Callaway Announces Endorsement Deal
With Golf Pro Per-Ulrik Johansson
Since Michael Jordan traded in his basketball shoes, he has walked a pretty successful path in the business world.
Carlsbad-based Upper Deck Co., LLC recognized that and recently added Jordan to its team, but not through a typical endorsement deal.
Jordan is the newest member of the company’s board of directors and an equity shareholder. He will also work with the company’s executive team to develop new products aimed to strengthen the quality and authenticity standards in the collectibles industry.
“We’re looking forward to Michael’s involvement with the company,” said Upper Deck founder and CEO Richard McWilliam. “We value his keen business mind and sense of strategy and welcome his influence in guiding the company in the years to come.”
This isn’t the first time Jordan has worked with the company. He has been a spokesman since 1993.
“We were impressed with Michael’s talent and potential very early in his career and quickly signed him on as a spokesperson,” McWilliam said. “Since that time, Upper Deck has produced hundreds of Jordan products with enormous appeal among the collectors.”
Since day one, authenticity has been a priority for Upper Deck. Jordan has been an outspoken athlete on the issue as well, and is a favorite target of forgers.
The FBI estimates up to 70 percent of autographed memorabilia on the marketplace is fake. As part of Upper Deck’s policy to ensure legitimate autographs, a company representative witnesses each autograph signed by athletes.
Such professional stars as Kobe Bryant, Ken Griffey Jr., Peyton Manning and Kevin Garnett have deals with the company.
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An Endorsement:
Carlsbad’s Callaway Golf announced an endorsement deal with golf pro Per-Ulrik Johansson. The deal calls for Johansson to play with Callaway golf clubs and balls and to carry a bag with the company’s logo. He is also expected to use the company’s new Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT Titanium Driver, Steelhead Pro Series Irons and the Callaway Golf Rule 35 ball.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Get Smart:
About 50 select Padres fans will be able to test a new “smart card” to buy team gear and concessions at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Padres recently teamed with MasterCard to test a ballpark fan card that will track fans’ spending and allow season ticket holders to pass their tickets on if they can’t attend a game.
The cards will be distributed around midseason, according to Padres Senior Vice President Mike Dee. If the program is successful, the team might form a long-term deal with MasterCard.
The system, developed by New York-based Smartix International, is meant to reduce no-shows and increase concession revenues.
This is a pilot program and team officials said there is no guarantee whether it will be permanent.
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Opening Day:
Last week marked the official start of Major League Baseball. It’s routine for fans to flock to Qualcomm Stadium and other parks across the country to root for their favorite team. Until recently, there was a number of fans catching games live on the Internet , for free.
But that routine has changed.
MLB.com, the online arm of the sports organization, will start charging fans to listen to local radio broadcasts of ballgames over the Internet.
The site signed a $20 million, three-year deal with RealNetworks, and will charge fans an annual fee of $9.95 to hear live broadcasts. The deal gives RealNetworks the audio and video content rights for regular-season games.
The deadline for the next Sports Biz column is April 19. Send related items to dward@sdbj.com or by fax at (858)571-3628.
