The USTA announced that Esurance, the direct-to-consumer car insurance provider, has extended and expanded its sponsorship of the US Open. Esurance will focus on elevating the fan experience and the US Open’s Green Initiative.

  

Esurance came on board as a US Open sponsor in 2010, and the company will remain a sponsor of the event through 2012. The comprehensive partnership includes media support of tournament television broadcasts, an on-site presence, and a robust relationship with USOpen.org, the official website of the US Open. The car insurance company is also one of the presenting sponsors of live match streaming on USOpen.org.

  

Esurance will continue to support the US Open’s wide-ranging Green Initiative, one component of which is to encourage attendees to take mass transit to the competition. The company will do this by distributing New York City Subway MetroCards at select times during the two-week tournament. Esurance will also have branding exposure on USTA shuttles and select on-site maps, and is sponsoring a bag-check station during the event for the convenience of fans.

  

"The US Open is the most-watched tennis event in the world, and our continued sponsorship of the event is a tremendous opportunity for us to build more awareness for Esurance as a green company and a great place for consumers to shop for and buy car insurance," said Esurance President and CEO Gary Tolman.

  

"Extending and expanding our relationship with an industry leader such as Esurance is a testament to the appeal of the US Open," said Harlan Stone, Chief Business and Marketing Officer, USTA. "We are especially pleased that Esurance will continue its support of the US Open Green Initiative, an initiative that aligns perfectly with Esurance’s own corporate philosophy."

  

Additionally, Esurance will sponsor four Olympus US Open Series events leading up to America’s Grand Slam in New York. These include:

 

· Atlanta Men’s Tournament (Atlanta Tennis Championships), Atlanta, GA

 

· Women’s Tournament (Bank of the West Classic), Stanford, CA

 

· Men’s Tournament (Winston-Salem Open), Winston-Salem, N.C.

 

· Women’s Tournament (New Haven Open at Yale), New Haven, CT

 

 

 

The 2011 US Open will be held Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 11. The 2010 US Open drew more than 710,000 fans, marking the fourth consecutive year the event has attracted more than 700,000 attendees. More than million domestic viewers watched the 2010 US Open on CBS Sports, ESPN2 and Tennis Channel, and international broadcasts reached 185 countries.

 

 

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.