Sprint will begin its NFL sponsorship September 2 with new
ads promoting its Spree calling cards, according to Kim Cleland
of ADVERTISING AGE. A TV, radio and print campaign from
Bernstein-Rein, Kansas City, MO, stars Bills QB Jim Kelly and
Coach Marv Levy praising the "no bills" benefits of the cards.
Sprint is expected to spend $60M this year to promote their NFL
deal and will launch a new NFL ad campaign featuring spokesperson
Candice Bergen. J. Walter Thompson, San Francisco handles.
Sprint Dir of Sports Marketing Mike Goff said their NFL plans
will build toward a "crescendo" at playoff and Super Bowl time,
"when the bulk of our media will air." Sprint has "basically
finalized" marketing deals with every NFL team, except the
Cowboys (AD AGE, 8/26).
BLITZ-KRIEG: Starting Monday, Sprint begins their "Sense
Dime Blitz," a 17-week regular season promo giving fans the
chance to purchase game tickets and airfare to see NFL games.
The first winners will be announced Monday in Dallas, where they
will pay a dime-a-minute for a 260-minute round trip flight to
and from Chicago -- or $26 times two for winner and a friend, for
Monday's Cowboys-Bears game. Similar events will be held in
Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta and
Houston (Sprint).
