http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article ... or-bobcats
Video game maker 2K Sports has signed its first NBA team sponsorship deal with the Charlotte Bobcats, an agreement that comes as the company features Bobcats owner Michael Jordan on the cover of its upcoming "NBA 2K11" game
The Bobcats have a multiyear deal with Jordan Brand and are looking at a major enhancement on the apparel side. The team is working on a new partnership with Hanes and is in discussions to expand its current deal with Gatorade.
"With Michael in place, our portfolio transcends the regional market into a more national player," said Bobcats President and COO Fred Whitfield. "When your owner is on the cover of the ("NBA 2K11") video game, you can't have any more synergy than that. We also are in dialogue with every one of his partners and are closing in on a number of deals."
A year ago, the team had about 55 sponsors and had sold just 350 new full-season tickets. But in the past 12 months, the team has added more than 35 new partners, with another double-digit increase in new deals expected when the 2010-11 season begins.
The team this summer already has also sold 1,500 new full-season tickets and has a season-ticket renewal rate exceeding 90 percent, putting the Bobcats in the top 10 among the NBA's 30 teams in both categories.