"We are thrilled to welcome Zappos.com to the West Coast Conference team as the title sponsor for our conference basketball championships. We have found the perfect partner for our most high profile event thanks to the efforts of IMG College. It was clear from our first meeting with Zappos.com management that they shared a common vision for growing our Las Vegas- based basketball championship." said Jamie Zaninovich, Commissioner, West Coast Conference.
The announcement was made this week by WCC-IMG College General Manager Dan Shell, the three-year deal marks the conference's first-ever title sponsorship. Financial terms of the new sponsorship agreement were not disclosed.
"Zappos.com is excited to be the title sponsor of this great event. The WCC and its institutions always put on a highly competitive tournament and the energy and buzz it generates can be felt not only in Las Vegas, but around the country. Zappos and the Conference share a belief that anything is possible with enough passion and determination. It's what drives us a company to continually up our own game from selling shoes to becoming a leading online retailer with a wide variety of products." added Alfred Lin, Chairman & CFO/COO, Zappos.com.
The deal will give Zappos.com exclusive marketing, promotional and media rights for WCC men's and women's championships scheduled to take place in March, 2010 at the Orleans Arena. The 2800 seat Arena is located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino and is operated by Coast Casinos, a subsidiary of Boyd Gaming Corporation. The eight teams competing in the West Coast Conference Championships include Gonzaga University, Loyola Marymount University Santa Clara University, Saint Mary’s College, Pepperdine University, University of San Diego, University of Portland and University of San Francisco.
In addition to its financial sponsorship, the WCC and Zappos.com will partner with Soles4Souls to challenge each West Coast Conference campus to collect the most shoes from December to the end of the conference basketball season. The shoes will be distributed internationally through Soles4Souls to individuals in need.
New shoes, donated by Soles4Souls and Zappos.com, will be delivered to at-risk youth from the Clark County School District and the After School All-Star program in Las Vegas during the WCC Women's Basketball Championship Final.
