powered by 100% renewable electricity—from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy. The stadium will use reclaimed rainwater stored in the ice system, a concept called “Rain to Rink,” to create the greenest ice in the NHL. The original 44-million-pound roof from the previous KeyArena was reused in the construction—to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of the building. The arena’s food program will be led by executive chef Molly DeMers and will be sourced locally and seasonally to support regional farmers and producers; all viable unused food from events will be donated to local community food programs. Using technology to create a fast, convenient and contactless experience for guests In four stores throughout Climate Pledge Arena, Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One will be used to make the in-arena food and beverage experience more efficient and cut wait times, so guests can get back to the game or performance faster. Amazon One is a fast, convenient, contactless way for people to use their palm to make everyday activities more effortless. The service is designed to be highly secure and uses custom-built algorithms and hardware to create a person’s unique palm signature. Guests will be able to visit four Just Walk Out-enabled stores inside Climate Pledge Arena to purchase food and drinks without stopping to checkout. All they need to do is insert their credit card at the location’s entry gates to shop, or hover their palm over an Amazon One device to enter. Once inside, guests can take what they want and then just leave after they’re done shopping. As they shop, Just Walk Out technology determines what they take from—or return to—the shelves, and the credit card they inserted or linked to their Amazon One ID will be charged for items they took after they leave the store. If a guest is new to using the Amazon One palm recognition service, they can enroll in less than a minute at any of the Amazon One enrollment kiosks located near the Just Walk Out technology-enabled stores on the arena’s main and upper concourses. Supporting local residents and organizations Seattle Kraken and Storm tickets will also double as free public transit passes to promote public transportation use for attendees, including the use of the refurbished Seattle Monorail. One Roof Foundation and Climate Pledge Arena—in collaboration with Amazon—are providing $500,000 in funding to nonprofits in the Seattle area to advance environmental justice and positive social change. The nonprofits largely represent Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities and underserved areas. In recognition of their incredible work, the 2021 grant award winners include: Bike Works, a South Seattle-based nonprofit that makes bicycling accessible and affordable to help empower youth and address climate change. Earthlab, a University of Washington initiative pushing boundaries and developing innovative, just, and equitable solutions to environmental challenges. Chief Seattle Club’s Sovereignty Farm project, a seed-to-table social enterprise that provides ways for Indigenous elders, apprentices, artisans, and farmers to grow Native foods and focus on land stewardship and food sovereignty. Duwamish River Clean Up Coalition, a community-based nonprofit representing the residents of the Duwamish Valley region of South Seattle. The group is focused on increasing youth engagement and education, supporting placemaking and placekeeping, improving air quality and respiratory health, and combatting the hyper-local impacts of climate change. Lake City Collective, a grassroots, volunteer-run nonprofit advocating for a clean and safe environment for the families and youth from diverse communities in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood. Seattle Parks Foundation, a nonprofit partner to Seattle Parks and Recreation that brings people together to create a thriving, accessible, and connected system of public space for all people. Spark Northwest, which partners with communities to build an equitable clean-energy future for all. Transportation Choices, a policy and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to making transportation accessible to all in Washington state. Celebrate live, with Coldplay Coldplay will play its first arena show in nearly five years to mark the grand opening of the Climate Pledge Arena, and to celebrate the launch of the band’s new album, Music of the Spheres. Amazon Music is making the concert available as it happens, worldwide, beginning at 7 p.m. PDT on Friday, October 22. Fans can watch the show at home or on their mobile devices, from the Amazon Music app, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and on Prime Video for all customers with or without a Prime Membership. In addition to the livestream concert, Amazon Music has teamed up with Coldplay to create an exclusive line of sustainable merchandise available now at www.Amazon.com/Coldplay. Customers will have the opportunity to purchase the collection before, during, and after the show—from the Coldplay artist page in the Amazon Music app, from www.Amazon.com/Coldplay, and for the first time, Amazon Music will power the artist merch booth at the show, making the exclusive line of Amazon Music merchandise available for fans to purchase while at the concert. The collection features apparel that is locally sourced, produced, and GOTS-certified, and made from 100% organic cotton. Customers can also shop the collection from the livestream event page during Coldplay’s performance on October 22. A weekend of free events for Seattle locals A harvest market will pop up for Seattle locals on Sunday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with more than 20 purveyors of local food and beverages, and will be open to the public in the surrounding Seattle Center. Live music will take place on the Community Stage presented by KEXP, with performances by Terror/Cactus at 11:00 a.m., Chong the Nomad at 12:00 p.m., Shaina Shepherd at 1:00 p.m., and Hollis at 2:10 p.m. The Climate Pledge Arena will host a Community Open House on Sunday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Seattle-area residents can experience Climate Pledge Arena, preview the concourses and seating bowl, and explore the many new features of this transformative project. In accordance with Washington State, all guests will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear a mask. RSVP for free Open House tickets by visiting Ticketmaster.com or learn more about Climate Pledge Arena. Contact Details Luis Davila luidavl@amazon.com

