JANUARY 1, 2005
Smoke Signals 3
Cheryle Kennedy To Open U.S. Figure Skating Championships
SKATING continued
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never done before and it's kind of a
thrilling experience for us." LaBonte
joked that he was unsure about only
one thing as the Guard prepared for
this big day. "We don't know what size
tutu to wear. We might be the enter
tainment for the night."
As "sole Local Presenting Sponsor"
of the event, Spirit Mountain Casino
receives a long list of tangible benefits,
according to Ed Hansen, Spirit Moun
tain Casino's Corporate Communica
tions Manager, but Hansen said that
the casino had other things on its mind
at the beginning of last year when
xT 2005
' lJSI(ATING ))
CHAMPIONSHIPS
approached by the Oregon Sports Au
thority to make the contribution.
"Although Spirit Mountain Casino
looks at some level of marketing po
tential of sponsorships as the entry
ticket criteria, we also understand that
in addition to boosting local economies,
sports teams and events can improve
a community's quality of life, serve as
a point of civic pride and as in the case
of the U.S. Figure Skating Champion
ships, serve as a goal and springboard
for young champions," he said in an
email. "The U.S. Figure Skating
Championships give Spirit Mountain
Casino and the Tribe an opportunity
to give back to the communities that
have brought us success."
The casino paid $200,000 for the
sponsorship.
"We're very pleased to have SMC as
our local presenting sponsor," said
Mike Rosenberg, Managing Director
of the 2005 State Farm U.S. National
Figure Skating Championships local
organizing committee. "Their strong
track record in business and commu
nity support makes them the perfect
partner for this event."
The sponsorship means big time
credibility in a world built on associa
tions with the right causes and stra
tegic partners.
For Elaine LaBonte, Tribal Tourism
Project Coordinator, it was particu
larly important to also include a Tribal
I lonor Guard in the opening ceremony
"because Portland was within our
ceded homelands." Posting the Tribal
flag is the appropriate symbol of that
former ownership, she said.
"When settlers were moving west,
they were posting flags wherever they
went (as a way of saying that this land
was theirs)," said LaBonte. "Now we
can bring in our flag."
"It's a respect issue with me," said
LaBonte.
Ensuring recognition of the Grand
Rondes' history in this way may be the
most important of what LaBonte does
as Tourism specialist, but for the Fig
ure Skating finals, she has other press
ing work to accomplish as well.
The opening ceremony of this inter
nationally televised event is scheduled
for 15 minutes, said LaBonte. That
means not only that Kennedy's speech,
like that of the mayor, has to be ex
actly one minute long, but also for the
Color Guard, it means that LaBonte
has to know exactly how far the Guard
will march before posting the colors,
and how much time that will take.
Same for the invocation and drum per
formance. "It has to be timed exactly, down to
the second," she said.
Like planning a figure skating rou
Tangible Benefits Of The
Designation as the official Local Presenting
Sponsor
B Category Exclusivity (no other casinos may
sponsor at any level)
The right to use logos and mark of U.S. Figure
Skating Championships
Several media components, including television,
newspaper, and radio
Our logo on commemorative streetlamp banners
in a minimum of 150 locations in Portland
Logo on the Jumbotron video screens
and scoreboards during the championships
Logo on concourse monitors during the
championships
Logo in official handbook, program, and scorebook
Logo on official website
Logo and name on Transit (MAX line)
Logo or name recognition in emails sent by
U.S. Figure Skating
One full page color ad in Official Event Program
One banner ad on official website
Two dasher board signs (rink signs) at
Memorial Coliseum
Corporate recognition on patron recognition boards
at Rose Garden and Memorial Coliseum (46 differ
ent sites
isino's Sponsorship Deal
Logo in ice at memorial coliseum
50 all event tickets (most tickets will be given to
Tribal Council to distribute as they see fit)
25 Chevy Skating Spectacular tickets
25 passes to sponsor reception at Rose Garden
on closing night of event
25 VIP passes to hospitality area during event
25 passes to Official Competitors party on
closing night of competition
10 VIP parking passes during competition
Group pricing for Spirit Mountain employees
Room fee waived for Spirit Mountain hosted
event at Rose Garden for up to 250 people
Logo on back of all event tickets
One booth at Rose Garden concourse
during event
B Opportunity to participate in opening
ceremony of event
Recognition in all local press releases
One entry into the Meier and Frank Holiday
Parade November 26 (The casino entered a han
som cab transporting the local dance team of Eliza
beth Palmer and Ryland Stucke and the local pairs
team of Brittany Schwab and Kyler Fitch)
Right to contribute gift items in competitor and
judge gift bags
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Festive Tribal member and Tribal Council Executive Secre
tary Colleen Branson decorated the Christmas tree in the atrium
of the Tribal Governance Building.
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