INTERVIEW-Go Daddy bets big on sports marketing

* Go Daddy marketing up 31 pct this year, sales up 22 pct

By Ben Klayman

CHICAGO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Internet domain company GoDaddy.com is increasing spending on marketing like sports sponsorships and TV ads to drive its sales as more traditional companies cut sports marketing budgets, its CEO said in an interview on Monday.

"Even though the country has been in recession, our industry, and particularly Go Daddy, has been growing," said Bob Parsons, Go Daddy Group Inc's chief executive and founder.

He said its sales had risen 22 percent so far this year from $497.9 million in 2008.

Companies like General Motors [GM.UL] and some banks have cut sports marketing budgets, leaving many sports relying on sponsors like Go Daddy. The company's spending on marketing, the bulk of which is sports oriented, is up 31 percent this year, Parsons said.

Go Daddy is known for Internet domain name registration, website hosting services, and provocative TV ads.

"Where we really do well is our ads on the Super Bowl, on automobile racing because it's exciting ... bull riding, anything that's watched live," he said.

Go Daddy, the world's largest domain name registrar, recently announced a sponsor deal with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour, and ran ads for the first time this year during National Hockey League games, LPGA and U.S. Open golf events. It also ran ads during Major League Baseball games.