Watch for these Super Bowl ads made by Minneapolis agencies

In today’s newsletter: Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez, George Kittle, Tyrod Taylor, D’Andre Swift, Ludacris, Dave Fransen, Terry Clark, Ron Konezny, Matt Varilek and Michael Fiddelke’s first Target store visit as CEO

“We’re existing in a duality,” Hennepin County courts reporter Jeff Day said during our Strib livestream this week featuring journalists in the thick of immigration enforcement coverage. Never will that sentiment seem more apparent than this weekend, as Minnesotans join the nation in binging hot wings and nachos for the sportiest of weekends, with the opening of the Winter Olympics on Friday (where Minnesota will be well represented) and Super Bowl LX on Sunday.

Minneapolis-based Fallon’s “Relax Your Tight End” spot for Novartis topped the Athletic’s 2026 list of best Super Bowl commercials. In it, legendary tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and George Kittle encourage men to take a blood test to screen for prostate cancer. “We’re hoping to turn a moment of national entertainment into a movement for men’s health,” the Fallon team said.

With a 30-second Super Bowl spot costing as much as $8 million this year, many companies focus their campaigns on the ”second screen" — the one that’s always on (or in) hand. Colle McVoy, which made industry news last week by announcing its strategic partnership with Doner, worked on Super Bowl-adjacent social campaigns for three major brands. This is the Minneapolis-agency’s first gameday with Dairy Queen, which features NFL players Tyrod Taylor and D’Andre Swift in their own Taylor & Swift Half Time Show dipping chicken from DQ’s new Chicken Strip Party Platters in soft serve.

Fully entrenched in chicken, Colle McVoy also worked with Perdue on a series of spots featuring air fryer-ready wings, calling them “the next best wing.” And Colle McVoy gets saucy for the third year running with Frank’s Red Hot. This year, rapper and actor Ludacris stars alongside a rapping goat to proclaim the hot sauce the greatest of all time.

The goal is to take consumers from scrolling to shopping, said Dave Fransen, Colle McVoy’s executive vice president of earned and influence media. And the critical time is now, in the days leading up to the game. “We want to get people to start thinking about what they’re serving at home.”

Still hungry? BBDO Minneapolis worked on Hormel’s “Here for the Snacks” social campaign, highlighting the company’s move from meats to a broader assortment of game-ready Planters nuts, Wholly Guacamole, Herdez salsa and packaged party trays under the Hormel Gatherings label.

In other off-the-field sports related notes: if you watch the Olympics opening ceremony for the uniforms (guilty!), Forbes rounded up the big fashion brands that will be on display including perennial Team USA go-to Ralph Lauren and Lululemon for Canada.

And on the local front, get ready for a board game-basketball mash up. CATAN, the super-popular strategy game, which many don’t realize is published and distributed by Lino Lakes-based Asmodee USA, is collaborating with the Timberwolves during their home game Sunday, Feb. 8 against the L.A. Clippers. Fans will be able to experience CATAN activations on the concourse of Target Center. The first 10,000 in attendance will receive a free copy of CATAN — On the Road, a new portable card game that launches in stores on April 3.

UnitedHealth Group chief marketing officer Terry Clark is joining the PGA of America as CEO, effective March 2. He’s been a board director for the organization since 2024. Clark has a history of incorporating golf into his career. He led Optum’s enterprise sponsorship as a partner of the Players Championship and has collaborated with major golf media platforms on events and player sponsorships.

“Golf is a game with a rare and enduring impact on individuals, families and communities, and the PGA of America sits at the center of that influence,” Clark said in a Feb. 4 statement.

Fiddelke’s first move: In his first week as CEO of Target Corp., Michael Fiddelke headed home to Iowa to walk a Target store in Waukee that opened just a year ago. Store director Noel Knock told Des Moines TV news station KCCI Fiddelke was “super friendly,” shaking hands with employees and greeting them by name. Back at headquarters, he’s got his work cut out for him, turning around 12 quarters of weak or declining sales.

Stock plunge: Boston Scientific’s stock price was down 15% midday on Wednesday, Feb. 4, representing its largest single-day drop in years. This is despite posting strong quarterly revenue and profit. The Strib’s Victor Stefanescu reports.

Economic toll of ICE surge: Minnesota’s top economic official Matt Varilek said it’s too early to calculate overall economic impact of Operation Metro Surge, but the damage is growing. He spoke to Stefanescu about the potential long-term effects and relief.