Bud Light and Toyota have joined the list of official sponsors for X Games Austin. Bud Light will bring its House of Whatever, from the #UpForWhatever campaign, to the event. Toyota, which is supporting the event for the first time as the official automotive sponsor, will feature activations that will allow fans to interact with several of Toyota’s most popular vehicles. Among returning sponsors, Monster Energy, the official energy drink sponsor of X Games Austin, will feature athlete autograph signings, brand ambassadors and an outdoor lounge for fans at the Galleria, X Games Austin’s sponsor village (ESPN).
FUN TO SAY: USA TODAY's Jeff Gluck notes NASCAR driver Carl Edwards is "fond of saying 'awesome,' but he replaced the word with 'Holy guacamole' last weekend during interviews at Charlotte Motor Speedway," where he won the Coca-Cola 600. Edwards was "driving a Subway-sponsored car, and Subway began selling guacamole at its restaurants as a summer add-on beginning this month." Edwards was able to "smoothly incorporate the phrase into his comments without much of a problem, thanks to a smile and a top-notch delivery." He is "known as one of the most sponsor-friendly drivers" (USA TODAY, 5/28).
DESERT ROSE: In Phoenix, Richard Obert notes Grand Canyon Univ. has signed "a five-year sponsorship deal with Nike." GCU Special Consultant Jerry Colangelo said that the Nike deal is "comparable to what Big East programs receive." The coaches and student-athletes "for all 22 sports will be outfitted in Nike apparel and shoes" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/28). The partnership is GCU's "first apparel deal" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/27).
