Like The Games, Olympic Marketing Ready To Start

As the world anticipates Friday’s opening of the Athens Games, today’s issue highlights numerous Olympic marketing nuggets to keep your eye on. Among them: NBC accommodates advertisers that want protection in case of an interruption of the Games; many marketers tone down jingoistic approaches; AT&T uses the Games as the centerpiece of a $25M Olympic push; Nike sees Athens as a springboard to acquaint Asia with LeBron James; Mo Greene shows off his newest adidas shoes; and Roots’ sales are already off to a hot start.

Restart
Nike acquires Starter brand for $43M.

Gate Crasher
Oregon Arena bankruptcy filing shows sharp declines in Rose Garden attendees, suite sales.

On Second Thought
Sources deny reports of meeting between Malcolm Glazer and Irish horseracing magnates over future of Man United.

Financial Aid
CSTV gets $25M cash infusion from JPMorgan Partners.

Gaining Wait
Disney’s move to postpone TV rights talks with NFL impacts talks with other nets.

Sounds Good
Pioneer signs on as title sponsorship of Las Vegas Bowl.

Taking A Toll
Nets’ current owners forced to keep share of team, as Ratner’s fund-raising efforts fall short.

Tex-Mex
Mexican soccer club eyes Earthquakes for move to Texas.

Trading Spaces
Octagon moving corporate HQ to Norwalk, Connecticut.

Escape From L.A.?
L.A. TIMES reports Chargers are looking to exit training camp at The Home Depot Center (#9)

Florida Key
Miami Arena sold for $28M, pushing Marlins closer to new ballpark. (#14)