Warner Bros. Consumer Products and NBA ...Warner Bros. Consumer Products - Januar 2014 |
 |
... Celebrate the Success of the First Co-Branded Basketball Clinic at the O2 in London
The iconic Looney Tunes characters starred alongside NBA Legends and mascots in a basketball clinic to drive interest and encourage youth participation in basketball
Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA (WBCP EMEA) in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) is celebrating the success of its first Looney Tunes Active! and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA co-branded basketball clinic that took place at The O2 in London on Wednesday 15th January 2014.
The event saw the coming together of the iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck with NBA Legends John Amaechi and Steve Smith together with the Atlanta Hawks mascot Harry the Hawk and the Brooklyn Nets mascot Brooklyn Knight who treated 55 children aged 7-8 from Millbank Primary School to a morning of sporting fun. The clinic created an opportunity for children to learn the rules of basketball and develop their game through practical, hands on coaching with some of the best talent in the business. Focusing on the fundamentals of the game, the clinic also emphasized the values of the game including sportsmanship and team work, while teaching the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.
A breakfast reception followed the clinic where the children enjoyed nutritious refreshments in the company of the NBA Legends and mascots. There were activity sheets for the kids to complete that used the active by nature personality traits of the Looney Tunes characters and the globally renowned credentials of the NBA to drive interest and encourage participation in basketball. Children had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the mascots and NBA Legends and they each received a goody bag containing Looney Tunes NBA co-branded basketball merchandise.
“We’re delighted to announce the details of the first Looney Tunes Active! and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA cobranded basketball clinic. It’s the initial step in a joint venture that will see us combining the power of our iconic sport and entertainment brands to directly connect with new audiences to promote the importance of living an active lifestyle. Our mission statement has always been to teach and not to preach. This fun and interactive initiative allows us to do just that using the active by nature character personality traits of the Looney Tunes characters.” said Pilar Zulueta, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WBCP EMEA.
“This announcement reaffirms our commitment to growing grassroots basketball internationally through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program,” said Benjamin Morel, Senior Vice President, NBA Europe. “By partnering with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and allowing children the opportunity to be coached directly by their sporting and entertainment heroes, we hope to inspire a lifelong passion for basketball and a commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle.”
Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA (WBCP EMEA) first announced the multiyear partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) at Brand Licensing Europe 2013 in the presence of Warner Bros.’ characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, and NBA Legend Gary Payton. The collaboration combines the power of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Looney Tunes Active! brands to drive interest and encourage participation in basketball amongst children aged 4-to-12 across EMEA. The supporting consumer products programme will feature apparel, accessories, toys, games and consumables. The merchandise will integrate the popular Looney Tunes characters with the NBA’s branding, and feature Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters in NBA team jerseys.