GM VP/North America Advertising & Marketing Phil
Guarascio said at the IEG Sponsorship Conference in Chicago
that "he wants to cut 20%" of the company's "4,000-plus
sponsorship properties," according to Terry Lefton of
BRANDWEEK. Guarascio cited a "growing gap between the haves
and have-nots in sports and entertainment marketing" and
"urged his audience" to "bridge the gap with 'big ideas and
properties that (nonetheless) are strategic right down to
the regional level'" (BRANDWEEK, 3/15 issue).
AUGUST IN VERMONT, PERFECT: BRANDWEEK's Lefton reports
that National Media Group is "planning a Gen X-targeted
'extreme golf' tournament" in August at Mad River Glen ski
resort in VT (BRANDWEEK, 3/15 issue)....NFL Europe opens its
'99 season with Ericsson, Coors and Puma as new sponsors.
Ericsson inked a "seven-figure league-wide sponsorship and
thus gets" a uniform patch on "all six teams that went
unsold last year," as well as "perimeter field signage and
some electronic media." Puma replaces Champion as uniform,
sideline and coaches' apparel supplier (BRANDWEEK, 3/15).
