Practice Makes Perfect: Two More NFL Teams Reach Jerseys Deals

Microsoft's Bing Will Appear On Seahawks' Practice Jerseys For '09 Season

The Seahawks yesterday announced a partnership with Microsoft in which the company's new Bing search engine will serve as the team's presenting partner for the '09 season. The deal includes the Seahawks wearing the Bing logo on their practice jerseys. The Bing logo was placed on the left chest area of the jersey beginning with yesterday's practice. Notably, Seahawks Owner Paul Allen was a co-Founder of Microsoft (THE DAILY). Seahawks G Rob Sims wrote via his Twitter feed, "I was hoping for a krispykreme sponsor on practice jersey, but I can ride with this Bing, kinda cool" (TWITTER.com, 9/16). In Tacoma, Eric Williams writes it "looks like Bing will get its money's worth," as Seahawks players also "will wear Bing logo practice jerseys at community appearances throughout the season" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/17).

EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE: The 49ers yesterday announced that longtime team sponsor Visa has agreed to sponsor the 49ers' practice jerseys. The jerseys will feature the Visa logo on the left shoulder for the remainder of the '09 season. S.F.-based Visa has sponsored the team since the '95 season (49ers). The S.F. BUSINESS TIMES' Eric Young wrote Visa officials agreed to the sponsorship because they "figure they get enough exposure through TV, print and online coverage of practices to make it worth their money." The fans who are "tuning into practice updates will see the Visa logo." Young noted the team and Visa "won't describe the terms of the deal," but it is "likely that the team gets some compensation, making it worthwhile for the franchise as well" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/16).

Annexus Co-Founder Says Jersey Deal With Suns Helps Company Increase National Brand

SUNNY FORECAST: The Suns yesterday announced that The Annexus Group will sponsor the team's practice jerseys, and in Phoenix, Paul Coro notes company co-Founder Don Dady signed the deal partly because he "just wanted better floor seats at Suns games." However, Dady was informed by Suns Premium Seat Services Dir Chris Montgomery that sideline front-row seats "usually were reserved for marketing partners." Coro notes The Annexus Group "develops principal-protected annuities for sale to the public through insurance marketers, bringing 150 to 200 advisers into the Valley monthly for training on its products." The company "will now use the practice court for that experience to excite their distributors." Dady: "The media exposure helps us increase our national brand, and being able to use the facility enables us to touch our customer" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/17).

EARN YOUR KEEP: In London, Tony Barrett reports while EPL club Liverpool has the potential to earn US$132M over the course of its four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered, which begins next July, a "significant element of the deal is performance-related with bonuses to be paid out to the club should they win either" the EPL or the UEFA Champions League (LONDON TIMES, 9/17).