AFL Champs Soul Ink Sponsorship Deal With Virgin Mobile
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| Soul Signs Virgin Mobile As Third Major Sponsor |
The AFL Philadelphia Soul, which last month won ArenaBowl XXII, has signed a six-figure deal with Virgin Mobile, the team's "first sponsorship deal with a wireless communications provider," according to John George of the PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL. Virgin sponsored the Soul's celebration after the ArenaBowl victory, and it also will sponsor the Bon Jovi concert, slated for next year, that Soul co-Owner Jon Bon Jovi "promised fans if the team won its first championship." Virgin CMO Bob Stohrer said of the partnership, "We're still defining all the components, but it will involve on-field promotions, television commercials during broadcasts and promotional applications in the arena like text-messaging contests." Virgin also plans to "get involved with ticket giveaways and other activities away from the actual Soul games to build its brand in the Philadelphia market." Stohrer said the company's initial deal with the Soul is for one year, but added "we are certainly looking at it as the start of a longer-term investment with the team and the (Philadelphia) market." As part of the deal, the Soul are offering a commemorative ArenaBowl XXII autographed picture of Soul QB Matt D'Orazio, sponsored by Virgin, to fans who "buy a specially priced $59 upper-level season ticket for next season." Soul GM Rich Lisk said that Virgin joins Saturn and Best Buy as the team's other major sponsors. Lisk: "Our sponsorship department has been fielding a lot more calls and getting a lot more doors open" (PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/22 issue).
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