MasterCard International will be the title sponsor of the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Central Park.
The event kicks off April 29 with an announcement of the planned activities and special events throughout 2002, many sponsored by MasterCard. MasterCard will also be the “preferred payment brand” for all in-park, anniversary-related purchases and donations.
MasterCard plans to hold special events in the park working with some of its sponsors including major league baseball teams, national hockey teams, the PGA and figure skaters, said Debra Coughlin, senior VP, global brand building, MasterCard International. “We’re looking at the whole gamut of our sponsorships to see what we can do to top off some of the things that the park is already doing,” she said.
The company also plans to offer special promotions to MasterCard card holders by packaging with hotels and restaurants around the park. It plans to have some out-of-home media in and around the park including billboards.
“The park was so appealing to us because we are a New York-based company and one of the things that’s so priceless about the city is the park,” she said.
Laura Bush and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will serve as honorary co-chairs of the anniversary celebration. The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980, manages Central Park under a contract with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
Network
