United States - NCAA sues Coors over ticket giveaway

The National College Athletic Association has filed a federal lawsuit against Coors Brewing Co, accusing it of giving away Final Four tickets as part of a promotion without the NCAA’s permission. The complaint, filed Monday in US District Court in Indianapolis, seeks unspecified monetary damages and a court order to prevent Coors from offering NCAA men’s basketball tournament tickets in future contests. It alleges that Colorado-based Coors engaged in trademark infringement and unfair competition when it gave away four tickets to the 2001 Final Four during a “Coors Light Tourney Time Sweepstakes”. Each ticket sold to Final Four games carries a statement on the reverse side that it cannot be used in a promotion or offered as a prize in a sweepstakes or contest without the NCAA’s permission, NCAA spokesman Wally Renfro said. No one from Coors commented to the Associated Press.

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