Where Have I Been? Cornhole Championships?

via American Cornhole League

When I thought I knew the majority of sports, or what most people consider sports, here comes something that proves me wrong. Some people do not consider certain games a sport unless it requires some form of physical contact. I'm the opposite. In my opinion, sports can be both physical, mental and can also develop from a hobby where strategy is involved.

This weekend I was watching ESPN (as always), and the Johnsonville Cornhole Championships caught my attention. For those who are not familiar, Cornhole is game and a sport that carries a lot of weight at your weekly sports tailgates, and some may refer to it as bean bag toss. Now, I'm not new to the game. I have played it many times, but it took me by surprise to learn how popular this game and sport is.

Just off the bat, the marketing, advertising, and promotion that goes into a cornhole tournament are on a grand level. Having Johnsonville as the presenting sponsor is smart and caters to the demographics of the game of cornhole. If you take some time to research or watch a cornhole tournament, you will immediately notice the amount of marketing and advertising dollars that goes into the event, especially considering that they are free to attend. From the jersey sponsors to the partner and sponsor activation, on a collegiate and professional level, the cornhole championships took me by surprise and also made me feel a bit disappointed that I did not know a game I have played for so long has developed into a broadcasted sport.

via American Cornhole League

If you are a young marketing professional like me, the American Cornhole League (ACL) proves that there is not an event, game, or sport that is exempt from the benefits of knowing your target audience and gaining partners and sponsors to help reach your event or business goals.

Being immersed in the marketing industry, I cannot watch a sport or go to a sporting event without noticing the sponsors and the sponsor activations. With that said, below is a list of activations that I saw while watching the Johnsonville Cornhole Championships. Let me know of other activations that you can think of for a tournament or event similar to the cornhole championships.

Key Activations:
- Johnsonville and ACL branded cornhole boards and accessories
- Johnsonville Big Taste Grill (the world's largest grill) and stage
- Event info and registration using the ACL mobile app
- Cornhole on the Field
- Tickets to games hosted by partnering sports/leagues
- Free gear from multiple sponsors

From My Perspective
The American Cornhole League can benefit from exclusivity. Adding particular sections or exclusive packages for sponsors and attendees can add an extra stream of revenue for the league without taking away the fun for all aspect of the game. Additionally, featuring more original content on their website and social media platforms, from the professional and collegiate players and attendees, can give the ACL another level of digital activation to attract more sponsors and partners.

American Cornhole League

Athlete Branding At The Professional Basketball Combine

Estimated reading time: 3 minute 19 seconds

via PBC

Sports combines, team workouts, and various clinics and camps can be a "win or go home" marketing and brand strategy for many young athletes looking to make it to the professional leagues. Stay with me as I explain how and why.

via PBC

Over the past two days, the Professional Basketball Combine (PBC) has been taking place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, featuring LiAngelo Ball (and Lavar Ball), Brandon Sampson, Victor Sanders, Egot Koulechov, and many more great athletes. Unlike the NBA Draft Combine, the PBC gives athletes who did not receive an invitation or could not make it to the draft combine or who are not getting much attention from NBA scouts, a chance to showcase their talents for some of the top NBA teams. According to the PBC, "each player who attends has the opportunity to participate in private workouts and scrimmages, do combine testing, and interview for NBA GMs, NBA scouts, G-League personnel and overseas opportunities..."

In speaking with PBC founder Jake Kelfer before the second annual PBC event, Kelfer spoke on the success and goals of the 2017 Professional Basketball Combine. "The 2017 PBC was an incredible success, and I couldn't be more thankful for how it turned out! One of my goals was to create something that would positively impact the NBA pre-draft process, and that's exactly what we did." Kelfer would go on to state that "of the 23 players we had participate, 4 signed two-way contracts, 11 signed G-League contracts, and 8 signed international contracts. One of our players, Antonio Blakeney, even went on to win G-League Rookie of the Year."

With accomplishments that met and raised standards for the 2018 PBC, this year's event was sure to capitalize on the success of 2017 both of the court and off the court.

