Marketplace Round-Up

Premiership club Chelsea has signed with the William Morris Agency for representation in marketing partnerships, entertainment events, programming initiatives and other branding efforts. Chelsea in June announced plans to expand the team’s global presence, and last week announced it will part ways with jersey sponsor Emirates Airlines after this season hoping to lure a large consumer brand (THE DAILY).

Spalding’s “Jersey” Ball Will Retail For $29.99

ON THE BALL: Spalding is adding a new line of basketballs, the Spalding NBA Player Jersey Line, which features glossy basketballs designed to resemble NBA jerseys. The line, to be available this holiday season, includes ten players, including Heat C Shaquille O’Neal, Cavs G LeBron James and Celtics F Paul Pierce (Spalding).

IN-VINCE-IBLE: The NFL will extend its “Building Bridges” campaign featuring sound bites of Vince Lombardi with three new spots, via Young & Rubicam, N.Y., running through Thanksgiving. In “Leaders,” which features shots of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Packers QB Brett Favre, Titans QB Steve McNair and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Lombardi says, “Great leaders are not born. They’re made by hard effort.” Other spots will show footage of Falcons QB Michael Vick, Chiefs RB Priest Holmes, Patriots CB Ty Law and Jets RB Curtis Martin (BRANDWEEK, 10/4 issue).

EXTENDED: Deutsche Bank has extended its sponsorship of the Deutsche Bank Players Championship of Europe, formerly the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open, through ‘08 (GOLFWEEK, 10/9).