Licensed sports product retailer Dreams (AMEX:DRJ) said Tuesday it has partnered with sports media giant Comcast Sports Group (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) to create Dreams-powered regional online fan shops at Shop.Comcastsportsnet.com.
The new shops can also be accessed individually according to region or via the main Comcast Sports Group website, at www.comcastsportsnet.com.
Dream said the fan shops offer the latest sports memorabilia products associated with local teams across several national markets, including Baltimore, Bay Area (San Francisco), Chicago, New England, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
The multi-region launch follows Comcast’s recent acquisition of NBC Universal, and builds upon Dreams’ partnership with NBC Sports, which in March of last year hired Dreams to manage its online store at Shop.NBCSports.com.
While the NBC Sports relationship serves a national audience, Comcast SportsNet will target local fans via on-air promotions and advertising through Comcast-affiliated sports channels in their respective markets, the companies said.
President of Dreams' retail division, Kevin Bates, commented: "Comcast SportsNet websites provide local viewers access to an extensive selection of their teams’ sports products and merchandise with an easy click at the top of the home page.
"Our platform helps bridge the gap between television and the Internet, allowing Comcast to market specific products to each network’s targeted audience, driving website traffic and increasing sales."
Supported by Dreams' proprietary e-commerce technology, the regional sites are designed to host an expanded product assortment, more accurate search results, powerful product filtering features, and extensive search engine optimization improvements, Dreams said.
Dreams' web syndication platform, a market which it entered in late 2008 by rolling out "Dreams Retail Solution", includes a host of e-commerce support services including custom site design, inventory, management and marketing.
The company's e-commerce division, which includes FansEdge.com and other websites, has been an increasing focus for the firm. The division manages over 65 online fan shops, selling licensed sports merchandise from the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA.
Executive vice president and chief digital officer of Comcast Sports, Eric Grilly, added: "Our partnership with Dreams allows us to effectively leverage our local media assets and deliver an unmatched array of fan-oriented services.
"The digital retail channel across Comcast Sports Group's regional sites complements our current content offering and furthers our goal of providing the best local sports experience in the country."
Comcast Sports Group, part of the NBC Sports Group and Comcast Corporati
Dreams partners with Comcast Sports for regional online fan shops
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