Warriors G Stephen Curry and water-filtration brand Brita yesterday launched Splash Studio, a campaign to get fans, health advocates, schools, filmmakers and more to create original commercials for the beverage. The maker of the winning ad will receive $25,000 and the chance to recreate the ad with a cameo from Curry himself. Brita will then take the winning commercial to air on TV at the start of the '16-17 NBA season. The contest will run through May 31 (Brita). Meanwhile, this morning’s edition of NBC’s “Today” touched on the trend of one of Curry's teammates dousing him with "ice-cold water" following a big game. NBC's Savannah Guthrie notes that "did not escape the notice of some students in Oakland when Steph visited their school.” The broadcast then aired video of Curry seated in a classroom where several young students each dumped a cup of water on his head (“Today,” NBC, 3/9).
COVER JINX: On Long Island, Mark La Monica wrote EA Sports' UFC video game franchise is two years and two editions old, but it has already "developed quite the jinx." All four UFC fighters who have been depicted on the cover "have met a significant hurdle in their career shortly thereafter." The "two biggest stars" in the UFC in '15 were Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor, "both of whom share the cover of EA Sports UFC 2." Rousey lost to Holly Holm "one day after the announcement" that she would be on the cover, while McGregor on Saturday lost to Nate Diaz (NEWSDAY.com, 3/8).
BEAR ALL: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan wrote the success of the '15 Cubs is "already leading to more exposure for the players." Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo and 3B Kris Bryant have "teamed up in an MLB promotional ad called 'Bryzzo.'" The basic premise is that Bryant and Rizzo have "combined to form the Bryzzo souvenir company." Bryant: "The fans are running with it. It's kind of fun to see it. Not just us, but [C Kyle Schwarber] is in there, and [CF] Jason Heyward. We're the main roles, but there are some supporting roles in there too" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/5).
STRIKING A BALANCE: ADWEEK's Patrick Coffee reported New Balance has "decided to end its relationship with global creative agency of record Arnold Worldwide after six years." New Balance "appears to be consolidating its global marketing efforts in the interest of efficiency and consistent messaging around the world, and the company will not renew its pre-existing contract with Arnold when that agreement expires on June 30." Arnold Worldwide "first won global agency of record status" in '10 (ADWEEK.com, 3/4).
