American Airlines NBA Partnership

American Airlines is the official airline of the National Basketball Association. The airline recently announced a partnership with the NBA, including “several of the league’s most prominent
international grassroots initiatives featuring activities in nine countries.”What does this mean to you? Probably some rocking promotions for you basketball fans out there.

According to the press release, American Airlines will serve as the official airline of 2008 NBA Europe
Live presented by EA SPORTS. That would be the NBA’s European tour, beginning its third year in October. The airline will also work with the NBA on trips to India, NBA 3 x 3 and NBA Madness in Japan, NBA 3 x 3 in Mexico, as well as on events in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and the UK.

“We are thrilled to announce our international partnership with the NBA and honored to be an integral part of their charitable programs worldwide, especially in India, which we have served since 2005,” said Billy Sanez, Director – Advertising, Promotions and Corporate Communications for American Airlines. “American’s extensive global reach makes this a particularly exciting partnership. We applaud the NBA and are pleased to help bring Basketball without Borders to the world.”

Good plug for the India service, Billy.

NBA Europe Live 2008

NBA Europe Live 2008 will feature the Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards, who will play preseason games in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris in October.
I’m more of a baseball girl, so I had no idea such programs existed. Apparently, this has been going on for several years.

Basketball Without Borders

Basketball Without Borders, a community outreach program sponsored by the NBA, will make trips to New Delhi, India; Istanbul, Turkey; and Johannesburg, South Africa, this summer. This program is designed to “unite elite young basketball players to promote the sport and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness in local communities.” Basketball
without Borders has featured more than 250 NBA players, coaches and team personnel from 30 different teams. These volunteers have served as camp coaches and mentors for more than 1,200 young athletes from more than 100 countries and territories on five continents.

NBA Madness

NBA Madness sounds…mad. It’s “an interactive basketball lifestyle event consisting of basketball activities, musical performances and special appearances by NBA players, dance teams and mascots.” Trippy. This event will hit Tokyo on August 29-31.

NBA 3 x 3

NBA 3 x 3 works to “develop[e] future generations of NBA fans by growing the game of basketball internationally.” So, its the marketing department. This program is all about regional basketball tournaments where winning teams from each respective region will advance to a championship game. The event visited Mexico City on May 24 and 25, and will visit six Japanese cities including Tokyo,
Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Takamatsu in July and August.

I expect more information on NBA promotions from American Airlines to come soon.