Lipton, which "lost" entitlement of the Key Biscayne,
FL, pro tennis tournament to Ericsson, is "close to taking
title" sponsorship of two Indian Wells, CA, tennis
tournaments, according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK.
Newsweek and State Farm have held entitlement for the men's
and women's sides, respectively. In other tennis news, Skyy
Vodka has become a new sponsor of the Pilot Pen women's
tournament in New Haven, CT, and Fila will replace Tommy
Hilfiger as the official footwear and apparel of this
month's Chase Championships at MSG (BRANDWEEK, 11/9 issue).
GAINING MOMENTUM: Both Lefton and the SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein report that Sprint has switched
from a combined in-house/agency effort to N.Y.-based McCann-
Erickson's Momentum Partners for an assignment that includes
promotion and presence marketing. Lefton reports that
Momentum resigned "seven-year client AT&T in order to take
on Sprint's [$4M] plus in billings" but that AT&T will now
go to "yet another Interpublic Group shop," Advantage
(BRANDWEEK, 11/9 issue). Bernstein reports that AT&T's
discussions have "focused on Advantage." IMG's corporate
representation division "is also looking to snare more AT&T
business and is already working with the company on a
project basis" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/9 issue).
MLB'S OFFSEASON: Bernstein reports that MLBP is
"looking to fill ... a few not-so-traditional sponsor
categories during the off-season." Among potential "not-so-
traditional" sponsors are a national real estate brokerage
firm and Toys 'R' Us (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/9 issue).
LEIGH-VING IT UP IN THE AIR? SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's
Josh Gotthelf reports that ISI "may soon become part" of
SFX's "rapidly growing empire." Leigh Steinberg, who holds
a minority interest in ISI, said that if ISI is sold to a
company like SFX or Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, both
of which provide contract negotiations for NBA and NFL
players, he "might have to divest his interest ... to avoid
a situation in which he would be competing against himself"
(Josh Gotthelf, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/9 issue).
