Deal Flow 8-31-2009

MLG has signed a major sponsorship with Doritos to sponsor the MLG Skills Combine. Procter & Gamble has signed on as a sponsor of the United States Olympic team for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Games in a deal that includes more than 12 of P & G's household products. The Philadelphia Phillies have signed a four-year sponsorship with Horizon Services, a Philadelphia-based plum...

In New York, Ambush Opportunities Abound

Now that we've booked our own ferry tickets to today's opening day of the U.S. Open, we figured we'd let you in on the this year's best U.S. Open tennis transportation secret: the Venus Williams Powerade Zero Ferry. Powerade will offer tennis fans a free ferry ride to the tennis matches from August 31 to September 6 to promote its zero calorie sports drink in its ongoing battle with G2. But...

For Sponsors, 3 Steps Towards Transparency

Earlier this year, politicians, the media, and just about everyone with an opinion, it seemed, publicly flogged Northern Trust Bank for proceeding with the second year of its five-year commitment to PGA Golf because it received TARP funds. According to the bank's CEO, no public dollars funded the sponsorship, and fiscally sound, doing quite well, the bank went forth with a sponsorship program i...

Question Your Sponsorship Operation

Developing a corporate sponsorship program for your event, festival, and/or other nonprofit program or initiative should be a strategic decision for your organization. You must have something of value to exchange with the corporate sector along with a competent operation to deliver it. Is your operation all that it could be? Do you, or does your staff, make business development an art form?...

Deal Flow 9-8-2009

Danish brewer Carlsberg signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the English Football Association on Tuesday Bell Helicopter has agreed to remain the title sponsor of the Armed Forces Bowl through at least 2011, with options for the following two years. JetBlue Airways today announced a three year partnership to become the Official Airline Partner of the New York Jets. Gap is sponsoring Am...

Do Properties Really Want "Partnerships?"

We've been through the sponsorship vs. partnership debate several times so I won't rehash again, but an article coinciding with the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship this weekend really has me thinking: Do properties really know what they're getting into when sponsorships look more like "partnerships?" That is, with all of the talk about developing "partnerships of equals," are propertie...

Happy Jetting: Jet Blue Scores NY Jets Deal

Jet Blue will join in the Jets 50 years of New York Jets football celebration as part of a three year sponsorship deal, announced today. "This is the perfect opportunity for JetBlue to establish a relationship with the New York Jets," said Robin Hayes, Chief Commercial Officer of JetBlue Airways. "We're a growing airline with a bright future ahead, and the Jets are starting an exciting new cha...

Show Me the U.S. Open Money

A Q&A with Condor Capital's Ken Schapiro Condor Capital President Ken Schapiro brings over 20 years of investment management expertise and tennis business experience to a financial analysis of the U.S. Open. Schapiro manages over $500 million in portfolio assets at Condor, a firm he founded in 1988. Schapiro also owns the Courtside Racquet Club in Clinton, which yesterday received the 2009...

PBR Bucking Sponsorship Trend?

GoDaddy.com, the web domain registrar famous for Danica Patrick and its sultry Super Bowl ads, has signed on as title sponsor of Pro Bull Riding's Portland event in October. This follows up last week's announcement that U.S. Bank, a licensee since 2005, is now an official sponsor of the PBR The GoDaddy.com Invitational will pit the world's top 40 bull riders against each other over the course...

Get "FameUs" With LG

Is there room for one more American Idol-style talent contest? LG Mobile Phones, MGM and Lakeshore Entertainment think so. They've partnered up to promote the film launch of the 80s cult classic, FAME, through a microsite at www.lgfameus.com where fans of film and phone can get exclusive film content and submit a video showcasing their talent for a chance to win $50,000. Tying into the cre...