Toronto-based TD Bank and the Blue Jays are in the "final stages of talks to expand a sponsorship deal," according to Bradshaw & Krashinsky of the GLOBE & MAIL. TD has been the "exclusive financial-institution sponsor of the team" since '13. Sources said that as the existing deal came up for renewal, the Blue Jays "launched a competitive process and gauged interest from a number of companies." Even as the Blue Jays' on-field prospects are "in decline, their value to sponsors appears to be on the rise." Other banks that had "early discussions about securing the sponsorship" included Canadian institutions RBC and CIBC. After extended negotiations, TD "emerged as the apparent winner, although it is unclear whether all terms of the deal have been finalized, or for how long TD may have extended its sponsorship rights." Sources said that TD could "wind up paying" as much as C$20M annually for the "privilege of keeping its name attached to the team, although there is no certainty the bank would agree to an amount that high" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/7).
