Marketplace Roundup

The NFL agreed to a partnership with Japanese tire company Bridgestone for Sunday's third and final game of the season at London's Wembley Stadium. Bridgestone will be featured on sideline LED boards during the NFL Int'l Series game between the Jaguars and Cowboys. The tire brand is the latest partner to join the NFL's sponsorship roster in the U.K. (HJ Mai, Staff Writer).

BANK TRANSACTION: In Buffalo, Jonathan Epstein reports HarborCenter and First Niagara Financial Group have "reached a naming rights deal" to call the Sabres' 1,800-seat practice facility ice the First Niagara Rink at HarborCenter. In addition to the naming-rights deal, the Sabres and HarborCenter officials "signed new sponsorship agreements with Seneca Resorts, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, and seven other companies, to provide naming rights and other benefits throughout the complex" (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/6).

BORDER WARS: In St. Louis, Dave Matter reports the Missouri-Arkansas regular-season college football matchup now has a "corporate sponsor." The schools "meet for the first time in SEC play on Nov. 28 at Faurot Field, in what is being "billed as the Battle Line Rivalry by Shelter Insurance." Shelter Insurance President & CEO Rick Means said, "Shelter got its start in Missouri and Arkansas, so our roots are deep in these two states" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/6).

CLOAK & DAGGER: In DC, Dan Steinberg noted Wizards TV play-by-play announcer Steve Buckhantz last year designed "his own red Dagger T-shirts," denoting Buckhantz' signature "Dagger!" catchphrase. The idea was to sell the shirts "on his own Web site," but Monumental Sports Manager of Business Development Zach Leonsis and a DC Aramark rep were both "excited about designing Dagger threads of their own." They came up with "more stylized blue Dagger T-shirts," which were available Saturday at Verizon Center and will "continue to be sold inside the arena" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/5).