Don't you want to frag a Pepper too? Dr. Pepper now the official beverage of the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit

by: Chuck - posted: 2/26/2008 9:36:00 AM

Major League Gaming announced today that they have signed Dr. Pepper up to be the official beverage sponsor for the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit.  There are all kind of cross media synergies and co-branding opportunities that are listed after the jump but it is nice to see the tour gaining some big name sponsors.

DR PEPPER GETS ITS GAME ON AS THE OFFICIAL BEVERAGE
OF THE 2008 MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING PRO CIRCUIT
Announcing the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House and Online
Collegiate Gaming Championship
NEW YORK (Feb. 26, 2008) - Major League Gaming (MLG), the professional videogame league, today announced Dr Pepper as the official beverage sponsor for the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit. The cross-platform partnership includes the development of the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House and a co-branded online collegiate gaming championship.

"Major League Gaming offers us an ideal opportunity to connect with the Dr Pepper consumer," said Jaxie Alt, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. "We are excited to provide Dr Pepper fans with such a unique opportunity in the gaming community and bring more to Major League Gaming by introducing the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House and the Online Collegiate Gaming Championship."

The Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House is an exclusive experience that will offer gamers a chance to enjoy the best of what's new at each of the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit tournaments. The house will include various rooms designed by premier gaming publishers, tricked out with the latest in gaming technology, equipment and furniture. In addition, the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House will host pro-gamers and high-profile entertainment and sports celebrities to play games alongside Dr Pepper fans, as well as sign autographs and take pictures.

MLG and Dr Pepper will also launch an online collegiate gaming championship this Fall that will identify the best college gamers in the country. The competition will feature popular video games, with players vying for the championship title and the chance to attend MLG's Pro Circuit Championship event at the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House. The online competition will be available exclusively on mlgpro.com.

"In less than 2 years, MLG has grown from a grass roots phenomenon into a major cross-platform media property spanning live events, TV and online," said Mike Sepso, chairman of Major League Gaming. "Our sold-out live Pro-Circuit, our national TV programming, and millions of online fans have created the critical mass and credibility to help partners like Dr Pepper connect with young consumers in an authentic way."
About Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc (NYSE: CSG) CSAB is one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. CSAB's brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, Mott's Apple Juice and Sauce, Accelerade, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose's, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, IBC, Stewart's, Nantucket Nectars and other well-known consumer brands. For additional information on CSAB and its products, visit www.brandspeoplelove.com.

About Major League Gaming
Major League Gaming is North America's first professional videogame league, and its only sanctioning body for pro gaming. MLG operates the multi-city MLG Pro Circuit, presented by GameStop and powered by Xbox 360; produces compelling competitions for national television, broadband and mobile distribution; and exclusively represents the best gamers in the world. It also operates a thriving online community and online tournaments for millions of gamers at mlgpro.com. MLG, founded in 2002, is based in New York City and is privately held.