LV firm in pact with Phoenix teams, arenas

Two Phoenix sports teams and the arenas in which they play have joined the online network of a Las Vegas business procurement company.

The NBA's Phoenix Suns and Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks and the facilities in which they play -- America West Arena and Bank One Ballpark, respectively -- have linked up with Purchase Pro Inc.

Purchase Pro offers a business-to-business e-commerce system that uses Windows-based software and the Internet for companies to communicate with each other for their acquisition needs. The company says its system allows vendors of all sizes to compete for bids and levels the playing field between small companies and major industry players.

Purchase Pro has grown on the strength of providing a purchasing system for Las Vegas' casino industry. Its network includes Mirage Resorts Inc., MGM Grand and the Luxor. The trade magazine Casino Journal named it one of the 20 most innovative gaming products of 1998.

The company has since expanded to Atlantic City, N.J., and Phoenix, and has taken on Cincinnati Bell and Walt Disney World as clients.

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