Alcon Labs signed a one-year deal as the "official lens
care brand" of the U.S. Soccer Federation, according to
Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK. The company, which gets
promotional rights to the men's and women's national teams,
will use the partnership to market its Opti-Free Express
lens care solution (BRANDWEEK, 1/17 issue).
AMEX: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein
reports that AmEx has renewed its WNBA sponsorship for
another three years (see THE DAILY, 9/21). AmEx "will spend
less than" the $3.5M a year that NBAP "has sought" from WNBA
sponsors, as the company did "not buy the full television
media package." Bernstein writes that the sponsorship will
"primarily take hold at the grassroots level," with AmEx
holding coaching clinics for consumers who pay for season
tickets with AmEx credit cards and placing tables in every
WNBA arena concourse to sign up new members (SBJ, 1/17).
MORE DEALS: Gatorade has inked a two-year deal as a
corporate partner of the Big South Conference. Under the
deal, Gatorade receives an integrated marketing package that
includes regional TV advertising and a grassroots presence
in the markets of all Big South member schools (Big
South)....Kraft Miracle Whip Salad Dressing inked a
licensing deal with the Harlem Globetrotters. The brand
will launch new 15- and 30-second TV ads via J. Walter
Thompson, Chicago, to support the partnership (Kraft).
