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Ryan Braun is Flying High

Ryan BraunMilwaukee Brewer’s outfielder Ryan Braun recently signed an endorsement deal with AirTran Airways to be become the airline’s Milwaukee area spokesman.  The deal includes Braun appearing in AirTran advertisements and on billboards in the Milwaukee area, as well as making personal appearances for the airline.

Braun is quickly becoming a star and a fan favorite since entering the league in 2007.  He won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2007, and came in third in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP.  Braun has kept his agent Nez Balelo (CAA) busy.  During the 2008 season Balelo negotiated an 8-year contract extension with the Brewers, allowing the potential superstar to earn between $45 and $51 million.  In addition to the recent AirTrain deal, Braun has been involved with several other off-the-field opportunities.  The slugger is currently working to develop his own line of aluminum bats, and is developing his own t-shirt line with Affliction Clothing, a company owned by a pair of his friends.  He also has an endorsement deal with Remington, which allowed him to shoot a viral video with supermodel Marisa Miller.

AirTran has recently been working to increase its presence in the Milwaukee region; General Mitchell International Airport has been made a focus city of the airline.  Part of their marketing push has been via the Milwaukee Brewers.  The company recently brokered a deal with Braun’s team for the naming rights for the right field picnic area.  This seating zone will be called the AirTran Airways Landing Zone for the 2009 season.  The airline also has endorsement deals with Donald Driver, Danica Patrick, and Matt Ryan.

One reply on “Ryan Braun is Flying High”

AirTran does a great job of utilizing athletes with its marketing. Here in Atlanta they have not only Matt Ryan but Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood, Keith Brooking, Brian Finneran, and Ilya Kovalchuk. My favorite has Michael Turner on the billboard with the saying
” Touchdowns almost as much as we do”

I found it interesting, in an Atlanta Business Journal article in January 2009, that Airtran has so many Falcon’s players endorsing them and are not even the offical airline of the Atlanta Falcons.

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