Red Lobster Partners with BIG3 Basketball League Ahead of Season 8 Tip-Off in Chicago on June 14

The Beloved Seafood Restaurant Will Bring the Heat as the Official Sponsor of the “Bring the Fire” Challenge

Orland, Fla., June 3, 2025 - Red Lobster has officially joined forces with the BIG3 – the premier 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz – as the official restaurant sponsor for the league’s highly anticipated eighth season, tipping off at 4pm ET live on CBS from Allstate Arena on June 14, 2025, in Chicago, IL.

“This partnership with Red Lobster is the exact kind of integration that we want to do in the BIG3,” said Ice Cube, BIG3 CEO. “Even though we're a sports league and they’re a restaurant company – there’s so much synergy between our brands. We both are a place where you want to take your family to enjoy themselves and where every new customer becomes a lifelong fan. Together, we were able to translate those qualities into a creative and dynamic partnership that will make a huge impact with our audiences. I can’t wait for our fans to experience everything we're doing together in arenas this summer.”

The beloved seafood restaurant is sponsoring the “Bring the Fire” challenge, the innovative fan-favorite rule that allows coaches to challenge one officiating call per half to be settled via an in-game 1-v-1.

"At Red Lobster, we know that greatness starts with mastering the fundamentals, like quality, mouthwatering food, and exceptional service. That's why we're proud to partner with BIG3, a league that celebrates the core elements that make basketball great," said Nichole Robillard, Chief Marketing Officer at Red Lobster. “We're excited to connect with fans through the energy, innovation, and authenticity that define the league and look forward to bringing the heat and the fun all summer long through the "Bring the Fire" buzzer and other fan experiences at every game.”

Beyond the buzzer, Red Lobster will be rolling out the red carpet for fans – literally and figuratively - with fun in-person engagements like lobster claw-shaped foam fingers and exclusive voucher giveaways. The partnership also extends to branding throughout the arenas and broadcast integrations.

Fans can follow along as Red Lobster (@redlobster) and BIG3 (@thebig3) collaborate on social media throughout the season. To learn more about BIG3 and find out where to watch, visit big3.com.

About Red Lobster Seafood Co.

Red Lobster is the world's largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company, headquartered in Orlando, Fla. With a proud heritage, Red Lobster is focused on serving the highest quality, freshly prepared seafood that is traceable, sustainable, and responsibly sourced. To learn more about Red Lobster, including locations and menu options, please visit http://www.redlobster.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

About BIG3:

On January 11, 2017, the BIG3 was born. The first-ever professional FIREBALL3 league is the brainchild of producer, actor, and music legend Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, who shared a vision of a player-centric league focused on entertainment and innovation. The BIG3 is a league with no garbage minutes, where trash talk is allowed, defense is emphasized, fast-paced action, and where every point –whether it’s a 4-point or 3-point shot – counts. Any given BIG3 team has hall of famers, icons and trailblazers, and the next best 3-on-3 player.

The league has led the sports industry in diversity and opportunity, becoming the first professional sports league to implement a mental health policy, favor CBD as a pain management alternative to opioids, enlist female coaches of men, and appoint a black Commissioner in Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who is also professional sports first former player serving as Commissioner. The inaugural CEO was the legendary, incomparable Raider executive Amy Trask. This January 2024, BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube was honored at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where he received the inaugural Ice Cube Impact Award, acknowledging individuals making substantial contributions to their community, the first non-player to be recognized. Founders Ice Cube and Jeffrey Kwatinetz are missioned to better society as BIG3 pursues business success while also helping to break down stereotypes, promote diversity in sports, create opportunities for black, brown, and female athletes beyond the court, and support the black, youth and basketball communities overall.