CHINA TOPIX

11/24/2024 07:09:58 pm

Make CT Your Homepage

Exxon Mobil Teams Up with NBA in China, US

A truck passes by the Exxon Mobil refinery November 1, 2007 in Joliet, Illinois.

(Photo : Getty Images) A truck passes by the Exxon Mobil refinery November 1, 2007 in Joliet, Illinois.

Exxon Mobil Corp. has announced a multi-year sponsorship with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in China and the United States.

The deal, which marks Exxon's second sports marketing tie-up outside the Nascar ovals, will make the oil and lubricants firm an official partner of the NBA, the Women's National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League, Reuters reported.

Like Us on Facebook

"We are proud to partner with Exxon Mobil, a distinguished global company and proven industry leader," Rachel Jacobson, NBA senior vice president, business development, global partnerships, said.

"The Mobil 1 brand is synonymous with technology leadership and outstanding performance, and we're looking forward to bringing these shared values to life for our fans in two of our biggest markets."

Although the financial terms of the agreement have not been released yet, the NBA said the partnership "represents the largest and most comprehensive ever in the motor oil category during the league's 70-year history."

The agreement will initially promote Exxon Mobil's flagship brand Mobil 1 alongside NBA marks, Sports Pro Media reported. Promotions will begin in the coming season through advertisements, video content, and social media initiatives.

Furthermore, Exxon Mobil will also become an associate partner of NBA Global Games China. The company will be seen in NBA's preseason game in China this year, with the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans playing in Shanghai and Beijing on Oct. 9 and 12, respectively.

The Texas-based Exxon first sponsored the Chinese Basketball Association in 2013, an agreement which made the company realized its brand can go beyond the Formula 1 tracks, Matt Bergeron, vice president of marketing of Exxon said.

Meanwhile, the NBA has been establishing its fan base in China. It became the first major U.S. sports league to open an office and the first to play in the country, Bloomberg noted.

Real Time Analytics