SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Monumental Sports & Entertainment and GEICO revealed a multiyear sponsorship agreement in which the insurance brand’s logo will appear on Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go player uniforms, effective immediately. “When we set out to find a partner to share one of the most visible, most prominent partnership opportunities in sports, we knew we wanted a company that shared our commitment to community,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, CEO and Majority Owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “GEICO has been a pillar of the Washington, D.C., community for decades, and they are one of the most influential advertisers in sports. That they have chosen to put their logo on their hometown teams is a great reminder of the power of basketball in Washington, D.C.”
Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced its partnership with the Las Vegas Stadium, obtaining sponsorship rights with the Raiders when they arrive from Oakland in 2020. The partnership of Caesars Entertainment with the Raiders will get the company branded stadium entrances, along with digital signage and suites.
Vankor, an independent energy and commodities company, signed on as entitlement sponsor for spring NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race beginning in 2019. According to ESPN, the multiyear deal will see the Vankor 350 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race make its debut during the spring weekend for the first time in the history of Texas Motor Speedway.
DIGITAL & STREAMING
The Center for Sports Analytics at Samford University released a study today based on 7 million US sports fans social media data that shows that the NFL recovery is “in full swing.” Overall relevance of the NFL is up by 9.38% since the midpoint of last season and 29 or the 32 NFL teams have experienced a significant increase. Fans that switched off the NFL over the last few are returning in mass. While TV ratings are showing slight increases, social data is a better measure of cultural trends, according to their numbers.
NBC Sports Regional Networks launched the direct-to-consumer product, NBC Sports Gold’s “Blazers Pass,” for the 2018-19 season. The product allows fans residing in Portland Trail Blazers territory access to 15 Blazers road games during the 2018-19 NBA season, beginning with the team’s November 23 game against the Warriors. The pass also features enhanced content, including pre- and post- game shows and full replays for all 15 games, as well as Trail Blazers Raw recap shows for all games beginning November 23.
ESPORTS
Riot Games reportedly will welcome SK Gaming, North, Rogue, and Movistar Riders as European LCS permanent partners for the 10-team league, according ESPN. The accepted teams are still pending after some “setbacks in negotiations around team participation agreements,” according to the report but would join Fnatic, G2 Esports, Misfits, Schalke 04, and Team Vitality as well as a new team owned by Astralis in the organization. Riot announced it would be moving to a franchising system in Europe in March, making it similar to the NA LCS, which unveiled its permanent partners in December 2017.
Esports marketing agency Ader announced plans to blend a livestream of human and animated gamers playing together when Tyler "Ninja" Blevins; Logic; and the characters Rick and Morty combine to play Bethesda Game Studios’ Fallout 76. The livestream will take place on Nov. 8 on Twitch and Mixer at 9p. "We're excited to provide Rick and Morty fans with the opportunity to interact with these iconic characters live as they join Ninja and Logic in the first multiplayer Fallout experience," said Justin Warden, CEO of Ader. "Gaming audiences are interested in new and unique ways to connect with their favorite gamers, so we focus on creating experiences for our brand and publisher partners that are not only highly engaging but also push the boundaries creatively."
DreamLeague announced plans to host the third Dota 2 Major of the Pro Circuit season in Stockholm in March. The Major will feature 16 teams competing for $1 million, and 15,000 DPC points.
Esports Arena is partnering with Walmart to expand the esports facility operator’s reach to five new locations existing within Walmart stores around the country: Roseville, California; Spokane Valley, Washington; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, with two other also in the works. Each will have league nights during weekdays and tournaments on weekends much like Esports Arena’s existing locations. Meanwhile, Esports Arena associates will assist Walmart customers shopping for gaming products, and Walmart.com will become the exclusive online retailer for Esports Arena’s new OVERPOWERED line of gaming PCs.
THE MAIN EVENT
Titans/Cowboys on ESPN at 8:15p.
