NBA basketball franchise the Toronto Raptors has signed a new naming rights deal with OVO, the record label founded by Canadian rapper Drake.
As part of the deal, the length of which was not disclosed, the Raptors’ training centre will become the OVO Athletic Centre.
OVO will benefit from prominent signage inside and outside the facility, which opened in February 2016. OVO’s logo will also feature on the Raptors’ practice jerseys.
Toronto-born Drake has been a global ambassador of the Raptors for almost six years.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri said: “Drake and OVO are an important part of our city’s landscape, our team’s identity, and our plans to bring a championship to Toronto.
“With each step of our partnership over the last five and a half years, we have worked together to build a winning basketball program in Toronto and deliver for our fans and our community.
“This new naming-rights deal for our training facility is a perfect example of the strength of this partnership and the innovative opportunities it can generate.”
In October last year, Drake became a co-owner of esports organisation 100 Thieves after investing in the company through a Series A funding round.