| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, September 19, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Hamister Meets With NHL Commissioner Bettman Today To Discuss Sabres Bid |
| • | Time Warner Cable And NDS Group Offer Fans New Angle On Sports Coverage |
| • | Coming Soon To A Theater Near You: Mascot Town USA |
| • | ESPN, AT&T Wireless Introduce Sports Personalization Service Today |
| • | Joe Gibbs Racing, Bobby Labonte To Support Todd Beamer Foundation |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Articles Of Interest/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
HAMISTER-LED SABRES BID COULD SPUR OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS
The AP reports that AFL Buffalo Destroyers Owner Mark Hamister met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today to "formally submit a bid to buy" the Sabres (AP, 9/19). The BUFFALO NEWS reports that the bid could "perhaps spur other bids among three interested groups" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/19).
AMERICAN SKIING COMPANY, SPRINT EXTEND RELATIONSHIP
American Skiing Company today announced that it has selected Sprint as its preferred communications provider. The new deal, valued at more than $1M, includes a variety of voice and data solutions. The deal extends an existing sponsorship and marketing relationship between the two companies (THE DAILY).
SPORTSVIEW INTRODUCED TO HAWAIIAN SUBSCRIBERS
Oceanic Time Warner Cable and NDS Group, a digital pay-TV solutions provider, today announced that subscribers in Hawaii will be the first to be offered "SportsView." Using their remote controls, subscribers can use the digital interactive TV technology to view six new camera angles during televised sporting events (THE DAILY).
HOST COMMUNICATIONS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO FSU
FL State Univ. (FSU) and Host Communications today announced a contract extension that calls for Host to retain FSU's multi-media and marketing rights through '07. As part of the agreement, Host is responsible for all radio broadcasts, coaches' TV shows and endorsements, game day programs, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and hospitality and promotions. The previous four-year agreement was to expire next year (THE DAILY).
myESPN OFFERS CUSTOMIZED SPORTS INFO TO mMODE SUBSCRIBERS
ESPN and AT&T Wireless have launched myESPN, available exclusively to AT&T Wireless mMode customers. The service allows customers to receive customized text-message alerts based on personalization choices. Additionally, the service offers live team statistics and box scores, real-time player stats and the ability to manage one's fantasy team. myESPN can be added to mMode for an additional $2.99 per month (THE DAILY).
MASCOT TOWN USA OFFERS INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
The Raymond Entertainment Group announced today that the first performance of Mascot Town USA is tentatively scheduled for October '03 at the Bob Carpenter Center at the Univ. of DE. The performance will feature mascots from the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and minor league teams. Raymond Entertainment is currently seeking media partners and corporate sponsors to assist in bringing the concept to fruition (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
PAINT BOOTH: Each week, various auto racing teams display new paint schemes on their cars to reflect a different sponsor, brand, promotion or special cause. This week, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series visits Dover Int'l Speedway for Sunday's MBNA All American 400. Joe Gibbs Racing, driver Bobby Labonte, Interstate Batteries, MBNA and Action Performance will honor the heroes of United Flight 93 and show their support for The Todd Beamer Foundation. The team's No. 18 Interstate Batteries/MBNA Pontiac will have a special red, white and blue paint scheme featuring "Let's Roll" – the now famous phrase used by Todd Beamer on September 11, 2001. Action Performance has created a full line of "Let's Roll" die-cast cars, and each party will donate 100% of all proceeds from sales of "Let's Roll" merchandise to The Todd Beamer Foundation.
The NHL preseason opens tonight with seven games scheduled, five in NHL arenas and two at alternate sites. The HAMILTON SPECTATOR reports that the Canucks and Oilers will play in Winnipeg, "where about 12,000 tickets have already been sold and a sellout of 14,000 is anticipated" (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 9/19).
Meanwhile, the DETROIT NEWS reports that the Red Wings will play an intrasquad scrimmage before a sellout crowd of 10,834 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI (DETROIT NEWS, 9/19).
The Flames will play an intrasquad game tonight at 7:00pm MT at Pengrowth Saddledome. Admission is free, but fans are asked to make a donation to the United Way (THE DAILY).
