LendingTree.com becomes marketing partner of PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR and LendingTree.com have entered into a multi-year official marketing partnership whereby the nation's leading online lending exchange receives exclusive designation as the "Official Mortgage and Home Lending Partner of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour."

This marks the first significant sports sponsorship for LendingTree.com, which plans to leverage the relationship through an integrated consumer promotion that offers PGA TOUR-related rewards to consumers. Beginning in March, those who start their loan request from a unique LendingTree/PGA TOUR web site may be eligible to receive PGA TOUR rewards after closing on a refinance, purchase mortgage or home equity loan.

"LendingTree is excited to be an official partner of the PGA TOUR," said Bob Harris, chief marketing officer, LendingTree.com. "The level of competition on the PGA TOUR and the passion of PGA TOUR fans is a great fit for LendingTree and our belief that 'When Banks Compete, You Win.'"

Getting Ready for Sports' Biggest Day

Roger Goodell is getting ready for his first Super Bowl as commissioner of the National Football League. The league is running ads during the big game this year to promote its NFL Network. But despite owning the cable network, Mr. Goodell told Advertising Age that the league isn't abandoning its broadcast TV partners: "We have a unique commitment to broadcast television with all of our games televised on free over-the-air TV. We are the only sports league that does that."

Milner: Super marketing deals up for grabs

If the favoured Indianapolis Colts prevail in the Super Bowl on Sunday, quarterback Peyton Manning will finally remove the stigma of never being able to win the big game. But regardless of what he accomplishes on the field in Miami, he will not reap the largest rewards off the field. That's because Manning is already a commercial superstar, with a high profile, a bankable image and a slew of impressive sponsorship deals unsurpassed in the National Football League.

Thanks to lucrative contracts with such major consumer marketers as Sony, Reebok, Sprint, DirecTV, MasterCard and PepsiCo's Gatorade brand, Manning raked in close to $12-million (all figures U.S.) last year, putting him first among NFL players and ninth among all athletes. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Manning's leading rival, ranked second among NFL players at $9-million in Sports Illustrated's annual tabulation.

The Business Of Basketball

There is an uprising going on in the National Basketball Association. Owners of small-market franchises are telling Commissioner David Stern that they can’t make money.

“Our current economic system (whereby local television revenue and gate receipts are not shared among the league’s 30 franchises) works only for larger-market teams and a few teams that have extraordinary success on the court,” says a letter sent by eight owners to Stern this fall. Owners from all of the league’s smallest markets, including Charlotte, N.C., Memphis, Milwaukee, Wis., and New Orleans, signed the letter.

There was one glaring absence: Peter Holt and the San Antonio Spurs--the best-run franchise in the NBA. Despite playing in the league’s third-smallest market, the Spurs are worth $390 million, 11% higher than last year and $37 million above the league average. Thanks to the team's on-court success and the first-rate AT&T Center, the Spurs turned an operating profit (in the sense of earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation) of $11.7 million, compared with $6.9 million for the average NBA franchise.

WhoWon.com ... The Internet Source for Motorsports News and Information

WhoWon.com ... The Internet Source for Motorsports News and Information:

"Rheem Manufacturing Company, a global manufacturer of quality heating, cooling, and water heating products, announced today its sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) No. 29 car for the 36-race NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Rheem will be featured prominently on the lower rear quarter panels of RCR’s No. 29 car driven by Kevin Harvick, 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Champion and major Cup Series contender. Rheem becomes the major associate sponsor of the car, while Shell is the primary sponsor. The new Rheem-RCR relationship takes to the track for the NEXTEL Cup Series opener at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18."

National Basketball Association - CBS SportsLine.com

National Basketball Association - CBS SportsLine.com: "The National Basketball Association has a new marketing partner -- an Inner Mongolia milk producer.

Hoping to improve its profile in China before the 2008 Olympics, the NBA announced the deal Monday with Mengniu Dairy Group. The brand will be known as the 'official dairy product of the NBA in China.'
League officials in Beijing declined to give financial details surrounding the agreement, although it's sure to be worth millions and increase the NBA's visibility in China.