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Regarding brand development and awareness, the PBC, like any other performance event, should be regarded as a critical event in the marketing and branding strategy of all athletes who attend. Yes, athletes should focus on displaying their talents to the best of their abilities. However, every event that an athlete participates in should focus on reinforcing their brand.

In covering the Professional Basketball Combine from afar, I noticed how much care went into the players as they showcased their talents and how engaging the event was on social media (Instagram and Twitter) regarding video content and making sure that each player received the same amount of attention socially. This engagement is especially beneficial because it helps the athletes with their brand strategy (whether they realize it or not). I could tell that the PBC aimed to get equal exposure for all of their participants which is something you do not often find at other sports combines.

In the words of Jeremy Darlow, "brands win championships." As an athlete, your brand is on display 24/7; on the court, at an event, on social media, or walking your dog down the street. Athletes should view every second as an opportunity to document and show who they indeed are (their brand) and what better time than on one of the biggest stages of their career. Branding yourself as an athlete is one thing, but branding yourself as an athlete who understands the importance of marketing, longevity, and consistency within a career is something different, and PBC gives young athletes a chance to demonstrate that ability both on and off the court.

via PBC

via PBC

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Now, diving into the marketing and branding strategy and tactics of the PBC itself, they did not disappoint on their own accord. Being that the PBC is in its second year, I saw some great sponsors activations throughout the event.

PBC made sure to showcase their sponsors on social media with branded content such as pictures of promotional items from MVMT, the 2018 PBC official gear sponsored by Eastbay, photos featuring IMG Academy's big blue chair, and of the players enjoying HFactor Hydrogen Water. 

via PBC

via PBC

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Going back to making sure each participant had equal amounts of exposure. PBC had athletes take pictures and videos for their Instagram Story and also had the athletes sign the story. Those stories could be something that PBC adds to their archives as a first signature before the athlete makes it in the league. The Professional Basketball Combine also featured HFactor Hydrogen Water in a sponsor activation to give away an exclusive PBC jersey signed by all 24 participants. Again, developing the athletes' brand and awareness while also doing the same for the event and its sponsors.

From a sports marketing and sports business perspective, the Professional Basketball Combine did a great job including all of their athletes and helping to activate their sponsors. In just a few days, their following, awareness, and engagement grew tremendously on a local and national level, going on to show that an event with the proper marketing and branding strategy can sustain the brand of that event and its participants, locally and nationally.

For more information on the PBC and official combine stats, visit the links below. 

Pictures via @ProBBallCombine

Professional Basketball Combine

#PBC2018

PBC Founder, Jake Kelfer

SMP And Inside The 5 Host Second Live Podcast

via Sports Marketing Perspective

Thanks to West Oaks Academy, this Saturday 3/3/18, Sports Marketing Perspective alongside Inside The 5 will be hosting the second Live Podcast on location at the West Oaks Academy gymnasium.

Come through and hangout with us as we talk sports, culture, business and much more!

You can catch the live podcast or watch on demand on the Sports Marketing Perspective Facebook page (link below).

Live Gameday Podcast: www.facebook.com/sportsmarketingperspective/

Special thanks to: @InsideThe5 | @WestOaksAcademy | West Oaks Academy

SMP And Inside The 5 Host Live Podcast

Myself, Asia McMillan and Inside The 5's Manuel DeLeon, are set to host our first live podcast.

This Saturday 2/17/18, the Orlando Waves ABA team will be competing against the Jacksonville Giants in a division rematch that you don't want to miss. Being undefeated on the season, the four-time ABA Champion Jacksonville Giants took home their first loss to the Orlando Waves back in January, losing by four points. The Giants will be seeking some revenge against the Waves, so we anticipate a great game in the Battle on 95.

Come through and hang out with us as we talk sports, culture, and give you a play-by-play of the game.

You can catch the live podcast or watch on demand on the Sports Marketing Perspective Facebook page (link below).

