The Hurricanes have "struck" a seven-year,
"multimillion-dollar deal" making Pepsi the "official soft
drink" of the team and the Entertainment & Sports Arena,
according to Cecil Harris of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER.
The deal "will result in the Pepsi logo being prominently
displayed" throughout the arena, concourse areas and
concession stands. Dean Jordan, President of Gale Force
Holdings, the Hurricanes parent company: "Pepsi actually
wanted a longer deal, and we wanted a five-year deal, so the
seven years was somewhat of a compromise." Pepsi Bottling
Ventures VP/Marketing Bob Nunnenkamp, noting that Pepsi was
founded in NC, said, "Pepsi is a North Carolina tradition
... so it is meaningful to be associated with the premier
arena in our state." Jordan added Gale Force is "still
working on" an arena naming rights deal. Harris writes that
the deal "could cause confusion" for NC State fans, as the
school's men's basketball team will play in the arena and
Coca-Cola products are served at all of the school's other
athletic venues. However, arena "policy does not prevent
luxury suite owners from bringing" Coca-Cola products into
the venue (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/22).
