Today's AD AGE ONLINE reports on the following sponsorship
news: Nissan Motor Corp. USA is "believed to be close to
announcing a major sponsorship" with ACOG. ... Oldsmobile is
preparing its "broadest integrated marketing effort ever, built
around the Ryder Cup," scheduled for September 22-24, at Oak Hill
Golf Club in Rochester, NY. The effort will include TV, print, a
sweepstakes, direct marketing, point of sale, on-site displays
and hospitality, PR and an interactive area on America Online.
Leo Burnett USA, Chicago is creating the ads, themed "For pride
and Country." ... Nike will "lean" on the NFL as part of its fall
ad push, which will begin in late August. Nike will "create
spots customized for the top 10 U.S. markets, each featuring a
hometown -- or close to hometown -- NFL star." The ads by Wieden
& Kennedy will "support turf training and cross training lines."
... Quaker Oats' Gatorade will run a rap music promotion
involving a "controversial new album from the group Tha Dogg
Pound, set for release on Time Warner's Interscope/Death Row
label next month." The promotion is coordinated by InTune
Marketing Group, and allows customers to sample music over the
phone. Print ads will run in "urban music magazines" and will
read: "This ad in no way connotes Gatorade endorsement by these
artists and vice verse" (AD AGE ONLINE, 6/26).