| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, November 20, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Oilers Today Announce Ten-Year Arena Naming-Rights Deal With Katz Group |
| • | Nike, Foot Locker Today Announce Joint Marketing Venture For Fall ‘04 |
| • | NBA’s Hardwood Classics Program Will Return For Third Consecutive Season |
| • | Mavericks To Launch Single-Game Ticket Effort Tonight To Keep Streak Intact |
| • | Jacques Rogge Today Echoes Dick Pound’s Sentiments On U.S. WADA Dues |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
OILERS’ HOME ARENA TO BE KNOWN AS REXALL PLACE UNDER DEAL
TheOilers and Edmonton-based pharmacy retailer Katz Group today announced aten-year sponsorship and marketing agreement under which Katz Group will ownthe naming rights to the Oilers’ home arena. The former Skyreach Centre will now be known as Rexall Place. In addition to naming rights, the dealincludes branding, marketing and advertising programs. Katz Group also becomes the team’s exclusivehealth care partner (Oilers).
NIKE, FOOT LOCKER TODAY ANNOUNCE JOINT MARKETING VENTURE
ThePORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that Nike and Foot Locker “have suffered astrained relationship for more than a year, but a joint marketing ventureannounced [today] suggests the ice is beginning to thaw.” The marketing initiative, which will beginin fall ’04, will “focus on Nike Basketball, training product, team sports andJordan brand products. The programmight also help boost domestic sales, which have been lackluster.” Nike Corporate Communications Manager JoaniKomlos: “It signals a change, that we are moving toward more mutuallycommon goals” (BIZJOURNALS.com,11/20).
NBA TO RETURN HARDWOOD CLASSICS PROGRAM FOR THIRD SEASON
TheNBA today announced that its Hardwood Classics program will return for thethird consecutive season, with 12 teams participating. Each team will commemorate a franchisemilestone, anniversary or legendary player with retro uniforms, specialceremonies, in-arena entertainment and promotions. The first Hardwood Classics games will take place Thanksgivingnight with a doubleheader on TNT, Knicks-Pacers and Nets-Clippers, beginning at8:00pm ET. The following details theparticipating teams and the milestone/anniversary being commemorated (NBA):
| Team | Milestone or Anniversary | Team | Milestone or Anniversary |
| Pacers | 30th anniversary of ABA title | Clippers | 25 years in California |
| Warriors | 40th anniversary in Bay Area | Hawks | 35th anniversary |
| Spurs | 30th anniversary | Lakers | First team in L.A. |
| Magic | 15th anniversary | SuperSonics | 35th anniversary |
| Jazz | 25th anniversary in Utah | Bulls | History of the franchise |
| 76ers | 40th anniversary | Kings | Tiny Archibald tribute |
MAVERICKS TO SELL SINGLES ON THE CHEAP TO KEEP STREAK INTACT
TheMavericks host the Spurs tonight at 6:30pm CT, and the DALLAS MORNING NEWSreports that in an effort “to ensure that their sellout streak continues,the Mavericks are offering single tickets forpurchase to home games for $5 in the upper level and $30 in the lower levelbeginning two hours before tipoff. Asingle ticket is defined as an unsold seat that is located between two soldseats. The Mavericks said about 200to 300 singles scattered around the arena will be available for purchase ateach home game.” TNT will televisetonight’s game (DALLASMORNING NEWS, 11/20).
IOC PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE TODAY PRESSES U.S. TO PAY WADA DUES
IOC president Jacques Rogge today told the U.S. “to pay itsdues to the World Anti-Doping Agency or not bother bidding for the 2012 Olympics.” Rogge: “If they want to bid for the Gamesthey will have to comply.” The U.S. has“only paid part of their fees which were due at the beginning of the year,” aspayment “has been held up by the passage of the federal budget inCongress.” WADA Chair Dick Poundhas said that the U.S. government “would only hand over $800,000 of the $1[M]due” (AP,11/20).
BUZZER BEATERS
EASports today announced that Cardinals 3B Albert Pujols will be the coverathlete for “MVP Baseball 2004,” which is scheduled for a spring release (EASports).
FoxSports today announced that deactivated Buccaneers WR Keyshawn Johnsonwill join the cast of “Fox NFL Sunday” this week as an in-studio guest analyst(Fox).
TheMLB Rangers today unveiled two commemorative logos for the tenth anniversary ofThe Ballpark in Arlington (Rangers).
AthensInt’l Airport Head of Security Tassos Papanikolaou today said thatairport security “will be increased four months before the start of next year’sOlympics to cover final test events and the start of the tourist season” (AP,11/20).
BenHogan Golf and Bettinardi Golf today announced a renewal of their agreement tocontinue production of Ben Hogan by Bettinardi putters, which will be marketedworldwide with the exception of Japan. Bettinardi markets its own putters in Japan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed (Ben Hogan Golf).
TheLouisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that Churchill Downs’ simulcast network andthe Southern Racing Cooperative “reached agreement on a new contract lastnight, ending a weeklong stalemate that kept fans at 13 racetracks fromreceiving Churchill’s signal” (LouisvilleCOURIER-JOURNAL, 11/20).
MLBPand Q Video today released “The Official 2003 World Series” DVD, which recountsthe Marlins’ victory over the Yankees and offers LCS action on the 73-minutemain program. Thirty minutes ofhigh-definition bonus footage includes Marlins P Josh Beckett’s entirebottom of the ninth inning in Game Seven. Suggested retail price is $19.95 (MLB).
TONIGHT’SEVENTS
TheChicago chapter of the National Sports Marketing Network will host “SponsorShowcase: Chicago Bears” from 6:00-9:00pm CT at the W Hotel Lakeshore. Chicago Tribune writer Jim Kirk willmoderate a panel that includes Bears CMO Dave Greeley, Miller BrewingEvent Marketing Manager Rich Reider and GMR Works Promotions Dir ScottVoris.
TheNYU Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hopsitality, Tourism & SportsManagement will host the “Third Annual Sports Forum: Branding &Sponsorship” from 6:00-8:30pm ET at the NYU Kimmel Center. Panelists include Modell’s Sporting GoodsCEO Mitchell Modell, Paragon Marketing Group VP Michael Neuman,Street Teams USA Founder Jim Dellaria and SME Branding CEO & PartnerFred Popp.
CHANNEL SURFING
NBAHOFer Julius Erving, Spurs F Malik Rose and Bulls G Jalen Rose will be on “Wheel of Fortune” as part of NBA Week.
ESPNwill air NCAA football: TCU-SouthernMississippi at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN2will air Red Wings-Blue Jackets at7:30pm ET and Rangers-Avalanche at10:00pm ET.
TNTwill air Spurs-Mavericks at 7:30pmET and Magic-Suns at 10:00pm ET.
ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile BillWalton at 8:00pm ET.
BoxerOscar De La Hoya, 49ers QB Jeff Garcia, Warriors F Mike Dunleavy Jr. and film director Ron Howard are scheduled to appear onFSN’s “BDSSP.”
NASCARteam owner Roger Penske will be onSpeed Channel’s “Wind Tunnel” with Dave Despain at 9:00pm ET.
WTATour player Maria Sharapova will beon CBS’ “The Late Late Show” with Craig Kilborn at 12:35am ET.
A&E’s“Biography” will profile Clint Eastwoodat 8:00pm ET.
E!’s“True Hollywood Story” will profile MichaelJackson at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Gen. Wesley Clark |
| “The Tonight Show” | Mike Myers |
| “The Late Late Show” | Maria Sharapova |
| “Late Night” | Billy Bob Thornton |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Jon Favreau |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
TheWASHINGTON POST’s Barry Svrluga writes that Univ. of Maryland football coach RalphFriedgen’s FridgeTV.com is “perhaps the most advanced example of collegecoaches around the country communicating directly with fans, donors – andpotential recruits – through the Internet.” FridgeTV.comallows “access to moments that all other media outlets are barred by schoolrules from covering” (WASHINGTON POST).
TheMIAMI HERALD’s Robert Steinback writes, “In the last several years, the MiccosukeeTribe of Indians – which has about 500 registered members – has spentmillions on an eclectic variety of big-ticket advertising campaigns,sponsorships, underwritings and charitable contributions that have dramaticallyenhanced the tribe’s public profile” (MIAMI HERALD).
SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles OfInterest for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
SportsBusiness: ThroughNovember 17, which NBA team has experienced the greatest average attendanceincrease compared to last season?
- Cavaliers – LeBron James
- Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony
- Rockets – Toyota Center’s first year
IN OTHERNEWS…
TheN.Y. POST reports that Time Warner management is expected to recommend today toits board that the company “enter into exclusive talks with a group headed by EdgarBronfman Jr. and Haim Saban to sell Warner Music” (N.Y. POST, 11/20).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
Thefollowing lists Billboard Magazine’s top-selling CDs for the week endingNovember 16 (BILLBOARD.com, 11/20):
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | The Black Album | Jay-Z | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam |
| 2) | Tupac: Resurrection | Soundtrack | Amaru |
| 3) | Beg For Mercy | G-Unit | G-Unit/Shady |
| 4) | Closer | Josh Groban | 143/Reprise |
| 5) | Shock'n Y'all | Toby Keith | DreamWorks |
| 6) | Now 14 | Various Artists | Columbia/Universal/EMI/Zomba |
| 7) | Afterglow | Sarah McLachlan | Arista |
| 8) | Kid Rock | Kid Rock | Top Dog/Atlantic |
| 9) | Try This | Pink | Arista |
| 10) | The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow | Sheryl Crow | A&M |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Through four games, the Nuggets’ averageattendance is up 26.2%, just ahead of the Rockets at 25.2% (five games) andthe Cavaliers at 19.1% (four games).
If you have any questions,comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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