Live Gameday Podcast: www.facebook.com/sportsmarketingperspective/videos/2032104117057214

Special thanks to: @InsideThe5 | @OrlandoWavesABA | @JaxGiants

NBA All-Star Draft Should Be Televised… Here’s Why

Reading Time: 2 minutes and 33 seconds

NBA All-Star

The Inaugural 2018 NBA All-Star Draft took place January 25th, but without the proper recognition, many think it should have gotten.

The only thing missing from the All-Star Draft was the fact that the fans didn’t get to witness this exchange, similar to playground picks at recess, between Steph Curry and LeBron James.

Would a televised All-Star draft have made a difference in how Curry and James filled their rosters? We’ll never know the answer to that question. However, there are a lot of opportunities that the NBA missed out on by not televising the All-Star Draft. Here are some of the most significant missed opportunities from my perspective:

Marketing and Sponsorship Opportunities Galore

When it comes to the sports marketing perspective (see what I did there?), the opportunities were/are endless. The NBA is a growing global brand that has other companies throwing themselves at the chance to partner with a mature and advancing sports league. 

By televising the All-Star Draft, the NBA could have capitalized on partnering with other brands and companies that can help them push their objectives of innovation, global growth, and sustainability to the next level. Not to mention, the ROI and the amount of revenue that the NBA could have generated from naming rights, title sponsorships, or presenting sponsorships.

New Wave of Digital Marketing

With their recent partnership with Twitch TV and their collaboration with Next VR, the NBA has a digital media/streaming platform and a virtual reality platform in the palm of their hands.

Since partnering with Twitch TV to live stream NBA G-League games, I’m sure Twitch and the G-League have seen a significant rise in subscribers and their overall brand and media value. The NBA can cater to their innovative nature by involving Twitch and Next VR and other tech brands with the NBA All-Star Draft in ways that are unique to each company.

Leverage for Existing TV Contracts

Televising the All-Star Draft would merely add another revenue stream for the NBA, through the sponsorship and marketing deals mentioned above. However, a televised All-Star Draft would also present the NBA with leverage when negotiating future cable and network television contracts.

If the NBA All-Star Draft proves to be a successful televised event, the NBA opens themselves up to receiving competing bids for the All-Star Draft TV rights.

Activations and Live Events

Similar to the NBA Draft, the NBA All-Star Draft could have the potential to become an in-demand live event - this would lead to the NBA being able to sell tickets to the All-Star Draft. 

Having a live event would also open the floor for sponsors/partners to activate their NBA sponsorships. By giving sponsors and partners another event and platform where which to activate, the NBA can fulfill their business objectives and also keep their partners, sponsors and stakeholders happy.

The NBA All-Star Draft is a step in the right direction, and it takes the monotony out of the NBA All-Star game. The possibility of broadcasting the All-Star Draft in the future will better the league, and it would give us fans that other form of rivalry and competition what we’ve been waiting for from the NBA.

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2018 NBA All-Star teams

Team LeBron roster

Starters

DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans (injured)

Anthony Davis, Pelicans

Kevin Durant, Warriors

Kyrie Irving, Celtics

LeBron James, Cavaliers

Reserves

LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs

Bradley Beal, Wizards

Andre Drummond, Pistons (replacing Wall)

Paul George, Thunder (replacing Cousins)

Kevin Love, Cavaliers (injured)

Victor Oladipo, Pacers

Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks

John Wall, Wizards (injured)

Russell Westbrook, Thunder

Coach

Dwane Casey, Raptor

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Team Stephen roster

Starters

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Stephen Curry, Warriors

DeMar Derozan, Raptors

Joel Embiid, 76ers

James Harden, Rockets

Reserves

Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves

Draymond Green, Warriors

Al Horford, Celtics

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers

Kyle Lowry, Raptors

Klay Thompson, Warriors

Karl-Anthony Towns, T'wolves

Coach

Mike D'Antoni, Rockets

Sources: SI | SB Nation

Cupcakes, Peanut Butter, and Jelly - Bring Back The NBA Nickname Jerseys

Reading Time: 2 minutes 31 seconds

via NBA/SI

During the 2013-2014 NBA season, the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets debuted their highly anticipated ‘nickname jerseys” that featured the easily recognizable nicknames of the players on each team.

