Network Associates Coliseum officials "are scrambling
to salvage" a $60M advertising deal after CA Gov. Gray Davis
vetoed a bill to allow construction of 12-story signs along
I-880, according to David Holbrook of the CONTRA COSTA
TIMES. The legislation "would have given the Oakland-
Alameda County Coliseum Authority an exemption to state law
banning such advertising." But Davis "feared the change
might encourage other public agencies to seek similar
deals." The Authority approved a 20-year deal with an
advertising firm "to greatly expand" ads at the Coliseum
"knowing it would violate state law that limits ads near
freeways." The Authority "would get" 36% of the revenue
from the ads, estimated at $3M per year, which "would help
offset" the $400M loss the Authority "is expected to incur"
from the '95 Raiders deal (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 9/26).
THE WARRIORS DID IT! The S.F. BUSINESS TIMES' Ron Leuty
reports that corporate sponsors of the Warriors "have scored
so many signage deals" at The New Arena that the team has
ordered 60 more signs "on top of" the 188 existing units at
the facility. Leuty wrote the increased sales can be
attributed to a new sales staff which has brought an
approach to sponsorship that "centers more on pitching
companies' products and spreading their names throughout the
community [rather] than selling static advertising space in
the arena." This year, TV ad slots "are filled" and 85% of
radio spots have been sold. A total of 25 companies have
signed deals with the team for signage at all 41 Warriors
home games (S.F. BUSINESS TIMES, 9/25 issue).
