As teams look beyond their already sponsor-plastered venues for more ways to generate revenue, the idea of individual games or full seasons being underwritten by corporations is becoming increasingly common.

The Panthers opened their 2006-07 season on Friday with the help of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which will also sponsor the next two Panthers’ seasons. This is nothing new – last season was sponsored by ADT.

This season is being presented by the tribe’s Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The casino’s name will be included in the team’s advertising and on signage throughout BankAtlantic Center. The casino is also considered the “official Florida Panthers Post Game Party Spot.”

The casino connection is OK by the NHL because the gambling venue does not have a sports book, according to Panthers Chief Operating Officer Michael Yormark. Additionally, Isle of Capri Casinos, which owns Pompano Park Harness Track, has a bid in to finance a new arena for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, if it can secure the license to operate slot machines in the city.

Season and Indian gaming sponsorships are not new: in 2000, the Sycuan Tribe, which runs a casino in San Diego County, paid more than $1.5 million to be the title sponsor of the San Diego Padres' season.

And even the Boston Red Sox, who have sold everything from the grounds crew and lineup card exchange to sponsors, are considering a season sponsor. After all, it was Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, who engineered the Sycuan sponsorship while at the Padres.