Dubai: Etihad Airways has signed a legacy partnership agreement with Monumental Sports and Entertainment (MSE) to become the exclusive airline partner of three major Washington sports teams.
National Hockey League (NHL) side Washington Capitals, National Basketball Association (NBA) team Washington Wizards and women’s NBA outfit Washington Mystics are included on the deal along with the city’s Verizon Centre venue.
Etihad will receive a variety of branding opportunities, be featured in numerous multimedia programming and work collaboratively with MSE on several community initiatives to promote and celebrate the international nature of sport in Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi.
The Verizon Center hosts 220 top-level sporting events, music concerts, and family shows every year and is a hugely popular venue for the US capital’s residents and visitors.
“This relationship is a sign of our long-term commitment to the Washington, DC, market, which we have been serving since 2013,” said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways. “We are proud to announce this partnership, just as we are proud to connect the two capital cities of Washington, DC and Abu Dhabi.
“Our daily flights allow American travellers to reach more than 60 cities around the world, flying the world’s leading airline on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, as well as bringing thousands of business travelers and tourists to the US every week.”
The MSE partnership builds upon Etihad Airways’ US sports sponsorship portfolio within which the airline is official airline partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Nation’s Triathlon, which takes place each year in Washington, DC.
“Etihad Airways is a prestigious international brand known for its hospitality, service and global reach,” said Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman and majority owner of Monumental Sports and Entertainment.
“As a legacy partner, Etihad Airways provides that official connection to our diverse and international community and the growing interest in sports worldwide. Our teams are international, our players are international, our city is international and our partnership with Etihad builds on those commonalities.”
Etihad Airways supports Manchester City Football Club; New York City Football Club; the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; Mumbai Indians cricket team of the Indian Premier League; Etihad Stadium and Melbourne City Football Club; the England and Wales Cricket Board and the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship.
