In Toronto, Josh Rubin reports arguments in Labatt's suit to "stop the NHL's $375 million North American sponsorship agreement with archrival Molson Coors wrapped up in a Toronto courtroom Thursday." It was the "second time the suit has been heard." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly acknowledged that "having such a major deal in doubt just weeks before the season is to start isn't exactly an ideal circumstance." Molson Coors Canada Dir of External Communications Adam Moffat said that the brewer "is hopeful the case will be decided soon." But in the interim, it is "still putting together plans for the NHL season" (TORONTO STAR, 8/26).
STAYING FASHIONABLY DRY: Former MLBer Andy Pettitte has agreed to an endorsement deal with Weatherproof Garment Company. The former Yankees P wore the team's pinstripes in a recent photo shoot for WGC. An ad campaign featuring Pettitte will begin in the fall and include a meeting with fans at a Macys in N.Y. ANC Sports Enterprises put the program together on behalf of WGC, working with Hendricks Sports Management on behalf of Pettitte (THE DAILY). ESPN N.Y.'s Wallace Matthews reports, "Key to the marketing angle is the Pettitte Stare, an expression the photographer asked for on virtually every shot." Pettite is WGC's first endorser (ESPNNY.com, 8/26).
TURMOIL IN THE TUBE: The GUARDIAN's Mark Sweney reports CBS Outdoor is set to "launch a legal action against Transport for London over the costs of running the advertising network throughout the London Underground." CBS Outdoor could terminate the US$1.6B contract that "covers 33,000 poster sites in 275 stations and 88,000 panels in trains before the start" of next summer's Olympics. The contract was expected to run until '15, but CBS Outdoor "has found it extremely difficult to monetise the contract on the terms agreed when it won the pitch." Sweney notes it is "is not clear what impact the potential termination of the contract ... will have just months before the London Olympics are set to start" (GUARDIAN, 8/26).
