Morale Entertainment Foundation today announced a multiyear deal with Walmart that makes the retailer title sponsor for the Carrier Classic college basketball game. The agreement will include a veteran’s appreciation campaign to promote awareness of the event and encourage Americans to thank active duty and veteran military personnel. The campaign will launch this week on Walmart’s Facebook page and will last through Veterans' Day weekend. The campaign also will include an in-store promotion in over 3,000 stores and game-day TV ads. Morale Entertainment will support the campaign with additional social media, TV and radio promotion (Morale Entertainment).
JUNIOR MINTS: MMAFIGHTING.com’s Ariel Helwani cited sources as saying that UFC fighter Junior dos Santos is “close to signing a deal with Nike, however, the deal isn't finalized and its terms are unknown.” During an interview on last night's episode of "UFC Tonight" on Fuel TV, Dos Santos was seen “wearing a T-shirt with a large Nike logo on it” (MMAFIGHTING.com, 10/30).
SOUTH FLORIDA BLING: Sunrise Sports & Entertainment and South Florida-based Weston Jewelers announced that they have renewed and increased their marketing partnership for the company to be the official jeweler and watch store of the NHL Panthers, BB&T Center and the venue's Club Red. The deal includes in-arena signage and LED exposure, including Weston remaining as the presenting sponsor for the Rockstar Lounge at BB&T Center. In addition, Weston’s jewelry and watches will be featured in a display case located in Club Red (Panthers).
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: IndyCar team KV Racing yesterday announced that it had signed driver Simona de Silvestro and “will have a two-car operation," along with driver with Tony Kanaan. The AP’s Jenna Fryer noted it will be the “first time de Silvestro will have a teammate in IndyCar, where she has spent the last three seasons driving for single-car team HVM Racing.” She will drive the No. 78 next season “with sponsorship from the Nuclear Clean Air Energy campaign” (AP, 10/30).
