BANGOR, Maine — What started with a small insurance policy relationship about four years ago has led to an agreement making Bangor-based Cross Insurance the official insurance broker of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium and the New England Revolution soccer team.
“We’ve been working with the Krafts now for a few years. It started with a small relationship and getting to know one another,” said Jonathan Cross, executive vice president of Cross Insurance. “As they’ve gotten to know us, they’ve been giving us more and more responsibility and business.”
The Kraft Sports Group and Cross Insurance, a subsidiary of Cross Financial Corp. in Bangor, announced their new partnership Monday.
“They enjoy doing business with family businesses and they’re a large organization with a variety of investments, but they’re still a family business themselves,” Cross said of the Kraft Sports Group. “We’re a large insurance business that does business locally and nationally, but we’re still a family business.”
Cross said the agreement was a multi-year deal, but he would not disclose exactly how many years it covered or what its total monetary value is. The deal calls for Cross Insurance to have a “visible presence” at Gillette Stadium during National Football League and Major League Soccer seasons. That is in addition to exposure in other Patriots, Gillette and Revolution publications, promotions and TV or radio productions.
“We’re going to have some in-stadium signage and advertising opportunities with their various print materials and Internet, television and radio, as well as at Patriot Place,” Cross said.
Patriot Place is a combination mall and entertainment facility adjoining Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Cross has been a family-owned business since Woodrow Cross began the agency back in 1954.
“We are proud to be partnering with Cross Insurance, a business built by three generations of the Cross family, with strong New England ties and solid business relationships,” Murray Kohl, vice president of Kraft Sports Group, said in a press release Monday. “We look forward to working with the Cross family and continuing to build on our relationship with Cross Insurance.”
Cross said the agreement was built on a proven track record with a fellow family business.
“They like our model and the way we do business,” Cross said of the Kraft Sports Group.
Cross made no secret of the fact that he has been a Patriots fan for almost his entire life.
“We’re all fans. I’ve been a football fan since I played in junior high and high school,” said Cross. “So to get an opportunity to see my grandfather’s name beside a brand like the Patriots is hugely rewarding.”
Cross said his grandfather, who still works regularly at the Bangor agency headquarters at the age of 95, is excited about the deal.
“He’s definitely liking it,” Cross said. “They have never met personally, but Mr. [Robert] Kraft has sent him a couple of gifts over the years and they’ve exchanged notes. The Krafts even sent him a Tom Brady-autographed football when he was in the hospital” once.
I want to see Obama tell Woodrow Cross that he did not build his business…work ethic did it not the goverment..
Hawaii didn’t build that birth certificate they had help somewhere along the way there was a Harvard teacher
What?
I love it when the birthers spout nonsense… lol
Huh?
You really don’t understand the reference?
Exactly why so many vote for him…. they have no clue
I really don’t. what’s it mean?
I wonder if they ever got any government grants, or loans to help out their business. Maybe some of those government tax breaks that are given out to many businesses. Like Wal-Mart.
I want to see you listen to the whole speech rather than just parrot the neo-con version of it…
Or better yet… accuse Mitt Romney of the same thing (since he had a speech eerily similar to the one Obama gave.)
I heard what he said in context. Granted he misspoke or did he? He stole that section from Elizabeth Warren who said the same thing and meant it.
I listened to whole speech 4 times..he hates success and hard work
Did you ever bother listening to the whole clip or just what FOX News played for you? If you did, you would have come to the same conclusion that PolitiFact ( a neutral source) came to. They concluded that the interpretation that Romey is pushing on his base is ” a gross distortion” of what was actually said.
They should have went with the giants, better off, better team
Cry baby quarterback Manning was supposed to be on the Chargers but whined that hey weren’t a winning team and wanted to go somewhere else. Brady went to a team that when he was drafted was 1-15. So you tell me who is the more gracious and better athlete! Get a clue and stay away from sports. You wouldn’t know how to win if you had to cheat you way through an event!
Tom brady whines every game
Oh really, when was the last time you saw it? And I love how you change the subject of Eli. Typical Giants fan. I want some examples and would love to see some footage. You can’t provide any because it doesn’t happen!
Last super bowl. Watch it Oh wait you never did watch it did you
As a matter of fact I did and Tom Brady praised the Giants and Eli Manning. Watch the post game interview!
Sounds to me like you’re a Jets or Ravens fan. Count the rings that Brady has
Now, if they could only move the team to Maine
Why do that, they are not as good as they used to be. They are going downhill every year. Yea they make it to the superbowl last year, i can see this year they wont
News flash last year they were the second youngest team in league and they still made it they just reload ing not re building
Well of course, that is what happens when you have a team that whines over calls that are not even happening or did happen but fake a injury(Lets see Tom Brady)
You are way out of touch. Why don’t you keep your liberal agenda commenting on other things because you know nothing about sports or the Patriots!
You first then i will NOT
First off I’m not liberal, never have never will be, and you are a joke and know nothing about the game!
I know a lot more than you, you are just mad because i do not like the patriots, we all have opinions peace out bro
Hmm not your bro, and I am so glad you think you know more than I do. You know nothing about me. You comment on every article in this paper and must have no life at all. I could care less that you like or dislike the Patriots, just don’t comment on something you have no idea about!
No see i do not , your wrong again. If i do then someone hacked my account. I am done commenting with you, since you have no clue of what your talking about. Peace out
The same thing is true about the Red Sox.
Some great weapons on offense d. Brandon Lloyd, Gronk, Hernandez and Welker. Some good young players on defense too. I’m a Giants fan as well as the Pats and they’ve lost some key players this year.
It’s been quite a month for the Cross family. Congrats to them on another success story.
I can guarantee the patriots will not be in there, and no dont need to invest in lottery tickets, won enough in the past month. Want some hints on winning let me know. Peace out bro
If you’re so sure then why don’t you put your yearly salary on the line!
Consider it done, email your info and ill do it. But i hate to say you wont
What planet have you landed on? The Pats are by FAR the best team in the NFL. They will take the Super Bowl this year, w/o question.
We will see, you wanna make a bet on the side line. Like i did last superbowl and pocketed over ten grand from dumb people that thinks pats are great.
Its all making since know. Did Bangor know this before Cross Insurance was given the contract. But Kraft is footing the bill.
Who cares? Why is this in the news? Do they need more free advertising?
Go Bills!
Thank you your so kind sir. Just wish you would use commonsense oh my never mind that is your name
John, Congratulations on this business success! Your family deserves it and your company is a pillar in the Bangor community. I look forward to our business connection and freindship in the future.
ELS