Marketplace Roundup
In London, Kevin Eason reports the "turmoil in Mumbai could force" some cricket sponsors to "claim millions of pounds from their insurers." Within hours of the attacks, execs were "counting the cost of cancelling the final one-day fixtures between India and England and trying to estimate what damage may be done to their elaborate marketing and advertising plans even if new arrangements are put in place for the two scheduled Test matches." England's tour to India "has attracted multimillion-pound deals" with companies including RBS, Pepsi and Microsoft, and broadcasting rights' contracts "have been some of the most valuable negotiated on the sub-continent." Whitestone Int'l Managing Dir Chris Lightfoot: "It will now be very tricky to activate some of their sponsorships. They are perplexed because of the inevitable loss of exposure. Some might decide they have to claim from their insurers for their losses" (LONDON TIMES, 12/2).
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| K.J. Choi Could Influence Sponsorship Deal |
FOREIGN RELATIONS: LG Electronics' deal to title sponsor the Skins Game expired after last weekend's event, but LG VP/Public Affairs & Communications John Taylor said that the company is "already talking to Skins Game producer [IMG] about the future." In California, Larry Bohannan noted it "might help ... that LG is a Korean-based company" and South Korean native K.J. Choi is "already guaranteed a berth in the 2009 Skins Game by winning this year." The event is "contracted to play at least one more year at the Indian Wells Golf Resort" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 12/1).
SMELLS LIKE SCHOOL SPIRIT: Pennsylvania-based Masik Collegiate Fragrances said that Penn State Univ. (PSU) has an "official perfume and cologne that captures the essence of the school's blue and white colors." Masik, which developed PSU's scents, said that the perfume "exudes vanilla, lilac, rose and white patchouli, while the cologne smells of blue cypress and cracked pepper vapor." Masik said that the "unique scents are based on 'school colors, campus flowers and trees' and other features." Masik also has perfumes and colognes for the Univ. of North Carolina, and "plans [to] offer scents for six universities next year" (AP, 11/30).
GOLDEN TOUCH: In K.C., DeArmond & Kerkhoff reported the Univ. of Missouri football team Saturday "wore gold jerseys for the first time since 1984." The new jerseys "had been a widely but poorly-kept secret for nearly a month," as they were "already in the hands of retailers and were on sale an hour prior to kickoff" (K.C. STAR, 11/30).
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