October 23, 2021 06:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tykes, Inc. Selects BEASY’s NFT Management Platform to Power New Tykeland Marketplace

Beasy, LLC

Blockchain Made Easy, LLC (dba BEASY) announced today it has signed a multi-year enterprise licensing agreement with Tykes, Inc., a leading provider of digital likeness artwork to professional and college athletes as well as university sports and recruiting programs. Through the licensing agreement, Tykes will adopt Blockchain Made Easy’s private-labelable core blockchain platform called BEASY Authentication ™ to NFT-enable Tykeland, Tykes soon-to-be released online marketplace. Using BEASY’s technology, Tykeland plans to offer limited edition Tykes designs for use by Tykes customers as NFTs, including sovereign digital names and identities for use on any blockchain-based marketplace. In addition to Tykes use of BEASY’s technology, BEASY is using Tykes designs as player avatars within BEASY’s flagship sports and entertainment application called AthleteChain™. “We’re thrilled to be working with Tykes,” says Bob Kramich, Founder and CEO of BEASY. “By transforming the Tykes they already trust and love into sovereign digital identity avatars, universities and athletes can jumpstart NFT collaboration and revenue generation with trust.” Designed specifically for the sports and entertainment industry, AthleteChain ™makes it easy for players, universities, teams, and sponsors to generate NFTs directly from their own computers, then sell and track them on any website or NFT marketplace. The first of its kind in sports, BEASY AthleteChain ™ is a multi-party consensus network (MPCN), designed to verify and maintain the true state of asset ownership across all permissioned users, while also enabling users to buy, sell, trade or transfer intellectual property rights for physical and digital goods directly with one another. “Through BEASY’s solution, our customers can use their existing Tykes to jumpstart new revenue streams while also learning about blockchain, NIL, and NFTs in a way that’s already aligned with how they recruit and operate today,” says Jason Woullard, CEO and Founder of Tykes, Inc. “Offering blockchain-authenticated Tykes to our valued customers is a natural extension of the work we are already doing for them,” Jason adds. # # # About BEASY ™ Blockchain Made Easy ™, LLC is a Massachusetts-based technology and professional services company empowering retail and business customers with the ability to deploy customized blockchain-based strategies through easy-to-use blockchain software products. The company’s core product, BEASY Authentication ™, is a permissioned blockchain platform and associated wallet solution allowing users to seamlessly create, sell, and track digital goods in addition to a broad range of other applications such as digital identity management, fractional and whole digital asset ownership, royalties management, contract-to-smart contract management and more. BEASY is committed to making blockchain adoption easy. For more information, go to www.BEASY1.com. About BEASY AthleteChain ™ BEASY AthleteChain ™ is a turnkey SaaS software product enabling users in sports to create and manage NFTs directly from their personal computers and sell on any NFT marketplace or Shopify-enabled website using both credit cards as well as cryptocurrencies. A comprehensive yet extremely easy-to-use blockchain enablement platform, AthleteChain™ benefits aspiring athlete entrepreneurs with business benefits such as personal brand trademarking and proof-of-use, quality-at-the-source contract-to-smart contract creation and control, business partner and friend network administration, perpetual revenue tracking, contract compliance verification, and more. For more information go to https://beasy1.com/athletechain About Tykes, Inc. Founded in 2014, Tykes is a design-centered messaging company which creates ‘art that articulates’ for professional and college athletes, universities and global brands. Tykes digital avatars and designs enable everyone from individuals and entrepreneurs, to Fortune 500 enterprises to break through marketing clutter and connect with target audiences in relevant, intelligent and timely ways. Tykes branded designs are proven to increase customer engagement, brand loyalty and revenues. Connect with Beasy Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeasyInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beasy-blockchain-made-easy-llc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beasy1859/ Connect with Tykes https://www.mytyke.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tykeland Twitter: https://twitter.com/tykeland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytyke/ Contact Details Beasy, LLC. David Kaupp info@beasy1.com Tykes Jason Woullard, CEO info@mytyke.com Company Website https://www.beasy1.com

