AFL Inks Title Partner Sponsorship; To Be Called "NET10 Wireless Arena Football League"

The Arena Football League and no-contract cell phone company NET10 Wireless yesterday announced a deal making NET10 the AFL's first title partner. The league for the '13 season will be branded as the "NET10 Wireless Arena Football League." The partnership includes a new co-branded logo to be used throughout the upcoming season. Other elements of the deal include event signage, in-game promotion and the "NET10 Wireless Dream Team" (AFL). In San Antonio, James Aldridge wrote, "Imagine how many league broadcasters will struggle to get through that name on live radio or television without tripping over their words." Aldridge: "What happens when the media, tired of cramming such a long name in its reporting, begins to refer to the NET10 League? Won't that create some identity issues for a sport that doesn't need any additional distractions?" AFL officials are "less concerned with those potential problems than they are with the need to generate some additional revenue" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/12).