'By partnering with the leading dairy producer in China, we have a unique opportunity to promote the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle through sports and nutrition,' NBA China's managing director, Mark Fischer, said. "

NBA in China Gets Milk To Sell Hoops - WSJ.com

NBA in China Gets Milk To Sell Hoops - WSJ.com:

"The National Basketball Association built itself into a multibillion-dollar enterprise partly through alliances with corporations such as Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola and Nike. But a new partner may turn out to be more important than it seems -- Mongolian milk.
The NBA will announce today in Beijing an extensive marketing deal with Mengniu Milk, China's top producer of milk by sales volume. The league's presence in China has increased steadily since the Washington Bullets played the national team in exhibition games there in 1979. It is raising its profile further in the run-up to the Olympic Games next year with a local partner that markets aggressively all over the country."

The dairy will promote its products during the broadcast of NBA games on about half of the league's 51 Chinese television partners, including CCTV, which airs games nationally. It also will conduct promotions connected to the league's Web site and at retail establishments, and participate in the NBA Jam Van, a traveling promotional show that reached 20 Chinese provinces last year.

The Year of the Pigskin - WSJ.com

The Year of the Pigskin - WSJ.com: "How many Chinese academics does it take to explain American football to their countrymen?

Eleven, so far.

While U.S. football fans will spend the weekend watching two teams advance to Super Bowl XLI, the National Football League is quietly laying the groundwork for domination of a different sort. Eyeing a toehold in a key growth market, the NFL is plotting its expansion into China.

The league spent much of last year holding tryouts and training camps to find two Chinese kickers qualified to attempt field goals on a pro squad. Next summer, the country will host its first NFL game when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet for an exhibition game -- dubbed the China Bowl -- in Beijing's Workers Stadium. And to help the public make sense of the game they call 'olive ball,' the NFL has supported the efforts of 11 academics who have created a 300-page 'American Football Encyclopedia.'"

Network showcases Olympic-style sports online - Los Angeles Times

Network showcases Olympic-style sports online - Los Angeles Times: "Talk about big shoes to fill.

If its name — the World Championship Sports Network — isn't grand enough, consider the small, Los Angeles-based company's goal of becoming a 21st century version of Roone Arledge's revered 'Wide World of Sports' program.

It's too early to tell whether WCSN is heading toward the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. But executives at the start-up company are confident that they can turn a profit by showcasing the Rodney Dangerfields of Olympic-style sports — think skiing, fencing, badminton and gymnastics — when the actual Olympic Games aren't in session.

So far, WCSN has signed up about 10,000 subscribers, who pay $4.95 per month or $49.95 per year, to watch events streamed via the Internet. But WCSN Chairman Claude Ruibal will have to produce dramatic subscription growth before advertisers take notice."

Star-Telegram | 01/21/2007 | 30-year deal may bring $300 million

Star-Telegram 01/21/2007 30-year deal may bring $300 million:

"Verizon Stadium. Wells Fargo Field. The TI Dome.

Those are three of the many possible names for the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. It depends on which company wants to strike a deal with team owner Jerry Jones.

Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said the team is still in the early stages of securing a naming-rights sponsor and is 'working to identify companies.'"

AP Custom Newswire Service: Nets' Brooklyn Arena: Barclays Center

AP Custom Newswire Service: Nets' Brooklyn Arena: Barclays Center: "The planned Brooklyn arena that will house the New Jersey Nets has a new name: The Barclays Center.

The British bank, hoping to expand its profile in the United States, signed a 20-year deal to slap its name on the new 18,000-seat facility when it opens late this decade, the bank and the project's developer announced Thursday.

The company and Forest City Ratner, the builder of the arena for the current New Jersey Nets, would not immediately disclose the price for the naming rights.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Barclays would be investing more than $300 million in the marketing partnership over the next 20 years. 'This is going to benefit Brooklyn and the city for many years to come,' he said."

