In Oklahoma City, Anthony Slater noted Thunder F Kevin Durant has "become an advertisement regular during his meteoric rise in the league, with the latest instance, released this week, a BBVA Bank spot, where Durant seems to make some random dude’s dream come true." Durant is "shooting off T-Shirt guns, partying in his jersey for some reason and genuinely enjoying the company of some random guy he met minutes earlier" (NEWSOK.com, 4/22).
LOVIN' IT: McDonald's has signed a three-year extension of its sponsorship of Univ. of Pittsburgh athletics. The agreement between Pitt IMG Sports Marketing and local McDonald's restaurants includes signage, radio, gameday and social media advertising, logo usage and promotional opportunities. The QSR will have the ability to integrate its national and regional media campaigns while developing specific activation campaigns directed to students and its fan base (Pitt).
RUN ON THE BANK: REUTERS' Keith Weir reported Virgin Money, the title sponsor of the London Marathon since '10, has "extended its sponsorship" of the race until at least '17 (REUTERS, 4/22). Financial terms of the extension were not disclosed, but race organizers said that Virgin's previous five-year deal was worth $26M (BLOOMBERG, 4/22).
BALANCING ACT: YAHOO SPORTS' Shane Bacon reported Nike recently brought in golfers Rory McIlroy, Nick Watney, Paul Casey, Kyle Stanley and Suzann Pettersen to "relive" a previous Tiger Woods trick shot ad, but "with a little more camera editing" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/22).
