The College Basketball Crown has selected JSX as a founding partner and the official air carrier of the new postseason college basketball tournament.
Launched by FOX Sports and AEG, the College Basketball Crown will occur from March 31 to April 6, 2025, in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena.
Games will be broadcast on FOX Sports and FS1.
The tournament will feature 16 teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, and additional at-large participants.
Exclusive flight provider
JSX will exclusively fly all participating teams to and from Las Vegas.
“We are thrilled to help bring the College Basketball Crown to life and expand JSX’s presence in the collegiate sports space,” said JSX Chief Commercial Officer David Drabinsky.
He added, “This partnership allows us to not only provide premium air travel to the teams but also to showcase the efficiency and convenience that set JSX apart. We’re looking forward to making the journey to and from Las Vegas as memorable as the tournament itself.”
In partnership with Vivid Seats, JSX will offer the tournament’s attendees travel packages that combine flights, hotel accommodations, and VIP game tickets.
“JSX is providing a first-class travel solution that extends beyond the teams to enhance the overall event experience for fans as well,” said Nick Baker, COO of AEG Global Partnerships.
He added, “Their ability to deliver fast, safe, private, and luxurious travel options aligns perfectly with the elevated experience we are creating for the College Basketball Crown, and we look forward to introducing them to our attendees.”
JSX’s sponsorship will expose it throughout the tournament, including courtside rotational signage, jumbotron features, and a dedicated halftime promotion during the semifinals.
The by-the-seat flight provider will also be featured in custom digital and social media content produced by AEG Studios and receive national media exposure on Fox Sports channels broadcasting the tournament.
“JSX is a tremendous addition to the College Basketball Crown,” said Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, Fox Sports, adding, “We are thrilled with the continued growth and development of this tournament and are eager to deliver more elite postseason college basketball to fans across the country this spring.”
A new tournament
According to Variety, the new tournament is designed to compete against the annual NCAA March Madness tournament that crowns a national collegiate champion.
It will also compete for attention against the NIT, which attracts teams that do not earn a spot in the 68-team NCAA field.
Variety writes, “The tournament launches as more media companies seek to devise sports events over which they have more control. In the era of streaming video, sports properties are perhaps the last to continue to generate the large simultaneous audiences that advertisers and distributors crave. But the rights fees for each set command have grown exorbitant. To push back on that trend, some media outlets have tried to create their events and competitions.”
For JSX, the deal also highlights its ability to provide full aircraft charters.
