In Louisville, Jennie Rees reports local merchandiser All Pro Championships has "entered into a licensing agreement with the owner of Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah to sell the official American Pharoah T-shirts and caps at Pimlico this weekend for the Preakness Stakes." The company also "produces merchandise for the Kentucky Derby Festival, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup." All Pro Championships "previously worked with Derby winners California Chrome, Orb, I'll Have Another, Mine That Bird, Big Brown and Funny Cide" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/14).
SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Alex Duff reports Philip Morris Int'l is "continuing one of the quietest sponsorships in sports," extending its deal with the Ferrari F1 team for three more years through '18. Team Manager Maurizio Arrivabene said that the deal comes even though advertising laws "means it hasn’t displayed the Marlboro cigarette brand at a race" since '07. Philip Morris is the "only cigarette maker retaining a link" with F1 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/14).
GOOD LUCK, CHUCK: In Boston, Taryn Luna notes the city's new Converse store "gives customers the opportunity" to design their own Chuck Taylor shoes. The 3,500-square-foot store, which opens tomorrow, is connected to Converse’s new HQ at Lovejoy Wharf and "features tall glass windows that look out onto the Zakim Bridge." The "cost for customized kicks varies, depending on the materials, but Converse expects the total to exceed the $55 price of a typical pair of Chuck Taylors" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/14).
