The Magic have signed a jersey patch deal with Walt Disney World Resort. The three-year deal includes an expanded presence by Disney at Amway Center with adding a special seating and hospitality area that may be used for annual passholder upgrades during select Magic games. Disney-branded Magic jerseys will also be available for purchase at Amway Center. The Magic said they did not use an agency to sell the patch but did consult with GMR on strategy (John Lombardo, Staff Writer). Magic CEO Alex Martins said, "This is an opportunity for us to partner with a local giant that we can expand our international reach with." He added the deal can also help "expose the Disney brand as tied to the NBA and, specifically, to Disney’s hometown team." Martins said that the contract between Disney and the Magic "includes provisions for renewal if the league decides to continue the program" after the '19-20 season. In Orlando, Josh Robbins notes Martins "declined to disclose the exact value" of the deal. He characterized it as “not at the very top in terms of its value but in the upper echelon in terms of value of the (other) deals” (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 6/20).
: In Minneapolis, Jerry Zgoda reports the T'Wolves have reached an agreement with Fitbit to wear the S.F.-based company's "corporate logo on their uniform jerseys for the next three seasons starting this fall." The T'Wolves also were in talks with "both local and Chinese companies," but decided to go with Fitbit as the team's first jersey patch. T'Wolves CEO Ethan Casson said this is an "ideal” partnership for a franchise taking a "fresh look at technology and innovation” during a summer of change and rebranding. The team "introduced a re-imagined logo in April" and by October, Target Center’s $140M renovation "will be complete." The T'Wolves "did not disclose their agreement’s worth," though they did announce the deal this morning "after outfitting employees with the devices." The team also named Fitbit the official wearable and official sleep tracker of the Wolves, WNBA Lynx and the G-League Iowa Wolves. The T'Wolves will use the G-League team as what team CEO Ethan Casson "calls a 'testing ground' for research and development that will use Fitbit technology to compile data on players’ sleep patterns, heart, rest and recovery and other matters." Fans at Target Center can "use their Fitbit app to make more informed decisions about new concession menus and track what they eat at games." Fitbit CMO Tim Rosa said that his company "partnered with the Wolves after meeting with other NBA teams" (
STARTRIBUNE.com, 6/20). The Iowa Wolves will "wear a Fitbit jersey patch," and the Lynx "will use the wearable technology" (
AP, 6/20). The T'Wolves, which did not use an agency in the deal,
posted a video on social media to announce the deal.
|
NBA JERSEY PATCHES PLANNED FOR '17-18 SEASON
|
|
TEAM
|
SPONSOR
|
|
76ers
|
StubHub
|
|
Cavaliers
|
Goodyear
|
|
Celtics
|
GE
|
|
Jazz
|
Qualtrics/5 for the Fight
|
|
Kings
|
Blue Diamond
|
|
Magic
|
Walt Disney World Resort
|
|
Nets
|
Infor
|
|
T'Wolves
|
Fitbit
|
