Colts ink millions of dollars in new sponsorship deals

The Indianapolis Colts have had a busy off-season, making several big scores in the sponsorship and broadcast arenas well before the 2015 season kicks off.

The Colts have put 25 new sponsorships in place this off-season and also extended some other big deals. Team officials say they expect the new business to add several million dollars to the team’s coffers.

“It’s been a good off-season for us and shows a strong level of support for the team in the community,” said Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward.

It doesn’t hurt that the Colts are projected as one of a handful of NFL teams with a real shot at winning the Super Bowl this season. Local sports marketer Milt Thompson said the team’s bright on-field prospects and the emergence of quarterback Andrew Luck “as a legitimate superstar” are helping the team gain traction with sponsors.

The Colts have renewed some big sponsors, with deals including:

— ­A seven-year exclusive promotional partnership with Coca-Cola

— A six-year exclusive promotional partnership extension with FedEx

— A five-year official partnership extension with HHGregg

— A three-year extension with CDW

— A three-year exclusive partnership extension with Sharp Business Systems

— A three-year exclusive partner extension with ATI Physical Therapy

— A two-year official partnership extension with Speedway Convenience Stores

— A one-year deal with Subway

The biggest pieces of new business include:

—A three-year exclusive deal with Fan Duel

—A three-year deal with MS Cos. (locally based recruiting company)

—A three-year deal with Unique Home Solutions

—A two-year deal with TD Ameritrade

­­—A deal with Allegiant Airlines

—A deal with DirecTV

The Colts also signed a new five-year deal with Emmis Communications Corp. to retain the Indianapolis-based firm as its radio partner. Emmis will broadcast games this season on WLHK-FM 97.1, WFNI-FM 107.5, and WFNI-AM 1070.

In addition, the Colts signed a deal with Tribune Media Co. to air all preseason games on WXIN-TV Channel 59. Tribune also agreed to air “The Coaches Show with Chuck Pagano” from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Sundays on Channel 59, and “First Down with Rick Venturi” on WTTV-TV Channel 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays. WTTV will become the new home of the Colts' weekly Up Close Saturday Night show, which will air from 11:35 p.m. to 12:05 a.m. on Saturdays and re-air from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Sundays.