IHOP Partners with Harlem Globetrotters for "Spinning the Globe" World Tour

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America's Leading Family Dining Establishment Aligns with the World's Leading Family Entertainment Show;

IHOP Becomes Fourth National Sponsor to Join Globetrotters Family

Phoenix--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters announced today that they have entered into a partnership agreement with IHOP that will make the nation's leading family dining establishment the "Official Restaurant of the Harlem Globetrotters."

Well known for offering its guests an affordable dining experience with warm and friendly service, IHOP has been recognized as one of the world's leading family restaurants for more than 50 years. IHOP joins a blue-chip roster of leading brands that now comprise the Globetrotters' national sponsorship family, along with Campbell Soup Company, Spalding and America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses.

IHOP will become an integral part of all Harlem Globetrotters shows during the 2009 "Spinning The Globe" World Tour, which tipped off in Green Bay, Wis., and Pittsburgh, Pa., on December 26 and will visit over 200 markets throughout North America through mid-April. In-game elements will provide a bounce back offer to IHOP locations, and include in-game promotion and courtside signage.

IHOP will also enhance the fans' experience off the court by offering in-restaurant benefits to all ticket stub holders of Globetrotter games across each of its 1,300+ participating restaurants. The restaurants will promote the Globetrotters' "Spinning The Globe" World Tour with in-store activation, including signage and Globetrotter-themed kids' menus/placemats, which will feature Globetrotter stars Special K Daley, Wildkat Edgerson, Scooter Christensen, Big Easy Lofton, and Flight Time Lang.

All point of purchase materials will include bursts offering IHOP customers a special promotional price on tickets, and select IHOP locations nationwide will receive player visits to help support the partnership.

"We're excited to partner with the Harlem Globetrotters," said Carolyn O'Keefe, IHOP's senior vice president, marketing. "The Globetrotters provide the perfect complement to our mission of making families of all ages happy, and their grassroots presence throughout North America will provide terrific value and fun to our customers and our franchise owners."

"This is truly an exciting time for the Harlem Globetrotters organization," said Peter LaPointe, Globetrotters senior vice president, partnership & marketing. "We have roughly 1.9 million fans that go to our shows each year—most of them as families—and to be able to extend our brand thanks to the partnership of the leading family restaurant in the world gives our organization great satisfaction, and will surely give our fans great value."

The Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 83rd consecutive season of touring the world and have played in 120 countries on six continents, entertaining over 128 million fans and crossing barriers between cultures, societies and people from all walks of life.

For 50 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of September 30, 2008, there were 1,375 IHOPs in 49 states, Canada and Mexico. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based IHOP, a subsidiary of DineEquity Inc. (NYSE: DIN).