Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Citizen Watch Company is proud to celebrate its long history as Official Timekeeper and enthusiastic corporate sponsor of the US Open. What started back in 1993 as a two-year partnership with the USTA has become a 24-year relationship that is still going strong.
The very next year, the USTA opened the Arthur Ashe Stadium and honored Citizen with a double suite adjacent to the President’s Suite. 1997 also saw the watch company host a Citizen Watch Day during the tournament and grace the stadium with three brand-new clock towers.
When partnerships are good, you want them to last. Such was the case when Citizen expanded its contract with the USTA in 1998, extending its sponsorship for six additional years and going on to release an updated version of its Limited Edition US Open Timepiece. The timepiece features a red, white, and blue motif; the official USTA logo; tennis-inspired design elements, and Eco-Drive Technology, giving customers the opportunity to enjoy a watch fully powered by light—any light—without need for a battery.
Moving on to bigger and better things, Citizen and the USTA signed a landmark partnership agreement for the US Open and US Open Series six years later in 2004. This expanded partnership named Citizen as one of the inaugural sponsors at the USTA’s first Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, an interactive tennis and entertainment festival that served as the unofficial kick-off of America’s Grand Slam. The 2004 partnership extended through the 2010 season and included a significant media commitment for the US Open Series, consisting of 11 North American summer tournaments that lead up to the US Open.
2010 brought with it the continuation of Citizen Watch Company’s status as a USTA Corporate Champion and Official Timekeeper of the US Open. This year’s new five-year contract not only extended the current partnership agreement for the US Open but also named Citizen as an Official Sponsor and the Exclusive Timekeeper of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women’s Open tournament, starting with 2011.
As part of 2010’s extended agreement, Citizen continued to enjoy on-site branding during each US Open, including branded Match Time displays on each of the five televised courts and signage on the in-stadium video boards. Under the continuing partnership, Citizen also maintained its position as an Official Sponsor of the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Giving Citizen further reason to celebrate, Citizen Brand Ambassador, Kim Clijsters, won her third US Open title in 2010.
2012 marked the 20-year anniversary of Citizen’s partnership with the USTA. Celebration of Citizen’s 20 years of support and innovation brought with it the addition of new Citizen clock towers to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds.
Citizen and the USTA renewed their partnership in 2014, extending their relationship beyond the 2018 50th Anniversary of the US Open Era. This current contract, which will continue until 2020, includes continued courtside positioning, expanded brand visibility throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds and enhanced presence on US Open digital platforms. In addition, a new, iconic Citizen clock will now grace the facade of Arthur Ashe Stadium, keeping time at the 2015 Championships in sync with the eight new clock towers positioned within the stadium. As always, Citizen will maintain booths at which event attendees can enter to win prizes.
Citizen Watch Company is always looking ahead, and the years to come are sure to bring great things for the USTA partnership. Already, there are plans for six new Citizen clock towers for the US Open, four opened this year and two in 2018. Citizen is thrilled to continue its long relationship with the USTA and support this year’s US Open as well as the dedicated athletes who give their all in every match.
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