Marketplace Roundup

In Portland, Erik Siemers writes adidas last month “announced an agreement to be a sponsor and supplier for a series of scouting combines for collegiate rugby recruits as well as the USA Sevens rugby tournament, an international event held annually in Las Vegas and televised nationally on NBC.” adidas Dir of Soccer Antonio Zea believes he “is laying the groundwork to attach the Adidas brand to a sport he hopes will one day rise to match the popularity of soccer in the U.S.” Siemers notes the challenge for Zea in “recent years has been trying to convince Adidas why he should spend more time on the U.S. rugby market when 98 percent of his department’s revenue comes from soccer” (PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/13 issue).

WHEELS & DEALS: The AP’s Michael Marot reported Dragon Racing confirmed British driver Katherine Legge “will finally be an IndyCar Series rookie” this season, as she has signed “a two-year deal with a one-year option" to drive for the team. Legge will be sponsored by TrueCar (AP, 1/16)....Driver David Ragan will be in the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford during the '12 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The team yesterday said that sponsorship for Ragan and David Gilliland's No. 38 ride "is still to be completed.” Ragan was “let go from Roush Fenway Racing when sponsorship from UPS was reduced and the organization scaled back to three full-time cars” (AP, 1/16).

CHIPS & PUTTS: Nike Golf yesterday announced that golfer Ross Fisher has signed a multiyear contract with the company effective immediately. Fisher will now exclusively play and wear Nike Golf products (Nike Golf)....Golf bag and apparel brand Ogio has added golfer Aaron Baddeley to its roster of athletes. Baddeley will be sporting Ogio’s collection of polos, pants, belts and outerwear during the '12 season. He will also work closely with the Ogio design team to develop future apparel collections for the golf retail market (THE DAILY).