Whalers Sports & Entertainment Welcomes Aetna as First “Whalers Alliance” Partner
August 03 2011 - 9:52AM
Business Wire
Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Whalers Sports &
Entertainment today announced a new agreement making Aetna the
first member of the “Whalers Alliance.” The Whalers Alliance refers
to companies and corporations who have made significant, long-term
commitments to the mission of Whalers Sports & Entertainment
(WSE).
Aetna and WSE have signed a three-year agreement valued at
nearly $500,000, which is highlighted by Aetna’s becoming the title
sponsor of the Whale’s new Amateur Hockey program.
“Aetna has really stepped up here with a significant commitment
to hockey in Connecticut,” said Howard Baldwin, chairman and chief
executive officer of WSE. “Aetna’s support will allow us to do even
more exciting things for youth hockey and adult recreational
hockey, helping to grow the game more and more. Just as
importantly, this agreement affirms that Aetna shares our vision of
the Whale, and an enhanced hockey market, helping to revitalize
downtown Hartford and make our city an even more attractive place
for young professionals to live and work. This is exactly the type
of corporate backing that we need to make professional hockey in
Connecticut absolutely the most it can be.”
“Aetna is pleased to continue its 158-year commitment to
supporting a vibrant Connecticut community and the Hartford area in
particular by becoming the first member of the Whalers Alliance,”
said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman,
CEO and president. “In particular, we see it as vitally
important to the health of our children to encourage their interest
in physical activity. The Connecticut Whale’s efforts to engage
children in sports, as well as in education and sportsmanship, is a
positive for children and families in Hartford and across the
state.”
As part of the Aetna-sponsored Whale Amateur Hockey program,
each player on every team that plays one of its games at the XL
Center prior to a Whale game will receive a “Whale of an
Experience.” That package includes a personalized locker name
plate, a team photo and a welcome bag, and every amateur game will
be treated like an actual professional game, with music and a
public address announcer. Each team will also receive a DVD recap
of the game.
Aetna also will foster good sportsmanship in the game of hockey,
with the selection of the “Aetna Clean Team of the Month”
throughout the hockey season, publicized through the Whale’s
official website, www.ctwhale.com. Additionally, there will be an
“Aetna Stick Kid of the Game” at each 2011-12 Whale home game,
giving a deserving youngster an ice-level look at all that goes
into the equipment preparation for a Whale game.
“It is exciting to kick off the Whalers Alliance, and support
the organization’s momentum and energy. We encourage other
Connecticut corporations to join us in building the team’s presence
in Connecticut not only to help revitalize professional hockey
here, but also to support the businesses downtown that benefit when
families come to Hartford,” said Floyd Green, vice president of
Community Relations and Urban Marketing at Aetna. “We look forward
to working with the WSE team and the Connecticut Whale players to
build on their success and continue to engage with the
community.”
Season tickets for the 2011-12 Whale season are available now,
with a special early bird discount. Call (860) 728-3366 for
information on that, as well as all Whale ticket packages, group
sales and VIP packages. More details on the Amateur Hockey Program
can be obtained by contacting Jocelyne Cummings in the Whale office
at that same number, (860) 728-3366.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 million people with
information and resources to help them make better informed
decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of
traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance
products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental,
behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical
management capabilities and health care management services for
Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals,
college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.
About the Connecticut Whale
The AHL’s Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and
Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm
founded by Howard Baldwin. The team is the top player-development
affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers. Since 1972, the CT
Lottery, the Whale's presenting sponsor, has generated more than
$19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to
the state’s General Fund. Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1
billion. Purchasers must be 18 years or older. If you or someone
you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline
at 1-800-346-6238. For more information about the Connecticut
Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery
web site at ctlottery.org.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6817776&lang=en
Aetna (NYSE:AET)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Aetna (NYSE:AET)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024