HEAT Renews Multi-Year Partnership with KIA Motors America

MIAMI, January 20th - The Miami HEAT has announced that the team has renewed its existing partnership with Kia Motors America. The major component of the renewal is the designation of Kia as the “Official and Exclusive Vehicle of the Miami HEAT and AmericanAirlines Arena” maintaining full exclusivity across all vehicle categories. Other elements of the multi-year partnership include advertising on radio, in print and on the HEAT.com, in-arena signage, as well as a Kia car display on the main concourse of AmericanAirlines Arena.

“With Kia’s U.S. market share at an all-time high, we are more focused than ever before on continuing to raise the brand’s profile with highly-visible strategic partnerships,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  “Enhancing our presence in professional basketball as the Official and Exclusive Vehicle of the Miami HEAT and AmericanAirlines Arena will allow us to reach the team’s passionate fans and continue our momentum.”

Over the course of their partnership with the HEAT, Kia has hosted a variety of successful in-game and retail promotions that HEAT fans have enjoyed for several years. Among them are:

• Kia Test Drive for Tickets and the Kia Drive for Five where over 15,000 HEAT tickets were distributed to customers throughout South Florida over the past five years.
• HEAT Ultimate Flyaway Trip Presented by Kia gave lucky HEAT fans the opportunity to experience HEAT road games in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Boston.
• The In-Arena Kia Performance Challenge offered fans the opportunity to win a Kia vehicle by attempting to make a half-court shot.
• HEAT Players and HEAT Dancers appeared at Kia retailers across the South Florida market drawing large crowds of fans.
• Kia brought the HEAT Experience to fans around town at non-HEAT events such as the Calle Ocho Festival and the South Florida International Auto Show.
• Every game, the Kia Seat Upgrade has provided HEAT fans sitting in the Upper Level the chance to sit in the first row of the Lower Bowl for a truly unforgettable experience.

Kia and the Miami HEAT will continue to execute these sorts of fan-friendly promotional activities throughout the duration of their partnership.  In addition, Kia will expand its involvement in HEAT community outreach efforts as well as in HEAT programming on 790 The Ticket, the team’s flagship radio station.

“We’ve had a lot fun over the past five years collaborating with Kia to help them build their brand in the South Florida market,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations. “We also welcome Kia Motors back with open arms and look forward to executing even more innovative and interactive programs for its customers and our fans.”

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com.