BLOOMBERG NEWS reports that the Jets had "one of the
biggest merchandising sales increases" in the NFL, moving
from 19th in '97 to 12th in '98. The Vikings moved from
17th to seventh. Sporting Goods Business Editor of
Licensing Cory Bronson says the NFL's licensing revenue in
retail sales increased 3% from '97 to $3.1B in '98
(BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/15)....Perrier has "pulled out" of its
$5M title sponsorship of November's Hong Kong Golf Open
(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 3/16)....A 6% increase in U.S.
case volume sales in '98 "appears to have come at a high
price" for Coca-Cola, as the company "spent more than" $1.2B
on marketing and sales-related equipment for Coca-Cola
Enterprises, its largest bottler. The figure represents
"nearly twice" what Coca-Cola spent on the bottler in '97
(N.Y. TIMES, 3/17)....Chicago-based Lanktree Sports
negotiated endorsement deals with AT&T's "345" program for
Yankees OF Paul O'Neill and 1B Tino Martinez. A spot,
handled by Young & Rubicam, was shot February 24 in Tampa.
(Lanktree Sports)....Citrix Systems has become the title
sponsor of the ATP Tour's Match Point Championships to be
held at Delray Beach, FL, May 3-8 (Citrix).
