Chase and MSG have set out to offer the bank’s customers an enhanced experience at Rangers and Knicks games this season with exclusive perks and discounts. At both the Rangers’ home opener Saturday and the Knicks’ opener on Oct. 29, all food and beverage purchases made using a Chase card will be discounted by 50%. The company also is launching the Chase Freedom Weekends program, through which Chase accountholders entering via the Chase Entrance will receive a $5 discount card for either concessions or merchandise at all weekend games. Only Chase customers are allowed through the special entrance, which the venue opened midway through last season, and MSG Senior VP/Sports Marketing Janet Duch said fans can expect “surprise and delight moments” involving Knicks and Rangers alumni in addition to as expedited entry into the arena. “Believe it or not, it’s also helped alleviate some of the traffic in our main entrances,” said MSG Exec VP/Marketing Partnerships Ron Skotarczak. Also planned for this weekend is a Chase-sponsored RangersTown Rally, which will include live music, fan photo opportunities and giveaways, as well as a Blue Carpet entrance, where fans will have the opportunity to cheer on the Rangers as they enter the arena at 33rd St. & 7th Ave. Chase and MSG struck an estimated $30M annual sponsorship deal in '10.
FRESH ICE: During the offseason, Major Energy, previously a Knicks-specific sponsor, expanded its partnership to include both the Rangers and the arena itself. With the bolstered relationship, the retail energy supplier is now powering MSG, as well as Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theater, with gas and electricity. Meanwhile, MSG has also entered into what Skotarczak called a long-term integrated partnership with the NYSE. In the wake of MSG Co.’s recently split into MSG and MSG Networks, both of the new publicly traded entities are traded on the NYSE. NYSE will utilize signage assets acquired in the deal to promote various companies listed on the exchange throughout the arena, so long as they don’t conflict with any of MSG’s exclusive partners. Skotarczak: “What we’re both trying to do is deliver value for each of our respective customer bases. For them, while New York Stock Exchange will be mentioned on these assets, they’re also going to be promoting other listing partners of theirs.”