Milner: Beckham's true value found well beyond his soccer skills

David Beckham the global brand carries considerably more value than David Beckham the soccer star, as his lucrative new deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy underlines.

This has been the case for several years, as Beckham's striking good looks, likeable personality and celebrity lifestyle have propelled him into one of the sports world's premier pitchmen for such global marketers as adidas, Gillette, Pepsi and Motorola.

David Beckham the global brand carries considerably more value than David Beckham the soccer star, as his lucrative new deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy underlines.

This has been the case for several years, as Beckham's striking good looks, likeable personality and celebrity lifestyle have propelled him into one of the sports world's premier pitchmen for such global marketers as adidas, Gillette, Pepsi and Motorola. Such is his name value that Real Madrid, his current team, recovered its entire transfer fee of £20-million ($45.8-million Canadian at current rates) from jersey sales in his first season.

Milner: Beckham's true value found well beyond his soccer skills

David Beckham the global brand carries considerably more value than David Beckham the soccer star, as his lucrative new deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy underlines.

This has been the case for several years, as Beckham's striking good looks, likeable personality and celebrity lifestyle have propelled him into one of the sports world's premier pitchmen for such global marketers as adidas, Gillette, Pepsi and Motorola.

David Beckham the global brand carries considerably more value than David Beckham the soccer star, as his lucrative new deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy underlines.

This has been the case for several years, as Beckham's striking good looks, likeable personality and celebrity lifestyle have propelled him into one of the sports world's premier pitchmen for such global marketers as adidas, Gillette, Pepsi and Motorola. Such is his name value that Real Madrid, his current team, recovered its entire transfer fee of £20-million ($45.8-million Canadian at current rates) from jersey sales in his first season.

KRT Wire | 01/11/2007 | Beckham brings marketing power to U.S. soccer

KRT Wire 01/11/2007 Beckham brings marketing power to U.S. soccer: "To understand the marketing and merchandising potential David Beckham brings to the Galaxy and Major League Soccer, consider his first hours with his previous club, Real Madrid.

Grupo Sanitas, a Spanish insurance company, spent $400,000 to sponsor Beckham's initial physical exam at Real, an event that was televised live by 39 networks worldwide.

In signing the 31-year-old midfielder, the Galaxy and Major League Soccer acquired a global brand that immediately lifts the league's credibility with Corporate America and its profile around the world."

Worth the trouble? - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports

Worth the trouble? - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports: "Could David Beckham really be worth $250 million to a soccer team in Los Angeles?

That was the multimillion-dollar question Thursday after the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer announced it had signed Beckham – the world's best-known soccer player and arguably the world's most marketable athlete – to a contract reportedly worth $250 million over five years.

Putting Beckham and his magical but aging right foot on the soccer field is one way the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which is shelling out the money for the 31-year-old star, hopes to recoup its investment. AEG also intends to capitalize on Beckham's star power, amplified by his celebrity wife, Victoria, the former pop star who went by the name Posh Spice."

Insurer aims ads at youths

Pantagraph.com Money Insurer aims ads at youths: "State Farm Insurance Cos. hopes to catch them young.

The nation’s largest insurer announced an advertising deal Monday with Nickelodeon television and its Go, Diego, Go Live! Tour, the latest State Farm sponsorship aimed at a young audience.

“Moms and dads are watching those shows also,” noted Mark Gibson, State Farm assistant vice president of advertising.

Facing increasing competition from insurers like Geico, State Farm has boosted advertising efforts in the last year, targeting multimedia formats with access to the nation’s youth.State Farm Insurance Cos. hopes to catch them young.

The nation’s largest insurer announced an advertising deal Monday with Nickelodeon television and its Go, Diego, Go Live! Tour, the latest State Farm sponsorship aimed at a young audience.

“Moms and dads are watching those shows also,” noted Mark Gibson, State Farm assistant vice president of advertising.

Facing increasing competition from insurers like Geico, State Farm has boosted advertising efforts in the last year, targeting multimedia formats with access to the nation’s youth."

