In Chicago, Lewis Lazare reported American Express is "expanding its relationship with the United Center." The credit card company is "preparing an original series of videos about the Bulls and its individual team members." A company spokesperson said that the videos would "be similar to those that American Express helped create" for the NBA this season as part of its "Home Court Advantage" website. The company also said that it has "teamed with the United Center to offer its cardholders a $5 rebate on any concessions purchased at the stadium using Apple Pay" through April 27 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/8).
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS: In Ft. Worth, Gordon Dickson reports Texas-based Blue Bell ice cream "has been benched" for the MLB Rangers' home openers this weekend at Globe Life Park. Rangers Exec VP/Communications John Blake said that the company's products "will not be served during the club’s six-game home stand." Blue Bell "recalled many products this week after an investigation into cases of listeria bacteria infection involving five Kansas hospital patients, three of whom died." The Rangers also "canceled a Blue Bell promotion on Sunday that would have offered $1 ice cream for children 13 and under." The club "didn’t disclose whether similar Sunday promotions scheduled later in the season would go on as planned" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/9).
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS...: AD AGE's Maureen Morrison reported Wieden & Kennedy, N.Y., is "picking up creative duties for Sprite," which "had been working with Translation" since '13. Sources said that the pitch, which "was conducted without a consultant, came down to Wieden and Interpublic's R/GA." For W&K, the Sprite work "is an addition to its Coca-Cola portfolio, as the brand handles Coke as well as Powerade" (ADAGE.com, 4/8).
BLAST FROM THE PAST: AD AGE's E.J. Schultz reports Mountain Dew is "putting Baja Blast back in stores," an announcement tweeted yesterday by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., which is "the latest example of a brand using a celebrity endorser as an extension of their PR department in a move to drive buzz." Baja Blast for its first 10 years was "exclusively sold at Taco Bell until PepsiCo decided to offer it at stores for a limited time last summer" (ADAGE.com, 4/9).
