Partnership proposal — first draft, 2027 · prepared 2026-09-09
Millstone Valley wants Mercer County to know its name before the Hamilton and Ewing branches open. The Thunder can carry the credit union's name in front of Mercer County audiences across a full season of home games, supporting exactly that goal. Presenting-level involvement across the Thunder's roughly 30 home dates also lets Millstone Valley show up as a community partner at the county's ballpark rather than as an advertiser.
The crowd is the right one. The Thunder draws families, youth groups, and employers from across Mercer County — the same working families and youth-sports and school community members Millstone Valley targets in Hamilton, Ewing, and Trenton. That family audience gives the credit union a natural setting to deliver its mortgage and auto-loan messaging to young families and first-time homebuyers.
At approximately 3,500 fans per home game and approximately 120,000 per season, the Thunder's attendance concentrates repeated exposure among Mercer County residents in Millstone Valley's target area.
| Element | Quantity | Rate-card value |
|---|---|---|
| Main gate entrance signage, full season | 2 season placements | $6,500 |
| Presenting sponsor of the Thunder Kids Club | Full season | $10,000 |
| Presenting sponsor of a Friday Fireworks night | 1 event | $8,500 |
| Concourse activation table, per game | 10 games | $600 |
| Branded sign-up kiosk on the main concourse, full season | 1 season placement | $7,000 |
| Co-branded social content series across the season | 1 season package | $4,500 |
The package theme is Millstone Valley as Mercer County's ballpark neighbor. Each element keeps the credit union present through the summer — at the gates, on the concourse, at a sign-up kiosk, and online — rather than in a lone placement.
The concepts below are proposed starting points for discussion, not commitments.
Ballpark lending desk for homebuyers and drivers — A natural fit would be a staffed concourse spot where families could ask a Millstone Valley lender about first mortgages and auto loans between innings, with the branded sign-up kiosk alongside for opening membership on the spot. Positioned as a preview of the Hamilton and Ewing branches, it could turn a night at the game into a first conversation about a home or car loan.
Thunder Kids Club with a youth savings account — As presenting sponsor, Millstone Valley could pair Kids Club membership with a starter savings account for each child and a round-the-bases stamp card that rewards small deposits made at a branch. This would put the credit union in front of the youth-sports and school families it wants to reach, and give parents a reason to visit the new locations.
Friday Fireworks night welcoming the new branch towns — Millstone Valley could host its presenting Fireworks night as a welcome event for Hamilton and Ewing residents, with pre-game recognition of local schools, youth leagues, and first responders from those towns. A short on-field moment introducing the branch teams would let the credit union show up as a neighbor rather than an advertiser.
Neighbors at the ballpark social content series — A co-branded season-long series could follow real Mercer County members through milestones like buying a first home or a first car, filmed around the ballpark and shared on both accounts. Paired with plain-language notes on how the mortgage and auto-loan process works, it would carry the lending message in the warm, local tone the credit union prefers.
This package carries a rate-card value of $49,000. Two comparable credit-union partnerships at Trenton Thunder have ranged $68,000–$92,000, median $80,000. As a starting point for discussion, we suggest an investment range of $49,000 to $80,000, with the final number set in negotiation. The comparables are Trenton Area Bank's 2025 partnership and Mercer Health Partners' 2024 partnership at the ballpark.