Harley-Davidson to Sponsor NBA’s Bucks; What Auto Brand Should Sponsor Your Team?

(Image/Milwaukee Bucks)

Harley-Davidson will be one of the pilot participants of the NBA’s new jersey patch sponsorship program being unveiled for the 2017-18 basketball season. The Milwaukee Bucks jerseys will feature the roughly 2.75 x 2-inch patch, which displays Harley-Davidson’s iconic Bar and Shield logo.

Harley-Davidson is headquartered in Milwaukee, making the Bucks sponsorship a logical fit for both the franchise and company, similar to how Akron, OH-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is sponsoring the nearby Cleveland Cavaliers.

Though on-jersey branding is common for international and minor league teams, the NBA’s patch sponsorship is a first for the four American top-tier sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB). The NHL tested a similar sponsorship on its World Cup of Hockey jerseys, but has yet to commit to the program for an entire regular season.

The Harley-Davidson and Milwaukee Bucks partnership got us thinking about which vehicle manufacturers (current or defunct) should sponsor our favorite teams. Here are some staff picks. Do you have a fantasy sponsorship idea? Let us know in the comments section below.

• American Motors for the Indiana Pacers, NBA
• Pontiac for the Cleveland Indians, MLB
• Ford for the New York Rangers, NHL
• Tesla for the Detroit Pistons, NBA
• Mini for the San Francisco Giants, MLB