Union Home Mortgage (UHM), a fast-growing independent mortgage banking company with a world-class culture, unveils a new sponsorship deal with Sunburst Entertainment Group LLC, naming the company the official mortgage partner of both Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays and the United Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. The new sponsorship deal follows the recent change in ownership of the Tampa Bay Rays, with UHM CEO Bill Cosgrove becoming co-chairman of the team alongside Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby and Managing Partner & Co-Chairman Patrick Zalupski.
“The Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies are excited to partner with Union Home Mortgage. This partnership represents an important investment from our leadership as we enter an exciting new chapter for the organization,” said Rays CEO Ken Babby. It is more than a sponsorship; it’s a shared commitment to our fans, our community and the future of sports in Tampa Bay. Together we are building experiences that go beyond the game, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.”
Key components of the deal include a series of ballpark signage at Tropicana Field – specifically behind home plate and along the perimeter wall – as well as pitcher mound placements, video board features, radio spots and branding at spring training games for the Rays. In terms of Rowdies branding, UHM will be the title partner of the ticket area formerly known as the Berm, in addition to several in-stadium exposure opportunities.
“Union Home Mortgage is excited to become the official mortgage partner of the Tampa Bay Rays, and we believe the partnership is a perfect fit,” said Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage. “I am a passionate baseball fan at heart, and becoming a sponsor is also a unique opportunity to share the Union Home Mortgage brand with a new audience. We are also very excited to enter the world of professional football with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and look forward to cheering on both teams this year.”
The mortgage lender is also well equipped to help Florida residents realize the dream of homeownership, with 13 locations across the state. In Tampa Bay specifically, nine of those locations are within a 100-mile radius. As a resident of the Tampa Bay area, Cosgrove has made both a personal and professional commitment to supporting his Tampa Bay community.
During UHM’s tenure as title sponsor of the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, UHM employees and the company’s charitable foundation donated $40,000 to Feeding Tampa Bay, amounting to 200,000 meals served to Florida residents in 10 counties. Now, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Cosgrove hopes to further expand that impact on the community.
This isn’t the first time Union Home Mortgage has sponsored an MLB team; the company has also built its presence in its hometown over the past six years as the official mortgage partner of the Cleveland Guardians. In this role, the mortgage lender is also the Presenting Partner of all Guardians youth camps each summer. Although not yet identified, both UHM and the Rays are working together to identify community programs in the Tampa Bay area that can be accomplished through the new partnership.
#Rays #cochairman #Bill #Cosgroves #Union #Home #Mortgage #named #teams #primary #sponsor