Ryan Blake, the chief operating officer of BCB Bank, vividly recalls when the bank was given the opportunity to be the presenting sponsor of a Pelé sculpture being commissioned for this week’s Countdown to World Cup 2026 networking event at American Dream.
It was just a few weeks ago, Blake said.
And it was worthy of an immediate response: Yes.
“We’re very involved in the communities that we’re in, trying to make an impact,” Blake said. “And we’ve always been big supporters of the arts.
“So, when we had a chance to showcase the works of a famous sculpture, it was a very easy decision.
The piece, by famed Italian sculptor Dante Mortet, will be unveiled for the first time Tuesday night at the GAMERROOM in American Dream, during a networking event promoting the benefits of the world’s biggest sporting event to New Jersey small businesses.
Countdown to the World Cup 2026, sponsored by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-hosted by Evolvere, is an effort to help local businesses understand how they can benefit from the World Cup, which is expected to bring an economic boost of $3 billion to the area.
And while Blake was drawn to the project because of the bank’s support of the arts, it’s not lost on him that its sponsorship represents what the event is all about – finding ways for area businesses to gain exposure (and potential revenue) in connection with the world’s biggest sporting event.
Like so many businesses, BCB Bank is not in position to be a direct sponsor of the event, but it still can use the event to connect with customers – and potential customers.
“Absolutely,” Blake said. “The Countdown to the World Cup event is taking place in our backyard; we have branches in Rutherford and Lyndhurst. So, we’ll know a lot of people at the event – but it will cause such a wide net that we’ll introduce our name to plenty of new people, too.”
That will be true throughout the week as the sculpture will make a mini-tour, making stops in Hillsborough and Jersey City – and potentially, Paterson.
Blake said BCB will continue to find opportunities to brand itself for the World Cup crowd.
“We plan to get our name out there a lot more,” he said. “This is a great first opportunity, but there will be more to come.” Tickets for the event, which runs from 6-10 p.m., can be purchased here. The first Countdown to the World Cup, in 2024, sold out. Organizers are expecting a similar outcome.
Luis De Laz Hoz, the chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said BCB sponsorship of the event is symbolic of what the event is aiming to do: Teach businesses how they can be connected to the World Cup.
“The World Cup will be worth billions in revenue to the area,” he said. “We want to help small business learn how they can get a share of it.”
