Facilities Marketing Group (FMG), the arm hired to sell
luxury seats for Cleveland's proposed football stadium, is
looking for a local bank to assist in its marketing effort,
according to Kristen Baird of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. FMG and
IMG want to "link up" with a bank to develop a "consumer-
friendly" approach to market and finance the 8,000 club seats
planned for the stadium. Harry Howell of FMG said about "a half-
dozen" banks either based in Cleveland or with a large presence
in the city, have been sent bid packages on the program. Baird
notes the bank chosen could "extend loans" to club seat buyers to
cover seat payments, but an "alliance" with FMG would come "at a
cost" to the banking partner as the bank chosen will have to pay
a "rights fee" to market the stadium's club seats. Baird reports
one source said the fee totaled $100,000. Star Bank Northeast
Ohio Chair Andrew E. Randall said Star Bank will "explore an
alliance" because of the "potential marketing benefits" (CRAIN'S
CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 10/7 issue).
MAX ON: Muhleman Marketing Inc. has been hired as a
consultant for the Browns' PSL campaign. Ex-Muhleman Marketing
exec Bill Futterer is heading the Browns trust campaign
(CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL 10/14 issue).
