NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced a new sponsorship naming Discover as an Official Partner of the NHL® in the U.S. The sponsorship also designates Discover as the Official Card of the NHL, NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Winter Classic, NHL Awards™, and the NHL Entry Draft. As part of the deal, Discover has become the presenting sponsor of the NHL All-Star Game.
The partnership extends Discover’s existing investment in hockey, giving them extended opportunities to engage with U.S. hockey fans nationwide and develop exclusive hockey-themed rewards opportunities and experiences across various NHL special events. In unprecedented fashion, one lucky Discover cardmember will have the opportunity to spend a personal day with the Stanley Cup.
“Partnering with the NHL gives us great opportunities to connect with our cardmembers around their passion for the sport of Hockey," said Harit Talwar, president of U.S. Cards for Discover. “Through various cardmember exclusives and unique experiences, including special access to the 2011 NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover, we are providing meaningful reasons for cardmembers to use their Discover Card everyday. It’s another great way to show how it pays to Discover.”“Discover’s passion for providing unique rewards and experiences to their cardmembers is an excellent fit with the NHL where we are predicated on engaging and mobilizing fans around big events,” said Keith Wachtel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales & Marketing for the NHL. “This coupled with Discover’s significant support of our broadcast partners and NHL controlled media assets will provide a deeper engagement with our highly desirable fan demographic.”
In addition through this partnership, Discover will offer opportunities for cardmembers to redeem their Cashback® Bonus rewards for discounts to Shop.NHL.com and the NHL Powered by Reebok store in New York City, GameCenter Live subscriptions, autographed NHL merchandise, and more.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.
NHL, the NHL Shield, the NHL Winter Classic word mark and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the NHL Winter Classic logo, the NHL All Star Game logo and NHL Awards are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
Contacts
Kerry McGovern, NHL
212-789-2172, kmcgovern@NHL.com
or
Matt Towson, Discover Financial Services
224-405-5649, matthewtowson@discover.com
212-789-2172, kmcgovern@NHL.com
or
Matt Towson, Discover Financial Services
224-405-5649, matthewtowson@discover.com
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