Next Level Sports Marketing

McFarlane Toys kicks off a major event in the world of sports action figures. In response to fan demand, the company’s new 2009 College Football line will spotlight current NFL players in their college uniforms. The 2009 College Football line marks the first time college sports have been commemorated in McFarlane Sports Picks™ action figures, [...]

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TapouT, the premier mixed-martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand, announced today a licensing agreement with Champion Nutrition to offer sports enthusiasts TapouT Sports Nutrition products. Under this relationship, Champion Nutrition will design, distribute and market the Tapout Sports Nutrition brand to all retailers in the United States and abroad. TapouT Sports Nutrition products will [...]

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IMG Worldwide announced today that David Abrutyn has been named Managing Director, Senior Vice President and Head of IMG Global Consulting, reporting to George Pyne, President of IMG’s Sports and Entertainment business. Abrutyn, a ten year veteran of IMG, was Senior Vice President of IMG’s U.S. Consulting business. He replaces Andy Pierce who has left [...]

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Another NFL draft has — mercifully — come to an end. Even better, the endless run-up to another NFL draft is over. Let’s review what we’ve really and truly learned: almost nothing. You see, for all the expert analysis of the draft before, during and after, no one really knows who did well and who [...]

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Mark Sanchez’s Hispanic heritage may boost his sponsorship opportunities should he succeed as quarterback of the New York Jets. Sanchez, 22, is the first quarterback selected by the Jets with a top-5 pick since Joe Namath in the 1965 American Football League draft. As a rookie, he will challenge for the most high- profile position [...]

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Anheuser-Busch’s spending on sports properties will be slightly higher this year as the brewer takes advantage of opportunities in the sports industry hurt by the recession. “It’s slightly up,” Dan McHugh, Anheuser-Busch’s vice president of media, sponsorship and activation, said in an interview. “We’re not talking about dramatic numbers. In this environment … for us [...]

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Bruce Popko, a senior vice president with IMG, has been named the new senior vice president of business development for the Buffalo Bills. Popko replaces Pete Guelli, who left the Bills earlier this month, to join the staff of the Charlotte Bobcats. Popko, who will be moving to Buffalo from Cleveland, was a senior vice [...]

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Professional sports are suffering a declining number of sponsors due to the recession and advertisers’ reduced budgets, and professional golf is particularly struggling. The Corning Classic on the LPGA tour is discontinuing the tournament after it is played for the 31st time next month, following a loss of about $500,000 worth of outside sponsorships, according [...]

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SNY and the New York Jets have broken their huddle and inked a multiyear renewal of their programming and marketing partnership deal. The pact, terms of which were not disclosed, takes effect this Saturday with the National Football League Draft as the New York-based regional sports network will receive deeper access and exclusive year-round coverage [...]

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Grand Island got a $1 million boost from hosting the National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition last June, and state volleyball is yet to come, as are the 7-on-7 football championships. “Every event brings new money into the community,” said Renee Seifert, Grand Island/Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. Members of the Greater Grand [...]

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