In Las Vegas, Todd Prince reports Roar, the joint venture between MGM Resorts Int'l and GVC Holding, will become the exclusive "'official' sports betting partner" of MLS. The league and MGM earlier this week signed a wagering partnership. The deal gives MGM and Roar "access to 'enhanced' league data for sports betting customers, television-visible signage at the more than 100 nationally broadcast games, as well as event opportunities in Las Vegas" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/20).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: P&G brand Secret has launched an "Equal Work. Equal Sweat. Equal Pay" ad featuring women's soccer players "on the heels of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team suing the U.S. Soccer Federation." However, P&G said that the timing of the ad to the suit "was not planned." P&G Associate Brand Dir Sara Saunders said it was "more of a coincidence." Saunders said that the new ad "stems from research going back nine months," which found that "equal pay kept coming up when the brand asked women what makes them sweat" (ADAGE.com, 3/19).
FUTURE STAR ON DECK: Top hockey prospect Alexis Lafreniere is the newest Upper Deck spokesperson, becoming the "youngest athlete to ever sign such a deal with the company." Lafreniere, who is now an Upper Deck "autograph exclusive," will not turn 18 until this fall, and is "projected to be the first pick" in the '20 NHL Draft. A variety of Lafreniere's "autographed memorabilia pieces are already on the Upper Deck online store." Lafreniere joins HOFers Wayne Gretzky, Patrick Roy and Oilers C Connor McDavid as Upper Deck hockey spokespeople (BECKETT.com, 3/19).
