Trophy Case: U.S. Cellular Sponsoring White Sox Tour

By Jon Show, Senior Staff Writer

U.S. Cellular's Chicago-Area Stores Playing Host To Trophy

U.S. Cellular is serving as presenting sponsor of the White Sox’ World Series Trophy Tour through an extension of its existing presenting sponsorship of the team. The company also has naming rights to the team’s ballpark. As part of the trophy tour sponsorship, U.S. Cellular pays for all security, staffing, transportation and other costs associated with the tour, and in return hosts a majority of the stops in new stores throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. The company is advertising tour stops via print, radio and e-mail blasts, and each host store is offering product specials for fans who attend. The mobile phone provider has attracted anywhere from 200-800 visitors at 12 stops, which U.S. Cellular Dir of Marketing Brian Mehta called “extremely high” compared to normal foot traffic. The White Sox began the tour in December and plan to run it through June, with nearly two-thirds of stops currently scheduled at U.S. Cellular stores. Fans attending the events are asked to make an optional donation of $10 to the Chicago White Sox Charities to benefit the United Way. White Sox Dir of PR Katie Kirby said that the team modeled its trophy tour after last year’s successful campaign by the Red Sox, which had the Massachusetts state lottery as presenting sponsor.