US telecommunications company Verizon has agreed a multi-year marketing partnership with the National Basketball Association.
Under the deal, Verizon becomes the official wireless service provider of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA Development League and USA Basketball.
Verizon will serve as the title partner of the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk platform. The ‘Verizon Slam Dunk’ contest will debut at the 2016 NBA All-Star event in Toronto and Verizon will become the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Balloting Program and a partner of NBA Draft, NBA Summer League and the Jr. NBA. Beginning with the 2016 season, Verizon will have a marquee partnership with the WNBA.
The marketing rights are part of a wide-ranging deal that also incorporates a host of digital content. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the USA Today newspaper said it is worth more than $400m (€351.8m) over a three-year term.
Diego Scotti, chief marketing officer for Verizon, said: “The NBA has rapidly evolved into a year-round digital experience that engages millions of young, cross cultural fans, in many interesting ways. We are always looking for new ways to add value for our customers, and this partnership creates great opportunities to do just that.”
Verizon will replace Sprint as the NBA’s partner in this category.