From “King James” to “The Truth,” the nickname jerseys were a favorite among the fans, and it brought something different to the court. So why not bring the nickname jerseys back? I’m not sure what the sales statistics were for those nickname jerseys, but I do know that bringing those jerseys back to the court has the potential to create more loyalty and engagement from fans and players - here’s how:

Fan Engagement

Social media is even more prevalent and powerful than it was in 2013 and 2014. If the NBA was to bring back the nickname jerseys, there are many areas and platforms they can use to involve its fans in the process. For starters, the NBA could host a social media contest to see which teams or athletes the fans think have the best nicknames. A social media contest could also involves one of their sponsors and include game tickets or meet and greets as giveaway prizes.

Player Engagement

While making sure to involve the fans, the NBA cannot leave out its players. After all, it is their nickname that’s going on the back of the jerseys.

Involving the players is an important step the NBA should take in making sure that their key stakeholders are happy with the process of bringing back the nickname jerseys. Asking some of the top players what nicknames they prefer over others and if they would be interested in the release of their nickname jersey would set an excellent tone for the NBA and give the players and fans what they want. 

New Jerseys, Old and New Nicknames

Via SI

With this year's jersey partnership with Nike and the inclusion of the jersey sponsor patches, the NBA can give fans a nickname on a newly branded jersey. “King James” on a Nike jersey with a Goodyear logo patch would probably be more appealing given his partnership with Nike and that his hometown is in Cleveland.

Also, with the variously themed jerseys that Nike has released this season, it would pretty cool to see some of the cool nicknames on those equally cool jerseys.

There are some new, old, creative and personality-driven nicknames that I’m sure fans would love to see their favorite players wear and that fans would buy if they were on a jersey. Here are some of those nicknames:

- Chef Curry
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- The Unicorn
- Splash Brother 1
- Splash Brother 2
- The Brow
- Boogie
- Cupcake
- The Greek Freak
- Uncle Drew
- Swaggy P
- The Beard

Sidebar: Just think if Nike released a “Black Mamba” or “Mamba” Kobe jersey or a “Big Fundamentals” Tim Duncan jersey… Those would sell like $.99 hotcakes.

In the spirit of wishful thinking, Nike, the NBA, and the jersey patch sponsors could all benefit from bringing back the nickname jerseys. If it’s bound to happen, let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later (while some of the top players are still on their current teams).

Sources: SI | SB Nation

NFL BUILDS ON COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE...

Via NFL

Let’s Listen Together initiative will highlight ongoing engagement efforts among players, owners, law enforcement, and civic organizations to improve communities

As part of its ongoing work to support its players, the NFL today announced a joint player and ownership commitment focused on social justice. The campaign, Let’s Listen Together, launches today and includes a multi-layered roll-out including digital content and brand spots highlighting the player-led work on social and racial equality. The platform will also include social media support, as well as individual letters from players and owners sharing their stories and personal reasons for making social justice a priority.

The working group committee, which held its first meeting at the league office in December, includes Arizona Cardinals Owner and President MICHAEL BIDWILL, Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman ARTHUR BLANK, Cleveland Browns Owner JIMMY HASLAM, Jacksonville Jaguars Owner SHAHID KHAN, and Miami Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS. The player representatives are New York Jets offensive tackle KELVIN BEACHUM, NFL Legend ANQUAN BOLDIN, New York Jets quarterback JOSH MCCOWN, Washington Redskins cornerback JOSH NORMAN and NFL Legend AENEAS WILLIAMS. Quotes from each owner and player on the committee are below. The group will focus on supporting programs and initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity, with a priority on supporting improvements in education and economic development, community and police relations, and the criminal justice system. It will work directly with league staff to help identify future initiatives that have both broad support and a potential for high impact, and make financial recommendations accordingly.

