Etihad Airways has signed a legacy partnership agreement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) to become the exclusive airline partner of the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Verizon Center.
Etihad Airways will receive a variety of branding opportunities, be featured in numerous multimedia programming and work collaboratively with MSE on several community initiatives to promote and celebrate the international nature of sport in Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi.
The Verizon Center hosts 220 top-level sporting events, music concerts, and family shows every year and is a hugely popular venue for Washington, D.C. residents and visitors.
“This relationship is a sign of our long-term commitment to the Washington, D.C., market, which we have been serving since 2013,” said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways.
“We are proud to announce this partnership, just as we are proud to connect the two capital cities of Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi.
“Our daily flights allow American travelers to reach more than 60 cities around the world, flying the world’s leading airline[1] on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, as well as bringing thousands of business travelers and tourists to the U.S. every week.”
The MSE partnership builds upon Etihad Airways’ U.S. sports sponsorship portfolio within which the airline is official airline partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Nation’s Triathlon, which takes place each year in Washington, D.C.
“Etihad Airways is a prestigious international brand known for its hospitality, service and global reach,” said Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman and majority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
“As a legacy partner, Etihad Airways provides that official connection to our diverse and international community and the growing interest in sports worldwide. Our teams are international, our players are international, our city is international and our partnership with Etihad builds on those commonalities.”
Washington, D.C., is a global hub for travel with three international airports and 500 international flights each week serving 64 million passengers per year. The nation’s capital is also one of six American cities served daily by Etihad Airways from its home-base in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
“Etihad Airways embraces the growth and popularity of basketball and hockey worldwide and is committed to driving brand awareness for sports on an international scale,” said Raul Fernandez, vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
“The Capitals, Wizards and Mystics enjoy such a cross-cultural roster and playing at Verizon Center is an experience found nowhere else but in the heart of the nation’s capital.”
Etihad Airways proudly supports Manchester City Football Club; New York City Football Club; the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; the Mumbai Indians cricket team of the Indian Premier League; Etihad Stadium and Melbourne City Football Club; the England and Wales Cricket Board; and the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship.
The addition of the Washington Mystics to the Etihad Airways sponsorship portfolio bolsters the airline’s commitment to promoting women’s sport, fitness, health and well-being, which has been popular among its more than 8,200 female employees across 144 different nationalities.