The NFL, in its continuing attempt to re-sign Coca-Cola
to a corporate sponsorship, is "under continuing pressure
from its 30 teams to cut a national soft-drink deal or cede
the rights," according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK. The
NFL is "close to throwing the rights back to teams to see if
they can cut their own deals" in what has traditionally been
one of NFLP's "most lucrative sponsorship categories."
Lefton reports that a recent meeting with Coca-Cola execs
attended by NFL President Neil Austrian, NFLP President Sara
Levinson and Coca-Cola President Jack Stahl "did little to
resolve the differences between the company and the NFL."
One source said that Coca-Cola "was well south" of $15M,
"that figure being half of what the league had hoped to get
from the category." Lefton adds that Coca-Cola execs have
asked to meet with teams, and a contingent of club officials
are set to meet with them this week in N.Y. Coca-Cola
currently has pouring rights in 26 of the NFL's 29 stadiums
(BRANDWEEK, 4/27 issue). AD AGE reports that while the NFL
is seeking a six-year, $31M-per-year deal, Coca-Cola is said
to be willing to pay only $18M a year. PepsiCo, meanwhile,
is said to be offering $15M per year (AD AGE, 4/27 issue).
