| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Collegiate Licensing Company Today Releases Top Sellers Since July 1 |
| • | Dodge To Continue As Co-Title Sponsor Of Infineon Raceway NASCAR Event |
| • | Bills Today Announce All Ticket Prices Will Remain At ’03 Levels |
| • | Rawlings All American Grille To Open In March At The Ballpark In Arlington |
| • | NBA Today Announces Beyonce Knowles Will Perform During All-Star Game |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
MICHIGAN, NORTH CAROLINA ATOP CLC’s LATEST RANKINGS
TheCollegiate Licensing Company today released the list of top-selling memberinstitutions and manufacturers for July 1–December 31, 2003 – the fiscal yearto date. Following are the top tenschools, as well as the top five manufacturers in the apparel and non-apparelcategories (CLC):
| Top Universities |
| 1) | Michigan |
| 2) | North Carolina |
| 3) | Notre Dame |
| 4) | Texas |
| 5) | Georgia |
| 6) | Tennessee |
| 7) | Oklahoma |
| 8) | Florida |
| 9) | Penn State |
| 10) | Alabama |
| Manufacturers |
| | Apparel | | Non-Apparel |
| 1) | Nike | 1) | EA Sports |
| 2) | Team Edition Apparel | 2) | Wilson Sporting Goods |
| 3) | Champion Custom Products | 3) | 989 Sports |
| 4) | Colosseum Athletics | 4) | Collegiate Collectables/AL |
| 5) | Knights Apparel | 5) | Commemorative Brands |
DODGE EXTENDS CO-TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF INFINEON NEXTEL CUP RACE
TheNorthern California and Bay Area Dodge Dealers today announced a five-yearpartnership with Infineon Raceway of Sonoma, CA, to continue as the co-titlesponsor of the track’s annual NASCAR Nextel Cup event, known as the Dodge/SaveMart 350. Dodge, which has beenco-title sponsor for the past three years, also becomes the official vehicle ofInfineon Raceway under the deal (Infineon Raceway).
BILLS TICKET PRICES TO REMAIN AT ’03 LEVELS; THIRD-LOWEST IN NFL
TheBills today announced that ticket prices will not increase for the ’04season. Season tickets will again cost$30-39, while individual game tickets will cost $30-48. The average ticket will cost approximately$41, the third-lowest average ticket price in the NFL according to TeamMarketing Report. The average NFLticket costs $52.95 (Bills).
THE BALLPARK TO FEATURE RAWLINGS ALL AMERICAN GRILLE
SouthwestSports Group and the Rangers today officially announced a five-year leaseagreement including two five-year options with Sports Destination Entertainmentto operate the Rawlings All American Grille at The Ballpark in Arlington. The restaurant, which is scheduled to openby the third week of March, will occupy the 16,000 square foot space in rightfield previously occupied by Friday’s Front Row Sports Grill (SouthwestSports Group).
CNBC’S “SQUAWK BOX” PROFILES GROWTH OF NLL THIS MORNING
CNBC’sScott Wapner profiled the NLL this morning on “Squawk Box,” and notedthat while franchises were worth $250,000 three years ago, the currentexpansion fee is $3M. PhiladelphiaWings Owner Russ Cline said that one reason for the league’s success isteams’ ability to partner with NBA and NHL franchises in their markets. Cline: “It gives the opportunity for thebuilding to do two events in one day, which they want to do. The sponsors get an opportunity to get doublecoverage, and then your concessions and parking – all of those thingswork. It’s a very positive businessmodel for owners of current sports teams.” The league averages 10,000 fans per game at an average ticket price of$20 (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 1/27).
BUZZER BEATERS
TheNBA today announced that Beyonce Knowles will perform the halftime showat the ‘04 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center in L.A., Sunday, February15. She will perform her single “Crazyin Love” (NBA).
TheAP reports that IOC VP Kim Un-Yong today was arrested “followinginvestigations into corruption allegations including embezzlement of funds fromtaekwondo organizations” (AP,1/27).
ThePGA of America today announced that it has retained NJ-based Mastro Communicationsas its agency of record to manage outside marketing and PR for the 87thPGA Championship, which will be held at Baltrusol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ,August 8-14, 2005 (PGA of America).
TheATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE reports that Atlanta-based SunTrust “has launched aMotorsports Private Banking Group to expand the private banking services itprovides to the specialized needs of this high-growth market.” The group is based in Daytona Beach (BIZJOURNALS.com,1/27).
WetDog Media today announced that it will launch a new national magazine, “HerSports,” with its March/April issue. Former “Triathlete” Editor-In-Chief Christina Gandolfo will editthe magazine, which is aimed women who lead active lifestyles (Wet Dog Media).
Melbourne-basedKlipspringer today announced that it has signed ATP Tour player RadekStepanek to an exclusive string and accessory endorsement deal (Klipspringer).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
TheBOSTON HERALD notes that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been aPanthers season ticket-holder since the team’s first season in ‘95. Belichick: “Yeah that’s right. Four seats.” He bought the package “to show support for the Panthers and their[original] front office of [GM] Bill Polian and personnel executive DomAnile” (BOSTONHERALD, 1/27).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
TheCoyotes will host Brian Boucher Night during the team’s 7:00pm MT gameagainst the Flames at Glendale Arena. In celebration of his modern day record of five straight shutouts and a332:01 scoreless streak, Boucher will be presented with gifts from the NHL,team management and his teammates. Fanswill also receive posters and view a video highlight film shown on thescoreboard (ARIZONAREPUBLIC, 1/27).
