Keeping Homeland in the Heartland: OKC Thunder extend sponsorship with Homeland Stores
By Alex Mcewen
After three consecutive first-round exits, the OKC Thunder have still received support from their sponsors. Find out which sponsor recently re-upped with the franchise.
A cliché that is often heard around the association is; The NBA is a business. Given what has transpired with the OKC Thunder the past three seasons the phrase could not be more accurate.
Due to the fact, Oklahoma City has suffered three consecutive first-round exits, yet, the franchise has still received support from their sponsors. Case in point; the organization recently extended its long-time running partnership with Homeland Stores.
The team made the announcement regarding the sponsorship extension via a press release, which can be viewed here. The franchises statement highlighted different areas where Homeland and the Thunder work together which includes, but is not limited to:
- Homeland is the official grocery store of the Thunder
- Shopping Sprees, that used to take placed exclusively during the Holiday season, but have extended throughout the NBA regular season.
- Thunder Fit Clinics, where the team visits typically a school or a retirement home, encouraging student/residents to get up, get moving, and be active.
- Giveaway’s throughout the regular season during Thunder home games, typically a shopping bag
- There are also two Homeland Signs inside Chesapeake Energy Arena above the entryway leading into the lower bowl and onto the court.
The above list is extensive, much like the Thunder’s subsequent partnership with Love’s Travel Shops. Homeland is deeply intertwined within the organization, and both parties have been involved with the Thunder since their inaugural season in 2008. Both relationships seem to be going strong, as the Thunder voyage forward in their second decade in Oklahoma City.
According to an OKC Thunder press release; the franchise has extended their sponsorship with Homeland Stores. Oklahoma City has had a partnership with the grocer since the team's inaugural season.
— Alex Mcewen (@eflame_717) May 3, 2019
One interesting aspect regarding various team sponsors is the way OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti addressed them, during his annual exit interview. In years past, Presti has thanked sponsors, solely in his opening statement.
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This time around, Presti thanked the Thunder’s sponsors multiple times throughout the presser. Perhaps the added gratitude is nothing, or perchance it could be something, regardless interactions between the Thunder and their sponsors should be monitored moving forward.
Shifting away from the OKC Thunder
Non-basketball related note, yesterday was May 3rd, if you are an Oklahoma resident or a weather virtuoso you know that date marked the 20th anniversary since the May 3rd tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore in 1999.
The natural disaster hit close to home because that is my community. The wind speeds inside the twister maxed out at 302 + 22 mph, which is the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth. It was the second most costly Tornado in US history causing in excess of $1 billion dollars in damages, trailing only the Joplin Missouri twister.
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Miraculously, only 36 people lost their lives, they may be gone, but they’ll never be forgotten. Today, the city of Moore is thriving and completely rebuilt. Although, debris can still be found around the city if you look hard enough 20 years later. The city will forever be Moore Strong!