timparry Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Just got this press release from the NBA office. Jersey naming rights. Ugh.LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2009 ? The Los Angeles Sparks and Farmers Insurance Group of Companies® today announced a landmark, multi-year marketing partnership that includes a branded jersey sponsorship with one of the most successful teams in WNBA history. The Farmers Insurance branded jersey will be worn by the players for the first time at the Sparks opener, June 6, when they meet the defending WNBA Champion Detroit Shock in a nationally televised game on ABC beginning at 11:30 PDT. As part of this innovative alliance, the Farmers Insurance name and logo will appear on the front of the Sparks jerseys and will have considerable visibility in the STAPLES Center during home games. Los Angeles will be only the second WNBA team to finalize such an agreement following the WNBA?s decision this off-season to make this unique opportunity available for its teams and sponsors. "We are very excited to be on the cutting edge of this type of sponsorship with a major sports franchise in a major market. What made it even more attractive is that the Sparks reach a primary demographic in our marketing strategy ? the women's market ? not only in L.A., but throughout our operating territory,? stated Farmers Insurance Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Kelso. "In recognition of a growing women's market and internal initiatives to target this market, this is a perfect arrangement for us to be associated with a quality franchise," added Farmers Insurance Vice President of Strategic Marketing Faye McClure. In addition to player jersey rights, the partnership includes on court apparel, in-arena signage, media, and related community activities. In addition, Farmers Insurance will be involved with Sparks in Motion, a new initiative with the goal of fighting childhood obesity, and Inspiring Women, a platform developed league-wide to celebrate the achievements of women in all walks of life. "We are honored to be partnering with a company the caliber of Farmers Insurance, which for the last 81 years has been working to improve the lives of families and communities in Southern California and across the country," said Sparks President Kristin Bernert. "We are pleased that the appeal and value of the WNBA will be utilized to its fullest behind this new partnership between the Sparks and Farmers Insurance," said WNBA President Donna Orender. "Strong brands continue to be attracted to the league, not only for its elite athletes, outstanding entertainment, and high level of play, but also for its authentic connection to communities, families, and women." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddball Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 So we now have the Farmers Insurance Sparks to meet the Lifelock Mercury? And I didn't think they could do anything to make the Sparks uniforms uglier, I was wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrodsep Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I would really realllllly REALLY!!!! like for this uniforms to keep the primary wordmark/logo as they were and give the sponsors a small badge or crest.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappital92 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I don't like both the script and the logo. If they one of them, it'd look better.BTW, I can't see the red on yellow too well. http://www.wizardsxtra.com Is it the shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puck Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I don't like both the script and the logo. If they one of them, it'd look better.BTW, I can't see the red on yellow too well.Okay, I get you've made 2500 posts so you've been here awhile, but......you get that was a quick mockup, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sodboy13 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Geez, I think the WNBA missed the easiest, and possibly more lucrative, sponsorship here: On 1/25/2013 at 1:53 PM, 'Atom said: For all the bird de lis haters I think the bird de lis isnt supposed to be a pelican and a fleur de lis I think its just a fleur de lis with a pelicans head. Thats what it looks like to me. Also the flair around the tip of the beak is just flair that fleur de lis have sometimes source I am from NOLA. PotD: 10/19/07, 08/25/08, 07/22/10, 08/13/10, 04/15/11, 05/19/11, 01/02/12, and 01/05/12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappital92 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I don't like both the script and the logo. If they one of them, it'd look better.BTW, I can't see the red on yellow too well.Okay, I get you've made 2500 posts so you've been here awhile, but......you get that was a quick mockup, right?Wow. I know the WNBA's played some preseason games so far, so I just thought this was the first pics of the jerseys.Good Photoshop on there, tim. http://www.wizardsxtra.com Is it the shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManCalledAmp Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Nailed it in the Phoenix thread. Kinda surprised it was Farmer's, but shouldn't have been. Insurance loves sports...and attracting women (and fathers) with an ad campaign is an interesting angle for insurance. I kind of like it.The visibility does need some work...but I'm not 100% sure this is the finished product.I guess the next question is simply "who's next?" New York makes sense based on market size and excellent brand....San Antonio has Becky Hammond, and does very well (and works well with the Spurs)...and Seattle has no NBA competition or exposure, plus a lot of international appeal (Sue Bird backed up by Pee Wee Johnson, both USA Olympic gold medalists, and the return of Aussie superstar Lauren Jackson).Likely NYL, the Storm, then the Silver Stars.I also expect something related to coffee, some website or something related to computers, a cleaning product (something P&G, or ColgatePalmolive, like the Cascade Dish & Assist awards on old broadcasts), and maybe something related to haircare (they had Herbal Essences, but I could see Suave being a great fit). Granted, I'm ignoring the sketchy, Ponzi scheme type businesses, and all that. Maybe I'm just being hopeful. Go Gators. Go Blue Raiders. Go Commodores. Go USC Trojans.Preds & Avs. Braves, Rays, & Dodgers. Titans, Colts, Broncos, Cardinals. Grizzlies. 