Red Sox Sign 8-Year JetBlue Renewal Including Naming Rights

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Boston Red Sox have signed an eight-year sponsorship extension with airline partner JetBlue.

Under the terms of the new multi-year agreement, the carrier will gain naming rights for the club’s new Spring Training ballpark under construction in Fort Myers, Florida, which will now be renamed JetBlue Park and is scheduled to open next year.

The extension, signed a year before the expiration of an existing three-year pact, will also include a designation for JetBlue as a Fenway Park Preservation Partner, a select group of larger Red Sox corporate partners playing significant roles in the 100th anniversary celebration of the ballpark in 2012. 

The relationship between the Red Sox and JetBlue soared as the economy rebounded, having signed their initial partnership in the midst of the lowest depths of the global economic recession.

Red Sox Executive Vice-President & COO Sam Kennedy stated: “They’ve been incredible partners, and they’re making a big commitment not only to Boston and Fenway, but Fort Myers and Lee County. We’re really pleased to have this partnership really bridge over both of our bases of operation.” 

Although financial terms were not disclosed, the previous deal saw JetBlue paying about US$1m per year on average, and the expanded rights in the new package inevitably will prompt a larger outlay.

The eight-year term is also longer than most other sponsorship deals for both JetBlue and the Red Sox.