Dropping Like Flies: Soccer, Golf, Hockey.
CanMNT Cancels Match. Top Golfers Quit PGA. Gatorade Drops NHL.
Our thoughts are with the country and people of Ukraine, hoping a peaceful end is near.
On Today’s Agenda:
CanMNT Cancel Match and Negotiate With Canada Soccer
PGA Announces Suspensions For LIV Invitational Participants
Gatorade Parent Company (PepsiCo) Announces Shift In Sports Sponsorship Strategy
Drama For CanMNT
CanMNT Cancel Match and Negotiate With Canada Soccer
By AJ Hewish
After the events that took place that led to the cancellation of the Canadian Men’s National Team’s friendly match against Iran, all appeared to be steady once more for the boys in red, with a last-minute friendly scheduled against Panama at BC Place. However, more drama ensued as the players took a stand against the governing body of Canada Soccer.
Days prior to the match against Panama, players from the CanMNT refused to train with the national squad over their disappointment and unhappiness with Canada Soccer over the negotiations on a new contract between the governing body and the players.
The new contract details multiple issues for the players including compensation for the prize money that Canada Soccer is set to receive for qualifying for Canada’s first World Cup appearance since 1986, over 36 years ago.
The day before the international break began, Canadian and Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio states, “I think the players what we ask for is fair," he said. "We don't want to be treated any more special than similar teams that we compare ourselves to. We just want to be respected and not taken advantage of and just given our fair share."
Players furthermore refused to play the match vs Panama, resulting in a last-minute cancellation only an hour before the gates were set to open for fans.
There are currently ongoing talks for contract and compensation renegotiations as players from the CanMNT returned to training on Monday at UBC, despite a deal between the players and governing body for Canada not yet finalized.
Perhaps it was head coach John Herdman’s words earlier this month that persuaded the players to return to the pitch after emphasizing the importance of the players spending as much time as possible together in order to bring success in Qatar this November.
Players returned to play last night vs Curacao, winning 4-0 with goals from Vitória, Cavallini, and two goals from the Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies.
Hopefully, ongoing talks between the players and Canada Soccer can continue smoothly, with the negotiations to be completed before the reds travel to Qatar in November for this first appearance in 36 years at the World Cup, ready to make their country proud.
You Only LIV Once
PGA Announces Suspensions For LIV Invitational Participants
By Hiral Patel
As play teed off in Etobicoke for the RBC Canadian Open, the LIV Golf invitational got underway in London, England - and the PGA is not warming up to the new kid on the block. Just minutes after the first hole began in London, the PGA released a statement announcing the suspension of all players participating in the LIV tournament.
The suspension applies to 17 golfers listed in the letter, many of whom have already submitted their resignation to the PGA. One major exception is Phil Mickelson, who has not officially retired from the PGA tour yet. These suspensions include removal from the Fedex Cup Standings, although it does not impact eligibility for the US Open. The PGA Tour stated that they will continue to be transparent as they specify further consequences for athletes who have joined the LIV Invitational.
In response, a statement from LIV Golf expressed their disappointment in the PGA Tour for further dividing the sport of golf and blocking golfers from the opportunity to play. The divide is certainly making headlines, with former No. 1 Rory McIlroy and current World No. 6 Justin Thomas weighing in on the rivalry. McIlroy noted that many of the golfers at the RBC Canadian open were pleased to see the suspensions, further backed by Thomas who expressed his support for the PGA Tour’s decision.
Not included in the sanctions is 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who many golf fans love to hate. DeChambeau, who is rumoured to participate in his first LIV tournament in Portland at the end of June, joined the invitational along with 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. In response, Rocket Mortgage announced that they will be terminating their partnership with DeChambeau - a similar move that we saw last week between Dustin Johnson and RBC. Rocket Mortgage is a title partner of the PGA’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The threat of the LIV Invitational Series is not being taken lightly by the PGA Tour, and so far we have only seen the impact on the athletes. Between losing partnerships and eligibility from the PGA, it is evident that the PGA Tour wants to put an immediate close on the pipeline of talent joining the LIV Series. As the drama continues to unfold, the golfing community will continue to debate and criticize in between rounds - they just might want to add a second screen.
Gatorade Drops Sponsorship Deals With NHL and Others
Gatorade Parent Company (PepsiCo) Announces Shift In Sports Sponsorship Strategy
By Caleb Gilligan
Whether it’s Marc-Andre Fleury playing a classic loose lid prank on his teammates or Dustin Brown trying to drink from the bottom of the bottle, NHL fans can quickly recognize the infamous green Gatorade water bottles found on every NHL bench. However, no more memories of Gatorade water bottles will be made after the Stanley Cup Finals end later this month as Gatorade will no longer be the NHL’s beverage sponsor following this season. This week, Gatorade’s parent company, PepsiCo, announced that they would be shifting their sports sponsorship strategies to focus on women’s sports and college athletes. The news comes months after the NCAA announced their plans to ease NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) restrictions, which will allow athletes to capitalize financially on their brand.
Dropping the NHL is not the only change that PepsiCo plans on making. Last week, PepsiCo extended their nearly forty-year-long partnership with the NFL but dropped its Super Bowl Half-Time Show sponsorship rights. After replacing Bridgestone, PepsiCo was the primary sponsor for half-time shows for almost a decade. Sources state that the NFL is looking for an agreement worth $40 to $50 million per season for the highly-sought half-time show sponsorship with various telecom providers said to be interested.
Moving forward, Gatorade is searching for investments into “young and diverse athlete communities,” according to a LinkedIn post by Gatorade’s Senior Director of Sports Marketing, Jeff Kearney. Kearney cites their agreements with NCAA athletes Paige Bueckers and Shedeur Sanders as examples of their new NIL sponsorship strategies. He also mentions Gatorade’s investments into the new developmental basketball league Overtime Elite and the newest member of the NWSL, Angel City Football Club.
Although they dropped the NHL, PepsiCo/Gatorade still holds sponsorship agreements with the NFL, NBA, and MLB, which brings the question, where does the NHL go from here? With PepsiCo being an NHL sponsor since 2006, the league will have a void to fill in their beverage sponsorships. Despite Gatorade stating that they would continue to be involved in hockey, it seems like any partnership between the NHL and PepsiCo is dead for the time being. PepsiCo also stated that the two parties “weren’t aligned on the financial commitment to renew,” shedding more light on the situation. In December of 2021, the NHL stated that they expected revenues from the 2021-22 season to be around $5 billion, making it higher than pre-pandemic forecasts. Furthermore, following broadcasting deals with Disney and Turner Sports (ESPN and TNT), estimates show that the league’s revenue from this season will be the league’s highest ever, despite continuing to face attendance regulations in Canadian cities during the Omicron spike in December and January of this season.
Although fans might miss the green Gatorade logos plastered along the boards and on every water bottle in sight, the NHL will capitalize on the opportunity to bring a fresh sponsor to the league. Who even chooses Gatorade over Powerade in the first place? Right?
