Fila USA and NY-based agency Arnell Group Brand
Consulting "have parted ways," according to a report in AD
AGE, as "the shop resigned" the estimated $15M account. Fila
VP/Marketing Howe Burch said it's undecided if a review will
be held, or if agencies will be sought for project work (AD
AGE, 3/16). Burch "attributed the move in part to Arnell's
recent selection as the creative agency for Tommy Hilfiger
USA," an account estimated at $30M-40M (N.Y. TIMES, 3/17).
ARE THERE ANY KNICKS HATS? New Era, MLB's exclusive on-
field cap provider, "has turned to" Chicago-based Spike DDB
to create a new campaign to break Opening Day. Spike DDB
"is in the final stages" of producing five spots that show
"how various players break in caps." New Era's tag, "Proud
to Play," becomes "Proud to Play in a New Era." MLB players
in the spots include Scott Rolen, Todd Hundley, Todd Zeile
and Eric Davis. Also appearing are NFLers Tiki and Ronde
Barber, golfer Curtis Strange and Spike Lee. New Era, which
produced its first-ever TV ads last year, is doubling its ad
budget for '98 to $2.4M (Terry Lefton, BRANDWEEK, 3/16).