ICYMI, last Friday the Calgary Flames shared the news that their previously ad-free red jerseys will now feature both for the 2024-25 season.
They announced the move via press release and video:
We are proud to announce @PlayAlbertaCA as our exclusive sports betting and online gaming partner!
Play Alberta becomes the inaugural home jersey partner of the #Flames: https://t.co/DsBHejKn81 pic.twitter.com/4U6LYAw8zP
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 20, 2024
The Flames will feature “AGLC’s responsible gambling program, GameSense, on their home helmets and a Play Alberta insignia displayed on their home jerseys.” In case you’re not familiar with that acronym, AGLC stands for Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.
The deal expands a previous partnership between the Flames and PlayAlberta, where the PlayAlberta logo was on their home helmets during the 2023-24 season. The agreement makes Play Alberta the “exclusive sports betting and online gaming partner of the Flames.”
Here’s a look at the new helmet ad:
The Flames worn a Telus ad on their road helmets for the past three seasons and previously wore a ScotiaBank ad on their home and road helmets during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. No announcements have been made, yet, regarding ad placements on their road helmets or jerseys for the 2024-25 season.
If you’re scoring at home, there have been five teams with new jersey or helmet ads in the past two weeks. Those are the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators, all of whom got first-time advertisers for their white jerseys. The Toronto Maple Leafs added a helmet ad, and the Edmonton Oilers, have an ad for their home jerseys.
Also news today, the Lightning will be sporting a Tampa YMCA patch. At least it’s a little less gross when a franchise supports a non-profit link
That’s the Oilers jersey ad too. Just like Carling beer being on Rangers FC and Celtic FC kits, might as well take both sides of the rivalry so you can you’re taking neither
God, that GameSense ad is BRUTAL.
I guess they really want it to stand out, but you can’t color-match with red font, or just have white lettering with no background? Awful awful awful.
Gambling ads again? *cut to the mass puking scene from Stand By Me*
Ignoring the add, I freaking love those Calgary jerseys. Without the adds, it’s a perfect hockey uniform.
I am not a fan of the Flames, but I’d sure wear one of those.
Top 5 NHL jersey.
Who would have ever thought we’d reach the point where teams are doing marketing to notify us of an advertiser. But alas here we are. Or should I say, have been for quite some time.
Concerning all NHL jerseys, this is just step 1. Just Google any Nascar drivers uniform to see the end result. Not to be over dramatic but can we not have one damn thing about our teams that is sacred? We’ve put up with the bloated amount of advertising all over the rinks, the selling off the actual names of our teams home and even the logoing of the players helmets. Cannot we at least leave the last symbol of our team alone without whoring it out for another dollar? I know it’s just a matter of time, but I’m sooo thankful my (Dallas Stars) has held out on the obvious temptation to sell out their team for just another buck so far.
I’ve always wondered where this goes with sports teams – because really anything is up for grabs, they just haven’t done it ALL yet. Do the backboards get sold in NBA? How about the ball? What would it be worth to a company to have the NHL entire sheet of ice be their logo somehow? Look at how big an NFL field is, how much of that real estate can be sold (even more than it is now that is). Then lastly, the final step of team NAMES being sold. “The Pittsburgh Heinz Ketchup Steelers” (Don’t laugh, your kids will be living in this world at some point). Everyone is all-in because star players even will soon be hitting the $100 million per year salary mark, and growing.