Magic Sign Harris Corp. As First Founding Partner Of New Arena

Magic Confident They Will Sign Naming- Rights Agreement Within Next 60 Days

The Magic have signed a five-year deal with Florida-based IT firm Harris Corp. to be the first founding partner for the team's new arena, set to open for the '10-11 NBA season, according to Don Muret of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Magic COO Alex Martins said that the contract's value is "seven figures annually." As part of the deal, Harris has "substantially stepped up its agreement to become the Magic's official technology partner" at the new facility, and the company "will have its name on an information zone on the main concourse." Harris spokesperson Jim Burke said that the firm plans "to use the Magic's new facility to showcase its products and services to other teams developing and renovating their arenas and stadiums as the company pursues new business." Muret notes in a "slumping economy in which many companies are pulling out of their sports deals, the fact that the Magic closed on a high-end sponsorship is noteworthy." Additionally, team officials are "confident they will sign an arena naming-rights deal in the next 60 days." Martins would not disclose whether the team was having entitlement discussions with Amway, which title sponsors the Magic's current arena and "has first right of refusal for naming rights to the new building." The Magic also are negotiating with existing sponsors PepsiCo, A-B InBev and Florida Hospital "to join Harris as arena founding partners." Martins: "We are in conversations with no less than 10 corporate entities" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/20 issue).

THEIR MAGIC KINGDOM: Martins said of the new partnership, "For Harris, this will be their showroom for the sports and entertainment world. You'll literally be able to program any one of the 1,100 monitors either independently or collectively through a secure Internet and deliver fan amenities that don't exist anywhere else today." In Orlando, Beth Kassab notes Harris also is "hoping to leverage its deal with the Magic into more community service by the team in Brevard County." Martins said that Harris will have a "significant presence in the community gymnasiums the team has pledged to build" throughout Orlando (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/20).