US-BASED Papa John’s International recently signed on as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL in Canada in a multi-year deal. In 2010, Papa John’s had signed as a sponsor of the NFL and Super Bowls XLV, XLVI and XLVII. That deal was the largest in Papa John’s history and includes category exclusivity among delivery and carryout pizza brands.
“The National Football League is growing in Canada, and so is Papa John’s, and that makes this deal a win-win-win: for the NFL, Papa John’s and our customers,” said Andrew Varga, Papa John’s chief marketing officer. “Papa John’s, our franchises and our customers in the United States have benefitted greatly from our sponsorship of the NFL, and we’re confident that expanding our official sponsor status to include Canada will score big for our brand and customers in there.”
The official sponsorship with the NFL in Canada is effective immediately and includes providing Papa John’s category exclusivity and rights to use NFL and club logos and trademarks in marketing and advertising. Papa John’s currently franchises 53 restaurants throughout Canada.