SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Visa launched its “new and improved Financial Football video game for the 2018 - 2019 NFL season” at an event in New Jersey with Giants players Eli Manning and Saquon Barkley. The free video game lets fans ages 11 and older suit up as a player from their favorite NFL team and play a virtual game of football designed to help students learn to make smart money-management decisions. Financial Football challenges players to answer multiple-choice and true or false questions to advance down the field in order to score a touchdown. New features include: single player and head-to-head games; three different levels of difficulty; expanded categories such as Budgeting, Saving, Financial Institutions, Credit, Debt, Identity Theft, Life Events; and the ability to play both offense and defense.
WNBA star A’ja Wilson inked a landmark personal endorsement deal with Mountain Dew. The deal make Wilson the first female player to join Mountain Dew’s roster, which already includes several National Basketball Association players, such as Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.
The Players’ Tribune and Pizza Hut have teamed up for a video series, Home Away From Home. This program aims to bring the NFL viewing experience to fans who won’t be home for the games because they're doing good in their community, whether it be servicemen or individuals working at local businesses. Additional episodes will be released throughout the NFL regular season and will feature former NFL tight end Martellus Bennett and other athletes.
IMG announced that it has agreed to a 15-year extension with the University of Connecticut to remain the exclusive multimedia rights holder and licensing agent for UConn athletics through 2033. The relationship includes innovative opportunities for brands and fans to connect with UConn Athletics and the launch of a fully integrated women’s basketball sponsorship platform.
ISM Raceway announced today that Whelen Engineering will serve as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series semifinal playoff race at ISM Raceway on Nov. 10. The Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 will be the first Xfinity Series race officially held at the track following its two-year, $178 million modernization project, part of Opening Weekend on November 9, 10 and 11.
Tough Mudder enlisted Impression Sports & Entertainment to oversee premier sponsorship opportunities across its portfolio of events, as well as new sports and media properties. Impression Sports will assist Tough Mudder in securing a new presenting sponsor, which is the first time in four years such an opportunity is available, as well as other non-endemic category sponsors.
DIGITAL & STREAMING
Whistle Sports released new proprietary data about the attitudes and perceptions of sports and sports video content among Gen Z males, with “significant implications for sports marketers and content producers.” The study was conducted in partnership with research firm Cassandra, and complete findings can be found here. Among the discoveries was that: - 90% of Gen Z males say there are many definitions of sports today
- 56% feel that non-traditional sports are more relevant to their generation than traditional sports
- 76% of Gen Z males think that an activity has to have practiced skills to be considered a sport; in fact, they believe practiced skills are more important to sports than physical activity
- Strikingly, competition is their reward unto itself, with 78% saying it’s an important component of a sport versus just 41% who actually need trophies or prizes
Detail — the sports analysis program from Kobe Bryant and ESPN — is returning for an expanded second season, which will include teaming up with Peyton Manning, along with NFL Films, for an NFL edition of the show. In addition, Bryant will be returning later in the 2018-19 NBA season for a second series of shows focused on basketball andDetailwill also add a forthcoming UFC edition. Manning, working in collaboration with NFL Films and Granity Studios, will host, write and share his insights to the football-themed Detail, with NFL Films editing the shows into an eight-episode series – exclusively available on ESPN+.
Stadium announced a new, fully interactive experience to live stream exclusively on Twitter, titled Stadium Kickoff Live. Beginning Oct. 20 from The Esso Club in Clemson, Stadium will produce an interactive pregame show that will allow fans to “drive the conversation with user-generated questions, topics and commentary.” The event will be hosted by Doug Gottlieb, along with former ACC stars C.J. Spiller and Eric Wood.
FloSports announced a multiyear deal with Guinness PRO14, the professional Rugby Union tournament for club teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa. As part of the agreement, fans can access live and on-demand coverage of the Guinness PRO14 matches in France, Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries exclusively on FloRugby.com and enables the platform to stream the 100+ Guinness PRO14 matches remaining during the 2018-19 season, as well as the entire 152-game schedule during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
ESPORTS
- Fortnite seeking $25 million partnerships
- Capcom doubles down
- Breaking down Facebook Gaming
- Immortals tread new ground
- Dissecting regional separation
- ELEAGUE Reports for duty
- Discord opens up
- ESL taps UEFA experience
ROSTER MOVES
Megan Trapp was promoted to the newly created position of Vice President, Live Event Marketing at Bellator. In her new role, Trapp will oversee live event marketing for Bellator, including all promotions, sponsorship activation, ticket sales and consumer products.
At the NFL’s Fall League Meeting, Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo and Lowell McAdam of Verizon were honored by the NFL for their “visionary leadership and long-term partnership.” Both execs have worked closely with the NFL to expand the league’s reach to new fans, to bring innovative technology into our game, and to promote the mutual goals of leading U.S. brands.The event was attended by all 32 NFL Owners, Club Presidents and NFL Executives. Commissioner Goodell made opening remarks, followed by John Mara honoring Indra Nooyi and Jonathan Kraft honoring Lowell McAdam.
The Shadow League will host its 5th Annual Shadow League Awards, presented by AT&T Humanity of Connection on Oct. 30. Each year, TSL honors men and women of color who are trailblazers in the world of sports. Three of this year's honorees will include basketball Hall of Fame Player and University of South Carolina Head Women's Basketball Coach Dawn Staley, legendary American Boxer, promoter and social advocate, Bernard Hopkinsand Fox Sports Broadcaster Gus Johnson.
THE MAIN EVENT
Red Sox/Astros hit Game 5 at 8p on TBS.