The76ers will host “Phillies Night at the Sixers” during the team’s 7:00pm ET gameagainst the Nets. Former and currentPhillies will attend (PHILADELPHIABUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/27).
Theinaugural WHA2 All-Star Game will take place at Jacksonville Veterans MemorialArena at 7:05pm ET. The first-placeJacksonville Barracudas will play the best players from the league’s other fiveteams (FLORIDATIMES-UNION, 1/27).
ThePredators will host their annual “Unmasked Ball” at 6:30pm ET at the GaylordEntertainment Center. The ball willhave a disco theme, and Predators players and guests will don both black-tieand disco attire (NASHVILLE TENNESEAN, 1/4).
TheNHL Panthers will host an exclusive screening of Walt Disney Pictures’“Miracle” at MUVICO Paradise 24 in Davie, FL, at 6:00pm ET.
TheASPEN TIMES reported that 4,000-6,000 people are “expected to crowd Hunter Streetwhile [Offspring] rocks the place on the final night of ESPN’s Winter XGames.” The Aspen Skiing Co. “hadoriginally envisioned several days of concerts, … but couldn’t secure acts forthe multinight blast” (ASPENTIMES, 1/26).
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPNwill air NCAA men’s basketball: Purdue-Indianaat 7:00pm ET.
NBATV will air Nets-76ers at 7:00pm ET.
ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile LyleAlzado at 8:00pm ET.
NFLNetwork begins its daily Super Bowl broadcast of “NFL Total Access” at 8:00pmET with former NFLer Terrell Davisjoining the crew.
ESPN2will air NCAA men’s basketball: FloridaA&M-Alabama at 8:30pm ET.
ESPN will air coverage ofthe Winter X Games at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2will air quarterfinal action from the AustralianOpen at 10:30pm ET.
RedskinsLB LaVar Arrington, Buccaneers DT Anthony McFarland, Buccaneers S John Lynch, Raiders DT Dana Stubblefield, Raiders WR Jerry Rice, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and Giants DE Michael Strahan are scheduled to appearon FSN’s “BDSSP.”
“NFL on Fox”co-host Terry Bradshaw will appear on “The Tonight Show” at11:35pm ET.
MarlinsP Dontrelle Willis will appear onNBC’s “Last Call” at 1:30am ET.
A&E’s“Biography” will profile Cybill Shepard at8:00pm ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story”will profile Ellen DeGeneres at8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Charlize Theron (r) |
| “The Tonight Show” | Terry Bradshaw |
| “The Late Late Show” | Randy Jackson |
| “Late Night” | Brendan Fraser (r) |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Keshia Knight Pulliam |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
TheCHICAGO TRIBUNE’s Philip Hersh writes, “After a year in the fray at groundlevel, [acting USOC President Bill Martin] can look at the USOC from anyperspective and see an organization that has achieved relative peace whileundergoing radical transformation to preventsuch battles in the future. … The USOC has returned to being out of sightand out of the minds of the U.S. public and most of the athletes itserves. The difference this time is theclandestine chicanery also seems to have ceased, even if some of itsprotagonists still have power” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE).
USATODAY’s Larry Weisman writes of Houston’s publicly funded sports facilities,“Houston’s story stands out … because the city and the county have, in afour-year span, not only built Reliant Stadium for football but openedhomes for their baseball and basketball teams. The tab: a little more than $1[B]. … In an era of tight budgetsand a general rejection of taxes, Houstonians not only signed off on thecreation of luxury palaces for football, baseball and basketball but passedtaxes to finance them. They’ve remadetheir downtown” (USA TODAY).
SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports& Entertainment: Actor Ron Lester offered a parody of the character he playedin this ’99 drama for the ’01 spoof comedy “Not Another Teen Movie.”
THE DAILY STAT: TOP SPORTS SITES FORWEEK ENDING JANUARY 11
Thefollowing are the top five sports Web sites ranked according to home uniqueaudience for the week ending January 11, according toNielsen//NetRatings. Unique Audience = the number of persons in thousandsaccessing the site or network, with each counted only once. Average timespent = the average amount of time a visitor has spent at that property for theweek. This data is based on 37,000 home users with Internet access (Nielsen//NetRatings).
| RK | BRAND OR CHANNEL | UNIQUE AUD. | AVG. TIME SPENT (HH:MM:SS) |
| 1) | ESPN | 4,881 | 0:17:47 |
| 2) | eBay Sports | 2,617 | 0:11:28 |
| 3) | NFL Internet Network | 2,510 | 0:10:40 |
| 4) | Yahoo! Sports | 2,027 | 0:18:24 |
| 5) | AOL Sports | 1,974 | 0:09:09 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
“Varsity Blues”
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