The Chiefs have cut ties with TAMMY FRUITS, the team’s former VP/Sales & Marketing, according to a blog post written by Bob Gretz, a former Chiefs beat writer. Chiefs Exec VP & COO MARK DONOVAN confirmed the report via e-mail. Fruits’ name and title are not listed on the staff directory on the Chiefs’ website. She oversaw a department responsible for selling suites and club seats at Arrowhead Stadium, including new premium seat inventory tied to the facility’s $375M renovation completed in '10. Fruits joined the Chiefs in September '05. In the same blog post, Gretz reported the Chiefs had signed a naming-rights deal for Arrowhead Stadium. Donovan in a separate e-mail said that piece of information was inaccurate (Don Muret, SportsBusiness Journal).
MOVING ON: In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell reported Colts Senior VP/Sales & Marketing TOM ZUPANCIC “tendered his resignation Thursday.” Colts COO PETE WARD on Friday said, "It's his personal decision and I'm not going to comment on his personal matters.” Zupancic, 56, is “an Indianapolis native who had been with the Colts since their relocation in 1984” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/15). The “reason behind the departure was not clear” (IBJ.com, 10/14).
