An agency-of-record assignment and a three-year contract to plan and execute global marketing activation for the EPL "will be decided soon, as an agency beauty contest for the world’s top soccer league is in the final round," according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The EPL is looking to "grow the value of its brand overseas." Agencies were asked to "submit strategic and creative ideas for three key territories" -- China, India, and the U.S. Sources said that Momentum, Octagon, WME-IMG, Wasserman, Leo Burnett and the marketing agency Iris "are among the finalists" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/11 issue).
SPANISH ARMADA: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Tariq Panja noted Spain's La Liga is considering offers of as much as $39M a season from "two potential sponsors" to title sponsor the country's top soccer league. La Liga is "campaigning to become a global brand" like the EPL. La Liga Sales & Marketing Dir Adolfo Bara said that the league will "decide whether to accept either of the two offers by the end of July." Another option "is to follow" the EPL and have a so-called "clean brand." Bara: "We still have not decided whether we will name La Liga or not, but fortunately we have two offers on the table" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/8).
