"As full regular season team sponsorships are becoming more common, so, too, are off-season ones. Last fall, the Miami Heat unveiled its 2009-10 season was being sponsored by travel insurer Assist-Card. This off-season, of course, the Heat is focusing on what it's calling the "Heat Summer of 2010," when we're waiting for news of superstar guard Dwyane Wade's future and the roster re-vamp. Up the road in Sunrise, the Florida Panthers, however, are getting an assist from Lexus. The luxury auto maker is sponsoring the team's summer under what the team is calling "Florida Panthers 4th Period Driven by Lexus." There's a special 4th Period logo that's going on all news announcements, advertisements, and promotions this summer. "We are thrilled to announce longstanding partners Lexus as the first presenting sponsor of the Florida Panthers offseason," Panthers President Michael Yormark said in a statement. It's Yormark's twin brother, New Jersey Nets CEO Brett Yormark, who in 2007 introduced basketball's first offseason sponsor, signing up Wrigley to help underwrite the team's summer activities. " http://blogs.trb.com/sports/custom/business/blog/2010/05/florida_panthers_trying_to_gen.html
