TORONTO – Rogers Communications Inc. has signed a multi-year partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to be its preferred supplier for telecom services, including wireless voice and data, landline telephone, cable television, and Internet access.
RCI already has a lock on the Toronto Blue Jays, and is moving into other major sports by becoming a platinum sponsor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Marlies, as well as the recently launched Toronto FC soccer club. Rogers will have sponsorship rights within the Air Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Square, a sports and entertainment development next to the ACC that will be finished in 2009.
"With this partnership the Rogers brand will become increasingly synonymous with Canadian professional sports and entertainment," said Stephen Graham, Executive Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Convergence Officer for Rogers. “Our experience with the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, and as the title sponsor of the Rogers Cup, has demonstrated for us the enormous power of leveraging our passion for sports to forge even closer ties with consumers. Putting the horsepower of the Maple Leafs and the Raptors behind us will turbocharge our sports marketing efforts. And Air Canada Centre is a great venue to showcase our brand and products, so we couldn’t be more excited about this deal."
Richard Peddie, President and CEO of MLSE, said his company likes to partner with well-known brands, and Rogers fits the bill. “The addition of Rogers as a corporate partner will mutually benefit both companies,” Peddie says. “Rogers’ innovative products and services will support our constantly changing business telecom and communications needs, while Rogers’ association with the Leafs, Raptors, Marlies, Toronto FC and Air Canada Centre will further extend their reach to millions of Canadians and new audiences."
Financial details of the partnership were not released.
