CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The NBA’s Charlotte Hornets have completed a sponsorship agreement with $344-million Charlotte Metro CU that includes Hornets-themed credit and debit cards.
Terms weren’t disclosed, but similar partnerships fall in the range of $100,000 to $250,000 per year, based on analyst estimates, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.
The Hornet logo payment cards are expected to debut next week. Cardholders will receive 10% off when they use their card at the team shop at Time Warner Cable Arena, the Hornets’ home court.
“The biggest piece (in the credit union sponsorship) is the Hornets-branded credit and debit cards,” Hornets Chief Sales and Marketing officer Pete Guelli told the Business Journal. “It’s another example of how the Hornets’ name has transformed the value of our brand. ... Partners now use the Hornets brand to drive strategic customer initiatives. Combining that with the number of consumers they can interact with at the arena creates a powerful marketing tool.”