Reds, Astros latest patch deal

If you think Jalen Hurts’ rendition of “Fly Eagles Fly” in Fox’s NFC Championship post-game coverage was lackluster, my colleague John Ourand threw a fight song for his Washington NFL team. By the way, I’m going to insist that the Chrysler building in Midtown Manhattan be lit green after the next Eagles win. cannot be dyed with

“Make peace with your past and don’t let it destroy your present” – Paulo Coelho.

Two more MLB patch deals just arrived at my house.

The Kroger logo, the Reds’ longest-serving sponsor for over 69 years, will appear on the sleeve of the team’s jersey beginning spring training later this month. The Cincinnati-based Kroger, who was already paying the Reds more than $1 million a year, said the Reds like to pay $5 million a year and call themselves the MLB’s oldest team. will become the first non-apparel brand for uniforms.

Reds and Kroger have a good relationship and the grocery store has been selling Reds branded bottled water, salty snacks and ice cream since 2014. Kroger’s other top shelf sports sponsorships include Kentucky Football’s naming rights to his stadium and his sponsorship of his lead in NASCAR with JTG Daugherty. Racing’s No. 47 Camaro and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. entered the Cup Series.

Longtime Reds sponsor Kroger to acquire Reds patch deal for 2023

Industry-wide sources explain that the market for uniform patches across MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL, and NFL is soft. Scout Sports and Entertainment founder Michael Neuman said: Monitor all seasons in real time. ”

My over/under in patch deals made by the start of spring training is 9.5. I was told.

According to my sources, the reigning World Series Champions Astros are close to announcing incumbent team sponsor Oxy Energy (aka Occidental Petroleum) as the team’s patch sponsor. Oxy, who moved his headquarters from his LA to Houston in 2014, will become another local big event and a means of differentiation in the country’s busiest energy market. In other words, patch deals for both the Reds and Astros were “upsells”, not increased sponsorship amounts.

For the rest of MLB, it’s a matter of selling now and getting dollars now or holding later (Kenny Rogers call). MLB has asked teams to do patch contracts for a minimum of three years. Many teams demanded a patch price that exceeded the rough naming rights deal.

Oxyenergy has prominent signage at Astros ballpark, now adding patch deal

It’s hard to tell if the market is set in trading patches. Prices have been somewhat volatile, but both the Padres ($9 million) and the Red Sox ($17 million a year over 10 years) have Includes important permanent signage. Some market topics are in the mid seven figures, even for fairly large markets.

Is it the train that everyone wants to ride, especially in the big markets? A veteran agency marketer who sells patches in multiple leagues commented:

“I don’t think the market[for MLB patches]is set yet,” said Adam Davis, managing director of North America for Two Circles, which sells Phillies patches. “I hear quite a few teams No Make a lowball trade. You have to stick to what you decide as price, value and asset mix. ”

“There will be some outliers, like what the Yankees end up getting, but the overall (patch) market is not firmly established,” said Mets and Hurricanes uniform patches.

Griffith estimates that 11 to 12 patches will be sold before spring training begins. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Mastercard SVP/Global Sponsorship Michael Robichaud has quietly left the payment card brand after serving as Chief of Sponsorship for the past 15 years. Robichaud spent his eight years at his Sprint Nextel helping engineer rights to the NASCAR Cup Series. In this series, the telco brand replaced Winston as his sponsor of the title.

A successor has not yet been announced, but multiple sources say Alison Giordano, VP/Global Sponsorships and Consumer Marketing, 2014 SBJ Forty Under 40 and 19-year Mastercard employee. suggested to be a strong candidate.

Both executives were part of SBJ’s power players in women’s sports last year.

Michael Robichaux leaves Mastercard after 15 years at sponsorship helm

Many revitalizations of the Super Bowl are planned for Fox Film’s “Perfect 10,” which debuts on Fox the night before the broadcast network carries Super Bowl LVII. It chronicles the stories of 10 men who won both inductees into the Hall of Fame.

Prudential is sponsoring the film and has been awarded three 30-second spots and several appearances as part of the deal. Men’s Wearhouse is also on board as a sponsor, red his carpet at his premiere at the Tempe Center for the Arts on Saturday afternoon, athletes from the ‘Perfect 10’ in Joseph Abboud’s ‘Heisman-to-Hall’ blazers to wear Men’s Wearhouse also leverages engagements on social media.

A Red Cross-related “Heisman Two Hole” blood donation will be held on Wednesday, February 8 at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Arizona. Some of the Heisman-to-Hall “legends” will sign autographs and take pictures, and every blood donor will receive his Heisman-to-Hall t-shirt.

Aquarius Sports & Entertainment assisted in the development and marketing of the property. The film is set to air three more times on his FS1 and will be available on streaming platforms after its Super Bowl weekend release.

Check out the trailer here.

• Mark Reeves joins Fever as Head of Global Strategic Partnerships. Fever bills itself as “the world’s leading live entertainment discovery platform,” with over $1 billion in unicorn-like revenue, largely based on his $227 million investment last year led by Goldman Sachs. have a rating. Former Nike and NFL marketer Reeves helps Fever expand into sports. We call it the “Netflix of live events” because it mines data from city-specific event lists to create more events, including, see Reeves’ image below.

• Dave Lafrennie, 63, has retired after 13 years in the LPGA. He was mainly focused on the development tour of the circuit. This tour has been entitled by Epson (and before that he was Symetra) for about a year now. His Lafrennie, who was also an NBA marketing officer, wants to travel abroad and contribute to his leadership of his college’s Providence Sports Program, his alma mater. At his retirement last week, Lafrenie received a framed caddy bib with his name on it, a new laptop, and a bowl with all of the various ball trades he’s made over the years. I hope he has long drives and perfect putts.

Mark Reeves Considers Extending Fever To Sports With His New Role

• Michelob Ultra’s “New Member Day” Super Bowl spot launches an integrated series of ads in what the Anheuser-Busch InBev brand claims is the “most audacious campaign” yet, says SBJ’s Jason Wilson. writing.

• Interstate Batteries is changing NASCAR’s marketing strategy as part of a shakeup following Kyle Busch’s departure from Joe Gibbs Racing, writes SBJ’s Adam Stern. In 2023, for the first time he will have a major presence in all four of his cars at JGR.

• Union and Bimbo Bakeries USA have reached a multi-million dollar renewal of their Jersey front sponsorship deal through 2028, reports SBJ’s Alex Silverman.

• Fanatics and MLB’s Giants are extending their retail deal for 10 years, which significantly expands their current partnership, writes SBJ’s Bret McCormick.