In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg reported the Hornets recently signed sponsorship deals with North Carolina-based Reeds Jewelers and Charlotte-based Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery, with "each one committed to multi-year contracts worth an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 annually." Hornets Exec VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Pete Guelli said that both companies "paid for exclusive category deals." The agreement with Reeds "includes sponsoring the arena Kiss Cam on the video board, courtside and game program ads and $500 gift-card giveaways at a minimum of 10 home games." Rolle also gets "arena and program ads as well as commercials on the team's TV games on SportSouth." The medical practice "is also sponsoring a regular Twitter ticket giveaway" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/18).
I'M A TEAM PLAYER: NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick said there is a "lot of upside potential" regarding where main sponsors Budweiser, Jimmy John's and Outback "take their brands and how they use the championship going forward." Harvick said, "There is a lot of opportunity to capitalize on a moment that we’re all really proud of.” He noted the planning for those efforts is in the “early stages,” but it “will be interesting to see it develop.” Harvick acknowledged by winning the title, there will be "some new opportunities coming forward." But he noted he wants to be "very loyal to the brands and people that got you to this point and see them be successful” (“Street Signs,” CNBC, 11/18).
SAN BOX: In San Antonio, Merrisa Brown noted new ads for H-E-B featuring the Spurs "made their debut" yesterday on the grocer's YouTube channel, after they were "filmed earlier this month." In addition to featuring Fs Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard and Gs Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills, who is "new to the series" (
MYSANANTONIO.com, 11/18).
RACY SUBJECT: The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon yesterday announced that it is partnering with the Mavericks and MLB Rangers for a unique race challenge featuring U.S. Olympians Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall in the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon's Behringer Relay on Dec. 14. Keflezighi will race for the Mavericks as part of a five-person team with Hall running for the Rangers. Keflezighi and Hall are in the first year of multiyear deals as race ambassadors (
Dallas Marathon).
