Harrah’s Cherokee Casino has been confirmed as an official sponsor of NFL team the Carolina Panthers as part of a five-year partnership.  

The sponsorship agreement, covering broadcast TV and radio, will see inclusion of Harrah’s Cherokee branding and logos shown for pre-game, in-game and post-game by rotation. In-stadium, the firm has naming rights for Panther’s Champions Village which will be badged as the Harrah’s Cherokee Champions Village. The casino will also sponsor the 5th Quarter post-game show.

Speaking to the Cherokee One Feather, Brian Saunooke, Regional Vice President of Marketing for Harrah’s Cherokee, explained that an introduction to the Panthers had been made through Caesars corporate support with a view to gaining more exposure to customers in the Charlotte market.

Further in the article, he revealed that formalizing the deal with the NFL had been a lengthy process, saying: “Because the NFL is a brand that has worked so hard to build their brand, they’re also protective of their brand. And sponsorship agreements such as that, they tend to be a lot more detailed and lengthy contracts.”

Saunooke also stated that the sponsorship represented a big move for Harrah’s, adding that there are opportunities to grow the deal to make it a long-running agreement. “We hope that it will be,” he told the Cherokee One Feather. “This is a five-year agreement, and I see no reason why it couldn’t develop into a longer-term relationship.”