The Cubs today announced a "major sponsorship deal with American Airlines that makes the carrier the Cubs' exclusive airline sponsor" after a "decade-long partnership with Chicago-based United Airlines," according to Danny Ecker of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The deal is the "latest in a string of new long-term partnerships at Wrigley Field." In addition to video board features at Wrigley and Sloan Park, the team's Spring Training facility in Mesa, Ariz., American "will have a fixed sign on the brick wall near the Cubs' on-deck circle and naming rights to a new premium club space beneath the home plate-area seats, which the team plans to add in 2017 as part of its ongoing ballpark renovation." The size and exact location of the new space, "tentatively called the 'American Airlines Club,' is still to be determined." It "will be open to premium box seat ticket holders with access from the seats behind home plate." American "becomes the team's seventh top-tier 'legacy partner' and the fourth major sponsor to sign a long-term deal with the team this off-season, joining ATI Physical Therapy, Sloan Valve and Wintrust Financial." United's most-recent Cubs deal "included flying the team to road games and naming rights to the United Club lounge area in the main concourse along the first-base line" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/5). In Chicago, Gregory Karp reports American as part of a separate deal with a company owned by Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts "will sponsor a conference center in an office building to be developed in the new plaza next to Wrigley Field" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/5).
