Doug Roberson lists advertising rules for five top sports organizations.
1. NCAA
The NCAA said it chooses advertising partners that support the organization’s ideals and exclude those that do not appear to be in best interests of students or student-athletes. For example, these types of ads are acceptable: educational messages, professional advertising (doctors), anti-smoking, anti-drinking and anti-tobacco. These are unacceptable: recruiting services, sports wagering, firearms, ads featuring gratuitous violence.
2. Olympics in London
There were some odd advertising and sponsorship rules in place for the London Games, according to Forbes. Here are a few: Of the 800 food retailers, only McDonald’s could serve french fries. However, anyone could serve fries if they were served with fish. No Olympic athletes could appear in advertising from July 18-Aug. 5, unless a waiver was given. Any reproduction of the Olympics’ rings must be done using the exact Pantone shades.
3. NFL
The NFL has strict rules for its image, as evidenced by some of the fines handed to players for different infractions that involved their uniforms: socks rolled down, incorrect color of sleeves of undershirt, non-approved shoes, laces on shoes must be same color as shoes, untucked jerseys, tape that’s not white or opaque, players must wear two socks (one white, one the team’s color, etc.).
4. PGA Tour
The PGA Tour (along with the Champions Tour and Web.com Tour) typically does not enter into major agreements with gaming or spirits (liquor) companies, but have allowed some minor variations to the policy, such as state lotteries, distilled spirit signage on the golf course before tournament competition, etc. Players can wear sponsorship labels.
5. Major League Soccer
This sport was the first major professional sports league in the United States to allow advertising on the front of its teams’ jerseys. When it was announced in 2006 (for 2007 season), the league said the minimum purchase would cost $500,000. The trend followed the practice in European soccer leagues for decades.
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