Ryan becomes Dallas Cowboys' first official tax partner
Tax advisory firm Ryan has announced a five-year partnership with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, becoming the team’s first official tax partner.
The exclusive partnership includes the unveiling of the “Ryan Club” at AT&T Stadium, as well as “presenting sponsor” honors for the Dallas Cowboys Community Quarterback Challenge. The Challenge draws in North Texas high school football teams to develop and execute community outreach projects that impact their campuses, feeder schools, and neighboring communities. The 2019 edition saw approximately 1,000 student athletes team up to make a positive impact in their communities.
“Ryan is an ideal partner for us,” Stephen Jones, CEO of the Dallas Cowboys, said. “We share the same passion for excellence, winning, and generosity, and are thrilled to join forces with the leading global tax services firm.”
Based in Dallas, Ryan is the largest firm dedicated exclusively to business tax, with specialized services across tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology. The advisory firm has more than 2,500 professionals in over 50 countries, serving many of the most prominent Global 5000 companies.
“To be affiliated with the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most successful and valuable sports franchises in the world, is a thrilling moment in our firm’s history,” G. Brint Ryan, chairman and CEO of Ryan, said. “It is exciting for us not only to become the Official Tax Partner of the Dallas Cowboys but also the presenting sponsor of the Community Quarterback Challenge.”
The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s most valuable team, valued at $5 billion in Forbes’ 2018 ranking, having topped the list for the 12th straight year. The team has won five Super Bowls, second only to the six championships of the Steelers and Patriots.
Since their 1996 (Super Bowl XXX) victory over the Steelers, however, the Cowboys have undergone a period of underperformance relative to their previous legacy, failing to return to the NFC Championship since 1996. They have an overall 4-10 record in the playoffs since 1996, and have gone 0-6 in the divisional round. Revenues and valuation have nonetheless continued to balloon, while every Cowboys game has been sold out since 2002.
Sponsors are, of course, eager to affiliate themselves with the wildly popular Texas football team. In 2013, AT&T bought the naming rights to the former Cowboys Stadium for a reported $17-$19 million per year. Ford, meanwhile, signed a 10-year naming deal for the Cowboys’ Frisco, Texas headquarters and practice facility in 2015.
Ford luxury sub-brand Lincoln signed a multi-year sponsorship in 2016 to become the official luxury vehicle of the team. The pact also allowed Lincoln to put its name on the swanky Founders Club – an exclusive dining area for fans with premium seats.
Last year, the Cowboys signed the first casino partnership in the NFL, entering into an agreement with WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The deal came after the league loosened its rules on gambling-related content, sponsorship, and advertising.
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