14ers, Jam. Team Spirit + Laziness = Yay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarsofthumper Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Considering it's in Los Angeles, they should change it to Farmar's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottaDeal Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I would really realllllly REALLY!!!! like for this uniforms to keep the primary wordmark/logo as they were and give the sponsors a small badge or crest....But that would mean significantly less $ to the team, and since the $ is why they are doing these deals, they are going all out and getting as much as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Shelf Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 So do we call them the Farmers Sparks or the Los Angeles Farmers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsox Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Wow, Lifelock Phoenix actually look decent compared to the Los Angeles Farmers. WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooter13 Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I guess the next question is simply "who's next?The Detroit Shock please! Their logo and wordmark is so bad that a company sponsorship logo on their unis might be an improvement.Seriously though, I hate the fact that this is happening. However, I am more surprised it took so long to actually happen. Detroit Dragons - 2010 ULL Gait Cup ChampionsDetroit Cougars - 2010 and 2011 WAFA Wills Cup Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRealPepman Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Err, they should have renamed the team LA-Farmers Insurance Sparks instead, like a collaboration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwabel Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I know that it went unknown to most, but the WNBA did lose a major corporate sponsor as the Discover Card did not renew their deal. I do not know if the league trickles down league sponsorship, but local sponsorships have to be an issue for most teams. On their upside, their ticket costs are still very low for summer entertainment. I am desensitized to it all anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korbyn Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Link ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwabel Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Link ? Credit:Sports Business Journal (I am not giving out my password)Discover Financial Services has "opted not to renew" with the WNBA after its three-year deal expired this spring, costing the league "one of its biggest sponsors," according to John Lombardo of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Discover's departure "comes as little surprise given the economic pressures on the financial services industry, but it leaves the WNBA without one of its most active partners." Discover in '06 "broke new ground in the WNBA by having its corporate logo adorn WNBA courts during nationally televised broadcasts." WNBA President Donna Orender said that she "expects to announce multiple renewals and some new partners in the coming weeks." Orender: "We are holding our own and hope to have one or two new deals. The partners we have will activate even more heavily than in the past." Lombardo notes HP, which is a full NBA partner, is "new to the WNBA's partnership roster," as is Starwood Hotels. A source said that "among the renewals signed this year are Nike and 1-800-Flowers".Now with the leagues new contract with ESPN, teams do receive a portion of the rights fees. WNBA head visits Sacramento and answers economic questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManCalledAmp Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I guess the next question is simply "who's next?The Detroit Shock please! Their logo and wordmark is so bad that a company sponsorship logo on their unis might be an improvement.Seriously though, I hate the fact that this is happening. However, I am more surprised it took so long to actually happen.That's what I get for going off memory, and from doing so after doing only my Western Conference preview for my podcast. (I would link to it, by mypodcast.com is being a and won't let me post anything other than clips.) Revised list: NYL, Atlanta (too big a market, too new of a team, and too big of stars), Detroit, Washington, Seattle, San Antonio. Oh, and Connecticut. They play at a casino, and they play in maybe the biggest women's hoops hotbeds in the country. I don't know if that means they are a perfect fit for a sponsor, or they're the perfect team to not get one. We'll see. Go Gators. Go Blue Raiders. Go Commodores. Go USC Trojans.Preds & Avs. Braves, Rays, & Dodgers. Titans, Colts, Broncos, Cardinals. Grizzlies. 14ers, Jam. Team Spirit + Laziness = Yay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goforbroke Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 "This is really going to upset the fan" -Simpsons (or was that Family Guy)I wouldn't mind this so much if it was just a ptach or something with the sponsor logo - as long as it didn't trickle up to the nba. But putting the whole sponsor name across the jersey - replacing the team name or city name (ESPECIALLY the city name) is really a slap in the face for the fan(s) - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtrailtrekker Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 "This is really going to upset the fan" -Simpsons (or was that Family Guy)I wouldn't mind this so much if it was just a ptach or something with the sponsor logo - as long as it didn't trickle up to the nba. But putting the whole sponsor name across the jersey - replacing the team name or city name (ESPECIALLY the city name) is really a slap in the face for the fan(s) -"that's for the fan to decide!"family guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.