Lance Armstrong Sponsorship Worth $103M to USPS

The Boston Herald and other papers around the country are running an Associated Press story that says, "Studies commissioned by the United States Postal Service estimated the agency received at least three times the value of the $32 million spent sponsoring Lance Armstrong’s cycling teams during their heyday."

According to the Associated Press, "...reports by a pair of marketing firms covering 2001-2004 state the USPS received $103.6 million in domestic value from sponsoring the Armstrong-led teams during his historic run of Tour de France wins from 1999 to 2005."

It goes on to say, "The studies estimated the value of the sponsorship increased yearly, beginning with USPS receiving roughly $18.5 million in value in 2001 and peaking at $34.6 million in 2004. The 2004 report noted that exposure, and value, increased in part because of the creation of Armstrong’s LiveStrong bracelets and his then-relationship with singer Sheryl Crow."

In a related story, newly released Postal Service documents show that, as early as 2000, officials were becoming queasy about news stories tying Armstrong and the team to alleged drug use. USPS officials also maintained they had no knowledge of doping on the team.

Several Armstrong teammates and associates have appeared before a grand jury in Los Angeles that has been investigating pro-cycling for months, but no charges have been filed.

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