Today's announcement was acknowledged by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), Fox Sports Net and HOST, which united in 1997 to create the first-ever Corporate Partner Program for the Championships. The program was designed to raise overall awareness of the role of athletics in education and to provide an organized and professional avenue for corporations to reach the Texas high school community.

Serving as the sales and marketing arm for the Corporate Partner Program, HOST negotiated the three-year agreement with Verizon Wireless. Through this agreement, the company will receive category exclusivity, licensing rights to the UIL and Texas High School Championship marks, as well as the opportunity to develop a specific promotional or award platform.

Additionally, Verizon Wireless will receive exposure during 84 Championship events (10 boys, 10 girls sports in five classifications), through an Internet component and television component via the "High School Xtra" show and other Fox Sports Net programming. Also, Verizon Wireless will receive various placements in the publications, Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine and UIL Leaguer.

Verizon Wireless joins Gatorade, Texas Dodge Dealers, Pepsi and 24-Hour Team Sports as official Texas High School Championships Corporate Partners.

"We're thrilled to be a part of an exciting event like the Texas High School Championships," said Cindy Patterson, Central Texas Region President for Verizon Wireless. "High school athletics play an important role in the lives of families across Texas and we're committed to supporting such valuable programs."

"The UIL is excited about Verizon Wireless joining our Corporate Sponsor team," said UIL Director Dr. Bill Farney. "Our Corporate Sponsors have always been committed to bringing out the best in our schools through interscholastic competition, and the UIL appreciates Verizon Wireless joining in that initiative."

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28.7 million wireless voice and data customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), including Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless and PrimeCo Personal Communications. Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

About FOX Sports Net
FOX Sports Net is America's first truly national, regional and local supplier of sports programming, and reaches more than 70 million homes through its network of 21 regional sports networks. In the Southwest region, Fox Sports Net reaches over 7 million homes in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and parts of New Mexico.

About Host Communications, Inc.
Lexington, Ky.-based Host Communications, Inc. (HOST) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bull Run Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL). HOST, an affinity, sports and lifestyle marketing and management company, was recognized by SportsBusiness Journal as one of the world's top five sports marketing companies for 2000.