On Long Island, Neil Best reports Fanatics has "seen a 1,000-percent increase in sales" of Yankees SS Derek Jeter merchandise this season over last year, "a 2,000-percent increase for this month compared with last September and a 2,700-percent increase for this week." The company "features 296 different Jeter-related products," and has "made sales from all 50 states and 30 countries" (NEWSDAY, 9/23).
SWEET CAROLINE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Monica Langley writes if Caroline Wozniacki "wants to follow the path of other top tennis players who have gone on to become carefully packaged, business-savvy global marketing icons, she has a long way to go." Wozniacki "earns nearly" $10M a year in endorsement deals with adidas, Babolat, Rolex and others. While that is "more than any other player her age, her portfolio doesn't yet stack up to those" of Maria Sharapova or the recently retired Li Na. Wozniacki said, "I never think about my brand. I want to do well for myself and my sponsors ... but I feel no pressure, because I don't play for money" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/23).
RHYMES WITH ORANGE: ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy cited sources as saying that with
Capital One becoming the naming-rights sponsor for the Orange Bowl, the Capital One Bowl in Orlando is "expected to be renamed the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl." Buffalo Wild Wings had sponsored a bowl in Tempe the past two seasons, "but chose not to renew" (
ESPN.com, 9/22). Orange Bowl VP/Communications Larry Wahl said of Capital One, "They are experienced in working with bowls and, obviously, they’re huge into college football and their people are into it." In Miami, Ava Wallace notes the Capital One Orange Bowl will "host a College Football Playoff semifinal game twice during the six-year agreement," the first on New Year’s Eve '15 and the second in '18 (
MIAMI HERALD, 9/23).
