Delta ends Fox Theatre sponsorship due to rival Qatar Airways event

Reminds me of the way NPR ignores news that their corporate sponsors wouldn't like.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2016/05/delta-ends-fox-theatre-sponsorship-due-to-rival.html

Carla Caldwell Morning Edition Editor Atlanta Business Chronicle
May 18, 2016

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) will not renew its long sponsorship of historic Fox Theatre due to a performance there Tuesday night to celebrate rival Qatar Airways Ltd.'s new flights out of Delta’s Atlanta home.

Qatar Airways is launching a daily Atlanta-to-Doha flight that makes its debut June 1 out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - Delta's headquarters.

Performer Jennifer Lopez was hired by Qatar to perform at the historic Atlanta venue in front of Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker and guests.

Delta said because of the performance it will not renew its sponsorship of the Fox Theatre after more than 20 years of support.

The airline says Gulf carriers, including Qatar Airways, unfairly receive billions in government subsidies.

•••••

Fox Theatre management released the following statement:

For more than 20 years, Delta has been a longstanding, valued supporter of the Fox Theatre as our exclusive airline sponsor. We are incredibly appreciative of the relationship and depend on Delta’s sponsorship funds to support a number of community programs, including the Fox in a Box educational program that travels free of charge to metro-Atlanta area elementary schools sharing interactive lessons in classrooms.

As one of the city’s premier venues, the Fox Theatre hosts a diverse lineup of events throughout the year, including hundreds of private functions. To be clear, these private events are distinctly independent of any corporate sponsorship program. As a nonprofit, these functions are an important part of financially sustaining the theater as staple in the Atlanta community.