The B.C. Lottery Corporation is making its most significant single sponsorship deal since the Olympics by coming on board with the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
The lottery corporation was named Friday as the sponsor of live entertainment during the games. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
BCLC boss Michael Graydon said Treasure Cove Casino in Prince George, 85 local lottery retailers and area online gaming customers contribute to the lottery corporation's success so it was BCLC's way of giving back.
There was a direct correlation, he added, between CWG organizers and people involved in the Vancouver Olympics, so when it came time to negotiate, "the discussions didn't take very long." There were also practical lessons from the 2010 experience that will help in their 2015 partnership experience.
Being in the entertainment industry made the sponsorship of the nightly music festival a perfect fit, said Graydon. Treasure Cove official Matt Major shared the spotlight at the Friday announcement, adding that they would be complementing the BCLC sponsorship by also covering some components of the entertainment during the Games.
"Like everyone in the community, we look forward to this incredible event and for our chance to provide exceptional entertainment experiences for everyone to enjoy," Major said.
Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne stressed that the winter games are not only about sports, there is a major focus on music, visual arts and culture during the 18 days of the event.
Mayor Shari Green stressed that the reason the bid was made in the first place was knowing Prince George had the cultural and sporting capacity to host the games and the reason Prince George's bid was chosen over Kamloops and Kelowna was because the national organizing body recognized that.
