(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — American Express and AEG have entered into a multi-year, multi-tiered sponsorship agreement, making American Express the "Official Card" with AEG's Southern California-based venues and teams including Staples Center and The Home Depot Center, as well as the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) professional sports franchises. In addition to in-venue signage, it also gives exclusive benefits for American Express cardmembers, including early on-sale ticket opportunities, specially designated amenities, and access to some of the "best seats in the house" for numerous events.
A newly created "American Express Event Series" will be presented at Staples Center, The Home Depot Center, and Kodak Theatre and will include access to some of the best seats for American Express cardmembers at music, sports and entertainment events throughout the year.
In launching this new agreement, American Express is offering cardmembers an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets September 12-18, prior to public sale, for the Ray Charles tribute concert, Genius: A Night for Ray Charles at Staples Center on October 8. The event is being hosted by Jamie Foxx and will feature Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Al Green, Elton John, Norah Jones, BB King, Reba McEntire, David "Fathead" Newman, Billy Preston, Usher, and Stevie Wonder. The tribute will be taped to air as a television special on CBS.
"AEG owns and operates some of the most famous and prestigious venues in the country, and now our cardmembers will have exclusive, first access to some of the best seats and some of the most exciting and prominent events throughout the Los Angeles area," said Nancy Smith, vice president, Global Media and Sponsorship at American Express. "When you carry an American Express Card, you are entitled to unique experiences and benefits, and this is just another example of American Express' ongoing commitment to our cardmembers and the Los Angeles marketplace overall."
"Our partnership with American Express is clearly one of the most extensive and far-reaching agreements AEG has ever entered into," added Shawn Hunter, chief marketing officer, AEG. "American Express' investment in our entities — from the Staples Center and The Home Depot Center to the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy — will allow us to significantly elevate our visibility and enhance the power of our brands throughout the marketplace. We appreciate the confidence American Express has in AEG and our affiliated divisions and we are certain that our assets and partnership will give us the ability to achieve the goals anticipated by both companies."
AEG is currently overseeing the development of L.A. Live, a proposed 4 million square foot development featuring NOKIA Theatre Los Angeles, a 7,000-seat state-of-the-art live theatre, a 55-story, 1,200-room convention "headquarters" hotel, Club NOKIA, a 2,500 capacity live music venue along with entertainment, restaurant, broadcast studios, residential and office space all adjacent to Staples Center. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
