Chuck the Writer
08-13-2006, 09:53 AM
Question from Brenda the NASCAR Fan, Talledaga: "Mr. Newman, have you ever thought about putting sponsors names on ABA players uniforms like they do on NASCAR drivers?"
Answer: Brenda (and others): If it's good enough for Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, Jimmy Johnson (sic) and the other great NASCAR drivers, it is good enough for us. There is nothing prohibiting teams from selling patches on players uniforms to sponsors - in fact, it is a good idea. NASCAR sets the standard in sports sponsorships. There are not many better examples to follow. I'm really surprised that it hasn't been done already. I am sure it will be done soon. We have had NASCAR drivers as the ABA's 13th Man on several occasions and it proves to be very popular. So - all of you NASCAR sponsors - are you ready? Give your local team a call and let's create a NASCAR look. If you have a question, please email joenewman@aol.com.
This would be a great idea - but it's been done before. MANY MANY MANY times before. Professional sports franchises have received corporate sponsorships, either with patches on their shoulders (the Idaho Stampede's uniforms had a Dodge logo, IIRC), or with their team names.
Examples -
The Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (CBA) (Coors Light)
The Capital Region Pontiacs (CBA) (local Pontiac dealerships)
The Hamden Bics (EBA/EPBL) (two years sponsored by the Bic ballpoint pen company)
The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (early NBA team)
The Lebanon Seltzers (sponsored by Seltzer's smoked meats)
Akron Firestones (NBL 1930's team; later known as the Firestone Non-Skids when the franchise moved to the Midwest Basketball Confernce, and later to the National Basketball League)
The Kate Smith Celtics (1935-36 the franchise we know as the Boston Celtics were sponsored by the popular singer)
Anyways, didn't Uncle Joe already try some sort of sponsorship deal with ABA teams, or were those DBands just a bad acid trip?
Answer: Brenda (and others): If it's good enough for Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, Jimmy Johnson (sic) and the other great NASCAR drivers, it is good enough for us. There is nothing prohibiting teams from selling patches on players uniforms to sponsors - in fact, it is a good idea. NASCAR sets the standard in sports sponsorships. There are not many better examples to follow. I'm really surprised that it hasn't been done already. I am sure it will be done soon. We have had NASCAR drivers as the ABA's 13th Man on several occasions and it proves to be very popular. So - all of you NASCAR sponsors - are you ready? Give your local team a call and let's create a NASCAR look. If you have a question, please email joenewman@aol.com.
This would be a great idea - but it's been done before. MANY MANY MANY times before. Professional sports franchises have received corporate sponsorships, either with patches on their shoulders (the Idaho Stampede's uniforms had a Dodge logo, IIRC), or with their team names.
Examples -
The Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (CBA) (Coors Light)
The Capital Region Pontiacs (CBA) (local Pontiac dealerships)
The Hamden Bics (EBA/EPBL) (two years sponsored by the Bic ballpoint pen company)
The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (early NBA team)
The Lebanon Seltzers (sponsored by Seltzer's smoked meats)
Akron Firestones (NBL 1930's team; later known as the Firestone Non-Skids when the franchise moved to the Midwest Basketball Confernce, and later to the National Basketball League)
The Kate Smith Celtics (1935-36 the franchise we know as the Boston Celtics were sponsored by the popular singer)
Anyways, didn't Uncle Joe already try some sort of sponsorship deal with ABA teams, or were those DBands just a bad acid trip?