The New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday said that Rouses will be the Official Grocer of the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2015-16 NBA season. The partnership will be highlighted by a series of bi-monthly sweepstakes, as well as the Year of the Uniform game-day giveaway series for Pelicans fans.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Rouses and introduce a strong, local brand that is a community leader as the Official Grocer of the Pelicans,” said owner Tom Benson. “Through this partnership, we’re going to have a chance to give our fans an opportunity to win special experiences and prizes and also provide our youngest fan with their own version of our ‘Pride’ uniforms.”
Added Donny Rouse, managing partner of his family’s 55-year-old company, “Supporting the home team is what we do 24/7, whether it’s being the Official Grocer of the Pelicans or buying from local farmers, fishermen and manufacturers. We’re big basketball fans, and we have a store right down the street from the Smoothie King Center and more than 40 more stores in Pelican Country: Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. It’s a natural.”
Rouses and the Pelicans will team up with various vendors throughout the season to host two contests in local Rouses locations each month. Prizes will include Pelicans memorabilia and experiences. Fans can check out the sweepstakes in store and in Rouses’ weekly circular and register to win via in-store display or a mail-in form.
In September, the Pelicans introduced the team’s “Pride” uniform with jerseys celebrating the spirt of Mardi Gras. Rouses will host a series of kids’ giveaways celebrating the first year of the “Pride” uniform.
Throughout the season, fans will have the chance to collect four pieces of the Year of the Uniform: a jersey, shorts, a drawstring bag and a mini basketball—all themed in Mardi Gras colors. The jersey and shorts will replicate the team’s “Pride” uniform and all giveaways will be distributed to the first 3,000 kids to arrive at Pelicans games on: Saturday, Jan. 31, vs. Brooklyn (drawstring bag); Friday, Feb. 19, vs. Philadelphia (mini basketball); Sunday, March 20, vs. the Los Angeles Clippers (jersey); and Saturday, April 9, vs. Phoenix (shorts).
The “Pride” uniform, which includes Pelicans’ logos in purple, green and gold, will be worn throughout Mardi Gras season, including three home games: Saturday, Jan. 30, vs. Brooklyn; Monday, Feb. 1, vs. Memphis; and Thursday, Feb. 4, vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT.
Rouses, based in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, operates nearly four-dozen stores in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. New Rouses Market are scheduled to open in Ponchatoula and Baton Rouge and more locations are in the planning stages.
