Minnesota-based Carlson, which owns the Radisson hotels, "will part ways" with the Vikings after "suspending its sponsorship with the team in September" following RB Adrian Peterson's child-abuse charges, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Americas PR Dir Ben Gardeen said, "Our suspended sponsorship has now expired and was not renewed." Sources said that Radisson had a "one-year deal to put its logo on the Vikings news conference backdrop." Neither marketers of the Radisson brand nor the Vikings "initiated an attempt to do another deal." The hotel chain "confirmed it had walked away without ever having reinstated its deal with the team" on the same day that the Vikings "redid the final three years of Peterson's contract to give him a reported" $20M in guarantees. Vikings Communications Dir Jeff Anderson said that Carlson "has been a hospitality partner with the Vikings for more than 20 years." He added the parent company is "currently a suite partner within our temporary stadium and has agreed to be a suite partner" within the new U.S. Bank Stadium in '16 (ESPN.com, 7/21).
