Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1172000
T he iconic bridges that connect New York's five boroughs are the theme for New Balance's footwear and apparel collection for November's 2019 New Balance TCS New York City Marathon. e collections feature prints and patterns paying homage to the Pulaski, Willis Avenue, Verrazzano-Narrow, Queensboro and Madison Avenue Bridges (the latter two major elements of the marathon course). "ere are bridges that connect runners and people all over the world and in New York City the bridges create the physical connection that is the 26.2 mile, five borough, TCS New York City Marathon course," said Deirdre Fitzgerald, New Balance EVP of Apparel. "e collection features graphics inspired by these five bridges, and the overall design reflects the positivity and connection that is synonymous with the world's largest marathon." n NB Builds Bridges with NYC Marathon Collection Nike and Fleet Feet Face Off sportsinsightmag.com September/October 2019 Sports Insight • 9 IN THE MARKET New Balance pays homage to NYC in marathon collection. F leet Feet Sports, the national franchisor of 181 running specialty shops, filed a trade- mark infringement suit against Nike — one of its key vendors — on Aug. 30. e 23-page suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina alleges Nike is infringing on Fleet Feet trademarks, including Change Everything and Running Changes Everything, with its Sport Changes Everything moniker that it debuted during a television commercial during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game on July 9 and has continued to pro- mote the campaign through a series of YouTube videos. e complaint against Fleet Feet's longtime vendor partner also asserts that Nike had used the "Running Changes Everything" mark on its homepage to promote its run- ning apparel and merchandise, before it subsequently altereded the phrase to "Sport Changes Everything" aer being contacted by Fleet Feet attorneys counsel. Meanwhile, Scott Gravatt, Nike's North American run specialty sales director informed Fleet Feet's director of brand management that the company intends to use the "Sport Changes Everything" campaign through the 2020 Super Bowl and will, if necessary, "spend millions to defend its continuation of the campaign." Stay tuned. n