USA – Multinational chicken wings restaurant chain Wingstop has been named the Official Chicken Partner of both the US National Basketball Association (NBA) and the NBA G League.
According to Wingstop, it entered a multiyear partnership with the NBA to boost its media exposure across several prominent channels.
As part of this collaboration, Wingstop branding will appear in virtual and courtside signage during nationally broadcasted NBA games, giving the brand a steady presence in the basketball arena.
Additionally, Wingstop will have a notable role in NBA All-Star events, starting with the 2025 NBA All-Star festivities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In conjunction with these appearances, Wingstop will serve as the presenting partner of the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Green Carpet, which is scheduled to showcase celebrities’ arrivals on February 14, 2024, at Oakland Arena.
This collaboration builds on Wingstop’s established connections within the NBA, which include partnerships with teams like the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Globally, Wingstop operates and franchises over 2,350 locations and reported impressive financial growth, including a 27.1% increase in system-wide sales, totaling US$3.5 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.
The brand marked its 20th year of consecutive same-store sales growth, with a notable net income increase in the second quarter of 2024, reaching US$27.48 million, up 70% from the previous year.
Wingstop President and CEO Michael Skipworth welcomed the move by saying, “Our fans love watching NBA while enjoying our cooked-to-order wings, hand sauced and tossed in our bold flavors. This partnership is another demonstration of Wingstop being in a category of one, claiming our spot as the Official Chicken and Official Wing Partner of the NBA.”
Julie Morris, NBA Commercial Development and Media Senior Vice-President also welcomed the move by saying, “We welcome Wingstop to the NBA family and look forward to collaborating on unique and exciting ways to engage with our fans, bringing them closer to the sport they love.”
The NBA itself is a global sports and media entity, with games broadcast in 214 countries and territories across 60 languages and merchandise available in over 200 countries worldwide, cementing its status as an influential global platform.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE
Be the first to leave a comment