October 21, 2021 04:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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AWARD-WINNING CHIMNEY VIGOR GROUP ADOPTS NEW CORPORATE NAME: EDISEN - THE UNSKIPPABLE CONTENT COMPANY

Edisen

Global production and marketing services company, Chimney Vigor Group (CVG), today announced it will be rebranding under a new name, Edisen, the unskippable content company, to reflect its expanded creative and technology capabilities. Powered by its proprietary technology platform, Edisen offers clients genuine 360° services and builds upon the company’s creative foundation by delivering high-quality, premium content. “Rebranding as Edisen represents a new dawn for our business and the services we offer our clients,” said Edisen Global CEO Henric Larsson. “Our mission is to ideate, develop and produce content that is impossible to ignore. Technology enhances and empowers the creativity that is at the forefront of our business. Given our recent acquisitions, our 25-year heritage and the development of our own proprietary technology platform, our new name better reflects our unique combination of creative and technological innovation which enables us to deliver clients the world’s most powerful and impactful content.” “The Edisen offering is built on three key pillars: creativity to mesmerize, cloud technology to organize and artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize,” said Larsson. “The Edisen technology platform was purpose-built to solve major industry issues by adding efficiencies to the creative production process, thus saving time and money, as well as optimizing the creation, delivery and performance of breakthrough, undeniably engaging and high-performing content.” “Brands are demanding quality content that also draws an emotional response from viewers in every market of the globe. What we’ve built at Edisen is a creative tech stack that combines brilliant minds, a unique platform and AI capabilities. It enables us to develop great work, optimize it, and then deliver it with precision, efficiency and impact,” said Magnus Sorlander, Chairman at Edisen. The origin of Edisen began nearly 25 years ago as Chimney: a top resource for the world’s most recognized brands, for its ability to craft award-winning stories and campaigns. The company’s work has earned accolades and recognition ranging from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars), The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), The Cannes Lions, The Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, The Sundance Film Festival, Berlinale, and PromaxBDA. The adoption of the Edisen name marks the company’s continued global growth and success, fuelled by its excellent work, as well as a robust acquisition and innovation strategy. In 2019, the company merged with media management specialists OneVigor to become CVG, completing its remit to offer clients end-to-end marketing services, from concept right through to distribution. In June 2021, the company acquired Tonik+, a revolutionary new platform powered by video intelligence technology that identifies and analyzes video content scene by scene before automatically repurposing it and serving it back into the market, improving viewer ratings by up to 50 percent. To learn more about Edisen and the company’s latest capabilities, visit www.edisen.com About Edisen Edisen, the unskippable content company, is an independent, global specialist in production and marketing communications that creates content that can’t be ignored. Content that can be managed from inception to delivery through a worldwide collaboration platform. Content that can be optimized, adjusted and improved in-market through cutting-edge AI. With a legacy of 25 years of best-in-class entertainment and award-winning services (with the Oscars and Cannes Lions to prove it), coupled with a roster of 100+ clients in the marketing space, Edisen offers clients a range of production services within three integrated business areas: entertainment, marketing and technology. Privately-held, Edisen is powered by 13 global offices and 400 passionate creative people, all creating unskippable content for clients including Ikea, H&M, Dyson, Absolut, Shutterstock, Netflix, ViacomCBS and Universal Studios. Contact Details Shania Roper +1 843-693-7161 shania@kitehillpr.com

October 21, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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First “Sports Equinox” of 2021 Presents Rare Opportunity for Jock MKT Users to Buy and Sell Shares of Athletes in Five Sports Simultaneously

