In Las Vegas, Adam Hill notes after teasing an endorsement deal with UFC fighter Ronda Rousey several weeks ago on social media, Carl's Jr. yesterday announced that she "would be used in a marketing campaign designed to unveil the new Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Breakfast Sandwich." A commercial featuring Rousey and the new product "will begin airing" Monday. The ad, by 72andSunny, L.A., is called "Winning Combination" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/27).
WATER WELL: SPORTS ON EARTH's Kenneth Arthur notes Seahawks QB Russell Wilson in a recent interview with Rolling Stone "took his love of brand placement and his own image a step further," claiming that Reliant Recovery Water, a product "we've never heard him plug prior to this, cured his concussion." Wilson said he banged his head during last year's NFC Championship and the "next day I was fine." But Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, "had to quickly step in after that, noting that there is no real medical proof" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 8/27).
ALL ABOARD: American Express has renewed its longstanding USTA/U.S. Open corporate sponsorship. AmEx has been a USTA sponsor since '94. The payment card brand will continue to leverage the Open and USTA grassroots tennis activities. Wasserman Media Group is the longtime sports- and entertainment-marketing agency for AmEx (Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large).
CHIPS & PUTTS: In Des Moines, Rick Brown reported Principal Financial Group has "extended its deal with the PGA Tour to remain as title sponsor" for its Champions Tour event for three more years through '18. This is the "fifth extension Principal has agreed to" since replacing Allianz in '07. Wells Fargo also will "remain the presenting sponsor" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 8/26). Meanwhile, in Charlotte, Ken Elkins reported Chiquita has "dropped its title sponsorship" a Web.com Tour event. Next month's tournament at River Run Country Club in Davidson, N.C., will "be called the Small Business Connection Championship." The new sponsor is a "collaboration of major U.S. financial and insurance companies to create a web-based portal for small-business management services" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/25).
