Marketplace Roundup
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Nike To Continue Providing Swimwear For
Colleges And Traditional Retail Customers |
Nike yesterday said that it will "continue to provide swimwear for colleges and sell to traditional retail customers," but it "will not compete against the likes of Speedo to get the swoosh on the world's top swimmers." The company yesterday confirmed that it is getting out of the elite swimwear business, but denied that the decision "was a direct result of Speedo's success, saying it was a 'direct result of our long-term growth strategy focusing on the areas where we can have the largest growth'" (AP, 9/22).
PREMIUM COVERAGE: USA Hockey today announced a new partnership with Liberty Mutual Insurance, making it the official insurance company of USA Hockey. As part of the deal, USA Hockey will become the primary hockey partner in Liberty Mutual's Responsible Sports program, an online community built by the insurance company that provides tips and tools for parents and coaches. Other partners include USA Football and U.S. Youth Soccer. Liberty Mutual also will sponsor the U.S. women's national hockey team and Hockey Weekend Across America (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).
NOTES: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Daniel Kaplan reports ATP member Roger Federer's recent new deal with Swiss coffee machine maker Jura is for seven years and "valued by one source at $16[M]." Federer's image "will be emblazoned on all Jura packaging." Federer began endorsing the company in '05 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/22 issue)....Oakley has launched the Gretchen Bleiler Signature Series Collection, a women's line of technical outerwear, lifestyle apparel and accessories available this fall from U.S. Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler. The collection is the first time Oakley has released a comprehensive apparel series for a single athlete (Oakley)....Fashion house Max Mara and ESPN have partnered to dress ESPN reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya for "MNF" games on ESPN. This will mark the third straight year Max Mara has teamed with "MNF" (Max Mara).
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