Jock MKT

With the Los Angeles Dodgers victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, the sports world is guaranteed a “sports equinox” on Thursday, Oct. 21. For the first time in 2021, all four major sports leagues, plus the PGA Tour, will be in action. The occurrence marks a milestone for the stock market of sports. For the first time since they launched in 2020, Jock MKT (Jock Market) will offer fans the ability to buy and sell shares of their favorite athletes in five major sports at the same time. The only other date when all major U.S. leagues could play on the same day this year is Oct. 31, pending the World Series reaching five games. On this Thursday alone, Jock MKT will offer the opportunity for users to invest real money in shares of athletes participating in three NBA games, 10 NHL games, Game 5 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and Braves, a Thursday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, and the PGA Tour’s ZOZO Championship. “Every week, we continue to welcome thousands of new users to Jock MKT,” said Tyler Carlin, Co-Founder and CEO of Jock MKT. “We are anticipating this weekend to be our biggest weekend ever with all five sports happening simultaneously. ” Founded in 2017 and launched in 2020, Jock MKT’s main differentiator is its cash market format – this unique offering gives users more flexibility and optionality versus typical daily fantasy contests. Users can join at any time and for any dollar amount. They can buy and sell shares of athletes in real-time, cash out early by selling to another user in-game or hold to the end and receive fixed Jock MKT payouts tied to final player rankings based on overall fantasy scoring. Each cash market starts with an “Initial Player Offering,” or an IPO, where users have their first opportunity to bid on shares before any contest. A recent example of Jock MKT’s cash market is the NFL’s Thursday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 14. In the IPO stage, shares of running back Leonard Fournette sold for $8.54. Fournette finished first in fantasy points and his shares paid out a maximum of $25 per share for a 193% return. On the contrary, shares of Tom Brady sold for $17.25 in the IPO, but paid out $12.00 per share after finishing fourth in fantasy points, for a loss of 30%. The biggest return on Jock MKT in recent weeks came via Atlanta Braves right fielder Joc Pederson, whose shares increased 1,047% on Oct. 11 when he hit a 3-run home run to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers. About Jock MKT Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2020, Jock MKT ( JockMKT.com ) is a skill-based fantasy gaming platform where users can make real money – every minute, every second, of every game. Inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT allows users to buy and sell shares of athletes in real-time. Jock MKT was co-founded by Tyler Carlin and investors include Left Lane Capital, Will Ventures, Ryan Moore, Brandon Adams, Benjie Cherniak, Tim McSweeney, and Alumni Ventures Group. Available in the U.S. in 35 states, Jock MKT offers gaming options for events tied to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA Tour. Contact Details Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://jockmkt.com/

October 20, 2021 09:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ElementalTV Surpasses 1B+ CTV Ad Impressions in First Year of Business; Company Debuts ELM, a New Proprietary CTV Ad Platform, to Accelerate Expansion

ElementalTV

ElementalTV, an emerging media technology company and a division of Adoppler, has generated more than one billion connected TV (CTV) advanced ad impressions in its first year in the market, as the company pursues its mission to provide leading brands, advertisers and publishers with the tools necessary to unlock the full potential of the CTV ad experience. Today, ElementalTV immersive ad experiences reach 57% of CTV households in the U.S. and, after just one year of providing its proven CTV advertising solutions to some of the world’s top brands and content partners, ElementalTV is now debuting its new, proprietary Engagement Lift Media (ELM) platform to a wider marketplace. The ELM platform is the first and only fully vertically integrated platform, offering advanced ad decisioning, a demand-side platform (DSP), creative optimization, transcoding and stitching capabilities. This unified offering enables ElementalTV’s partners to deliver cost-effective, next generation CTV ad experiences, from localizing national video ad creatives via its innovative SmartFrame technology, to adding dynamic messaging within ad units, and contextual ad targeting. “CTV is the fastest growing medium today, but its ad experience is suboptimal,” says Omer Latif, CEO at ElementalTV. “We built our platform to reimagine the future of CTV advertising -- to create innovative and smart tech solutions for brands, to help publishers realize the full value of their content, and to pioneer a new and improved viewing experience for growing CTV audiences worldwide. Our approach is bold and breaks barriers. Through the ELM platform’s product suite, we enable our partners to leverage the addressability of digital to evolve audience engagement to a new standard.” The success over the past year and increasing demand for the new ELM platform are behind ElementalTV’s decision to accelerate the scaling of its business, including broadening its strategic partnership with top programmatic firm MPW Digital. The partnership with MPW Digital expands the company's efforts to introduce advertisers to the next generation of advanced CTV advertising capabilities and formats. “Our next phase of growth requires having the right partners who share our vision of being true pioneers and innovators in CTV advertising technology,” says Albert Yu, VP Analytics & Monetization at ElementalTV. “MPW Digital has been on this journey with us and we’re excited to have them play a critical role in our expansion.” “Over the past year we've seen ElementalTV’s ability to rapidly innovate and grow. It has been exciting to see their SmartFrame technology add value to advertisers' CTV campaigns,” says Marcus Weiss, COO at MPW Digital. “This is just the beginning and we’re looking forward to serving as a close extension of their team as they advance into the next phase of commercialization of ELM and continue to transform the CTV ad experience.” ElementalTV, a division of Adoppler, was started in 2020 to focus on technology solutions for CTV, creating breakthrough ad experiences for CTV audiences while delivering innovation and added value to advertisers and publishers. Today, through the ELM platform, ElementalTV is delivering more than 100 million advanced ad impressions per month. To learn more about ElementalTV and its solutions, visit www.elementaltv.com. About ElementalTV: Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Pasadena, CA, ElementalTV is pioneering the next generation of CTV ad innovation. ElementalTV pushes the boundaries of how technology can immerse an audience’s advertisement experience. Its proprietary vertically integrated platform, ELM, combines a wide range of capabilities including advanced ad decisioning, demand-side platform (DSP), creative optimization, transcoding, and stitching to allow for seamless, next generation ad experience. To learn more, visit elementaltv.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.elementaltv.com/