The NFL Foundation is also launching a new grant today for active and retired players who develop social justice programming or partner with local non-profit organizations committed to this work. A similar grant will be open for club foundations later this month.

In addition, the league’s government affairs division is working to provide support to the Players Coalition, players and clubs who are interested in criminal justice reform at the local, state and/or national level.

"The collaboration between the NFL and its players should be celebrated, as it’s the first professional league or entity that has taken the concerns of its players and put resources behind it,” said NFL Legend ANQUAN BOLDIN. “Our country has some real issues when it comes to social and racial equality that must be addressed. The only way these issues will get solved is to fight together."

 “We are pleased to have developed a new initiative that focuses on creating meaningful solutions to improve our communities,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL.  “In developing this plan, we have taken the lead from our players and are honored to join them in this work.  Their work has deepened our understanding of the unique platform we have to help advance progress in a profound and unifying way.”

Many teams and owners are engaged in ongoing social justice work.  This season alone, NFL teams, together with ownership and hundreds of players, have hosted or taken part in more than 100 events pertaining to social justice. Examples include New York Jets Chairman and CEO CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON spending time with Jets players learning about criminal justice reform in the Bronx in December; New England Patriots President JONATHAN KRAFT joining Patriots players at Harvard Law School earlier this month to hear from advocates for education and economic advancement; and Philadelphia Eagles CEO and Chairman JEFFREY LURIE and Commissioner Goodell joining Eagles players to gain perspective on criminal justice reform this fall. Commissioner Goodell also joined Dolphins players for a day of conversation and high school roundtables with law enforcement through the Ross Initiative for Sports Equality (RISE) earlier this season.  This ongoing work is built upon the constructive dialogue that has been taking place for the past year among owners, players and NFL teams.

In the coming days and weeks, the NFL will highlight various societal issues, individuals and organizations through the lens of its players in a series of NFL Network features debuting this Thursday, January 25 during NFL Total Access, which airs at 7:00 PM Eastern.  The first feature includes Philadelphia Eagles safety MALCOLM JENKINS and his focus on racial bias and social and emotional intelligence training for police officers. Future pieces will address other social justice issues led by DEVIN MCCOURTY and DOUG BALDWIN, JR, among others.

For more information, visit www.nfl.com/letslistentogether.   

3 Things Bose Isn't Doing With The NFL That They Should

Reading Time: 3 minutes, 54 seconds

Bose/NFL

Bose has been the official headphone sponsor of the NFL since 2011, but if you don’t pay close attention to the sideline, you would never know it.

These days, being an official sponsor of a major brand or sports league such as the NFL means more than just slapping your name next to theirs on a commercial or any promotional material or marketing collateral. Being an official sponsor also means that you have the right to use the likeness of the company you are sponsoring in any way that isn’t counterproductive to the objective of the sponsorship. 

If you are not familiar with anything I’m saying, let me break it down a little. Being an official sponsor gives you the rights (in most cases) to use the logo, colors, etc. of the company you are sponsoring in any of your promotional efforts. By obtaining these rights, you can use the logo, name, colors, etc. to leverage your sponsorship through various activations (going beyond what the company you are sponsoring already does).

There’s a definite lack of activation and creativity taking place on the part of Bose, but I figured I’d help them out with some creative ways they can engage their fans and create loyalty by leveraging their NFL sponsorship.

1. Get In Front of The Athletes and Fans

Yes, Bose, you’re the official sponsor of the NFL, but the athletes and fans couldn’t care less. In 2014 the NFL decided to make it a public statement that they have banned players and coaches from wearing any brand of headphones - other than Bose - interviews and on-camera appearances. Of course, this is to protect the sponsorship, but Bose should feel free to use it to their advantage.

Start giving away free headphone to all the players in their team colors. Get in front of the fans by giving away headphones to season ticket holders or the first 1,000 people that come into the stadium. Get in front of the athletes and the fans by connecting that memorable game or funny, yet controversial, press conference with your sponsorship. This creates loyalty and makes your products memorable.

