The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau is running
ads in Indianapolis from its "Rhythm and Bruise" campaign --
which includes spots that "feature the prominent Titans logo
and the likeness of a Titans player" -- as part of an effort
to "entice Hoosier ... fans into making the five-hour drive"
to the city, according to Sean Horgan of the INDIANAPOLIS
STAR-NEWS, who writes that the move "has caught the Colts'
attention, if not their wrath." Colts VP Ray Compton: "I
don't think the Titans are purposely making a run at our
fans ... but obviously they gave their blessing to the ads."
Titans Dir of Marketing Ralph Okenfells said that the team
had "agreed to the use of their likeness and logo," but
"never saw the ads before they appeared" in Indianapolis.
NFL VP/Communications Greg Aiello said that "while it is
unusual for NFL teams to advertise in other markets, there
is no league rule against it." Aiello adds, "I was in St.
Louis last week and I saw the same Nashville ads there."
However, Nashville Tourism Bureau spokesperson Cindy
Sanders said that despite the Titans marks, the ad is
"really a destination ad, not a Titans ad" (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR-NEWS, 8/27). In Nashville, John Shiffman writes that
the Titans' new $292M Adelphia Coliseum is set to make its
debut tonight on ESPN with the team's preseason game against
the Falcons and adds that it will offer "to some degree a
projection of a new national TV image for Nashville -- as a
modern Southern city." ESPN Senior Producer Fred Gaudelli,
on the net's coverage of the game: "Because this is a
historic moment -- this is finally Nashville's team, a new
name, new uniforms, a new stadium -- we're going to put a
lot of focus on that." Shiffman noted that the Titans have
issued more than 400 media passes for tonight's game
(TENNESSEAN, 8/27). Nashville Sports Council Chair Joe
Kelley, on the game: "Friday night is a chance for us to
promote the economy and showcase Nashville as a wonderful
sports town" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/27).
