Emirates Becomes Premier Sponsor Of BNP Paribas Open
INDIAN WELLS -Emirates, the award-winning global airline of the United Arab Emirates, has become a premier sponsor and the official airline of the BNP Paribas Open, the most attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the four major events, to be held March 8-21, 2010, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was announced today by Steve Simon, tournament director.
The sponsorship agreement, which will run from 2010-2012 and includes a renewal option, is the airline’s third major sports sponsorship in the United States. The carrier is already the Official Airline of the USA Rugby National Sevens Teams and a Premier Partner of the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup. Emirates is also a strong supporter of tennis worldwide, sponsoring the Rogers Cup in Toronto and the Dubai Tennis Championships in its home city.
The sponsorship awards Emirates all the benefits of a premier sponsor including prominent on-court signage, broadcast spots and advertising. Emirates will be running a series of exciting promotions throughout the fortnight, including on the first Saturday of the competition, which has been officially designated as ‘Emirates Day.’ Fans will have the opportunity to win a host of prizes, including a holiday to Dubai. In addition, all Hawkeye line challenges during television broadcasts will be called the “Emirates Line Challenge.”
“The BNP Paribas Open is very pleased to begin this partnership with Emirates,” said Simon. “They are a marquee brand looking to leverage their sponsorship by engaging fans throughout the entire event, which is something we are always looking for in a sponsor. We are excited to work with them in continuing to enhance the fan experience at our tournament.”
“Our sponsorship of the BNP Paribas Open underlines Emirates’ commitment to sport in the United States,” said Nigel Page, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Americas & Africa. “We have been a sponsor of major sporting events for more than twenty years and believe they provide a great platform to connect with our customers. We look forward to building a lasting partnership with this first class event.”
