Wildcats and RAC team up

The RAC has signed on to be a second-tier sponsor of the Perth Wildcats for the upcoming National Basketball League season, joining principle sponsor and property group Saville Australia as one of the team's main corporate backers.

Wildcats CEO Nick Marvin would not disclose the value of the one-year deal with RAC, except to say it was somewhat less than the $1 million Saville Australia paid in May for a three-year naming rights sponsorship deal.

Mr Marvin said the Wildcats' corporate sponsorship revenue was at an all-time high off the back of a strong Western Australian economy and basketball's rising profile as a summer sport.

"We've hit all our revenue targets this year with a 40 per cent rise in revenue from corporate support and a 35 per cent rise in memberships on last year," he told WA Business News.

"We met with RAC early in the season last year and talked about a perfect fit. We are by far the most well travelled team with some 150 community engagements a year around the state."

In addition to community engagements, the relationship will include corporate hospitality, ticketing opportunities and on-court promotions.

RAC general manager of membership and retail, Michael Heath, said the sponsorship of the Wildcats demonstrated its commitment to the community and to grass roots development of the sport.

The Wildcats' first game of the 2007-08 season is on Sunday, September 23, at Challenge Stadium.