Say Cheese: Kraft Agrees To Sponsor Implosion Of Texas Stadium

Kraft Will Pay Irving A $75,000 Sponsorship Fee For Charities Prior To Stadium's Demolition

The Irving (TX) City Council Thursday "unanimously approved Kraft Foods as the official sponsor" for the implosion of Texas Stadium, according to Wendy Hundley of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Kraft will pay Irving a $75,000 sponsorship fee "prior to the demolition for charities selected by the city." The company also will give $75,000 "worth of Kraft products for local charities of its choice." Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau Exec Dir Maura Gast indicated that Kraft this week "will launch a national essay contest for children" as part of its "Cheddar Explosion" promo campaign. The winner of the contest "will get to trigger the detonation at the public demolition." Irving Dir of Communications Laurie Kunke said that an official demolition date has not been set "because asbestos is still being removed from the stadium." However, Hundley reported the sponsorship deal "stipulates that the implosion must occur between March 14 and April 18 or the contract will terminate and Irving must refund the sponsorship fee." Kunke noted that the city council "is expected to set a date for the event at its Jan. 13 work session" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/1). Gast told the city council "that Kraft plans to spend $1[M] in marketing and advertising for the event" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/1).