MOTORSPORT.com's Jim Utter reported Hunt Brothers Pizza is "expanding its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing this season." The brand, which has "served as an associate sponsor" on Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series since '14, will continue in that role in '17, as well as "sponsoring his four Xfinity races and serving as an associate sponsor on Cole Custer’s No. 00 Ford in the Xfinity Series" (MOTORSPORT.com, 1/5).
NO LOVE FOR NOLA: ESPN.com's Paul Lukas wrote unlike other recent NBA All-Star uniforms, adidas' designs for the '17 event are "fairly generic, with no local flavor reflecting the host city." That is "likely due to the game having been moved to New Orleans from Charlotte, which was originally slated to host the game." Uniforms for the league's two recent All-Star Games in New Orleans "featured unmistakable local design flourishes -- lettering based on wrought-iron fencing" in '08 and "big fleur-de-lis chest logos" in '14. The game's relocation "presumably left no time for that type of approach this year" (ESPN.com, 1/5).
AWESOME SAUCE: In San Antonio, Sergio Chapa notes Texas-based Janktified Goodness has “landed a deal" to make its Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce the Steelers' official barbecue sauce. Janktified Goodness Owner Lamar Jones said that his friendship with former Steelers DB Bryant McFadden “helped him make the deal to supply his barbecue sauce to the NFL team.” The two “plan to market the barbecue sauce to other sports teams, companies and organizations” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/6).
STRIKE A DEAL: The U.S. Bowling Congress, Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and Strike Ten Entertainment have contracted with Link Strategy Group to develop sponsorship partners for the industry. Link will be able to offer exclusive naming rights for the recently relaunched Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour and tour events. Current PWBA sponsors include Pepsi, Nationwide, Smithfield and Go Bowling (Link).
