One in Every Three Naming Rights Deals Come From This Category

According to a naming rights study from Toronto-based Desperado Marketing that looks at naming rights trends among the top five North American professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS), nearly one in every three (31.1%) naming rights deal is with a financial services company or brand. Meanwhile, more than 50% of the 124 deals analyzed are occupied by companies in the Financial Servi...

Russian Cup's Strange Sponsorship Story

Earlier this week, Bridgestone put out a press release that it would be title sponsor of the Russian Cup during the 2011-2012 season, with the event being named the “Bridgestone-Russian Cup.” You can still see a number of press reports like this one at tirebusiness.com on the deal. Just a few days after that story, the Russian Football Union, which manages the Russian Cup, issued a press relea...

W. Va Looks to Lure Businesses with $750K Sponsorship Spend

Amid some of the world's best golfers, a majestic resort and the Black Eyed Peas, the state of West Virginia will be looking to woo business magnates from around the country at this week's second annual Greenbrier Classic. State officials will spend $500K on sponsorship, plus a $250K media buy, to promote the state's business potential at the PGA Tour event being held in White Sulphur Springs,...

UEFA Lines Up Third National Sponsor For EURO 2012

Ukrsotsbank PJSC was announced as the third national sponsor for UEFA EURO 2012 in Ukraine today in the capital city of Kyiv. UEFA didn't have to go far for the deal. Ukrsotsbank's parent, Unicredit Group is a major sponsor of the UEFA Champions League through 2015 and UEFA Super Cup through 2014. The bank will join telecom company, Ukrtelecom, and home improvement retailer, Epicenter K, as n...

New Sponsorship Diploma Aims To Qualify Practicing Professionals

Think you've got what it takes to get a passing grade in sponsorship? The European Sponsorship Association is launching a professional industry qualification course that may put your skills to the test. The ESA Diploma it says will be the first professional qualification specifically designed for the sponsorship industry. Starting in January 2012, the course will be run over 6 months and will...

Spotify Adds Big Name Partners To U.S. Playlist

The much hyped European music service, Spotify, has finally landed on U.S. shores. To celebrate, it has enlisted some heavyweight brand partners to help spread the word to music-loving Americans. Exclusive launch partners include Coca-Cola and Sprite, Chevrolet, Motorola, Reebok, Sonos and The Daily. "These brands will all be launching innovative campaigns in partnership with Spotify in the c...

McDonald's To Launch Largest Restaurant in Company History at Olympic Games

TOP Olympic Partner and the official restaurant of the Olympic Games, McDonald's, announced its sponsorship plans for London 2012 today, which include opening the largest McDonald's freestanding restaurant in the world. Marketing Magazine reports that the 3,000-square-metre restaurant will be larger than any of the estimated 32,000 other McDonald's restaurants around the world. To staff McDon...

BP Grant Helps AL Beach Destination Land Southeastern Conference Sponsorship

A beach destination devastated by BP's oil spill is looking to a familiar face, the SEC, to help rebuild its rep. Alabama's Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism has become an official, but non-exclusive corporate sponsor of the Southeastern Conference in a deal that will provide the beach destination with use of conference logos, marketing rights, SEC television and web presence, event signage,...

Film Generates Renewed Sponsor Interest In Soap Box Derby

As the All-American Soap Box Derby gears up for its 74th running, there's a renewed interest in the event thanks to the efforts of film director, Corbin Bersen. After reading a 2009 story in USA Today about the dire sponsorship straits the Akron-based All American Soap Box Derby was in, Bernsen decided he could do something to save the historic racing league – and keep it in Akron. He penned a...

Pocono Finds Title Sponsor in Good Sam

Good Sam, the world’s largest RV owners community, and Pocono International Raceway, announced the sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Series races at Pocono Raceway on August 6-7 , 2011. The Sprint Cup Series event will be titled the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 and the Camping World Truck Series event will be titled the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125. ...