In Chicago, Danny Ecker noted the Bulls and Athletico Ltd. have "struck a new multiyear deal that will make the Oak Brook-based physical therapy provider the presenting sponsor of the team's practice jerseys." Athletico, a corporate partner of the team "for the past 10 years, will continue to work with the team's medical staff during home games and get arena signage and scoreboard features under the new pact." It also will "help with athletic training for non-players in the Bulls Entertainment Network" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/27).
SWING OF THINGS: MEDIAPOST's Larissa Faw noted digital marketing agency VML "scored a hole-in-one" after Cobra Puma Golf named the K.C.-based shop as its new global agency of record. VML will be "responsible for overall brand direction for both Cobra Golf and Puma Golf." Puma "divides its golf business into two divisions." Cobra "covers equipment; Puma covers shoes and apparel." VML will "handle creative concepts for broadcast, print, digital, event, and retail point-of-sale across countries including the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Australia and China" (MEDIAPOST.com, 2/26).
THINK PINK: QSR MAGAZINE's Tamara Omazic reported frozen-yogurt chain Pinkberry locations nationwide soon will offer Maria Sharapova's "exclusive line of high-end gummy candies." Sugarpova will be the "first independent brand featured and marketed in Pinkberry stores in this capacity." For the Pinkberry partnership, brand execs "worked with Sharapova and her Sugarpova team to create mini versions of three popular varieties for the topping bar." Pinkberry, SharapovA and Sugarpova will "take to social media" to market the partnership (QSRMAGAZINE.com, 2/27).