October 19, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Premier Rugby Sevens Hosts Landmark Inaugural Event – Sets Sights on 2022

Premier Rugby Sevens

Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) officially launched their new league on Oct. 9, marking several firsts within the sports industry and rugby community. As the first U.S. sports league to launch with men and women earning equal pay, PR7s also broke gender barriers in the rugby community as the first professional women’s rugby league in North America. Supported by six league sponsors, 18 games were broadcast live in a single day via Fox Sports in the United States, TSN in Canada, and Facebook Watch around the world. “This is only the beginning,” said Owen Scannell, CEO of Premier Rugby Sevens. “What started as an idea early in the pandemic became a reality on Saturday thanks to a team of incredibly talented staff, athletes, coaches, broadcast partners, sponsors, and fans. We will reveal our 2022 plans soon and look forward to growing PR7s into a league that offers both women and men an opportunity to compete at the highest level. Thousands of fans experienced the excitement live in the stadium and thousands more consumed it live on televisions, tablets, and cell phones thanks to our partners at Fox Sports and TSN. An incredible foundation is in place and we’re ready to grow our league with more cities and events next year.” Fifteen Olympians from the 2020 Olympic Games competed in the inaugural event. With 120 total players, six men’s teams and four women’s teams debuted in Memphis. Led by rugby legend Perry Baker, the Experts won the first PR7s men’s championship. And as one of the most dominant players in the world, Alev Kelter led the Loonies to the first women’s championship. Competing in games that last 14 minutes, the two champions played four times each en route to their titles on Saturday. Full game results can be view at PRSevens.com/results. Samurai Sportswear, Kane Innovations, Inc., Sperry Rail, Inc., Campbell Clinic, Ghost River Brewing Co., and Memphis Tourism sponsored the inaugural event. The partnerships included jersey logos for Kane Innovations and Sperry Rail. Ghost River Brewing sponsored the daylong festival. PR7s features six men’s teams and four women’s teams that play multiple games in one location on a single day. Team brands include the Loonies (men and women), the Loggerheads (men and women), the Experts (men and women), the Headliners (men and women), the Locals (men), and the Team (men). The league’s first captains featured stars from both the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Olympic Rugby Sevens teams, including Perry Baker (Experts men), Danny Barrett (Team men), Abby Gustaitis, (Loggerheads women), Alev Kelter (Loonies women), Matai Leuta (Locals men), Folau Niua (Headliners men), Naya Tapper, (Headliners women), Stephen Tomasin, (Loonies men) and Kevon Williams (Loggerheads men). About Premier Rugby Sevens Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) is a groundbreaking professional sports league in North America that debuted on Oct. 9, 2021, on Fox Sports and TSN. PR7s is the first league of its kind with both women’s teams and men’s teams under one umbrella with equal pay. With a focus on accessibility and entertaining content for fans, the league showcases the electrifying sport of rugby sevens through a single-day touring format in cities across the United States and Canada. To learn more about Premier Rugby Sevens, go to PRSevens.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric Nemeth eric.nemeth@prsevens.com Company Website https://prsevens.com/

