The Pac-12 Conference and New York Life yesterday announced an expansion and extension of their relationship for three more years, making the insurance company the presenting sponsor of both the Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, as well as an official sponsor of the ten Pac-12 Championship events in Olympic sports. In addition, Pac-12 Networks will highlight a series of features on Pac-12.com. New York Life will receive TV tune-in promotions throughout the tournaments on Pac-12 Nets and ESPN or FS1, on-court and in-arena branding including on-site signage and activation opportunities at the Olympic sports championships. The company also will become the presenting sponsor of the Pac-12 Networks’ Men’s Basketball Pregame Show throughout this season (Pac-12).
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: In L.A., Jim Peltz writes the departure of NHRA team owner and driver John Force's crew chief, Jimmy Prock, "is a problem for Force." As team owner, Force is "under pressure to sign new sponsors because two of his current primary backers, Ford and Castrol motor oil, have said they're both pulling their support after this season." Force said of Prock's departure, "I have sponsors that I am signing with ... and here I have people not committed to this team long term" (L.A. TIMES, 10/23). Force "indicated he has sponsors lined up for next season" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/23).
REVISITING HISTORY: The AP's Jenna Fryer noted the Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center yesterday "launched the website ReThinkConcussions.com to detail treatments" of concussions. In a video made for UPMC, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. recounts his '12 crash at Talladega Superspeedway in his "personal story of his own battle with a concussion." Featured on the site are Earnhardt and Red Sox C David Ross, who were "both treated" by UPMC Concussion Program Clinical & Exec Dir Dr. Micky Collins (AP, 10/22).
