U.S. Bank Shows Its Spirit in San Diego; Bank To Partner With The WUSA's San Diego Spirit and Create The U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club

Business Wire, April 2, 2002

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2002

U.S. Bank today announced a new agreement with the San Diego Spirit, San Diego's WUSA Women's Professional Soccer Team, to create the U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club, the official fan club of the San Diego Spirit.

"Adding a company with the strength and prestige of U.S. Bank is another positive indication of the growth of the Spirit and WUSA in the business community," said Jana Steel, San Diego Spirit business development & partnership director. "Launching the new U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club allows us to reach more prospective fans and show them what great entertainment and quality soccer we have to offer."

The agreement calls for U.S. Bank to receive in-stadium signage and other various media sponsorship opportunities including being the exclusive sponsor of the new U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club. The Spirit and U.S. Bank will produce and mail 25,000 U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club brochures, host several clinics with San Diego Spirit players and at least one pre-game party at U.S. Bank's Morena branch office, located less than a mile from the Spirit's home stadium, on the campus of the University of San Diego.

"We are excited to partner with a new team that, like U.S. Bank, is building a tradition here in San Diego," said U.S. Bank San Diego market chairman, Robert Armstrong. "The U.S. Bank Spirit Fan Club, along with our support of the San Diego Padres with the U.S. Bank Junior Padres Kids Club, is an ideal way to show our support for San Diego's local teams and their fans."

The San Diego Spirit is a charter member of the WUSA and will kick off their second season on April 13 against the Carolina Courage. The Spirit will play their home matches at the renovated 7,035-seat Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with assets in excess of $171 billion, is the 8th largest financial services holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,147 banking offices and 4,904 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or customers will be paid for their inconvenience. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of Firstar Bank and U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com and Firstar Bank at firstar.com.