October 14, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Lensbaby Announces “Shoot Extraordinary” Photography Conference

Lensbaby

Lensbaby, the leader in award-winning creative effect camera lenses, is excited to announce its 2021 virtual photography conference taking place Dec. 7-9. Join us for the Lensbaby “Shoot Extraordinary” Photography Conference 2021 on December 7th! Click here to register and claim your free spot today. Registered conference attendees will be automatically entered to win prizes including a grand prize worth over $2500. For 16 years, Lensbaby has been an ally of the unusual, and an advocate for the unique — this three day conference will be a testament to our passion for blazing your own trail. With 16 speakers and top Lensbaby educators from around the globe, there is something for everyone. Conference attendees can expect to learn the ethos of the Lensbaby “Shoot Extraordinary” motto, while learning the nuances and uncommon qualities of its photo and video lenses. For a full list of course topics, visit our 2021 virtual photography conference page. How Do You #SHOOT EXTRAORDINARY with Lensbaby? Register for your FREE ticket to our virtual photography event where you'll have access to three days of Lensbaby and creative photography education. About Lensbaby // Lensbaby creates tools that enable photographers and videographers to find their unique visual voice. For over 16 years, they have been manufacturing high-quality creative effects lenses, optics and accessories out of their Portland, Oregon headquarters. Lensbaby sells its products on its website as well as through a worldwide network of retailers and distributors. For more information, visit www.lensbaby.com Lensbaby, “Shoot Extraordinary” ### Learn more and register for free here. For a look into what to expect, you can check out the Lensbaby 2020 Photography Conference here. Contact Details VP Sales and Marketing, Lensbaby Michael Anthony Michael@lensbaby.com PR & Marketing, M&P Digital Creative Agency Andrea Larson andrea@mcmillanphillips.com Company Website https://lensbaby.com/

October 13, 2021 11:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Graton Resort & Casino Names Industry Veteran William Becker Vice President of Food and Beverage

Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino has named William Becker as vice president of food and beverage. Becker will oversee all food, beverage and restaurant facilities at the 65-acre resort. “William will spearhead culinary innovations at Graton and we’re excited to implement his strategy and expansion ideas in our restaurants and lounges,” said Lana Rivera, vice president and general manager at Graton Resort & Casino. “Graton Resort & Casino is a premier Sonoma County destination, and our guests enjoy the wine country experience they expect when they walk through our doors. William’s 20-plus years of experience helps us to continually exceed guest and team members’ expectations in food and beverage.” “Graton Resort & Casino is truly a place where creativity in food and beverage can bloom and the team here is amazing,” said Becker. “I look forward to leading a new era of excellence for a destination that is already highly acclaimed for its dining, resort, gaming and amenities.” Guests at Graton Resort & Casino have a complete range of dining options to satisfy every appetite, in addition to multiple lounges: 630 Park Steakhouse - fine-dining steak and seafood, with an extensive wine list Tony’s of North Beach and Tony’s Slice House - Italian fare with pastas, pizzas, antipasti, and salads all prepared from Tony’s famous recipes. Tony’s was recently awarded “Best Pizzeria in America” by Forbes. Daily Grill - classic, fresh American fare Boathouse Asian Eatery - fresh Asian cuisine Marketplace - fast-casual dining Lounges and bars: Sky Lounge, G Bar, Lobby Bar, Pool Bar, 8 Bar and 630 Park Bar (located in the 630 Park Steakhouse) “We are so pleased to have William Becker join our wonderful team,” said Greg Sarris, tribal chairman for Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “We have done an excellent job thus far earning us a Four Diamond rating and William Becker is the man who can take us even higher to the next level of excellent service.” For more information on Graton Resort & Casino or to book a stay, visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. ### MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: To request further information and interviews or for additional images, please contact Robin Carr at graton@landispr.com or (415) 971-3991. About Graton Resort & Casino Located in Sonoma County, Graton Resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California's wine country. Owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Graton Resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. For more information, please visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/

October 12, 2021 04:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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