‘Experience Abu Dhabi’

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

The Knicks announced its jersey advertiser this morning, according to Uni Watch.

https://uni-watch.com/2024/10/17/new-yo ... dvertiser/

The team signed a multiyear agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi to have “Experience Abu Dhabi” as the team’s jersey advertiser starting with the 2024-25 season. As part of the deal, Experience Abu Dhabi will also have advertising before, during and after Knicks games on MSG Network.

No ad is a good ad, but some may consider this “partnership” particularly noxious, given the many complaints about sportswashing by the United Arab Emirates. The NBA has played preseason games in the UAE for three straight years, and Team USA played exhibition games there in preparation for the Paris Olympics this past summer. The NBA Cup is sponsored by Emirates Airlines.

The NBA has been criticized for these dealings because of the UAE’s alleged history of human rights violations.

I thought this was a joke when I first saw it.

This seems problematic to me on many levels. The team playing in the nation's largest city couldn't do better?

[metirish]

Won't be long before nation states start buying teams, like they have in Europe, and yes, people thought that would never happen there , but it has

[MFS62]

That deserves all the embarrassment it can get.
Later

[Edgy MD]

I'm curious about when an advocacy campaign like Jesus Gets Us or the NRA end up on a uni.

But yeah, promoting UAE is one step beyond bad taste.

[Centerfield]

When you need an anti-trust exemption and money from a foreign country.

No end to the greed.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Wby should anything be off limits anymore? The leagues are in bed with the gambling industry, ferchrissakes. Nine year olds are being encouraged to make parlay baseball bets everyday.