Beckham brings marketing power to U.S. soccer » PopMatters | News and Commentary | PopWire

Beckham brings marketing power to U.S. soccer » PopMatters News and Commentary PopWire: "To understand the marketing and merchandising potential David Beckham brings to the Galaxy and Major League Soccer, consider his first hours with his previous club, Real Madrid.

Grupo Sanitas, a Spanish insurance company, spent $400,000 to sponsor Beckham’s initial physical exam at Real, an event that was televised live by 39 networks worldwide.

In signing the 31-year-old midfielder, the Galaxy and Major League Soccer acquired a global brand that immediately lifts the league’s credibility with Corporate America and its profile around the world."

Home Depot Signs Deal with NFL

Home Depot Signs Deal with NFL: "The Home Depot has inked a deal to become the “official home improvement sponsor” of the National Football League. The agreement extends the home improvement retailer’s existing relationship with the league.

The deal gives Home Depot the marketing rights to the Super Bowl (XLI, XLII and XLIII), Pro Bowl (2007-2009), community affairs activities and NFL network-related programming. The agreement also gives the home improvement retailer the designation as the presenting sponsor of The NFL Experience, an 850,000-square-foot interactive theme park that features more than 50 games and attractions. The Experience will be held Jan. 27-28 and Feb. 1-4 near Dolphin Stadium in Florida, where Super Bowl XLI will be played Feb. 4. "

Schools to accept advertising

The Capital Times: "Madison school athletics will soon begin to look more like college and pro events, but it has nothing to do with the skills of the young athletes.

What will be different is advertising, soon to show up for the first time beside scoreboards and around the efforts of the city's young athletes.

The plan, which will be managed by national marketing firm Sports Images Inc., is expected to bring in about $200,000 over the next two years, Madison school officials announced today."

Home Depot scores sponsorship deal with the NFL - New Mexico Business Weekly:

Home Depot scores sponsorship deal with the NFL - New Mexico Business Weekly:: "Already ensconced as a major sponsor in the college game, The Home Depot Inc. is going deeper in the pros.

The Atlanta-based home improvement retailer (NYSE: HD) has reported a multi-year integrated marketing partnership making it the 'official home improvement sponsor of the National Football League.' Home Depot said its partnership includes marketing rights to the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, community affairs activities, NFL Network-related programming and designates it as the presenting sponsor of The NFL Experience theme park. "

ESPNsoccernet - US - Carlisle: WUSA revival looking more like reality

ESPNsoccernet - US - Carlisle: WUSA revival looking more like reality: "Contrary to popular belief, when Tonya Antonucci took over as CEO of the Women's Soccer Initiative Inc. in November 2004, she was not asked to walk on water. She was asked to raise the dead, however, especially as her appointed task was to resurrect the WUSA. A little more than two years, not to mention thousands of frequent-flier miles later, Antonucci is closer than ever to making that dream a reality.

Heather Mitts played for the WUSA's Philadelphia Charge before the league folded.Not that you'll see the Stanford grad shouting this news from the rooftops, at least not yet. Antonucci has gotten this far by playing things so close to the vest that a guest shot on the 'World Series of Poker' isn't out of the question. But some recent developments are allowing her to at least make some whispers about WSII's progress, and they are all pointing to what was unthinkable two years ago: The WUSA just might make it back. "

Dice-K is already pitching for Sox -- in Japanese ads - The Boston Globe

I guess when you invest a boatload of money in a player you don't waste time tryiny to get a return on that investment.

Dice-K is already pitching for Sox -- in Japanese ads - The Boston Globe: "Newly minted Red Sox hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka donned a Red Sox uniform to make his latest pitch in Japan.

The Japanese baseball star, also known as 'Dice-K,' who the Sox paid $103 million to acquire has recorded a Japanese commercial hawking Asahi Super Dry beer, fully dressed in Red Sox regalia, showing that his star power in the Far East has already lent marketing clout to his new team. The endorsement happened without the involvement of the Red Sox, under rules that give Major League Baseball control over the team's trademarks outside New England ."