Afternoon News & Headlines
| • | Paul Tagliabue Today Warns Owners About Status Of CBA Negotiations |
| • | Jets, Cablevision Have 5:00pm ET Deadline To Submit Bids For West Side Land |
| • | Falcons Today Unveil $150M In Proposed Upgrades For The Georgia Dome |
| • | Bears Today Announce Plans For New Skyline Suite Section At Soldier Field |
| • | LPGA Today Signs Deal With Oh Boy! Oberto To Become Official Beef Jerky |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/Closing Stat |
TAGLIABUE WARNS NFL OWNERS ABOUT STATUS OF CBA NEGOTIATIONS
By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told owners in Maui today that CBA negotiations are at a dead end. He warned the owners that a lot of hard work lay ahead, and said half-jokingly that they would not see the beach during the four days of this week’s owners’ meetings. The meetings run through Thursday. The CBA expires in ‘08, but the league’s policy has been to redo it far in advance.
JETS, CABLEVISION FACING 5:00PM ET DEADLINE FOR WEST SIDE BIDS
The deadline for bidding on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s West Side railyards comes at 5:00pm ET, and the N.Y. TIMES reports it “appears that the Jets will have only one solid competitor” for the site: Cablevision. The Jets have indicated that they will “substantially increase their $100[M] offer” for the right to build a stadium on the land, while Cablevision has offered $600M and plans to build apartments and parks. A third bidder, TransGas Energy Systems “is readying an offer of more than $800[M]. But the complicated conditions outlined in its bid may not pass muster with” the MTA (N.Y. TIMES, 3/21).
FALCONS TODAY UNVEIL $150M IN ENHANCEMENTS FOR GEORGIA DOME
The Falcons today unveiled $150M in potential enhancements to the Georgia Dome. One enhancement is the construction of an atrium, which would include retail stores, restaurants and themed entertainment. Plans are also being developed to expand and upgrade the club-seat sections, add additional suites, and create or upgrade dining and entertainment venues throughout the facility. The first visible enhancement will be the creation of the “Owner’s Club,” which will be limited to 225 members and feature food, plasma TVs, parking and concierge services (Falcons).
 |
| Falcons Eyeing $150M In Enhancements For Georgia Dome |
BEARS TODAY ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR NEW SKYLINE SUITE SECTION
The Bears today announced plans for the multimillion-dollar Skyline Suite at Soldier Field, which will be added in a previously undeveloped area below the Executive Suites and Press Box. The section will feature individual indoor reserved seating, with an open bar, a buffet with carving stations, football fare and dessert, as well as in-seat beverage service. The area will also feature private restrooms, coat check, concierge desk and 46 flat-screen plasma TVs. The suite will be limited to 151 season tickets costing $8,000 each, which includes tickets, on-site parking and all other amenities (Bears).
LPGA TODAY INKS OH BOY! OBERTO TO BECOME OFFICIAL BEEF JERKY
BRANDWEEK reports that the LPGA said Monday that Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky “has signed on as an official sponsor and the official meat snack and beef jerky” of the organization. Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky will promote its brands and products via advertising on LPGA telecasts and LPGA.com. There also will be sampling events at select LPGA tournaments during the 2005 season. The brand will also sponsor the a trivia challenge on LPGA.com and Ohboyoberto.com, with the grand prize being a trip to this year’s Solheim Cup in Indiana (BRANDWEEEK.com, 3/21).
BUZZER BEATERS
IMG has purchased Live Channel and formed IMG Live, a new division to expand and create new forms of experiential marketing events globally. The new division will operate under the IMG Consulting banner. IMG Senior VP Steve Moore, based in Charlotte, will oversee the division, and former Live Channel CEO Lee Heffernan will run the division (IMG).
The NFL today officially announced that the Cardinals and 49ers will play a regular-season game October 2 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The 8:30pm ET game will be televised in the U.S. on ESPN and on Televisa throughout Mexico (NFL).
Coca-Cola today officially announced a five-year extension of its sponsorship with the PGA Tour (Coca-Cola).
MLBAM today announced that it has successfully completed its tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of Tickets.com. The offer ended at 5:00pm ET on March 18, with approximately 9,699,394 shares tendered at the offer price of $1.10 per share (MLBAM).
NASCAR today renewed its partnership with Atlanta-based Diversified Electronics/Racing Radios through the 2013 season to continue to supply two-way radio communications for all NASCAR officials and competitors (NASCAR).