2. Seek Out Players Who Are Not Sponsored

via Bose

This seems like a no-brainer, but why aren’t they doing it. Bose has the leverage, and with the NFL banning all other brands of headphones, that makes Bose’s job that much easier.

Currently, Bose has 13 NFL players on their #TeamBose roster including Russell Wilson (SEA), Larry Fitzgerald (AZ) and Landon Collins (NYG), but they could always add more. NFL players have no choice but to wear Bose headphones during televised interviews and appearances, so give them sponsorship and make sure they have Bose headphones to wear during those interviews and appearances. 

Bose should be actively seeking one to two players on every NFL team who are looking for, or lacking, an audio sponsor and grab them as soon as they can. This not only provides Bose with a walking advertisement on and off the field, but it also brings them more media value and increases the number of impressions (people seeing) their brand/product. Not to mention, this widens the playing field when it comes to other sponsorship opportunities (summer camps, events, and parties hosted by players and more).

3. Use Social Media The Right Way

Everything is happening on social media, and if you aren’t using it to leverage your sponsorships, you’re being lapped in the race. Bose, it’s time to ask the NFL to slap your logo on a social media graphic, or it’s time for you to put their logo on one of your social media graphics. You’re the official sponsors, use that logo everywhere you see fit (within reason of course). 

These days a social media mention can be worth thousands of dollars. At the price Bose is surely paying the NFL for their sponsorship, it shouldn’t be a problem for the NFL to place Bose’s logo in the corner of a social media graphic.

According to Blinkfire, a similar social media graphic used by the Utah Jazz including the Chick-Fil-A logo awarded the fast-food chain an estimated media value of $3,800. Almost $4,000 for simple logo placement.

All-in-all, it isn’t the job of the sponsee (NFL) to activate the sponsorship on behalf of Bose or anyone else that is a sponsor. The NFL is letting Bose put their headphones and audio equipment on the sideline, which is more than enough for the NFL to do. But now, Bose and their marketing team are tasked with activating the sponsorship and leveraging the NFL’s likeness as much as they can to increase the value of their sponsorship and the loyalty of their fans and NFL fans. 

Sources: Bose | The Verge

The Value Behind NBA Jersey Patches

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

via NBA

The 2017-2018 season brought a new look to the NBA. Being the first of the four major U.S. sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) to add sponsorship patches to their jerseys, the NBA welcomes the expansion of its legacy by adding a new revenue stream for its teams and players.

Currently, 19 of the 30 NBA teams have signed jersey patch deals. However, the sponsored jersey deals are not long-term for the NBA - they are a part of an initial three-year agreement in which the NBA will evaluate the ROI (return on investment) of the jersey patch agreements.

So what is the value of a jersey sponsor patch for not only the NBA but also for the sponsors?

Let's start with the largest jersey patch deals:

• Golden State Warriors and eCommerce company Rakuten, valued at $20M (the largest jersey patch deal so far)

• Los Angeles Lakers and eCommerce platform Wish, valued at $12-$14M

• Cleveland Cavaliers and Goodyear, valued at $10M

• Boston Celtics and General Electrics, valued at $8M

Two weeks into the 2017-2018 NBA season, the Warriors, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics accounted for 87% of the total earned media for jersey patches where earned media value equaled $2,592,513.73, according to BlinkFire Analytics.

So what supplies the value surrounding sponsored jersey patches? The value comes directly from digital marketing across various media platforms, where social media takes the lead.

When analyzing sponsorship value for the Golden State Warriors across their social media channels, Blinkfire reported that Rakuten earned media value totaling $1,030,811.25 during the first two weeks of the 2017-2018 NBA season where they also made up 52% of the Warriors sponsorship value.

I know you are saying "enough with the big numbers. What does all of this mean"? Well, the significant value for NBA jersey sponsor patches is in the increased brand value for the sponsors and of course the increase in revenue for NBA teams and players. 

