Deal Flow 7-16-2009

The Sears Tower, one of the world's iconic skyscrapers and the tallest building in the U.S., was renamed the Willis Tower on Thursday after the London-based insurance broker. Willis will be a major tenant, but will not pay a separate naming rights fee for the benefit.

Hawaiian Airlines on Thursday was named title sponsor of the inaugural Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament. The sponsorship runs through 2011 and will involve providing transportation for the eight NCAA basketball teams involved: the UH Rainbow Warriors, and USC, UNLV, SMU, Saint Mary’s (Calif.), College of Charleston, Northeastern and Western Michigan.

Summit Racing Equipment, a distributor of auto racing parts and equipment through catalogs and the Internet, has renewed its series sponsorship of the NHRA Summit Racing Series through the year 2012.

The drive-in restaurant chain Sonic has signed on as a returning sponsor of TBS’ original comedy series The Bill Engvall Show, which returns for its third season on July 18.

Bridgestone Americas will return as the title sponsor for the National Hockey League’s 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic game Jan. 1 at Fenway Park.