New Gatorade Ad Has Heavy Chicago Sports Ties With Delle Donne, Keith Featured

Two of Chicago's "most prominent athletes" -- WNBA Sky F Elena Delle Donne and Blackhawks D Duncan Keith -- are featured in Gatorade's new "Moving the Game Forward" ad, a national spot that debuted yesterday, according to Danny Ecker of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The ad "is rife with Chicago ties." Bucks F Jabari Parker, a "former Simeon Academy star," plays a role, as do Heat G Dwyane Wade (a Chicago native) and the Michael Jordan statue outside the United Center. Keith "seems to be filling in for teammate Patrick Kane, who is one of Gatorade's top athlete partners and appeared in a national ad for the brand last summer." The ad signals a high point for "rising star Delle Donne, who recently added Gatorade to an endorsement portfolio that includes Nike, DuPont and Delaware health care system Christiana Care." The Gatorade spot "marks the second national commercial appearance" for Delle Donne in as many weeks, "coming just days after Nike debuted its 'Snow Day' ad" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 11/3). CSNCHICAGO.com noted Wade "can be seen at home with his son who takes a playful jab at his father," while Parker "is featured in his old high school gym referencing the four state championship banners" he and his teammates won (CSNCHICAGO.com, 11/3). AD AGE's E.J. Schultz noted Gatorade is ending its 50th anniversary campaign "with a new ad looking forward." La Liga Club FC Barcelona F Lionel Messi, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, recently retired U.S. women's national team F Abby Wambach and Giants QB Eli Manning are among the other athletes appearing in the ad, and even ESPN's Skip Bayless "makes a cameo" (ADAGE.com, 11/3).

SNOW BIG DEAL: Delle Donne said that she and USWNT F Sydney Leroux "had trouble mean mugging for the camera" during the filming for Nike's "Snow Day" ad. Delle Donne: "We were struggling because there was wind, there was fake snow in our eyes. They were like ‘You need be fierce. Who cares if it’s in your eye. Keep going.’ Like ‘OK, this is my first time doing this.’ They wanted us to look really tough." In Chicago, Luis Gomez noted the "sports star-heavy ad" also includes Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown, Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., Pacers F Paul George and USWNT MF Carli Lloyd (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/3).