Marketplace Roundup

Rangers American League Champions T-Shirt Was The Hot Item Friday Night

In Dallas, Deborah Fleck noted the MLB Rangers won the AL pennant Friday, and fans “found empty shelves and long lines as they headed out Saturday morning to buy gear to celebrate the team’s first trip to the World Series.” The Grand Slam Gift Shop at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington “sold out of what everyone wanted -- those red T-shirts emblazoned with the words ‘American League Champions.’” Staff at Academy Sports & Outdoors in Irving “had promised to stay open until they sold out of championship gear,” which they did soon after the Rangers clinched the pennant on Friday night. Dallas-area Dick’s Sporting Goods stores opened at 7:00am CT Saturday and by “early afternoon, the Dick’s store in Dallas had nothing left.” The team's official merchandise store in downtown Dallas also “had no championship gear when it opened” on Saturday morning (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/24).

GIANT RUSH: The Giants won the NL pennant Saturday, and staff members at AT&T Park’s Giants Dugout said that fans “flocked" to the store Sunday morning, "standing in line for a half-hour in the rain before the shop opened” at 9:30am PT. Workers said that the store “scheduled extra staff … in order to deal with the expected crush.” Featured merchandise “included new black-and-orange T-shirts." Store workers said that “more items, many of which are already for sale online, will be added throughout the week, including fitted hats and sweatshirts” (S.F. EXAMINER, 10/25). 

GOING GLOBAL: adidas on Friday announced that it has extended its deal as a sponsor and sportswear supplier of EPL club Chelsea for eight more years. MARKETING WEEK's Joanne Oatts noted adidas has sponsored the club since '06. The two “have previously partnered with American youth football clubs to help develop US soccer, and launched ‘Blue Pitches,’ a campaign aimed at encouraging young kids to participate in sport.” Chelsea and adidas now “have plans to roll the project out globally, after initially launching in Hong Kong and London” (MARKETINGWEEK.co.uk, 10/22).

SETTING A STANDARD: Rio 2016 this month revealed its Olympic Games Commercial Plan that “promises to raise more than $600 million in sponsorships and licensing.” The organizing committee forecasts $270M in domestic investment, $288M in foreign funds and $45M in licensing. The host city “will use advertising agencies to help with the plan.” Organizers “will present details at a sponsorship event in Rio slated for Nov. 25” (AROUNDTHERINGS.com. 10/23).