"In a highly unusual move in Canadian sport marketing," the
Raptors will "tap" ad dollars from both Molson and Labatt,
according to James Christie of the GLOBE & MAIL. The team will
reportedly split advertising "exclusivity" between the two during
broadcasts, giving each half of each game. Commercials and
court-side signage will change at halftime, "giving the brewing
companies roughly equal exposure during games." Raptors
President John Bitove: "The dollar amounts are the same and one
company gets one half and the other gets the second half." A
Molson source put their two-year marketing and promotional deal
at more than $1M, while Labatt will announce today a three-year
national agreement with both the Raptors and Grizzlies. Brent
Scrimshaw, Molson VP/Sport & Entertainment, said the company went
into the deal "knowing Labatt was there," but said they went
after "something we wanted. If fits with our demographics"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/23).
SAUSAGE TASTES GOOD: Grimm's Finest Sausage has been
signed as the exclusive supplier in the "deli and weiner"
category for the new GM Place in Vancouver (GM Place).
