The Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores brand is getting some extra attention as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers face off in the NBA Finals. Those watching can’t miss the patch on the Thunder’s jerseys that prominently features Love’s name and its signature red, orange and yellow hearts.
The Oklahoma City-based travel stop chain told CSP it has supported the Oklahoma City Thunder since the basketball team’s arrival to town in 2008, and it’s excited to see them compete in the NBA Finals, which kicked off June 5. This is the Thunder’s first Finals appearance since 2012.
“Our longstanding partnership—including the prominent Love's patch on Thunder jerseys—continues to energize both our customers and team members, especially during this playoff run,” Love’s said in a statement to CSP. “The Love’s patch on the Thunder jersey has created strong brand visibility and affinity among fans.”
Love’s declined to comment on the terms of the deal.
In April 2023, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Love’s announced a multi-year expansion of their partnership, according to a news release from the team. The agreement broadened the placement of the Love’s heart logo patch beyond the Thunder jerseys to include youth jerseys for the YMCA Thunder Basketball League.
The relationship between Love’s and the Thunder is distinctive among NBA franchises, the Thunder’s news release from 2023 said.
- Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is No. 15 on CSP’s 2025 Top 40 update to the Top 202 list. Watch for the full list in mid-June.
“With the extension, the partnership will reach a longevity of 20 years—nine of which will include the Love’s heart logo on Thunder jerseys,” the Thunder said in the 2023 release. “This longevity is uncommon among NBA franchises and their jersey patch partners and even more so in connection with an organization with its headquarters in market.”
As of Friday morning, the Pacers led the best-of-seven series two games to one. The teams were set to play game four on Friday night.
This isn’t the first time a convenience-store chain has partnered with a professional sports team. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip Corp. agreed to be the naming-rights sponsor for the Atlanta Hawks’ 2023 Community Court Tour. QuikTrip, and several other c-store chains like Sheetz, have also made patch partnerships with MLB teams.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores was founded in 1964 and has 655 travel stops and convenience stores in 42 states. It provides services and products for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RV drivers and more.
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