United Airlines Extends Relationship with Cleveland Browns

CLEVELAND, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines has extended its relationship with the Cleveland Browns, building on its ongoing service to the Cleveland area and the team. As the official airline of the Cleveland Browns, United will continue to fly the team to and from away games throughout the season.

In addition to flying the team, United will maintain its presence at FirstEnergy Stadium and on ClevelandBrowns.com. The airline will also provide exclusive opportunities to Browns fans, including the United Dream Destination, a contest at all home games where the team selects one fan to play a destination trivia game for a chance to win vouchers for United flights.

"We are enthusiastic about the Cleveland Browns and pleased to advance our great relationship with the team," said Tom O'Toole, United's senior vice president of marketing and loyalty and president of MileagePlus. "Their exciting performance so far this season shows that the Browns are building a winner."

"We greatly appreciate the commitment to service, comfort and care that United Airlines has provided for our team's travel needs," said Browns president Alec Scheiner. "We are fortunate to extend this partnership, and our players, coaches and staff look forward to many more winning flights with United." 

In addition to its relationship with the Cleveland Browns, United sponsors several Cleveland institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.

About the Cleveland Browns

A member of the National Football League's AFC North division, the Cleveland Browns have long been among the most iconic and historic professional football clubs. Bolstered by eight league titles, 13 division championships and 16 Pro Football Hall of Famers, the Browns were established in 1945 as a charter team of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

The Browns played their inaugural season in 1946 and finished in first place during each of the league's four years of existence (1946-49). Cleveland was one of three AAFC teams selected to merge with the NFL in 1950 and appeared in the league's title game in each of its first seven seasons, claiming three of its four NFL championships overall (1950; 1954-55; 1964) during that stretch. The Browns' 16 Pro Football Hall of Famers, the sixth-most in the NFL, include founder Paul Brown, legends Jim Brown, Otto Graham and Lou Groza, as well as Marion Motley and Bill Willis, two of the first African Americans who helped break professional sports' race barrier in 1946. After a relocation to Baltimore in 1995, Cleveland was awarded an expansion franchise that returned to play in 1999, retaining all of the club's history and its namesake. In 2012, owner Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, purchased a controlling interest of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, led by President Alec Scheiner, General Manager Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine, play their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium in downtown Cleveland.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,100 flights a day to 374 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. With U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft. This year, the airline is taking delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 as the North American launch customer, and is welcoming 32 new Embraer 175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines