Sponsorship & Marketing

Kevin Johnson is leaving Octagon Marketing, the consultancy, property representation and event management division of Octagon.

CBS Corp., the U.S. television network recently acquired by entertainment giant Viacom Inc., is in talks to sell marketing rights for the NCAA men's basketball tournament through 2013 for about $1 billion, according to an unconfirmed report.

The collapse of the Pro Player clothing manufacturer has paved the way for the Hockey Company ? owner of the CCM and KOHO brands ? to manufacture the jerseys for all 30 NHL teams next season.

Dave Neubecker has been named vice president of sports marketing for Foxsports.com, a division of News Corporation's News Digital Media.

Communicator, the brand marketing unit of Lighthouse Global Network, has promoted three sports marketing industry veterans in its Communicator|Sports & Entertainment Group. Michael Fetchko has been made president of the group, while Robert Croasdale has been named chief operating officer and Richard McCann becomes managing director of Communicator|Incentive Travel.

Octagon, the global sports and marketing group, has taken a substantial equity position in one of Germany?s most famous clubs.

Nettaxi.com, a community and portal web site with over 44 million visitors per month, has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the San Jose Sharks for the 2000-01 hockey season.

International Comstock Exploration, owner of the sports-contest website ProSportsPool.com, has launched an auto-racing marketing campaign designed to increase traffic to the site.

Lager firm Michelob has signed a sponsorship deal for golf?s 2001 Ryder Cup.

Baseball Canada has chosen SAMsports.com?s baseball instructional CD as the ``official instructional tool/training product of Baseball Canada'' .

Nike has selected internet architect Critical Mass for the strategic and creative development of Nike?s personalised online marketing and e-commerce initiative.

Dodge Motorsports' Winston Cup apparel went on sale last week, an early reminder to NASCAR fans that Dodge is returning next year to the U.S. racing series made popular by drivers Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.

London-based sports public relations company, Vision Sports PR, has consolidated its team of sports consultants selected for their sports media and participation experience.

The European Broadcasting Union has called for clear rules on the use of virtual advertising in televised sports events.

Eagerly awaited by NASCAR fans, Dodge Motorsports' Winston Cup apparel went on sale this week, a reminder Dodge is returning next year to the U.S. racing series made popular by drivers Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.

The XFL, a new professional football league jointly owned and run by World Wrestling Federation Entertainment and NBC, has named veteran sports public relations specialist Steve Griffith as the league's Vice President of Corporate Communications.