News Releases
CHICAGO BULLS AND HARRIS ANNOUNCE NEW SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT
Deal names Harris as presenting sponsor, official bank of the Bulls
CHICAGO, October 26, 2007 - The Chicago Bulls and Harris announced today a new three-year sponsorship agreement that designates Harris as the presenting sponsor of the Chicago Bulls. Under the terms of the agreement, Harris will serve as the “Official Bank of the Chicago Bulls” and a combined Bulls and Harris presenting sponsorship logo will appear on all Bulls print advertising, bulls.com, the lapel pins of United Center ushers, and on press and promotional materials. Per team policy, financial terms of the sponsorship agreement were not disclosed.
As the largest banking partnership in Bulls history, the Harris sponsorship will also include the “Hero of the Game” promotion at all home games this season. This promotion gives Harris bank branches the opportunity to nominate a community hero for each game. The designated hero will be awarded with two tickets to a game and be recognized by Bulls team captains at center court prior to tip-off.
In addition to these elements, Harris will be the presenting sponsor of the Bulls Adopt-A-School program. Through this program, the Bulls and Harris will actively support local schools and encourage students to excel in their studies. Each year, one lucky school will have the opportunity to become an adopted school and receive special benefits such as tickets to Bulls games, p layer and Bulls celebrity appearances, tours of the United Center, and the creation of a reading and learning corner. Chicago K-8 grade public schools interested in becoming a Bulls Adopt-A-School can apply online at www.bulls.com.
“The Chicago Bulls are very excited and honored to be joining forces with another great Chicago brand---Harris,” said Steve Schanwald, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Bulls. “We are especially pleased that, as a part of this relationship, we will be recognizing individuals in the Chicago community who are making a difference, and in addition, that we will also be supporting public schools in the City of Chicago.”
“As Chicago’s hometown bank, we are proud to partner with the Chicago Bulls in their quest to bring championship basketball back to our great city," said Justine Fedak, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing and Customer Strategies for Harris. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Chicago Bulls team. In fact, we are so thrilled we had to stop ourselves from installing basketball hoops in our branches. We decided working with the heroes of the hardcourt to support heroes in our communities and in our schools was a better way to show how excited we are. We look forward to sharing many great successes with the Bulls through this sponsorship.”
The sponsorship also includes the Harris “Shirt off our Back” promotion. During five Bulls home games, all fans entering the arena on those nights will receive a scratch and win card and five lucky winners will receive a signed authentic Bulls jersey. One hundred fans will win replica jerseys. Each night will be dedicated to a different player including Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas.
In conjunction with the agreement, Harris will also serve as a sponsor for the team’s Tip- Off Luncheon and FestaBulls fundraiser.
About Harris:
Harris is an integrated financial service organization providing more than
1 million personal, business and corporate clients with banking, lending,
investing and wealth management solutions. The organization is a member of
the BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), which also provides corporate and
investment banking services in the U.S. under the BMO Capital Markets name.
For more information, please visit www.bmocm.com or www.harrisbank.com.
