White Sox Sue Bekins Van Lines For Failing To Pay For Team Sponsorship

The White Sox are taking Bekins Van Lines to court for "allegedly failing to pay for its multiyear sponsorship agreement over the past two seasons," according to Danny Ecker of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The team's lawsuit states that Bekins, which "had been the 'official mover' of the team since 2011, paid less than a third of the $32,500 it owed the team in 2012 and none of the $35,000 for 2013." Bekins "signed a five-year marketing deal with the team in 2011 after five years of transporting the team's equipment." A source said that Bekins' new management "had been trying to renegotiate the contract with the team, but that the two sides couldn't reach a deal." Bekins' sponsorship has "mainly involved its use of White Sox's promotional material, but its logo was also featured on the left-field matrix board before and during games, on the team's marquee sign along the Dan Ryan Expressway and during the team's 'Who's on the Move' American League standings video board feature" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 12/2).