Golfer Jordan Spieth, the "reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and a fast-rising star at just 20," yesterday "announced a sponsorship agreement" with AT&T, according to Townsend & Nichols of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Spieth is in Irving, Texas, this week for the HP Byron Nelson Championship, which AT&T will title sponsor beginning next year. AT&T officials said that Spieth as part of the multiyear deal will "make personal appearances and participate in social media, advertising and other promotions." In addition to its title sponsorship of the event, AT&T is "partnering with the city of Dallas and SMU to build a semi-private golf complex in the Trinity River Forest that has been earmarked as the Nelson Championship's future home" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/15). Spieth also has endorsement deals with Rolex, Titleist, Under Armour, NetJets and Perfect Sense Digital (THE DAILY).
MEN OF STEEL: The GLOBE & MAIL's Paul Attfield notes Spieth, Canadiens G Carey Price, Stars C Tyler Seguin, Cowboys WR Dez Bryant and Canadian Olympic bobsledder Heather Moyse are among endorsers of Toronto-based sports nutrition company BioSteel Sports Supplements. Though the company "does pay athletes connected with its product what president John Celenza describes as a 'minuscule' amount, mostly for appearances, the company’s stable of athletes ... are largely recompensed in the form of free product." The company now "supplies its products" to 28 of 30 NHL teams, 14 NBA teams, 18 MLB clubs and "about 30 of the world’s top-50 golfers." It also "retails in sports and health stores, such as GNC, on both sides of the border, as well as retailers Loblaws, Sobeys, Longo’s and Rexall, with more than 2,000 stores across Canada carrying the product" (
GLOBE & MAIL, 5/15).