As expected, RBC Centura today officially announced a 20-year, $80M naming rights deal with the arena in Raleigh. The arena will now be known as the RBC Center (THE DAILY).
The ECHL Johnstown Chiefs today unveiled their 15th anniversary logo that they will wear during the '02-03 season to celebrate the fact that the team is the only charter member of the ECHL that is still playing and operating in the same city (THE DAILY).
HBO Sports reported today that last Saturday's Oscar de la Hoya-Fernando Vargas championship fight generated 900,000 PPV buys and $45.6M, second only to the '99 de la Hoya-Felix Trinidad fight for non-heavyweight PPV buys (THE DAILY).
NFL HOFer Joe Montana announced that his first football fantasy camp will take place March 23-27, 2003, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The price of the five-day camp is $10,000 (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
CBS SPORTSLINE's Jay Glazer writes that NFL contracts have become "bogus numbers and inflated totals, all for the sake of public relations, recruitment and salary-cap massaging," and that "fans and media alike are too often dazed by the staggering figures that prove to be no more than window dressing" (CBS SPORTSLINE).
The WASHINGTON TIMES' Eric Fisher writes that NFL Films, "arguably the most effective propaganda machine of any type in recent history … is actively producing films well outside of football, embracing high-definition TV and broadband Internet, forging a path in reality television and becoming a merchandising force" (WASHINGTON TIMES).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS' David King writes that "while nobody's ready to sell naming rights to a San Antonio high school stadium any time soon," school districts across the county are "facing budget problems." That fact is "bringing the commercialization of sports closer and closer to South Texas high schools every year" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS).
The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL's James Burnett reports on retro jerseys, writing that they "are major players in the rap game" and a "part of a boom industry for sellers of NBA nostalgia" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL).
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
Magic F Pat Garrity will host a Celebrity Reading Night at the Pine Hills Elementary School in Orlando as part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program. Garrity will read to children and their families from 6:30-7:30pm ET (THE DAILY).
The WUSA will honor Univ. of Portland men's and women's soccer coach Clive Charles, and FIFA co-Player of the Century Michelle Akers with Lifetime Achievement Awards during the WUSA Gala at 7:00pm PT at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland (THE DAILY).
The Chicago Chapter of the National Sports Marketing Network will host a panel discussion, "The Future of Sports Business in Chicago," tonight from 6:00-9:00pm CT. The Daily's Editor-at-Large Terry Lefton will moderate, and panelists include Bob Bernstein, Foote, Cone, & Belding; John Lewicki, McDonald's Corp.; Chicago Cubs VP/Marketing & Broadcasting John McDonough; and Tony Schiller, Paragon Marketing Group (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS…….
The AP reports that ABC's strategy of "previewing three of its most anticipated new series on Tuesday night paid immediate dividends," as 17.3 million viewers tuned in to "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter," which became ABC's "most-watched show in the time period in 17 months" (AP, 9/19).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending September 5 (BILLBOARD, 9/12):
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | Home | Dixie Chicks | Monument/Columbia |
| 2) | Let Go | Avril Lavigne | Arista |
| 3) | The Eminem Show | Eminem | Web/Aftermath |
| 4) | Nellyville | Nelly | Fo' Reel/Universal |
| 5) | Unleashed | Toby Keith | DreamWorks (Nashville) |
| 6) | The Rising | Bruce Springsteen | Columbia |
| 7) | Come Away With Me | Norah Jones | Blue Note |
| 8) | A Rush Of Blood To The Head | Coldplay | Capitol |
| 9) | Lord Willin' | Clipse | Star Trak |
| 10) | October Road | James Taylor | Columbia |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air Auburn-Miss. St. at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air MLS Burn-United at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Denny McLain at 8:00pm ET.
NFL HOFer Jim Brown and comedian Jim Breuer are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Bears WR David Terrell will be on FSN's "The Last Word.
E!'s "TV Tales" will premiere "Friends" at 7:30pm ET.
A&E's "Biography" will profile The Barrymores at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Mike Myers (r) |
| "The Tonight Show" | Goldie Hawn |
| "The Late Late Show" | Cam'ron |
| "Late Night" | Tom Hanks (r) |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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