Holland, Ingalls Game For Foxwoods’ Creative Biz

Casino Moves Media Chores From Western International to Horizon
BOSTON–A pair of local agencies have surfaced as contenders for the creative portion of the Foxwoods Casino Resort account.
Holland Mark Martin Edmund and Ingalls Advertising, both in Boston, and Della Femina/Jeary and Partners in New York are pursuing the assignment, sources said.
It was not known at press time whether five-year incumbent Weller O’Sullivan in Los Angeles is participating in the review. An agency representative said Weller still works for the client but declined further comment.
Several other shops, most likely in New York, may also be in the hunt, according to sources.
The client spent nearly $3 million on advertising through April, after spending $6.7 million in 1997, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
Martin Kramer, director of marketing for the Ledyard, Conn., client, is overseeing the selection process. He did not return phone calls seeking comment last week.
Foxwoods is seeking a shop to fashion broadcast, print and outdoor ads that will mainly run throughout the New York metropolitan area and New England, sources said.
The client is also in the process of shifting its media buying assignment, estimated at more than $10 million, from the Los Angeles office of Western International Media to New York-based Horizon Media, according to sources.
Foxwoods was close to finalizing a contract with Horizon Media at press time last week; the deal was expected to be completed as soon as this week, sources said. Horizon Media officials did not return calls seeking comment.
Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, the Foxwoods facility maintains 300 gaming tables in four casinos, along with several hotels and restaurants in northeastern Connecticut
Apart from the casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., Foxwoods’ principal competition comes from the Mohegan Tribe’s Mohegan Sun casino and resort complex in neighboring Uncasville, Conn. Mohegan Sun’s creative and media chores are handled by Mintz & Hoke in Avon, Conn.
–with Cristina Merrill and Angela Dawson