Kurt Warner Back In Spotlight, But Will Endorsements Follow?
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Warner's Speaking Fee
Between $30,000-50,000 |
The Cardinals' run to Super Bowl XLIII has brought QB Kurt Warner and his "Christian faith back into the national spotlight," but the questions remain whether his "resurgence and his religious beliefs will put him back on the national marketing and endorsement stage," according to Mike Sunnucks of the PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. Premier Speakers Bureau's Jeremy Breland, who books speaking engagements for Warner, said, "We definitely have seen an increased interest in Kurt. I'm sure the Super Bowl will only cause that to increase." All-American Speakers indicated that Warner's speaking fee ranges from $30,000-50,000. But Sunnucks notes PR and advertising insiders are "split on whether Warner's outspoken religious beliefs will help or hurt him on the marketing and endorsement side." Phoenix-based ad firm Moses Anshell Inc. Associate Creative Dir David Leibowitz said that Warner's religion and "squeaky-clean image will result in more speaking engagements before faith-based groups, but are less likely to result in big endorsement deals" (PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/23 issue). Priority Sports & Entertainment CEO Mark Bartelstein, Warner's agent, said, "Win or lose, there will be a multitude of things waiting for him. ... It's a great story for perseverance. He's a good guy for so many different people. Financially, if I was a company looking to send the right message, he would be the guy I'd want to sign" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 1/27).
SLOW MOTION OFFENSE: In Pittsburgh, Teresa Lindeman noted sports sponsorship spending this year is "projected to grow at just" a 1.8% rate to $11.6B, following "years of mostly double-digit growth." Sponsoring companies will "probably be very focused on determining exactly how much return on investment they'll be getting from whatever marketing gets done." Front Row Marketing Services Senior VP/Business Operations Adrian Staiti: "You're seeing the deals happen, but the size and the quantity of the deals are certainly slowing down" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/27).
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Pittsburgh-Based Iron City Beer Sending
Truckloads Of Product To Florida For Game |
ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM: In Pittsburgh, Stouffer & DeParma report few local corporations "appear to be tapping into the Steelers' on-field success with promotions" in either Pittsburgh or Tampa, where the Super Bowl is being played. H.J. Heinz Co. Dir of Global Corporate Affairs Michael Mullen, whose company owns the entitlement of the team's stadium, said that Heinz "will not be hosting any hospitality events" due to the economy. Mullen did say that Heinz "might produce a keepsake ketchup bottle" if the Steelers win, as it did following the team's Super Bowl XL victory. However, Pittsburgh-based Iron City Beer is "sending truckloads of its products south for the Super Bowl." In addition, Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain Quaker Steak & Lube is "spending money in Tampa to be noticed," including sponsoring a "Super Bike Night" tonight at its Clearwater location (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/28).
DESERT HEAT: The PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL's Sunnucks reports a few area organizations, along with the city of Glendale, are "looking for ways to capitalize" on the Cardinals' first NFC Championship. Glendale, where Univ. of Phoenix Stadium is located, is "taking steps to promote itself to the national media, tourists and businesses." Glendale Assistant Deputy City Manager Julie Frisoni: "We are looking at some ads. We are looking at some Web blasts." Frisoni said that officials "want to promote Glendale to businesses that already are big sponsors, or executives" who are attending Sunday's game (PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/23 issue).
GREEN WITH ENVY: Reebok's Super Bowl Championship T-shirts worn by the winning team following Sunday's game will be made using eco-friendly, 100% organic cotton fabric for the first time. In addition, Reebok later this year will introduce Reebok Sustain, a new line of eco-friendly NFL licensed apparel (Reebok). In Boston, Greg Turner notes green stitching on the shoulder and inside neck seams "distinguishes the shirts as the official organic Super Bowl locker room T-shirts" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/28). The shirts will have a $1 higher wholesale price point than previous championship shirts (THE DAILY). In Pittsburgh, Kim Leonard reported about 20 area Dick's Sporting Good stores are closing at 7:00pm ET Sunday night for the Super Bowl, but will "reopen right after" if the Steelers win. The five Dick's retail locations in Phoenix and Tucson will "follow a similar plan" following a Cardinals' victory (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/27).
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Nike Releases Super Bowl-Inspired
Air Force 1 Low GS, Targeted At Children |
NOTES: Wisconsin-based Chippewa River Industries (CRI) Dir Dave Lemanski, whose company produces the Steelers' Terrible Towel, said that 100,000 towels are being sent to the team ahead of Sunday's game. Lemanski said that if the Steelers win, CRI "might wind up making many times that many, just as it did when the Steelers won" Super Bowl XL (AP, 1/28)....Nike recently released a "Super Bowl inspired" Nike Air Force 1 Low GS, a kids shoe, which features a black-based "upper with a pigskin inspired Brown pebbled leather hit from the mid panel to the heal of the sneaker and on the tongue" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/27)....The Highland Mint is selling a replica of the coin that will be flipped prior to Sunday's game, which features the "dueling logos of the Steelers and Cardinals and the official Super Bowl XLIII logo with the date and location of the game on the reverse" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/27).
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