NWHL lands Dunkin’ Donuts as first major sponsor
The National Women’s Hockey League will announce on Tuesday that it’s putting ads on its jerseys*.
OK, that’s burying the lede: The NWHL has landed Dunkin’ Donuts as a major sponsor in a multi-year agreement, arguably the most high-profile business to back the first-year league in which women’s hockey players receive a salary.
From the NWHL:
Through Dunkin’ Donuts’ partnership, the brand will coordinate youth hockey clinics with team representatives in each market throughout the league’s inaugural season. Along with league sponsorship, Dunkin’ Donuts has also entered into a personal services agreement with NWHL team Buffalo Beauts’ star and US Women’s Team Captain, Meghan Duggan. Additional highlights of the partnership include Dunkin’ Donuts logo featured on all team jerseys, signage on league goal posts and behind each bench, and advertising on www.nwhl.co and each team website.
This is obviously huge news for the NWHL, whose profitability was going to come from a few revenue streams: Jersey and ticket sales; broadcast deals and corporate sponsorship. Securing Dunkin’ Donuts is, at the very least, a level of proof of concept: Land one sponsor, and more could follow.
We hear this may not be the end of D&D’s hockey sponsorship; specifically, it could continue with the women’s players on a national team level. Far as we can tell, there isn’t a title sponsor in place for the 2018 Olympic squad.
Maybe they run to PyeongChang on Dunkin'?
* Yes, there will be ads on jerseys. But if it means the difference between there being a league that pays women players with ads and not having one at all ... hell, NASCAR'em up.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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