T-Mobile, NBA, and WNBA Renew Multi-year Marketing Partnership

A press release from T-Mobile went out yesterday that basically said they’re renewing their partnership with the NBA. This of course leaves the door open for more limited edition Sidekicks like the Dwade Sidekick 3. The full press release is below:

— T-Mobile Expands Partnership to Include the NBA Development League and Joins NBA Europe Live 2008 presented by EA SPORTS as an Official Partner in the Host Cities of London and Berlin —

NEW YORK, October 6, 2008 – T-Mobile USA, Inc., the National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association today announced a multi-year extension of their marketing partnership. As part of this agreement, T-Mobile will expand its partnership to include the NBA Development League, the NBA’s official minor league. T-Mobile will promote its wireless products and services across virtually all channels of the NBA, WNBA, and NBA D-League, appealing to the leagues’ broad and avid fan bases.

T-Mobile and the NBA will continue to work together on several successful programs and platforms that have been developed since the partnership began in 2005. T-Mobile also will have a significant presence throughout the NBA’s extensive media platforms, including the leagues’ national television partners, to further grow its customer base. T-Mobile will unveil new NBA-themed advertisements, marketing materials, sweepstakes, and promotions, while utilizing various NBA personalities, including Dwyane Wade and Charles Barkley, for ad campaigns, player appearances, and special events.

T-Mobile will continue to be the sole title partner of the T-Mobile Rookie Program, a comprehensive year-long national program that introduces NBA Rookies to the league and prepares them for their transition into the rising stars of tomorrow through various community events, awards, and special events. Highlights include the rookie awards presentations for the T-Mobile Rookies of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an NBA All-Star competition between NBA Rookies and second-year players, where T-Mobile rewards local youth with the best seats at the game. T-Mobile will highlight Rookie performances and help provide special analysis and content about the NBA Rookies through the T-Mobile Rookie Report on NBA.com. T-Mobile will have a presence at all major events for the NBA Rookies, including the NBA Draft, NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NBA Rookie Photo Shoot, and the Rookie Transition Program.

“Since the inception of our relationship, T-Mobile has been one of the NBA and WNBA’s most active partners creating a variety of innovative basketball-themed programs that have brought our fans closer to the game and players both on and off the court,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships. “This extension of our very successful partnership will expand the scope of our relationship to new areas, such as the NBA D-League and NBA Europe Live 2008, and will give us the ability to develop an even greater number of exciting programs that will reach more basketball fans than ever before.”

“T-Mobile has achieved great success over the past three years with the NBA,” said Mike Belcher, vice president of brand communications, T-Mobile USA. “With the multi-year extension, we have the opportunity to continue creating unique and memorable experiences for our customers and avid NBA supporters. From integration during NBA All-Star to making a difference in communities by supporting local teams and the NBA Rookie Programs, T-Mobile, with the NBA, helps bring our brand to life for millions of fans.”

T-Mobile will continue to work with the NBA to create innovative and integrated programs that use technology to connect fans to the game and make their voice heard during key periods of the NBA season like NBA All-Star and The Finals, through interactive voting programs: NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, where fans can select their favorite players as starters for the NBA All-Star Game; and a Finals Fan Vote presented by T-Mobile, where fans can select the top performers (Player of the Game, MVP) during The Finals.

In addition, T-Mobile also will be heavily involved with various high profile events during the season, including NBA Nation presented by T-Mobile and Kia Motors, NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and the NBA Draft. As a new partnership element, T-Mobile will partner with the NBA in Europe, where they will serve as an Official Partner of NBA Europe Live 2008 presented by EA SPORTS in the host cities of Berlin and London. T-Mobile will also continue to build close relationships with various NBA teams in key local markets, which will allow them to engage with fans on a more local level.

Following these activities, T-Mobile will launch support surrounding its WNBA partnership, which is focused around WNBA Draft, WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, the WNBA All-Star Game, WNBA Summer Jam, and the WNBA Playoffs and the WNBA Finals.

As part of this expanded partnership, T-Mobile will engage with NBA D-League fans for the first time. T-Mobile will reach a new group of basketball fans through NBA D-League All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, at the D-League All-Star Game at NBA All-Star, and during regular season games by way of special in-arena promotions, signage, and concourse displays.

One Response to “T-Mobile, NBA, and WNBA Renew Multi-year Marketing Partnership”

  1. Bearmon Says:

    Ugh! I hate basketball. No thanks.



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