Bob Evans Restaurants and the Blue Jackets yesterday announced an expansion of their corporate partnership. Bob Evans will present the “Chili Chant” during Blue Jackets games that allows ticket holders to redeem their game tickets for a free cup of chili at a Bob Evans location the day following a game in which the home team scores at least three goals (Bob Evans/Blue Jackets).
COMMUNITY FIRST: In Raleigh, David Bracken reported Lenovo “has signed a new three-year sponsorship deal” with the Hurricanes. Lenovo as part of the deal “will sponsor a new Lenovo Community Champions program that will identify people who have given back to the community through service or support of a nonprofit.” The champions “will be recognized during 15 games throughout the season” (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 1/21).
TOP DOG: In Ft. Worth, Barry Shlachter noted the MLB Rangers “ignited something of a bidding war” over who would be the club's official hot dog purveyor after the contract with Ft. Worth-based Classic Foods and its Sheriff Blaylock hot dogs expired. But the club last week announced that Nolan Ryan Beef “had won the hot dog contract.” The team insists that the entity “was given no breaks during negotiations because of the boss's role.” Rangers Exec VP/Ranger Enterprises, Customer Relations & Sales Jay Miller said Nolan Ryan Beef outbid Classic "by more than 10 percent." Neither side would say how much the winning bid was, but Nolan Ryan Beef CEO Charlie Bradbury said it was "six figures" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/19).
ROUNDUP: Magic CEO Alex Martins said that the team's recent Chase deal is its “third-largest” sponsorship agreement and “pushes the team to an all-time high in annual sponsorship revenue.” In Orlando, Josh Robbins noted the “terms and length of the deal were not announced” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/20)….In Korea, Kang Seung-woo reported Nike Golf signed Korean golfer Noh Seung-yul, who is entering his second year on the PGA Tour, to "try and turn Nike Golf’s fortunes in Korea around" (KOREA TIMES, 1/20).
