A Gillette sauce company is being sued by the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team on allegations it reneged on a sponsorship agreement.
The Brewers are seeking more than $200,000 from the Wyoming Sauce Co., alleging the company is guilty of breach of contract.
According to a lawsuit filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin on Feb. 4, Wyoming Sauce and the Brewers entered into a sponsorship agreement in July 2018. Under the agreement, Wyoming Sauce agreed to be a sponsor for the team for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons, giving it certain signage and promotional rights.
According to the lawsuit, the sauce company agreed to pay the Brewers $100,000 in 2019, $105,000 in 2020 and $110,000 in 2021 for sponsorship rights.
Wyoming Sauce paid the 2019 sponsorship fee, the lawsuit said, but asked for changes in its agreement for the 2020 season, which was shortened by the coronavirus and did not begin until July 24.
The Brewers agreed to cancel Wyoming Sauce’s 2020 sponsorship and make up the lost year with a sponsorship in 2022.
However, Wyoming Sauce failed to pay its sponsorship fee in 2021, the lawsuit said.
The Brewers sent a “demand letter” to the company in November seeking payment of the 2021 sponsorship fee, the lawsuit said.
“Since the delivery of the Demand Letter, the Club has repeatedly attempted to make contact with (Wyoming Sauce), with no success,” it said. “Sponsor has ceased responding to and communicating with the club.”
The April 1 deadline for the payment of the 2022 sponsorship fee is approaching, the lawsuit said, and “as a result of the sponsor’s material breach, the club is entitled to payment of the 2022 sponsorship fee as damages.”
The lawsuit asked for at least $215,000 in damages and legal fees.
