• by Tanya Gazdik , July 19, 2016

USA Basketball is enlisting a large number of brands to provide fans with unique experiences, content, and offerings throughout the men’s and women’s national team training camps and the USA Basketball Showcase presented by Verizon.

Partners, many of which also sponsor the NBA, will activate throughout USA Basketball’s nine exhibition games in eight markets, where the men’s and women’s national teams will take on top opponents in preparation for the Olympics.

A major emphasis this summer, partners will help host USA Basketball Youth Development Clinics and Coach Academies. Operated by certified USA Basketball Youth Development clinicians, the clinics will introduce children (ages 6 - 14) to the game of basketball in a fun and structured learning environment. Similarly, each USA Basketball Youth Coach Academy presented by Nike will provide coaches valuable insight and education for teaching the game to rising players. 

Brands partnering with the organization include: 2K, Anheuser-Busch, Aquafina, Baron, Cisco, FedEx, Gatorade, Harmon, Hospital for Special Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Marriott, Nike, Samsung, Shock Doctor, State Farm, Verizon and Wynn Las Vegas.

Anheuser-Bush’s Budweiser brand will host mobile build-a-bar setups near or around the arena of multiple markets. Events will include USA Basketball legend appearances, live DJs, USA Basketball-themed giveaways and interactive games, and bars featuring Budweiser beer. The Houston event will build upon the brand’s “Bud and Burgers” summer campaign, where Budweiser will host a burger food truck, a tent serving Budweiser, seating and games. The brand will also host an event at its recently opened Beer Park by Budweiser at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.

Aquafina will have brand presence in-arena through courtside signage and in-game promotions and will host exit sampling of Aquafina Sparkling at select Showcase venues. Diageo will host VIPs at the USA Basketball Welcome Reception presented by Ciroc featuring meet-and-greets with men’s team members and coaches

Gatorade will provide product, including coolers, towels, cups, and carts, for every Showcase game and practice throughout the summer. The sports drink recently released USA Basketball-themed product packaging featuring its roster athlete Paul George. The packaging release is part of the "For the Love of Sports" campaign, which features Paul George and Elena Delle Donne, alongside Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, and April Ross.

Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s Jeep brand is the exclusive automotive partner of USA Basketball. Jeep will serve as the presenting partner of “Real Training Camp.” which will celebrate its shared 75^thAnniversary with the USO, a nonprofit which supports the men and women of our nation’s military. Jeep launched two nationwide commercials around its third annual Summer of Jeep and 4x4ever campaigns featuring Paul George. The automaker will host a meet-and-greet event in Chicago with George and Jalen Rose, ABC/ESPN analyst and national radio/TV host, to celebrate the partnership.

Marriott will host unique USA Basketball hospitality experiences in every market including meet-and-greets and tickets to each Showcase game, available to Marriott Rewards members as part of its new Experiences Marketplace. 

Nike will serve as the Official Apparel Provider for the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams. The brand will produce a USA Basketball-themed spot uniting members of the men’s and women’s teams. Nike will also produce a vignette series highlighting the legacy of the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team and its influence on the 2016 squad. The series will run on Nike and USA Basketball’s digital and social channels. Nike will serve as presenting partner of all Showcase broadcasts and the USA Basketball Youth Development events.

State Farm will offer fans sign-making stations and branded giveaways on the concourse of each Showcase game. The brand will also further promote its “Here to Help Life Go Right” mantra through various media opportunities.

As presenting partner of the USA Basketball Showcase, Verizon will receive premium branding throughout the tour, including in-arena signage and a special VIP hospitality program. The brand will host VIPs at two hospitality events, featuring USA Basketball legend meet-and-greets and autograph sessions and giveaways in Chicago and Houston.