Bud Light to become official NFL beer sponsor after MillerCoors drops out

Summary Box: Bud Light makes NFL deal

THE SPONSORSHIP: Anheuser-Busch’s flagship brand Bud Light will become the official beer sponsor of the National Football League starting in the 2011 season.

THE COMPETITION: Rival MillerCoors says it won’t renew its Coors Light sponsorship because it couldn’t agree on a price with the league.

THE HISTORY: The Coors Light sponsorship dates to 2002 and runs out after the season that begins this fall. Bud Light was a beer sponsor of the NFL from 1990 to 2001. But it shared the sponsorship during that time with Miller. The beer sponsorship has been exclusive since 2002.