C300, Backhaul Direct team up
July 29, 2009
COLUMBIA 300 BEGINS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH BACKHAUL DIRECT
Team will work together to grow the sport of bowling
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. - Columbia 300 recently signed a strategic alliance agreement with Backhaul Direct LLC., a leader in logistics and transportation management. This alliance will allow both companies to continue to grow the sport and business of bowling, especially benefitting collegiate bowlers.
Backhaul Direct was founded in 2004 by Greg Harris and a small group of collegiate bowlers that attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. Their passion for the sport has led to an increasingly positive relationship between their business and the sport of bowling.
Currently, Backhaul Direct sponsors Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour stars Chris Barnes, Mike Edwards, Chris Loschetter and Ronnie Russell, as well as a group of amateur bowlers from the Indianapolis area.
“Backhaul Direct’s mission to grow the sport of bowling fits perfectly within Columbia 300’s marketing initiatives,” said Chad Murphy, Columbia 300 Brand Manager. “We’re stoked to be partnering with such a unique company. These guys really love the sport, and are working hard to keep it growing.”
One of the most publicized events for the new partnership will be the Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic presented by Columbia 300, a major collegiate tournament held for more than 40 years in Indianapolis. The 2009 event hosted 80 teams and 545 individuals from across the country, and paid out $20,000 in prize money.
This year’s event will include the Columbia 300 Hoosier Classic Friday Night Sweeper, a singles event open to tournament participants. The tournament will be held Feb. 19-21, 2010 at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, just one day before the start of the 2010 US Open.
“Columbia 300 is everywhere in the bowling business from youth bowling all the way to the PBA Tour,” said Greg Harris, President and CEO of Backhaul Direct. “Not only does the Columbia 300 brand signify excellence, it screams of passion and loyalty to the sport of bowling. These qualities mirror those of Backhaul Direct and signify the perfect partnership between our organizations.”
Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally. The company’s consumer product brands include Ebonite, Hammer, Robby’s, Columbia 300, Track and Powerhouse™. Its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.
Based in Indianapolis, Backhaul Direct, LLC is a privately-owned freight brokerage managing both domestic and international freight and distribution. The company currently employs 50 team members with two offices servicing over 20,000 shipments per year. For more information about Backhaul Direct’s bowling initiatives, visit http://www.backhauldirect.com/bowling/tabid/66/Default.aspx.
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