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Pizza Hut Replaces Papa John's as NFL Sponsor for 2018 Season

Pizza Hut Replaces Papa John's as NFL Sponsor for 2018 Season

(Bloomberg) -- Pizza Hut will take over the NFL pizza-sponsorship deal abandoned by Papa John’s International Inc., betting that it can revive its allure by teaming up with the increasingly controversial league.

Pizza Hut’s multiyear deal gives it collective use of all 32 teams logos, and the NFL will work closely with the chain on local team partnerships, according to a joint statement Wednesday.

Papa John’s -- unhappy over declining ratings and the handling of players’ national anthem protests -- said Tuesday it was ending its deal across the whole league that had been in place since 2010, and would focus on marketing with 22 specific teams. The opening provides an opportunity for Pizza Hut’s parent, Yum! Brands Inc., which has sought new sources of growth as the pizza chain’s sales have fallen short of projections.

“The capacity for what’s possible is endless, and that’s going to make this league partnership great fun for Pizza Hut, the NFL and everyone who loves pizza and football,” said Artie Starrs, Pizza Hut’s U.S. president. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is “thrilled to have Pizza Hut.”

The NFL’s relationship with Papa John’s had been strained since the chain’s founder John Schnatter slammed the league in November, saying that declining ratings had hurt sales. He also said Goodell mishandled a controversy over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.

--With assistance from Leslie Patton

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Roeder in Chicago at jroeder@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net, Lisa Wolfson

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.