In Boston, Dennis Keohane noted Massachusetts-based sports figurine company OYO Sportstoys on Thursday announced that it had raised a $3M "round of seed funding from Boston Seed Capital and Atlas Venture." OYO’s mini sports figurines "mostly feature athletes" from teams in the NFL, MLB, NHL and "a select few collegiate football programs." The company "currently has 120 employees," but CMO Mike Ewing said that it "plans to have over 200, mostly in Massachusetts, by the end of the year." The new seed funding is "driving more growth into possible new leagues, more stores, and new markets" (BOSTONGLOBE.com 6/12).
EXPIRATION DATE: In Minneapolis, Mike Hughlett reported Twins C Joe Mauer “is out” as a spokesperson for St. Paul-based dairy company Kemps. Mauer’s three-year deal “expired at the end of 2013 and wasn’t re-upped.” Mauer and his mother, Teresa, have appeared “in a series of television ads” for the company. Kemps President & CEO Greg Kurr said that the company is focusing marketing efforts “on its 100th anniversary” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/14).
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE: In Baltimore, Lorraine Mirabella noted Orioles 1B Chris Davis has "signed an exclusive, two-year deal with a new memorabilia division of online sports merchandise retailer Fanatics, which will offer a more than 20-item product line of Davis-inscribed baseballs, signed jerseys and photos." He joins "about 60 other athletes with exclusive deals with the newly rebranded Fanatics Authentic." Davis under the deal will "make several public appearances and provide the retailer with signatures on specially designed items" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 6/13).
EVERYTHING MUST GO: In South Bend, Bianca Almada noted "thousands" of Notre Dame fans packed Compton Family Ice Arena on Wednesday and Thursday "for the Athletic Department's Adidas clearance sale." The sale "precedes the university's official switch to Under Armour after the end of this month." Tom Zawodny, an usher at the sale, said they had "over 3,000 guests come in" on Wednesday. Until the UA deal takes effect on July 1, the university is "making serious efforts to clear out Adidas gear to be replaced by new, Under Armour merchandise." The proceeds from the sale "will benefit Habitat for Humanity" (SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, 6/13).
