Jack Link's Protein Snacks Expands Presenting Sponsorship Of “The Basketball Tournament" For 2016

BOSTON - Feb. 8, 2016 - PRLog -- The Basketball Tournament (TBT) today announced Jack Link’s® Protein Snacks will return and expand its position as the presenting sponsor of the event. The open, single-elimination, summer basketball event featuring an unprecedented winner-take-all cash prize empowers fans to determine the field and to compete along with their favorite teams. The official title of TBT in 2016 will be “The Basketball Tournament presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.” And for the third year, TBT will continue its relationship with the premier sports network, ESPN.

TBT’s social media driven application period launches on April 1 on TheTournament.com, with the on-court competition beginning in July and culminating in early August. Additional details on TBT’s 2016 format, dates, locations, and participants are forthcoming.

“Jack Link’s has been an awesome partner for TBT. I can think of no better brand than Jack Link’s to help us encourage fans to step out of their traditional roles and feel what it’s like to manage, own or build a professional sports team,” said Jon Mugar, CEO and founder of The Basketball Tournament. “The combination of TBT’s unique and powerful social media-based application model, exposure on ESPN’s networks, and our live events across the country results in a platform from which Jack Link’s will communicate their message to our demographic of young, social-media savvy sports fans. ”

Jack Link’s presenting sponsorship will include integration into the event logo, in-arena signage, promotional opportunities, and a streaming presence and broadcast advertising for all of TBT’s televised games in 2016.

“Jack Link’s is thrilled to once again partner with The Basketball Tournament as the presenting sponsor,” said Kevin Papacek, director of marketing for Jack Link’s. “The partnership is a great opportunity to bring together the fun and competitive nature of both Jack Link’s and TBT. We’re excited to help fuel the inner wild side of the participating teams as they vie for the title.”

TBT’s 2015 field, which featured regional play in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, included hundreds of players who have competed at the highest levels the world over. Overseas Elite, a team of veteran international professional players, won last year’s $1 million winner-take-all title at Fordham’s historic Rose Hill Gynamsium. Fans who voted for Overseas Elite shared in the winnings, taking home a combined $50,000 of the grand prize. The Notre Dame Fighting Alumni, a squad made up of some of the best players in University of Notre Dame history, won the inaugural title and $500,000 in 2014. Over 300 teams applied to join the tournament last year, which saw the winner-take-all prize double in value.

Players must be 18 years of age or older and all games are played under college rules with two 18-minute halves. In addition to Overseas Elite, university-based alumni teams representing schools like Syracuse University, Notre Dame, Princeton, Temple, and others have competed in TBT’s previous editions, with more likely to join them in this and future years.

ABOUT THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Conceived by CEO Jonathan Mugar as the ultimate opportunity for fans, athletes and social media mavens to live out their dreams and chase once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, TBT’s foundation as a high-stakes, professionally run and organized sporting event, now sees it entering its third year. In its first two seasons, The Basketball Tournament drew over 400 team entries from around the country, with participants ranging from professional players and recent college stars to pickup basketball players and people who have never played above high school.  Among the event’s advisors are Tony Ponturo of Ponturo Management Group, Andy Dolich of Dolich Consulting, and Len DeLuca of Len DeLuca & Associates, LLC. The partnership agreement was secured by TBT’s sponsorship agency of record, Equity Sports Partners, which is led by Cliff Kaplan. For more details visit http://www.thetournament.com/

Jack Link’s® Protein Snacks – Feed Your Wild Side™

Jack Link’s is a global leader in protein snacks and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Headquartered in Minong, Wis., Jack Link’s is a family-owned company that represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust, with the mission to Feed Your Wild Side. Jack Link’s offers more than 100 premium protein snacks in a variety of flavors, sizes and price points, appealing to nearly every consumer and occasion. Check out JackLinks.com for more information on the brand.

Media Contacts:Jessie Clapper, Spong | jacklinks@spongpr.com 612-375-8502

Joe Favorito, Kirmser Ponturo Group | joefavorito2@gmail.com 201-746-0005

Jesse Leeds, TBT | jesse@thetournament.com 845-612-9323