Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza has signed a new 6-year deal with the New Zealand National Basketball League that will see New Zealand’s best and most authentic New York pizza continue as the League’s Naming Rights partner through to the 2028 season.
The new deal will elevate the partnership between Sal’s and the NZNBL to being one of New Zealand’s longest headlining sports partnerships, extending now to 11 years.
Sal’s Managing Director, Nick Turner, said the Sal’s family across New Zealand and Australia is thrilled to be extending its partnership with basketball and immensely popular national league.
“The Sal’s NBL is a fans-first league and we believe the teams deliver New Zealand’s best entertainment product to communities all around the country - something that is so important to us at Sal’s where we value the importance of families spending time together.
“We are beyond thrilled to be extending this wonderful partnership, the growth of the Sal’s NBL since 2018 has been nothing short of amazing. Basketball is the game corporate New Zealand should be getting behind because it’s the game our youth and our families are falling in love with, and our franchisees take enormous pride in knowing we have been on this journey for five years already,” added Turner.
“Basketball is an incredibly inclusive pathway for all ages, men and women, and ethnicities. We’re privileged to be able to support a game that gives back in so many ways, and it’s an effortless partnership, the league and Sky Sport are creative, innovative and want us all to succeed. It’s a true partnership.
“When we first partnered back in 2018, there were eight teams and only three teams with a Sal’s pizzeria in their neighbourhood. Today we have 10 teams in the league and we’re proud to have eight of them enjoying a Sal’s pizzeria in their area. It won’t be long until we’re catering for all 10 and all the fans.”
Sal’s will also be increasing its financial support to include the Tauihi women’s professional league, where they will join as a Major Partner.
Former Sal’s NBL General Manager Justin Nelson, who today leads the League’s commercial interests in his position looking after Commercialisation & Fandom at Sky Sport, says the strength of any sporting competition’s foundations are always reflective in commercial partnerships.
“This extension is outstanding news for men’s and women’s basketball in New Zealand. Nick and his wonderful Sal’s franchisees across New Zealand and Australia were the smartest people in the room back in 2018 when they backed basketball. The rest is history and with this new six-year deal they continue to be the smartest people in the room,” said Nelson.
Sal’s NBL General Manager, Maree Taylor, said the continuing support by Sal’s will be further supported in the coming fortnight when a raft of new partnerships and further renewals will be announced.
“Our thanks to Sal’s for their continued support of the men’s league, and their introduction into the women’s league as well, it all adds up to a high-level partnership that will now extend past a decade. We are immensely proud of the value we put on delivering above and beyond. Our partners are family and Sal’s is very much at the head of the family table.
“Thank you also to Sky Sport for their continued support of our leagues and the creative and innovative way they are helping us to build our commercial properties and care for our partners. It’s a seamless approach that is delivering great benefits to our elite competitions,” added Taylor.
The Sal’s NBL tips-off on Thursday with all games live on Sky Sport, including Sunday night games each week live on Prime TV.
All Sal’s NBL games are also broadcast live internationally to all corners of the world on ESPN and FIBA YouTube.
More info on the Sal’s NBL can be found below:
