Year 11, Day 136
The Corporate Alliance, famous across the galaxy for its casino franchises, has entered the world of professional sports. As the regular season of the Colonial Shockball League draws to a close and tournament time approaches, the CA announced it is now the official sponsor of the Cirbodyn Crusaders, a highly ranked team in the MT League, operating out of the Neelgaimon system. Every time the Crusaders score, a celebratory graphic bearing the CA’s logo will be displayed, increasing the company’s visibility for a whole new audience.
Karl Korne, owner of the Crusaders, was pleased his team had attracted the attention of an official sponsor. “We are already the third best team… the MT [League] has. Best in the Outter Rim.” Although the sponsorship is only official until the end of the current season, there were hints the deal may be extended. A member of the custodial service in Crusader Spire, the team’s home arena, said “[Siejo] Kutol got his name on the back of one of them chairs up in the front row, the Executive seats. They don’t do that if they only plan on coming to a couple games.”
Last week, opponents raised legal concerns over a gambling enterprise having a direct stake in a sport that their clientele will be betting on. With the assistance of powerful legal counsel from the Trade Federation, Corporate Alliance representatives demonstrated that although they manage dozens of casinos, their profits from those independently owned franchises derive from a general revenue stream, of which Shockball gambling typically comprises less than 1%. In an unusual act of business transparency, the CA also proved to the satisfaction of the court that although it is best known for its highly visible casinos, is a truly multi-industry conglomerate, with only 3 to 5% of their profits deriving from gambling.
Although the Crusaders lost their last game — a highly anticipated match against the MT League’s top-seeded Falleen Federals — expectations are high for tournament season, and fans are flocking to Sullust (or their local Corporate Alliance casino) to catch this weekend’s showdown between the Crusaders and rival Cavers.