Media Release
Etihad Airways Becomes Exclusive Airline Partner of
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Legacy Partnership Includes Three Professional Sports Teams – Washington
Capitals, Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics – and Verizon Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2015) - Etihad Airways has signed a legacy partnership
agreement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) to become the exclusive airline
partner of the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics
(WNBA) and Verizon Center.
Etihad Airways will receive a variety of branding opportunities, be featured in numerous
multimedia programming and work collaboratively with MSE on several community initiatives
to promote and celebrate the international nature of sport in Washington, D.C., and Abu
Dhabi.
“This relationship is a sign of our long-term commitment to the Washington, D.C., market,
which we have been serving since 2013,” said James Hogan, president and chief executive
officer of Etihad Airways.
“We are proud to announce this partnership, just as we are proud to connect the two capital
cities of Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi.
“Our daily flights allow American travelers to reach more than 60 cities around the world,
flying the world’s leading airline1 on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, as well as bringing thousands
of business travelers and tourists to the U.S. every week.”
The MSE partnership builds upon Etihad Airways’ U.S. sports sponsorship portfolio within
which the airline is official airline partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Nation’s
Triathlon, which takes place each year in Washington, D.C.
1
The World Travel Awards are recognised as the “Travel industry's equivalent to the Oscar's" – Wall Street Journal
Media Release
“Etihad Airways is a prestigious international brand known for its hospitality, service and
global reach,” said Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman and majority owner of Monumental
Sports & Entertainment.
“As a legacy partner, Etihad Airways provides that official connection to our diverse and
international community and the growing interest in sports worldwide. Our teams are
international, our players are international, our city is international and our partnership with
Etihad builds on those commonalities.”
Washington, D.C., is a global hub for travel with three international airports and 500
international flights each week serving 64 million passengers per year. The nation’s capital is
also one of six American cities served daily by Etihad Airways from its home-base in Abu
Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
“Etihad Airways embraces the growth and popularity of basketball and hockey worldwide
and is committed to driving brand awareness for sports on an international scale,” said Raul
Fernandez, vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
“The Capitals, Wizards and Mystics enjoy such a cross-cultural roster and playing at Verizon
Center is an experience found nowhere else but in the heart of the nation’s capital.”
Etihad Airways proudly supports Manchester City Football Club; New York City Football
Club; the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; the Mumbai Indians cricket
team of the Indian Premier League; Etihad Stadium and Melbourne City Football Club; the
England and Wales Cricket Board; and the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship.
The addition of the Washington Mystics to the Etihad Airways sponsorship portfolio bolsters
the airline’s commitment to promoting women’s sport, fitness, health and well-being, which
has been popular among its more than 8,200 female employees across 144 different
nationalities.
- Ends -
Media Release
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From
its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to 111 existing or announced passenger and cargo
destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline
has a fleet of 116 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order,
including 69 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and eight Airbus A380s.
Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus,
Alitalia, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia, and is in the process of formalizing an equity
investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline. Etihad Airways,
along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and
NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together likeminded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules
and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com
Etihad Airways’ sports sponsorship portfolio includes Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team which
is competing in the Volvo Ocean Race; the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne; Melbourne City
Football Club; Etihad Stadium in Manchester; Manchester City Football Club; the England
and Wales Cricket Board; the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship, and the
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In the U.S. Etihad Airways is proud to sponsor Children’s National Medical Center in
Washington, D.C., Major League Soccer (MLS), Nation’s Triathlon and the New York City
Football Club.
About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is one of the largest integrated sports and
entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in
all of sports. MSE owns and operates three professional sports teams: the NBA's
Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals and WNBA's Washington Mystics. The
group also owns and operates Verizon Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue
in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also oversees the management of
Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and George
Media Release
Mason University's Patriot Center. In January 2013 Monumental Sports & Entertainment
launched Monumental Network, a digital platform that serves as the hub for the region’s
sports and entertainment news. Visit MonumentalNetwork.com for more information.
Contacts:
Katie Connell | Etihad Airways | 917.515.1136 | KConnell@etihad.ae
Sheila Francis | MSE | 202.628.3200 x6042 | sfrancis@monumentalsports.com