In Minneapolis, Paul Walsh notes the Twins have "resumed their business relationship" with Papa John’s, citing its "dedication to a local franchisee." The Twins in July followed other MLB teams and “indefinitely suspended” their relationship with the pizza chain following the scandal surrounding chain Founder John Schnatter. That suspension was "lifted Monday." The Twins pointed to their "seven-year partnership with DMD Minnesota Pizzas, who owns local Papa John’s franchises." Meanwhile, a WNBA Minnesota Lynx spokesperson said that the team also "suspended promotions with Papa John’s and that suspension remains in force" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/1).
MONEY PLAYER: In K.C., James Dornbrook noted CommunityAmerica Credit Union, the “largest credit union based” in the area, will now “handle all of the Chiefs business banking needs from game day treasury management to payroll.” CommunityAmerica “signed a sponsorship agreement with the Chiefs about the same time it brought in” former Alterra Bank CEO Pam Berneking in October ‘16, who “saw it as a huge opportunity for developing the credit union's commercial banking business.” CommunityAmerica last year became the Chiefs' official banking partner (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/31).
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER: EA Sports Exec Producer of "NBA Live" Seann Graddy said of this year's game featuring a female create-a-player option, "Diversity and inclusion are important to us as game developers and as a company, and it's something we'll continue to prioritize in future iterations of the franchise." In N.Y., Carron Phillips wrote with EA Sports' decision, it "feels like we're getting closer to seeing some actual equality in the real, and virtual, world" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/31).
