NFL Marketing Notes: Giants' Cruz, Beckham Star In New Spot For Foot Locker
Foot Locker yesterday released "Thoughts," a new spot starring Giants WRs Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. In the ad, which highlights the retailer's back-to-school campaign, the players begin by complimenting each other on their new Nike gear from Foot Locker. The audience then gains insight into Cruz' thoughts on Beckham, which contrast with Beckham's hopeful statements about the two becoming teammates. The spot was created by BBDO (Foot Locker).
WHAT ABOUT ROB? ESQUIRE's Luke O'Neil examined Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski's first commercial shoot for DraftKings, noting the "conceit of the shoot was simple: Gronkowski telling viewers to sign up for DraftKings, alternating between pumped-up locker-room exhortations and playful shtick." After an hour or so, he "began to relax and settle into the task, getting better through monotonous repetition." Over the course of the next couple hours, he would "reel off a surprisingly decent Arnold Schwarzenegger impression ('Do it nowwww!'), take a stab at a potential post-football career in copyediting by pointing out typos in the cue cards, and, strangely, stumble over the pronunciation of the word 'millionaire'" (ESQUIRE.com, 8/17).
CAT FANCY: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps reported Panthers QB Cam Newton has "made a strategic investment" in Stack, a locally based digital media company. Stack Senior VP/Content Josh Staph in an e-mail wrote that the company "wouldn't be releasing how much of a stake" Newton has purchased. Staph wrote that Stack "expects Newton will 'have a very active role' in helping to advance the company brand" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 8/19).
NOTES: Wrangler this week announced the launch of a new campaign for its Advanced Comfort jeans, featuring NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Saints QB Drew Brees and former NFLer Brett Favre. It marks the first time the three athletes will appear in the same seasonal campaign for any one product line (Wrangler)....Furniture store Marlo, which has locations in Virginia and Maryland, "will refund all purchases at its stores in Alexandria, Forestville, Laurel, Rockville and Fredericksburg from Aug. 17-23 if the Redskins or Ravens return the game-opening or second half-opening kickoff for a touchdown in Week 1." Marlo is "taking out insurance" to cover as much as $2M in refunds (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/19).
