The PGA Tour and Shriners Hospitals for Children yesterday announced they have reached a deal to extend the organization's title sponsorship of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open for five years, through '17. The purse will increase to $6M when the deal takes effect in '13, an increase of $1.5M from this year's tournament. The extension and purse increase coincide with the tournament's move to the early part of the reconfigured '13-14 PGA Tour schedule and inclusion in the FedExCup (PGA Tour). Whether entertainer Justin Timberlake "continues to lend his name to the event should be known before it tees off in October" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/2).
CAT CALL: Sunrise Sports & Entertainment yesterday announced that JetBlue Airways has renewed its partnership as the official airline partner of the BankAtlantic Center and the NHL Panthers, adding the naming rights to the team’s training facility and sponsorship of the team’s practice jersey to its list of sponsorship elements. The JetBlue Tarmac and the JetBlue Tailfin at the BankAtlantic Center will continue to be featured at the arena as part of the partnership (Panthers).
IN THE BIDDING: In West Virginia, Mike Casazza reports the companies interested in bidding for West Virginia Univ.'s "sponsorship and multimedia rights (Tier 3 rights) had to submit a pre-qualification statement by 4 p.m. Monday.” WVU will “spend the next two weeks assessing the statements and must respond to the submissions by July 17.” Athletic officials “built in ample time to deal with this endeavor and don't plan on using the winning bidder until the 2013-14 athletic year” (CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, 7/3).
REMOTE CONTROL: In Columbus, Jeff Bell reports Time Warner Cable has “decided to extend its Championship Partner agreement” with the Blue Jackets, maintaining its spot among the club’s “top corporate sponsors.” Terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed. A Blue Jackets spokesperson has previously said that Championship Partners "spend at least $1 million a year.” Time Warner has been a Championship Partner “since the 2006-07 season and a sponsor of the team since its inaugural season” in '00-01. Other Championship Partners are OhioHealth Corp., American Electric Power Company Inc., Fox Sports Ohio, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and Dispatch Media Group (COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST, 6/29 issue).
THE RAZOR’S EDGE: During Roger Federer's fourth-round Wimbledon match against Xavier Malisse, ESPN’s Chris Fowler said, “See the scruff on Malisse there, Darren? Can you guess which of the two players has a razor endorsement?” Fowler noted Federer, who has an endorsement deal with Gillette, “is required to take the court clean-shaven.” ESPN’s Darren Cahill asked, “Have you ever seen him unshaven, even on a day off? It’s a serious question.” Fowler said that “makes him a good spokesman for that company” (“Wimbledon,” ESPN2, 7/2).
