CANTON, Mass. – U.S. hockey fans have a new reason to cheer this season, as Dunkin’ Donuts and the National Hockey League announced a multi-year agreement today, making Dunkin’ Donuts the official U.S. coffee, donut and breakfast sandwich of the NHL®. The partnership, which marks Dunkin’ Donuts’ first national sports league partnership, will officially launch during the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® outdoor game in St. Louis on January 2, 2017.
As part of the deal, Dunkin’ Donuts will be prominently featured at several of the NHL jewel events, including the NHL Winter Classic®, NHL® All-Star Weekend, NHL Stadium Series™ and the NHL’s year-long Centennial celebration. Dunkin’ Donuts will be included in advertising, LED Signage and jumbotron displays, as well as on-site activations at each jewel event.
Dunkin’ Donuts also will have significant presence across NHL’s broadcast and digital platforms in the U.S. Additionally, Dunkin’ Donuts has a multi-million dollar partnership with NBC Sports that will include custom in-game features and dasherboard visibility, as well as advertising across broadcast, digital and social media channels beginning January 2 and continuing throughout the NHL season.
New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh and Boston Bruins center David Backes will join Dunkin’ Donuts as national brand spokespersons. McDonagh and Backes will be featured in a series of advertisements, along with U.S. Women’s Team Captain and star of the Boston Pride, Meghan Duggan.
“As the NHL celebrates its Centennial year, we are thrilled to be partnering with such an iconic league, giving our fans many more opportunities to engage with their favorite hockey teams,” said Tom Manchester, Vice President, Field Marketing, Dunkin’ Brands. “NHL fans, much like Dunkin’ Donuts fans, are some of the most loyal, energetic and passionate fans around. Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches are sure to keep hockey fans running throughout the season.”
“This groundbreaking deal, marking the NHL as the first professional sports league partner for Dunkin’ Donuts, reflects the power and reach of the NHL brand and our ever-growing fan base,” said Dave Lehanski, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Global Partnerships, NHL. “Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches are synonomous with hockey at all levels – whether you’re a hockey fan, parent, or player. We’re excited and proud to welcome Dunkin’ Donuts to our NHL family, and look forward to working together to engage hockey fans all across the country.”
Dunkin’ Donuts will also offer special NHL team logo donuts for a limited time throughout the season at participating U.S. restaurants in select markets.
Prior to launching a league-wide partnership with the NHL, Dunkin’ Donuts has maintained a proud history of local partnerships with several prominent NHL franchises including the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. As a result of Dunkin’ Donuts’ partnership with the NHL in the U.S., the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues have joined the brand’s roster of local NHL team sponsorships. In December 2015, Dunkin’ Donuts became the first official corporate sponsor of the new National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and entered into a partnership with USA Hockey that includes designation as the Official Coffee Shop of the U.S. Women’s National Team in February 2016.
(Article and photo reprinted with permission of the NHL and NHL.com)
