• August 29, 2011

Auto insurer Mercury Insurance has signed an agreement with UCLA to sponsor its football and basketball teams. Mercury is also offering fans free tickets to a Bruins football game this season by getting an online auto insurance quote.

"We've had great success the last few years with our sports sponsorships," said Erik Thompson, advertising director at the Los Angeles-based company, "and we feel college football and basketball are an ideal fit. UCLA has a loyal fan base that's very passionate about the university, and we hope to connect with them through a variety of touch-points that will display our products and services to millions of Bruins fans and alums."

The company is running a "Get a Quote, Get a Pair of Bruins Tickets" deal from Aug. 26 to Oct. 30, and using Facebook and Twitter to reach fans about the ticket promotion. Mercury will also have a booth at Bruin home games in the "Fan Zone" located outside the Rose Bowl. Thompson said local Mercury agents will staff the booth, and fans can spin "the prize wheel" to win various gifts, including an all-expense paid trip for two to a 2012 UCLA football road game.

The company is also sponsoring the L.A. Kings and L.A. Dodgers, and is title sponsor of the Mercury Insurance Open, the Women's Tennis Association tour stop in Carlsbad, Calif.