AlphaTrade.com will supply stock data to Mets' ballpark

By ERIC FISHER
Staff writer

The New York Mets have struck a two-year sponsorship deal with AlphaTrade.com that will bring real-time stock information to Shea Stadium.

The deal is valued at less than $1 million but includes options to extend the pact into the forthcoming Citi Field, scheduled to open in 2009.

The sponsorship calls for signs for the Vancouver-based provider of financial software near both foul poles. More dramatically, AlphaTrade.com will supply financial market data to display on the ballpark's LED boards. The data will be in real-time for Mets weekday games but will be contained to between-innings displays so as not to distract from play. Night games will feature data from market closings.

Impetus for the deal comes from AlphaTrade.com's desire to expand to the United States with not only its software products, designed largely for individual investors, but also a recently expanded focus on sports marketing and text messaging.

AlphaTrade.com also recently signed sponsorship pacts with the Professional Bull Riders and Kenny Bernstein Racing of NHRA.

"Getting into the New York market and in front of this fan base is in direct alignment with where we're taking the company," said James Chan, AlphaTrade.com's general manager.

The Mets deal includes ad inventory on the club's regional sports network, SportsNet New York.