Inman

Realtor.com an official San Jose Sharks sponsor

Screen shot of wallpaper featuring the San Jose Sharks' Dan Boyle, via sharks.nhl.com.

Realtor.com operator Move Inc. has signed an agreement with the San Jose Sharks to be the official sponsor for the 2013-14 NHL season.

The “category exclusive” sponsorship gives realtor.com exposure inside the SAP Center, the Shark’s home rink, and national and regional television and radio broadcasts for all regular-season Sharks home season games.

The agreement allows realtor.com to work with the Sharks to offer fans giveaways and develop co-branded items, and conduct ad campaigns highlighting the benefits of realtor.com’s mobile apps.

“We continue to look for ways to connect with on-the-go, busy consumers to provide a personalized and powerful real estate experience on their mobile devices,” said Barbara O’Connor, chief marketing officer of Move, in a statement. “Our agreement with the San Jose Sharks aligns perfectly with the audience we want to reach and is fitting given that the Sharks play two blocks away from our company headquarters.”

Move is the latest real estate company to take advantage of the marketing opportunities afforded by professional sports.

Alpharetta, Ga.-based Re/Max Regional Services recently announced a deal in which it will blanket the Georgia Dome’s Gate C with signage featuring Re/Max branding as part of a marketing agreement with the Atlanta Falcons.

Last year, Cupertino, Calif.-based Intero Real Estate Services Inc. hired NFL football legend Dwight Clark as a celebrity endorser.

Century 21 Real Estate has run television ads in conjunction with the last two Super Bowls, sponsored an IndyCar and U.S. Soccer, and purchased TV ads during the 2012 Olympics.