Michigan State University officials say they have not renamed their basketball team.
A day after releasing a statement saying “the famed men’s basketball team will now be known throughout the Breslin Center as, ‘MSU Spartans Presented by Rocket Mortgage,’” the athletic department released a clarifying statement Friday that began with “Michigan State is not renaming it’s Men’s Basketball team.”
While the initial announcement had created a social media stir, Michigan State said the five-year deal with Rocket Mortgage is nothing new.
“While this is a new extension of the partnership for Rocket Mortgage with Men’s Basketball, this is not a first-of-its-kind sponsorship for the Spartans or a new concept in professional or college team partnerships,” Friday’s statement reads. “It is a presenting sponsorship of the Michigan State Men’s Basketball season, which is a common practice in both college and pro sports. This is nothing new for the school or the industry.”
The initial release said that Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage, an offshoot of Quicken Loans that has partnered with Michigan State since 2015, will have "unparalleled visibility and branding" via a variety of Spartan athletic teams — including men's and women's basketball, football and hockey — starting in the 2021-2022 athletic season.
"Michigan State Athletics couldn't compete at the highest levels without the support of our corporate partners like Rocket Mortgage," Michigan State director of athletics Bill Beekman said. "We are appreciative of Rocket's continued commitment to the Spartans and their unwavering support of our programs."
Related content: Deal: ‘MSU Spartans Presented by Rocket Mortgage’
