Global retailer Foot Locker and Basketball Australia have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership between Foot Locker and the Australian Junior Champions (AJCs).
Beginning with the U14 Nationals tournament kicking off this weekend in Western Sydney, the new partnership will see all five annual AJC tournaments (U14s, U16s, U18s, U20s and Schools) official named the ‘Foot Locker Australian Junior Championships’.
Foot Locker, in partnership with Basketball Australia, will also co-fund 10 athlete scholarships per year to attend the tournaments, which will be facilitated via the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund. Plus, Foot Locker will introduce a new award at each championship - the Defensive Player of the Tournament award – which will be awarded to the best defensive male and female athlete at the tournament, as voted via an opposition Coach voting system after each game.
“The AJC tournaments are something many of our customers participate in, and several of our Stripers have as well,” said Brendan Graham, Foot Locker Senior Director, Marketing, Asia Pacific, who himself formerly participated in six AJC tournaments and won two Silver Medals with Queensland South.
“Investing in the elite level of play at every age group, plus introducing a new defensively focussed award and athlete support funding are initiatives we are very proud of committing to.”
“This partnership is so much more than just a commercial deal, it’s an investment in the growth of youth basketball,” said Matt Scriven, Basketball Australia CEO.
“Foot Locker represents everything we love about the culture of basketball and the additional opportunities, experiences, and defensive values that Foot Locker is bringing to this partnership is truly exciting for our athletes, families, and stadium partners.”
Foot Locker Pacific Creative Director of Basketball Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams posted a video to social media (Instagram: @chomicide), appearing with Los Angeles Laker’s Assistant Coach Phil Handy to celebrate the partnership and announcement of the Defensive Player of the Tournament award.
Williams will be on-site at the U14 AJCs on Grand Final day to hand out Foot Locker Gift Cards to the winning male and female teams at the Medal Ceremony, plus commemorate the inaugural Defensive Player of the Tournament winners with Gift Cards and the development of a personalised Tyson Beck athlete artwork.
