VANCOUVER, July 6 /CNW/ – Canucks Sports & Entertainment (Canucks) and
Rogers Communications Inc (Rogers) today announced a major, ten-year
strategic alliance giving Rogers the Arena naming and telecommunications
sponsorship rights. The home of the Vancouver Canucks will now be known
as Rogers Arena.
This alliance marks the beginning of a new sponsorship era for the
Canucks. Rogers is the first sponsor in the Canucks’ 40-year history to
have both the Arena naming and telecommunications sponsorship rights.
The telecommunications sponsorship includes extensive branding and
advertising placements, including in-ice, in-building and rink board
signage, Canucks.com, 300-level concourse branding, in-game features,
interactive hockey themed concourse displays and mobile applications. As
Canada’s largest provider of wireless voice and data communications
services, Rogers will work with the Canucks to explore new and
innovative ways to use wireless technology to engage fans anytime,
anyplace. They will also join forces on local charitable initiatives.
“This is an exciting and significant announcement for our organization,”
said Victor de Bonis, Chief Operating Officer, Canucks Sports &
Entertainment. “As an organization we are committed to building
relationships with partners that have the same corporate and community
values as we do. Rogers is an industry leader and innovator focused on
enhancing customer experiences and fostering community partnerships. Our
Arena is where we engage our loyal fans and host our most important
partners; we are thrilled to have Rogers as an integral partner in our
business.”
“This is an important strategic alliance and we’re thrilled to partner
with an outstanding organization like the Canucks,” said Nadir Mohamed,
President and CEO, Rogers Communications. “B.C. is a critical market for
Rogers and this announcement further enhances our investment in the
province and builds on our powerful sports legacy. We look forward to
partnering with the Canucks to engage fans and to connect Canadians to
what matters most, including their passion for sports and hockey.”
Rogers has a long history in sports. The company operates the Toronto
Blue Jays baseball team as well as the Rogers Centre and Rogers
Sportsnet.
An official unveiling of the external and internal signage will happen
at the downtown Arena prior to the start of the 2010-11 NHL season; the
Canucks’ 40th anniversary playing in the NHL. Rogers takes over the
Arena naming rights from General Motors of Canada Limited (General
Motors) which had been the naming rights partner since the Arena opened
in 1995.
About the Aquilini Investment Group/Canucks Sports & Entertainment
Owned and operated by the Aquilini Investment Group since 2004, Canucks
Sports & Entertainment is committed to providing a premium fan
experience through the hockey club, state of the art Arena and
charitable and community initiatives.
The Aquilini Investment Group is a diversified family business founded
more than 50 years ago by Mr. Luigi Aquilini. The Vancouver-based
company owns and manages a national real estate portfolio that includes
commercial properties, office buildings, hotels, golf courses, and
cranberry and blueberry farms, as well as develops and constructs
commercial and residential properties.
The Aquilini Investment Group is dedicated to supporting the community
including through the team’s charity the Canucks for Kids Fund and its
programs and partner foundations; Canucks Autism Network (CAN), Canuck
Place Children’s Hospice, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, BC
Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Center for Childhood Research in
Diabetes at BC Children’s Hospital and the Phoenix Academy for Learning
Society (for Autism).
For further information about Canucks Sports & Entertainment, please
visit www.Canucks.com.
About Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada’s largest provider of wireless voice and data
communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers of cable
television, high-speed Internet and telephony services. Through Rogers
Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised
shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment. We
are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B)
and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).
For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please
visit www.rogers.com.