Mitsubishi Motors Australia announced as NBL1 naming rights sponsor
Mitsubishi Motors Australia has officially been revealed as the new naming rights sponsor for the NBL1, the semi-professional competition run by the National Basketball League.
The move solidifies Mitsubishi’s steadfast commitment to Australian sport and underscores its significant presence in one of Australia’s fastest-growing games.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s journey in the world of basketball has come full circle. After a successful decade-long sponsorship of the NBL in the 1990s, the automotive giant rekindled its association with the sport earlier this year by becoming the official vehicle partner and major sponsor of the NBL. The partnership between Mitsubishi Motors Australia and the NBL has flourished, culminating in taking on the naming rights for the NBL1 competition, set to kick off in March 2024. This league encompasses NBL1 North, East, South, West and Central conferences across men’s and women’s competitions.
“Having Mitsubishi Motors Australia make an even bigger commitment to our competition and the sport of basketball is a massive vote of confidence in the League,” NBL CEO David Stevenson enthused.
“Last season, NBL1 reached more than 66 million people via our digital and social platforms, with more than 41 million minutes watched. This showcases the ever-growing platform NBL1 has become”.
The collaboration between NBL, NBL1 and Mitsubishi Motors Australia promises significant brand exposure. This will be achieved through court signage at various locations around the country, in-game broadcasting, gameday activations and engaging interactions with fans both on and off the court.
Mitsubishi Motors promotional teams will be present at selected NBL home games, distributing red foam hands to help fans celebrate throughout the matches. QR codes on these foam hands will enable fans to enter their details for a chance to win weekly prizes and get in the running for the NBL end-of-season draw prize – a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GSR.
Digital screens will feature instructional content on ‘How to Shoot a 3-pointer’, and a unique Pajero Sport TV commercial will air in the arena before every game.
Shaun Westcott, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Australia, shared his excitement.
“Mitsubishi Motors Australia is thrilled to be the naming rights partner of the NBL1. Together with our Major Partnership of the NBL, this announcement signals our commitment to basketball at both community and professional levels in Australia,” Westcott said.
“This is a national partnership, with NBL1 teams in every state and territory. We hope to connect the 74 NBL1 clubs with our 200+ national Dealer Network to further support and promote basketball in this country. We at Mitsubishi Motors Australia, are excited to play a part in the continual growth of the game, encouraging players to play adventurously”.
The Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 boast an impressive 74 clubs and 145 teams. For many players, the competition serves as a crucial stepping stone to playing in the NBL and even the NBA. It’s worth noting that numerous NBL players return to their local NBL1 clubs to participate during the NBL offseason.
The 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 season will tip off on March 24, 2024, in Adelaide, extending through the NBL offseason until September. With more than 1,500 games planned throughout the season, basketball fans across the country are in for an action-packed winter.
Basketball in Australia continues to thrive with over 1.1 million registered players, firmly establishing itself as a top-10 sport in the country, according to the Australian Sports Commission. Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s partnership with NBL and NBL1 signifies a significant boost to the sport’s growth and popularity in the nation.
Image Credit: Slingshot Studios
