Chicago Cubs and White Sox sponsored by Beyond Petroleum

27 April 2010 | Posted in Sponsorship, Baseball | By Tom Love

The north and south-side Chicago-based MLB teams, the White Sox and Cubs, have collaborated in a new three-year deal with Beyond Petroleum (BP) for the naming rights of the Crosstown Classic.

The annual six-game head-to-head series will now see the teams compete for an actual trophy known as the BP Crosstown Cup. In the event of a tied series, the winner of the final game will be rewarded with the cup. Although the appearance of the cup is being kept secret, it is rumoured to stand three-feet high, pedestal included.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said: "Cubs and Sox fans have always been passionate about this rivalry. The BP Crosstown Cup recognises the excitement of winning the crosstown series."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, according to Chicago Business each team will receive more than US$1 million over the three years for their part in the series in return for title-sponsorship of the cup, a variety of offline and online assets and sponsorship of both clubs outside of the six-game series.

White Sox vice president and chief marketing officer, Brooks Boyer said: "This is such an intense and heated rivalry, it's a great step forward for us and something we absolutely should be doing. And to bring in a partner like BP, it's just a natural fit."

The teams will kick off their first series of 2010 at Wrigley Field on 11th June.