WNBA signs McDonald's as fifth new partner
Published on May 26, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, May 26, 2005 â McDonald's is aligning with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as the league's fifth new partner of the year. McDonald's joins 1-800-flowers.com, Digene Corporation, Toyota and got milk? as first-year partners of the WNBA as it enters its ninth season.
The WNBA and McDonald's are creating mobile fitness events as part of the league's new Be Smart-Be Fit-Be Yourself initiative. The events will take place in WNBA cities across the country and will be a primary feature of the 2005 WNBA All-Star game at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena on July 9, 2005.
In addition to the Be Smart-Be Fit-Be Yourself initiative, the WNBA will introduce six themed weeks with related events taking place in each of the league's 13 arenas. The themes are designed to honor the loyal WNBA fan base and attract new fans by providing a national overlay for individual team marketing and promotional events taking place throughout the season. To help promote the themed weeks, the WNBA has created a series of national television promo spots tied to the specific weeks' themes. Each TV spot will end with the tagline, "This is Our Game" and prominently feature on-the-court action and imagery of the league's passionate fans enjoying the exciting WNBA in-arena experience. The new tagline will also be incorporated into all 2005 WNBA marketing and promotional efforts including the newly redesigned WNBA.com.
"This is Our Game speaks directly to what the WNBA stands for. It's about the players and their undeniable talent and athleticism, the fans and their incredible passion for our game and the exciting family-friendly entertainment our games provide both in arena and on TV. And, most of all, it's about pride. Pride in the world-class level of our game and our strong connection to our fans and their communities," said WNBA President Donna Orender. "The addition of a global brand with the marketing sophistication of McDonald's further demonstrates the WNBA's unique appeal to fans and savvy marketers who want to reach women and families."
Be Fit Tour presented by McDonald's
The WNBA's Be Smart-Be-Fit-Be Yourself program was created to emphasize the importance of health and fitness for women and young people. The program will take to the road with the WNBA Be Fit Tour presented by McDonald's. The Tour will feature exercise classes, interactive basketball and trivia contests and appearances by top WNBA players. In addition to the 2005 WNBA All-Star Game, the Tour is scheduled to stop at festivals, fairs and WNBA arenas around the country.
WNBA Theme Weeks
Opening Night First week of season, beginning May 21
Dads and Daughter Week Friday, June 10-Sunday, June 19
All-Star Week Thursday, June 30-Thursday, July 7
Kids Week Friday, July 15-Saturday, July 23
Girls' Night Out Saturday, July 30-Sunday, August 7
Fan Appreciation Day Each team's last regular season home
game/end of August
New WNBA Partners
· Digene Corporation and the WNBA are partnering to help eliminate cervical cancer. A "Dream Team" of WNBA star athletes will make public appearances to educate women 30 years of age and older about the importance of regular cervical cancer screening, including testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) â the cause of cervical cancer. Digene developed the only FDA-approved test for high-risk types of HPV. The Digene® HPV Test is approved for use in conjunction with a Pap test for women aged 30 and older, the group most at risk for cervical cancer.
· The WNBA and its players will team with got milk? to take part in the got milk? Healthy Schools Challenge which rewards teens and their schools for creating programs that encourage students to get active and stay healthy. WNBA Players will make visits to winning schools to meet and greet students, sign autographs and present a $1,000 grant to fund their healthy initiative.
· The WNBA will team with Toyota to support the WNBA Read to Achieve program featuring WNBA players promoting the importance of reading to young fans and the creation of reading and learning centers in WNBA cities.
· 1-800-flowers.com is a new partner of the 2005 WNBA All-Star Balloting program and will make special offers available on the 2005 WNBA All-Star paper ballots and All-Star balloting pages on the newly designed WNBA.com.
About the WNBA
The WNBA tipped off its ninth season on Saturday, May 21, 2005 under the leadership of new President Donna Orender. In 2004, for the sixth consecutive season, more than two million fans attended WNBA games. Also in 2004, three consecutive WNBA Finals sellout crowds witnessed the Seattle Storm defeat the Connecticut Sun to capture its first WNBA Championship. WNBA programming is broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA-TV. For more information on the WNBA, visit www.wnba.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 26, 2005
- Sting-Phoenix Post game Notes and Quotes - Charlotte Sting
- Detroit Shock Center Pens Children's Book - Detroit Shock
- Chicago WNBA Team Hires NBA Hall-of-Famer Dave Cowens as Head Coach - Chicago Sky
- WNBA signs McDonald's as fifth new partner - WNBA
- It's Game Night - New York Liberty
- Post-game notes - Minnesota Lynx
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