According to a press release we just received,   .CLUB Domains, LLC, the company formed to own and operate the new “.CLUB” generic top-level domain name (gTLD), announced today that GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain registrar, will be offering “yourname.club” Web addresses to clubs, membership organizations, affinity and loyalty groups, and anyone sharing a common interest or passion.

Of those registrars who have been taking pre-registrations over the past several months, the .CLUB extension has consistently ranked among the Top 10 of most popular new extensions to be applied for, making it the first top level domain to come to market that has mainstream appeal.

“The new domain name options give businesses and Internet users an easy way to establish a memorable and credible online presence,” said GoDaddy Vice President Domains Mike McLaughlin.  “Domain names are essentially 21st century real estate, it’s the online address where businesses are found. Having a strong Internet identity is vital for any businesses, and .CLUB will add true context to a Web address.“

“This is an exciting and important milestone for all of us at .CLUB as well as for the marketplace in general,” said .CLUB Domains CEO and Founder Colin Campbell.  “GoDaddy has great recognition and will make it easy and affordable for anyone to make a new mark on the Web.  A great domain extension should be short, meaningful, recognizable and memorable, and .CLUB offers all of that to marketers, consumers, organizations and clubs of all sizes.”

Pre-registrations for .CLUB websites, blogs and email addresses are scheduled to begin on GoDaddy.com in February.   The Trademark Sunrise period is expected to launch mid January 2014, Land Rush in March and General Availability for .CLUB on May 1, 2014.

Formed in 2012 and backed by $8.2 million from 26 private investors, .CLUB will enable clubs, membership organizations or others sharing a common interest to establish memorable Web addresses and online destinations.  Every day, people form communities and groups around every imaginable interest, and .CLUB makes it easier than ever for them to acquire a Web address that is convenient, holds meaning and has marketing value.”