As was first reported at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season, starting in the 2017-18 season the NBA will allow corporate sponsorships to be included on game uniforms for different NBA franchises.
The sponsor logo will be 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches in size and appear on the top left front of the new jerseys, opposite of the Nike logo which is also the new league sponsor for the 2017-18 season.
The Celtics have become the latest team to strike a partnership with a sponsor, as their jerseys will include a General Electric logo or GE as it’s known starting next season.
FIRST LOOK: GE logo on Celtics uniform, which will begin for all games next season. pic.twitter.com/N3RV53ceU0
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 25, 2017
This partnership makes a lot of sense actually when you consider GE is one of the largest, traditional American conglomerates that have been near the top for quite some time, much like the Celtics standing in the NBA as one of it’s longest standing and most ballyhooed legacy franchises.
The Celtics are now the 3rd NBA team to agree to a jersey sponsorship for the 2017-18 season, joining the Kings and 76ers.
First three NBA teams to put corporate logos on jerseys, beginning next season pic.twitter.com/GgDRxTkJOo
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 25, 2017
Expect a lot more of these deals to roll in in the next few months as teams take advantage of another avenue for marketing dollars.
Here is a fun article from April of 2016 that shares some humorous team and company partnerships: Funny NBA Team Sponsorship Ideas
I am still holding out hope for The Weather Channel to sponsor the Thunder, Raid to sponsor the Hornets and Disney to support the Magic.
