AT&T has inked a multi-year sponsorship agreement with
the Mariners and Safeco Field valued at "more than seven
figures annually," according to Andy Bernstein of the
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The deal is "spearheaded" by AT&T's
wireless division, which will provide wireless telephones to
the entire front-office. Signage and branding and other
AT&T services are included in the deal. AT&T was originally
interested in a wireless-only deal, but sought "broader
exclusivity" when asked to pay a "huge rights fee" for the
wireless category. Foote, Cone & Belding's sports marketing
division handled the deal (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/16).
TELLEM IT'S OK: Also in the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL,
Josh Gotthelf reports that Hornets rookie Ricky Davis has
dropped Arn Tellem to sign with agent Tevester Scott of
Master P's No Limit Sports. In other news, Magic rookie
Miles Simon and Suns rookie Toby Bailey have "finalized"
deals with And 1 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/16).
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY: Red Wings C Sergei Fedorov
signed an endorsement deal with NHL sponsor FedEx, which
includes a TV spot scheduled to begin airing "in the next
few weeks" (Josh Gotthelf, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/16).
BECKERMAN EYES WCW: BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton reports
that Starter is "close to completing a licensing deal" with
WCW. Starter Chair David Beckerman: "We're looking for
licenses that give us better return on investment and I'm
convinced that this is one." Starter "hopes to have limited
product" out for the holiday season, but "the bulk of its
effort will be for" spring '99 (BRANDWEEK, 11/16 issue).
