The Risk Of Branding In The Derby Winner's Circle

New York Times:

MINUTES before he was to appear live on NBC on Saturday as the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, David C. Novak, the chief executive of Yum Brands, says he was in the dark.

He was waiting to enter the winner's circle, crowded onto a staircase with his senior vice president, Jonathan Blum; the Kentucky governor; the chief executive of Churchill Downs; and all their wives. Just before they were about to step outside, the group was told to wait.

"We assumed there was some technical difficulty with the broadcast, because we didn't hear anything," Mr. Blum said.

After a few minutes with little further information, the group stepped onto the packed podium.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Tom95134]

"Stuff" happens. While beautiful to watch as she raced, Eight Bellies was a horse. Nothing more, just a horse. The jockey was not injured. And, business is business. I guess nobody is incensed about the commercial announcements that were run by the network after Eight Bellies went down.

Hypocrites all.

[Sundialsvc4]

( BadCompany: Good one!! )

I find the very -thought- of "Yum Brands" to be more-than-a-little disquieting, frankly. And massive corporate sponsorship gets rather disgusting no matter how much money it makes for someone. (It's still CANDLESTICK Park, dammit!)

[BadCompany]

I don't see what the risk is for Yum!.
They are in the business of selling dead animals.