Hardaway will be paid $61,500 over the course of 14 months to represent Memphis Int'l AirportMEMPHIS INT'L AIRPORT
Univ. of Memphis men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway has become the Memphis Int'l Airport's "first official spokesman" since former NBAer Tony Allen, according to Wayne Risher of the DAILY MEMPHIAN. Hardaway was introduced on Thursday "during an afternoon media opportunity on the mezzanine overlooking the main ticket lobby." Airport officials said that they "waited nearly two years" after Allen left the Grizzlies to "make sure they found the right point person for their advertising and marketing." Hardaway will be paid $61,500 over 14 months to represent the airport, which is "in the ballpark" of the $45,000 per year that Allen was paid. Some of Hardaway's obligations with the airport include the "use of his likeness in advertising, photos and videos and participation in events." This move came a month after the airport authority "approved a two-year, $193,000 marketing and sponsorship agreement with a company that holds exclusive multimedia rights" for Memphis athletics. The school has "emerged as the airport's marketing partner of choice following the end of a three-year, $530,000 deal" with the Grizzlies (DAILYMEMPHIAN.com, 5/16). In Memphis, Drew Hill notes during Allen's time as spokesperson, the airport "often featured him in humorous advertisements spotlighting his playful personality" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 5/16).
