GEICO To Sponsor the World Series Of Bowling IV

GEICO, America’s third-largest automobile insurer with more than 17 million policyholders, will celebrate its 10th anniversary as a titled sponsor with the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) by serving as titled sponsor of the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IV.

The multi-event international bowling competition begins Friday and continues through Sunday, Nov. 11, at South Point Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center in Las Vegas. GEICO WSOB IV will produce six ESPN-televised events to kick off the PBA Tour’s 2012-13 season. The World Series telecast series will air on ESPN starting Sunday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. ET, and continue every Sunday through Jan. 13.

GEICO made its debut as a PBA Tour sponsor in the 2003 GEICO Open in West Babylon, NY, and has been title sponsor for at least one Tour event every year since, in addition to being one of the PBA Tour’s leading advertisers on its ESPN telecasts.

“We're deeply appreciative of GEICO’s commitment to the PBA,” said PBA CEO Geoff Reiss. “GEICO’s support allows us to bring the world's best bowling competition to fans everywhere and together we look forward to a great GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling.”

In addition to ESPN coverage of the GEICO PBA World Series finals, PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel will live-stream nearly 100 hours of qualifying and match play competition, reaching a global audience of PBA fans. International bowling fans also can follow the PBA and its individual stars on pba.com’s live scoring feature as well as on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“GEICO is proud to partner with the PBA again for the 2013 season,” said Bill Brower, Director of Media Advertising. “We’re thrilled to once again support the PBA as it carries on the rich tradition of championship bowling in the United States.”

“GEICO” is an acronym for “Government Employees Insurance Company,” dating back to the foundation of the company in 1936. Founder Leo Goodwin first targeted a customer base of U.S. government employees and military personnel. Today, the company provides insurance to a wide range of customers, in both the governmental and public sectors. In 1996, GEICO became a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, headed by Warren Buffett, one of the country's most successful investors. GEICO currently has assets valued at more than $28 billion.