USA: Anheuser-Busch perpetuates Minnesota Wild sponsorship agreement

Anheuser-Busch signed a new multiyear sponsorship agreement with the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Business Journal posted on May 04.

The signing means Bud Light will remain the official beer of the St. Paul, Minnesota-based NHL team. Anheuser-Busch has been a corporate sponsor of the team since 2000.

The brewery also will continue to sponsor the Wild's "Hockey Unplugged" program, which is designed to foster more interaction between fans and players. Once a month during the season, a Wild player appears at a local bar or restaurant to meet fans.

Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch Inc., said in a statement, "We're excited to help fans get closer to the game through innovative opportunities such as 'Hockey Unplugged.' NHL hockey and the Minnesota Wild are an important part of our overall sports sponsorship strategy."

Bud Light has been the official beer of the NHL since 1994 and sponsors 22 of the league's 24 teams in the United States.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., the largest domestic brewer, manufactures and recycles aluminium cans and operates theme parks. Anheuser-Busch Inc. is its brewing subsidiary.