NFL SPONSORSHIP MOVES

     Levi Strauss has bought the rights to make Dockers the
official pants of NFL coaches, a 3-year deal costing close to $2M
a season.  The NFL Coaches Club negotiated the deal and said that
23 of 28 NFL coaches have agreed to wear Dockers pants.
Endorsement fees will be divided between NFL Properties and the
coaches.  A Dockers competitor criticized the company for the
deal, citing the difficulty cameras will have showcasing the
pants: "Only Dockers is stupid enough to pay that kind of money"
(Elaine Underwood, BRANDWEEK, 10/3).
     7-ELEVEN:  7-Eleven has announced plans to become the
official convenience store of the NFL.  The deal is the first
step in a broad series of promotional initiatives, including a
tie in with Coke's "Monsters of the Gridiron" series.  7-Eleven
is also talking to other NFL sponsors like Frito-Lay, Gatorade,
Hershey and Budweiser about cross-promotional efforts (Michael
McCarthy, BRANDWEEK, 10/3).