The Utah Jazz are moving on to a new patch for the 2023-2024 season.
The Utah Jazz have made the decision to change up their advertiser’s patch for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. A seemingly minor change, one that gets made more often than you’d think. The patch, after all, is for advertisers to promote products during NBA games. The idea as a whole isn’t well-liked, corporate America has more than enough avenues to hawk their merchandise.
It doesn’t need to be on the chest of every jersey in the country on top of everywhere else. The Jazz, however, were different. Unlike so many other teams, their patch wasn’t for a social media brand or an energy drink. No, the Jazz’s patch was for charity, namely cancer charity.
The patch belonged to Five for the Fight. In a refreshing change from the usual, the Jazz carried a patch that directly contributed to cancer research and recovery, hitting $50 million in donations since they adorned the patch. Now, the NBA’s only philanthropic patch is being done away with.
That goal, apparently is the reason for why the patch-partnership is ending. And some fans are concerned with what comes next. The patch did a lot of good after all, (via the Desert News)
"Provide funding to 17 cancer research centers.Create positions for 32 cancer research fellows in the U.S. and in Europe.Establish the 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Internship in partnership with HowardUniversity to increase representation in medicine.Create the 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Fellowship to help early-stage cancer researchers accelerate their cancer research.Engage with more than 200,000 people from over 20 countries through 5K runs, golf classics and 5 For The Fight nights.Establish the Dermot Costello Cancer Immunology Fellowship in conjunction withBreakthrough Cancer Research and Cork Cancer Care Centre in Ireland."
While the Jazz’s relationship with Five for the Fight is far from over, with the group getting a permanent installation at the Delta Center. That said, the lack of visibility won’t help the foundation’s quest for fundraising.
So, should the Jazz decide to go with a bank, or tech company next, there are going to be many people disappointed, as the Jazz were doing some very real, very authentic good with the brand.
Now, a new partner is being announced on Thursday and if it’s a commercialized product, fans aren’t going to be very happy, however, if the reason why they’re switching up the patch is to head into a new charity-centered effort, they won’t get much push back.
In fact, many fans are hoping that’s the plan, partner with a new charity, with a new goal, and continue this process well into the future. The Jazz have a chance to stand out among other NBA teams by putting people ahead of profits and in doing so, they may just find more and more people supporting the team going forward.
People love people who do good, and hopefully, the Jazz keep doing good.