Leo Burnett USA announced the NCAA selected the firm as its lead advertising, branding and communications agency. The deal includes strategic planning, creative development and national advertising. The account will be led from Leo Burnett's Detroit office. With the deal, the NCAA's marketing is moving to a more multiplatfom strategy (Leo Burnett). TV creative is "expected to debut during next year's March Madness, though it's likely that print, radio and digital work will appear before then" (ADAGE.com, 9/18).
BAD TO THE BONE: UFC fighter Jon Jones said that his new Nike shoe and clothing line "will be out in three to four months.” Jones said, "I have a lot of pride with this deal. I consider myself a pretty marketable individual.” ESPN.com’s Lynn Hoppes noted Jones is currently “working with the Nike designers on the color and style” of his line (ESPN.com, 9/18).
O YES HE DID: The AP's John Wawrow noted Bills DE Mario Williams yesterday at a Buffalo-area supermarket unveiled "MariO's,” the “latest limited edition cereal produced by” Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports. The company previously “brought area sports fans ‘T.O's,’ during Terrell Owens season in Buffalo, and ‘Flutie Flakes,’ during Doug Flutie's tenure as the Bills quarterback.” The cereal box is in "Bills red and blue colors, with a picture of an open-mouthed Williams pretending to be roaring on the front.” Williams will be “donating all of his proceeds to Carly’s Club,” a charity that “supports patients at Buffalo's Roswell Park Cancer Institute” (AP, 9/18).
GOING FOR A RUN: Nissan extended its partnership with N.Y. Road Runners through ’13, becoming a top partner of the ING N.Y. Marathon and presenting sponsor of the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile, which takes place Saturday (Nissan).
