Red Wings Announce Landmark Partnership With Amway

DETROIT, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Red Wings announced today they have signed an agreement with Amway. The multi-platform deal provides Amway with the exclusive rights to placing its logo on the official Red Wings practice jersey as well as dasher board signage during Wings home games. The practice jersey is worn by Red Wings players during all practices and morning skates, both home and away, throughout the entire regular season and playoffs.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101117/DE03573 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101117/DE03573 )

The Amway logo patch will appear on the upper right front of the Wings practice jerseys beginning with Wednesday's (11/17) morning skate.  Reebok's logo will remain on the upper left of the jersey front.  The partnership is one of just four jersey sponsorships currently active in the National Hockey League, joining Calgary, Vancouver and Chicago.

"When the National Hockey League created the opportunity for the practice jersey sponsorship, Amway emerged as an ideal partner for the Red Wings," said Steve Violetta, the Red Wings senior vice president of business affairs.  "As a Michigan-based company that is an active sponsor in several sports, we are very pleased with this alliance and look forward to an exciting future with our new partner."

Amway is extremely active in sports sponsorships. They hold the naming rights of the Amway Center in Orlando which is home to the NBA's Orlando Magic and are the presenting sponsor of Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes.

"Amway's sponsorship of the Red Wings practice jerseys is a great way for us to invest in our company's home state. As one of Western Michigan's largest employers we're very excited to align with another Michigan powerhouse," says Jori Hartwig, Vice President of Marketing for Amway North America. "Detroit may be Hockeytown but the Red Wings have loyal fans everywhere. Our Independent Business Owners across the country will be proud to see the Amway name associated with an organization that has such a long tradition of winning and investing in its community."

About Detroit Red Wings:

The Detroit Red Wings hockey club, a member of the National Hockey League, was purchased by Michael and Marian Ilitch in 1982. Michael and/or Marian Ilitch own several other companies in the food, sports and entertainment industries, including: Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Little Caesars Pizza Kits Fundraising Program, Champion Foods and Uptown Entertainment. Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers. Marian Ilitch owns the MotorCity Casino Hotel. For more information, visit DetroitRedWings.com.

About Amway

Based in Ada, Mich., Amway is part of the Alticor group of companies, founded by the DeVos and Van Andel families. Alticor is the parent company of Amway Corp., Access Business Group LLC and Alticor Corporate Enterprises. The company offers consumer products and business opportunities, as well as product development, manufacturing and logistics services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. The company reported annual sales of $8.4 billion for the year ending December 31, 2009.

SOURCE Amway