ARE cracks beginning to show in the once rock-solid relations between the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and its original home, the Smart Araneta Coliseum?
From what SPIN.ph gathered, the league reportedly got the surprise of its life when the Big Dome management under its supervising arm Uniprom Inc. (UI) reminded the PBA that the former has exclusive rights on all advertising spaces within the venue including the LED display video boards being used during games.
Thus, all perimeter LED display video boards and other advertising materials owned by the PBA and put up in the Big Dome during game days will no longer be allowed by the Araneta management without the prior approval from Uniprom.
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Through the years, the PBA only paid the Big Dome rentals for the use of the venue for its games without any restrictions on advertising material the league put up during games, so much so the new order came as a big shock to its officials.
It didn’t help that the notice came just as the league is in the middle of its Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series featuring Barangay Ginebra against Northport, and TNT versus Rain or Shine.
Reached for comment, Commissioner Willie Marcial said he’s currently sorting things out with the Araneta management group.
“Pinag-uusapan namin yan,” was his short reply.
Additionally, past LED ads displayed are being reviewed by Uniprom, which insisted on taking appropriate steps in accordance with what it claims as its exclusive rights over the advertising spaces within the Big Dome.
It also suggests that the PBA align its advertising efforts to Uniprom.
The PBA-Big Dome partnership goes a long way as Asia’s pioneering professional league held its first ever doubleheader at the iconic playing venue on April 9, 1975.
The league is actually even eyeing to reprise history as it plans to hold its historic 50th anniversary celebration, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
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