ACC signs first title sponsor for basketball showpiece

Mutual life insurance company New York Life has agreed a three year deal to become the first title sponsor of the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The partnership is effective from the 2015 edition of the US college basketball showpiece at Greensboro Coliseum, North Carolina on March 10-14.

It continues on to the 2016 and 2017 events at the Verizon Center, Washington D.C and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center respectively under terms agreed with the ACC’s long-term media partner ESPN and the sports broadcasting and entertainment company’s syndication affiliate Raycom Sports. Financial details were not disclosed.

New York Life will be the title sponsor of tournament broadcasts across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and Raycom Sports’ syndicated ACC Network, along with being afforded extensive in-arena branding.

Additionally, New York Life gains official designation as an ACC corporate champion, which includes exposure throughout the athletic season via ACC Championship events, on-site signage and promotional opportunities. New York Life’s brand will also be represented across the ACC television and digital media assets, while it becomes the presenting sponsor of the Legends Program honouring players and coaches from the men’s and women’s basketball teams at the ACC’s 15 schools.

The 2015 New York Life ACC Tournament will move to a Tuesday to Saturday format, with Friday semi-finals and a primetime Saturday evening final concluding a 14-game schedule. All games will be televised nationally by ESPN and the ACC Network.