Pro-GOP Kroenke not allergic to sales
Rocky Mountain News
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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Billionaire sports magnate Stan Kroenke may be backing the Republicans, but he's happy to join the Democrats planning the upcoming convention in Denver.
The group hosting the Democratic National Convention in August recently selected a unit of Kroenke Sports Enterprises as a merchandising vendor.
Denver 2008 shirts, caps, mugs, key chains, bags and even mouse pads are for sale at the Pepsi Center retail outlet or at DenverDNCGear.com.
The Web site also is aimed at other retailers, wholesalers and businesses seeking to manufacture DNC products and at groups that may want to put together gift packages and customized items.
Kroenke owns the Pepsi Center - the site of the Democratic convention in late August - as well as the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Mammoth and other entities, including the TV network Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Visitors to the retail store at the arena now can pick up a Denver 2008 T-shirt along with an Allen Iverson or Joe Sakic jersey.
It's hard to say how much money Kroenke will pull in. His Altitude Profit Consulting will pass on 15 percent of sales to the DNC host committee, said Brian Kitts, a Kroenke spokesman. Another 3 percent will be donated, with the rest going to Kroenke Sports.
Original Wraps, which makes and designs water bottles that do not contain the chemical BPA, or bisphenol A, is one of the businesses that has a contract. The Lakewood-based company ultimately will make tens of thousands of bottles for Altitude Profit Consulting, said CEO Tom Stemple.
"It's a substantial deal for us," he said.
Competition Headwear, which makes caps, is another company that has a piece of business.
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