French IOC member Guy Drut today goes on trial “along with dozens of other political colleagues in a case involving allegations of kickbacks during Jacques Chirac’s tenure as mayor of Paris in the early 1990s.” The alleged incidents took place before Drut became an IOC member in ‘96 (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 3/21).
The U.S. Soccer Foundation announced that Prince Albert of Monaco will serve as Honorary Chair for the Foundation’s September 15 banquet at the Marriott Wardman Park in DC (U.S. Soccer Foundation).
NOW HEAR THIS
The following are notable quotes from today’s news:
With San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales pushing for an MLB team for his city, which is in territory designated to the Giants, Giants Managing General Partner Peter Magowan said, “Let him go (make speeches). It’s a waste of time” (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/21). Read the full story.
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, on a clause in MLB’s drug-testing policy allowing him to fine a player $10,000 for his first positive test rather than suspending him for ten days: “I was stunned. I didn’t know it was there. Neither did [MLB President & COO] Bob DuPuy, and I suspect [MLBPA Exec Dir] Don Fehr was in the same position, frankly” (MLB.com, 3/20). Read the full story.
After several members of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform suggested implementing a uniform drug-testing policy for all sports, NFL VP/PR Greg Aiello said of such a policy, “We don’t view that as favorable. We don’t think it’s practical. It’s not in the interests of football” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/21). Read the full story.
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
Chris Rose will return as “BDSSP” host after being “dropped from the show in December when FSN switched to a ‘late night’ format and cut the four-man cast” to Tom Arnold and John Salley. Salley will remain with the show, while Arnold signed a one-year contract to “make appearances at major events such as the World Series, Super Bowl and baseball’s All-Star Game” (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/15). Rose will do play-by-play on select FSN NFL Europe telecasts in addition to his hosting duties (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/21).
Tennis players Andre Agassi, James Blake and Mardy Fish will participate in Jim Courier’s annual charity event, the Mercedes-Benz Classic, at 7:00pm ET at the St. Pete Times Forum. Proceeds from the event will go to Raymond James Courier’s Kids Foundation, which assists underprivileged children (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/21).
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air NCAA women’s basketball tournament: Texas-Georgia at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NIT Basketball: Holy Cross-St. Joseph’s at 7:00pm ET.
NFL coaches Jon Gruden, Herman Edwards and Tony Dungy will appear on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” at 7:00pm ET.
NBA TV will air Spurs-Knicks at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN will air NIT Basketball: Wichita State-Vanderbilt at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NCAA women’s basketball tournament: Arizona State-Notre Dame at 9:00pm ET and Utah-Stanford at 11:00pm ET.
Skateboarder Tony Hawk will appear on CBS’ “The Late Late Show” at 11:35pm ET.
Univ. of Illinois coach Bruce Weber, Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony and Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter will appear on “BDSSP.”
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Sandra Bullock |
| “The Tonight Show” | Queen Latifah |
| “The Late Late Show” | Michael Chiklis |
| “Late Night” | Hank Azaria (r) |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Mena Suvari |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS’ Sean Jensen writes of the NBA’s ethnic marketing of Rockets C Yao Ming, “There’s no denying Yao has increased the popularity of the NBA among Asians. But by having ‘Asian American’ nights, the NBA only diverts attention from Yao’s charming personality and toward his race. … The more focus there is on Yao’s race, the less progress we’re making. The NBA, like this country, is no longer black and white. But highlighting race will keep this country mired in the gray” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS).
- WTA CEO Larry Scott’s non-stop motor energizing women’s tour.
- The gloves are off in Reebok, Nike’s fight for North American hockey market.
- Women’s NCAA basketball tournament takes big leap with neutral sites.
- Q&A with Goldklang Group President Mick Veeck.
See the Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
CLOSING STAT: GRADUATION RATES OF WOMEN’S TOURNEY TEAMS
The following presents the top ten schools in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament in terms of the graduation rates of its women’s basketball players, according to a study released by the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. NOTE: Dartmouth, like other Ivy League schools, does not report graduation rates (University of Central Florida).
| RK | SCHOOL | GRADUATION RATE |
| 1t) | Holy Cross | 100% |
| 1t) | Vanderbilt | 100% |
| 1t) | Montana | 100% |
| 4) | New Mexico | 93% |
| 5t) | Duke | 92% |
| 5t) | Santa Clara | 92% |
| 5t) | Rice | 92% |
| 8) | Temple | 90% |
| 9) | Virginia | 87% |
| 10) | DePaul | 86% |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com
The Closing Bell provides an afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Closing Bell, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
