Pepsi is activating around the 2018-2019 football season with “a robust, 360-degree program that brings football to their cities and into their homes like never before.” Included will be a Pepsi Tailgate Tour, open to all fans with stops at key college and NFL matchups and featuring a mainstage performances by Wheelhouse Record’s duo LOCASH, a full gaming area featuring all-time tailgate favorites and more. In addition, to a slate of new national ads, for the first time, every weekend of the NFL season, Pepsi will be integrated into the “NBC Sunday Night Football” show open. The first stop of the tour will be in Philadelphia during the 2018 NFL Kickoff Experience.
UFC announced a new, multi-year global marketing partnership with Nemiroff to become the promotion’s first-ever “Official Vodka” Partner. In return, Nemiroff will have a branded presence inside the Octagon at all UFC events, including UFC’s remaining Pay-Per-View events in 2018. Additional partnership activations will include the integration of Nemiroff branding throughout UFC’s telecasts, as well as sampling, digital media, and other promotional opportunities.
New Era Cap Co. locked in new line-up of ambassadors for the 2018 NFL Season. These ambassadors will be featured in New Era creative campaigns for the brand’s NFL line of products with this year’s line-up set to include NFL athletes Dak Prescott, Sterling Shepard, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ju Ju Smith Schuster, and Jamal Adams, musician Kane Brown and model Victoria Brito to create a group that intersects sports, music and lifestyle.
Furniture Row Racing announced Tuesday that it would cease operations following 2018 after being unable to lock in a sponsor and funding for the season. “I’ve always felt that we could be a competitive team and run for a championship even when it seemed like a pipe dream to many racing insiders,” car owner Barney Visser said in a statement. “But to be successful in any business you need to assemble the right people and make a strong commitment to succeed. We achieved what we set out to do and feel like we climbed Mount Everest. To continue with anything less than a competitive team would not be acceptable. It’s been one incredible ride.”
Jaguars player Leonard Fournette teamed with iFLY Luggage to launch a new travel collection, called the “iFLY X Series 7,” a tribute to Leonard’s roots in the 7th ward, his jersey number at LSU, and his current number.
CBS Sports unveiled plans to stream Super Bowl LIII across more platforms than ever, with coverage of the game available non-authenticated online at CBSSports.com and on the CBS Sports app for connected TV devices, tablets and now mobile phones as part of an expanded agreement with the NFL. CBS Sports’ broadcast coverage of Super Bowl LIII will also be available to stream live via the CBS All Access subscription service.
ESPN and eBay are partnering in a move that will make eBay’s sports equipment, fashion apparel, memorabilia, and collectibles more discoverable on ESPN.com web and mobile web. eBay will deliver this experience via contextually integrated shopping modules – including licensed fan apparel of the teams they care most about – to fans on ESPN.com web and mobile web, allowing fans to easily find officially licensed products from their favorite sports while following their favorite athlete or team.
NBC Sports Philadelphia announced a newly formed partnership with Eric Emanuele and Gayle Saunders to bring the popular “4th and Jawn” podcast under the network’s umbrella. As part of the partnership, Emanuele and Saunders will continue to produce the content, which will live as part of NBC Sports Philadelphia’s podcast offerings on NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com.
La Vida Baseball reports that the platform is reaching more than six million English-preferred Latinos per month and generating more than 1.2 million video views per month across all digital platforms. In September, La Vida Baseball will celebrate Roberto Clemente Day on Sept. 5 and then turn their attention to the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria devastating Puerto Rico. In the spirit of Clemente, major league players from Puerto Rico have stepped up and played a major role in the rebuilding efforts that continue. In addition, La Vida Baseball partnered with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and The Hispanic Heritage Foundation to host a special event discussing philanthropy through the lens of Latino baseball.
704Games, NASCAR’s exclusive esports partner for simulation-style video games on console platforms, unveiled NASCAR Heat Champions: Road to Miami, a weekly esports competition featuring the upcoming video game NASCAR Heat 3. The series will span this year’s 2018 NASCAR Playoffs, and culminate at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend with over $500,000 in potential prize money up for grabs. 704Games will fly weekly finalists and a guest to Miami for Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The NASCAR Heat Champions: Road to Miami esports finale will take place Sunday, Nov. 18. In 2019, 704Games will look to expand NASCAR Heat Champions as a mainstay of the sport. The game hits stories on Sept. 7.
HyperX locked in a sponsorship and will participate at this year’s FACEIT London Major. Taking place at a sold-out SSE Arena in Wembley, London from Sept. 20-23, the event will see a slate of key CS:GO teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool. In addition to sponsoring the event, HyperX will offer a booth for fans to visit and play their own one versus one tournaments and play with the latest HyperX peripherals at exclusive show prices. HyperX-Europe will also be showcasing their newly launched licensed clothing from European company Rubber Road which includes esports jerseys, hoodies and t-shirts.
Worldgaming Network is teaming up with the Minnesota Twins to launch a special Fortnite streaming party at Target Field on Sept. 9, titled Fortday with Trevor May. Both gamers and baseball fans will be able to watch pro gamers BasicallyIDoWrk and Jordan Fisher join Twins pitcher Trevor May go for the Victory Royale Live on the video boards at Target Field at 10a. Twins catcher Mitch Garver will serve as the events’ special emcee. The event will be sponsored by WorldGaming Network.
Corporate development executive Rob Schneider has joined Learfield as Chief Strategy and Development Officer. Schneider, former Global Head of Corporate Development for GroupM in New York, will be responsible for leading the development of the company’s strategy, guiding its activities in mergers and acquisitions and providing executive leadership to Learfield’s service businesses in tickets and marketing, venue technology and licensing.
Red Sox/Braves at noon on MLB Network.
