Delta Air Lines and the NHL Rangers are hosting a flight from N.Y.’s LaGuardia Airport to New Jersey’s Newark Airport to transport more than 80 fans to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center. On Thursday, fans that already had tickets to the game had the opportunity to register to win seats on the flight. They will also receive Rangers merchandise, ground transportation to the arena and a chance to win a road trip for two to a Rangers game next season. Former Rangers RW Rod Gilbert and C Ron Duguay will be on the flight, as well as Delta customers and children and families connected to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, an MSG charity (Christopher Botta, SportsBusiness Journal).
WRONG CITY: In London, Jessica Winch reported EPL club Manchester United are “promoting their new ‘Made of Manchester’ kit by stressing the city's industrial heritage" -- but mistakenly used a picture of the city Oldham. Nike promoted “the new Gingham Collection on United's Facebook page, posting a series of pictures celebrating the city's industrial success when Manchester United was formed in 1878.” A Nike spokesperson said, "We mistakenly included a photograph featuring mills in Oldham rather than Manchester on a Facebook post to promote the new Manchester United home kit” (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 5/17).
POWERFUL NICHE: BLOOMBERG NEWS’ Trista Kelley reported London-based health drink company Provexis is “vying for a sliver" of the $42B sports-drink market and will be "counting on a lift from unsolicited athlete endorsements on the eve of the Summer Olympics.” U.K. cyclist Rebecca Romero “signed on to promote Science in Sport gels in March, after years of endorsing the gels by using them on her own.” Tennis player Andy Murray “also regularly uses” the company's Windsor gels. Provexis CEO Stephen Moon said, “I don’t think the big brands can do elite sports like we can. They don’t have the credibility. You can’t unravel our standing with elite athletes just by spending the cash. We have a small but powerful niche brand” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/16).
GOING GLOBAL: The FINANCIAL TIMES’ Neil Hume noted Australian sportswear company 2XU “aims to be a global brand.” 2XU co-Founder Aidan Clarke “can reel off a long list of NBA and American football teams that have bought 2XU branded garments for players to wear under their uniforms,” including the Clippers, Knicks, Thunder, NFL Jets and Giants. Such deals, along with alliances with Swimming Australia and the PGA of Australia, have helped 2XU "carve a profitable niche in sportswear” (FT.com, 5/15).