Think of how many times you have seen the new NBA Nike jerseys with the sponsor patches. Now, think of how many times you or others may have researched or inquired about the sponsor and why they chose to sponsor a particular team. Also, think about how many people may have liked, commented, or followed the jersey patch sponsors just because of their association with a specific NBA team. That creates an increase in brand awareness and recognition for the sponsors. 

With the rise of digital media consumption and the forward-thinking progress of the NBA, becoming a jersey patch sponsor of the NBA is a win-win for any company that takes advantage of this three-year patch deal.

Sponsored jersey patches not only bring in money for the NBA and recognition for the sponsors - it adds another layer of storytelling between brands and sports teams. The majority of brands that have sponsored patches have a lasting history in the cities of the NBA teams they are sponsoring, and some have been sponsors of the respective teams for years (i.e., Goodyear and the Cleveland Cavaliers or Infor and the Brooklyn Nets).

Coupled with the additional revenue and brand awareness, adding sponsored patches to jerseys puts the NBA in a global space that the NFL, MLB, and NHL are not in. When you watch global games, you see sponsors on jerseys. With its growing global presence, the addition of sponsored jersey patches solidifies the NBA as a global game. In return, more value for the NBA and its sponsors on a much larger (global) scale.

MGM Resorts Selects ‘Las Vegas Aces’ as New Name for WNBA Franchise

via WNBA

LAS VEGAS, NV – MGM Resorts International today announced that its WNBA franchise will be called the Las Vegas Aces. Las Vegas’ first major professional basketball team – formerly the San Antonio Stars – will begin play in its new home in the 2018 season.

Las Vegas Aces President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Bill Laimbeer was joined by MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle and WNBA President Lisa Borders to reveal the team’s name and logo at a news conference at Mandalay Bay.

“Selecting a new name is an important and symbolic step,” said Laimbeer, a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year and four-time NBA All-Star. “Las Vegas has enthusiastically embraced us, and we’re incredibly excited for this opportunity. We have a strong roster driven to succeed, which makes this name an ideal choice. ‘Las Vegas Aces’ is a nod to the excellence, confidence and competitive spirit of our new hometown.”

Borders said, “We are ecstatic to officially welcome the Las Vegas Aces to the WNBA family. The Aces are already embracing the opportunity to develop a deep connection with the local community, and we can’t wait to watch them bring the WNBA’s brand of world-class basketball to their new home in 2018.”

Hornbuckle added, “This is a great time to bring women’s professional basketball to the Las Vegas community. The WNBA represents some of the world’s best athletes and will showcase its incredible talent for our hometown fans. Young girls and boys in our city will undoubtedly gain dynamic role models for professionalism, teamwork, dedication and discipline.”

Las Vegas-based entertainment and hospitality leader MGM Resorts received unanimous approval from the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors in October in connection with its purchase and relocation of the team from San Antonio to Las Vegas. In its inaugural season in Las Vegas, the Aces are expected to play 17 home games at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, adding to MGM Resorts’ outstanding lineup of live entertainment experiences. The company is home to more than 20 world-class arenas, theaters and outdoor venues, selling 8 million tickets annually for live events ranging from performances by renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Cher and Bruno Mars to some of the biggest fights in the history of combat sports.

The Aces will become the second major professional sports team in Las Vegas, following the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who play at T-Mobile Arena. The NFL’s Oakland Raiders are expected to relocate to Las Vegas by the 2020 season.

Las Vegas’ new WNBA franchise was originally established for the league’s inaugural season in Salt Lake City before moving to San Antonio prior to the 2003 season.

Fans can make a deposit for Las Vegas Aces tickets through AXS.com. Deposits can be applied toward season tickets, multi-game packs, or single game tickets. The opportunity to buy season tickets will be offered to deposit holders in the order in which they signed up and seat availability is not guaranteed. Season tickets will go on sale to the public in early 2018.

Follow @LVACES, #LVACES and visit wnba.com/lasvegas for additional information.

About the WNBA

The WNBA – which features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world – is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, support youth and family development, and inspire and empower women. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and

an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 27 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The company is expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and MGM COTAI in Macau, and debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel in Shanghai. The 77,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.