The Browns inked a five-year, "multifaceted" marketing
deal with Pepsi last week that includes exclusive pouring
rights, corporate sponsorship and stadium signage, according
to Marcia Pledger of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Browns
Exec Marketing Dir Bruce Popko did not reveal the amount of
the deal, but said negotiations with Pepsi began five months
ago. Popko: "Really from the beginning, we knew that Pepsi
Cola was the partner that we wanted." Pepsi currently
controls 42.3% of the Northeast OH sales in supermarkets
while Coke has a 27.2% market share. The deal includes a
700-square-foot sign across from the endzone scoreboard,
other signage and pouring rights for nine brands, including
Mountain Dew, Pepsi One and Lipton tea (PLAIN DEALER, 2/20).
BROWNS BRICK ROAD: Cleveland Mayor Michael White has
launched a sales campaign to sell 84,000 personalized bricks
around the Browns stadium. The 10-inch-wide bricks cost $100
each and can hold inscriptions of up to three lines. White
hopes to raise $8.4M for the city, but has not said how the
money will be spent (Alison Grant, PLAIN DEALER, 2/20).
