In Detroit, Jaclyn Trop reports Tigers and Lions merchandise “continued to sell fast last week, as both teams posted big victories.” SportsOneSource reported that Tigers gear “leapt to third” among MLB teams “from fifth place a week earlier, claiming 6.67 percent of sales by market share for the week ended Saturday.” Meanwhile, the 5-0 Lions “more than doubled their market share” in the NFL in the week leading up to Monday night's win over the Bears. SportsOneSource noted that the Lions “ranked 17th in merchandise sales among the 32 NFL teams, with 2.2 percent of the market” (DETROIT NEWS, 10/14).
FEELING SQUIRRELY: In St. Louis, Matthew Hathaway noted there is “money to be had in peddling squirrel gear" to MLB Cardinals fans "thanks to the Rally Squirrel frenzy.” Missouri-based grocer Dierbergs reported that the “first batches of ‘squirrel shirts’ at its stores sold out within hours on Saturday.” Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation is “selling its own Rally Squirrel trading cards, shirts and hats that come with or without an attached squirrel tail.” The charity saw its merchandise “sell out at various businesses around town." At least “11 other T-shirt styles inspired by the bushy-tailed Busch beastie were listed on eBay Tuesday afternoon” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/12).
ROUNDUP: Burton Snowboards and MINI announced a partnership for the ’11-12 season with the car manufacturer serving as the presenting sponsor of the Burton Global Open Series. The two companies will also collaborate on more snowboard events throughout the upcoming season (Burton)….The Ravens announced ThompsonGas will serve as the team’s official propane gas partner to benefit the Ravens All Community Team Foundation (Ravens)….Phiten announced an endorsement deal with T'Wolves F Derrick Williams to serve as a brand ambassador for the company. Williams joins Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, Heat F Chris Bosh and Clippers G Eric Gordon as Phiten endorsers (Phiten).
