Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning beat the heat in Miami Monday night using a new cutting-edge air-conditioned
shoulder pad system.
Manning’s endorsement of the product could send sales sky high.
The 2012 host committee recently hired South Bend native and Indiana University graduate Michelle Raines,
who previously served in senior management roles for four Republican national conventions.
When Brett Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings Aug. 18, cheers could be heard at MainGate Inc.’s 7900 Rockville
Road headquarters. Predictably, Favre jerseys went flying off the shelves—about 6,000 in the first 72 hours—and
MainGate gets to keep a portion of those sales. The Vikings are one of six teams the Indianapolis-based merchandising
specialist has signed deals with in 2-1/2 years, making MainGate one of the biggest retail players in the goliath of professional
sports leagues.
The National Football League and stadium operators are sending a strong anti-drunk-driving message to fans this year as
part of an effort to expand the league’s 1-year-old Fan Code of Conduct program.
A newly released 2008 poll shows the Indianapolis Colts thumping the Indiana Pacers in fan support, which isn’t a
surprise given the recent fortunes of the teams. But some observers say the numbers are more a reflection of the popularity
of the National Football League and the Colts’ Peyton Manning than an indictment of the Pacers.
Indianapolis-based merchandiser MainGate Inc. continues scoring deals with National Football League teams.
On July 7, company officials announced they had signed a 10-year deal to be the exclusive retail and merchandising company
for the Minnesota Vikings.
Most of the companies that agreed to help underwrite the 2012 Super Bowl are standing by their commitments even as the recession
wreaks havoc on their businesses. Of $25 million pledged by more than 80 companies before last year’s bid process, only about
$1 million is at risk, said host committee head Mark Miles.
A new National Football League policy could cost the Indianapolis Colts $56 million in league revenue sharing in the decade
following the opening of Lucas Oil Stadium. The policy
puts more pressure on the Colts to compete with revenue-generating giants such as the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys.
U.S. celebrities making pitches for large corporations is nothing new. But John Mellencamp has been long known as an artistic purist with a disdain for commercialism. His debut this fall as a pitchman for Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup truck has surprised many and touched off a torrent of criticism.
The Indianapolis Colts' evolution from perennial patsy to Super Bowl favorite is a body of work with a seldom-told—and often misunderstood—history. It's easy to see the hues all-pros Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James painted on this masterpiece season. President Bill Polian and Coach Tony Dungy certainly colored the landscape. And Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore added his creativity. But theirs aren't the only signatures on this canvas.
