WNBA Liberty Could Be Next Team To Sign Jersey Sponsorship Deal
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Liberty Pursuing Corporate
Sponsorship For Jerseys |
The WNBA N.Y. Liberty "soon might follow in the footsteps" of the Phoenix Mercury, which yesterday officially signed a three-year deal with LifeLock to become the team's jersey sponsor, according to Kimberley Martin of NEWSDAY. Liberty President & GM Carol Blazejowski "didn't offer specifics on corporate sponsorships currently in the works," but she admitted that it is an "avenue the Liberty is pursuing." Blazejowski: "We're pitching it here. Absolutely. I think it's the way of the future and we're really proud to have companies that want to associate with us" (NEWSDAY, 6/2). WNBA President Donna Orender confirmed that "at least one of the league's other 12 teams was close" to signing a shirt sponsorship. In Hartford, John Altavilla notes the Connecticut Sun are "not thought to be looking for a corporate sponsor to share the stage with Mohegan Sun casino, which owns the team." Meanwhile, NBA Commissioner David Stern said of the Mercury's deal, "This groundbreaking deal is the next step in the financial health of the WNBA. More importantly, it's a blueprint for other teams to use to ensure their financial health." Mercury F Diana Taurasi: "With the economy the way it is, you need to find other revenue streams for the league. If a company wants to step forward and take part in something like this, I think it's a great step forward for the league" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/2).
HELPS SOLIDIFY THE LEAGUE: DIME magazine’s Liz Toppi wrote the Mercury’s new sponsorship is a “big deal.” The deal is “only going to benefit the momentum" the WNBA "already has -- and it will help to capitalize on the popularity created by” WNBA L.A. Sparks F Candace Parker. Toppi wondered if the LifeLock deal is worth $1M annually, “how much money can the LA Sparks command?” With Parker and C Lisa Leslie, that figure is “going to be pretty significant” (DIMEMAG.com, 6/1). But in Sacramento, Bill Bradley writes a "scary precedent was set Monday" with the Mercury's announcement. The "key point to the Mercury wearing such a jersey is that it means the NBA, which owns the WNBA, is using this as a trial balloon." It "makes you wonder how long until one of the North America's big four leagues -- NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL -- start doing the same." This has "crossed the line" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/2).
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Commentators Expect More
Jersey Deals In U.S. Sports |
A WAY TO SURVIVE: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser noted the Mercury are "dumping [their] name off the jersey to make room for an advertisement by a company named LifeLock, which probably just made its money back when I said its name." When asked if the Mercury had become a "sellout" for signing the deal, ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "Yes, a smart sellout, and the way to stay in business." Wilbon noted the folding of the Houston Comets in December and said, "Maybe if they put LifeLock or Lifetime Network or whatever on their jersey they might still be in business." With numerous teams in other pro leagues, including MLS and the EPL, having shirt sponsorships, Wilbon said fans are "going to see it more" in the U.S., especially if the economy keeps "going south" ("PTI," ESPN, 6/1). KTAR-AM's Mark Asher wrote the Mercury-LifeLock partnership is “going to help keep the Mercury going in these tough economic times and it will allow LifeLock to be seen every time Diana Taurasi drives the lane” (KTAR.com, 6/1). But Sporting News' Sean Deveney noted the NBA has "lost a lot of money" on the WNBA, and the deal "makes me wonder how much Lifelock is actually playing for this. Probably not a whole lot" ("Monsters in the Morning," CSN Chicago, 6/2).
ICE CAPADES: In Arizona, Edward Carifio writes, “I’m not sure if it’s funnier that the Phoenix Mercury need to put a sponsor across the front of the jerseys to make money, or that sponsor is LifeLock -- but either way I’m sure the Phoenix Coyotes are mad they didn’t think of it first” (YUMA SUN, 6/2).
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