| • | MTN Group Becomes First African Company In FIFA World Cup Sponsor Tier |
| • | Univ. Of Tennessee, Host Communications Ink Ten-Year Multimedia Rights Deal |
| • | Presenting Sponsors Named For Inaugural Jeremy McGrath Invitational |
| • | Minor League Team Tonight To Host First-Ever In-Game Theater Production |
MTN GROUP BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN FIFA WORLD CUP SPONSOR
FIFA today announced that mobile telecommunications company MTN Group Limited has become the first African company to sign on as a FIFA World Cup Sponsor, receiving global rights to the 2010 World Cup and the ’09 FIFA Confederations Cup. MTN has also acquired mobile content rights for a defined set of territories mainly in Africa and the Middle East. The deal makes MTN the third company, along with McDonald’s and Anheuser-Busch, to join the proposed six-member group of FIFA World Cup Sponsors under the organization’s new commercial hierarchy (FIFA).
South Africa-based First National last week signed on as a National Supporter for the 2010 World Cup, one level below World Cup Sponsor (THE DAILY).
UNIV. OF TENNESSEE, HOST COMMUNICATIONS INK TEN-YEAR, $83M DEAL
The Univ. of Tennessee Athletic Department (UTAD) announced today that it signed a ten-year, $83.4M multimedia rights deal with Host Communications, which has been the school’s primary rights holder for the past 17 years. The deal, which begins in ’07, includes $68M in guaranteed rights fees and $15.4M in investment capital and capital enhancements that include an LED ribbon board at Neyland Stadium and LED equipment at Thompson-Boling Arena. The deal increases UTAD’s average annual guaranteed rights fees to $6.8M, a 168% increase over the current agreement (UTAD).
PRESENTING SPONSORS NAMED FOR INAUGURAL JEREMY MCGRATH INVITATIONAL
American Honda and Amp’d Mobile will be presenting sponsors for the inaugural Jeremy McGrath Invitational, a Supercross-style event. Other companies sponsoring the event, which will be held October 6-7 at The Home Depot Center, include Dunlop Tires, Kicker Audio Systems, Spy Optics, Pro Taper, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and DC Shoes (Jeremy McGrath Invitational).
MINOR LEAGUE TEAM TO HOST FIRST-EVER IN-GAME THEATER PRODUCTION
The Single-A Carolina League Myrtle Beach (SC) Pelicans, a Braves affiliate, tonight will begin hosting a three-day run of “Baseball The Musical,” the first-ever full theater production during a baseball game. The production, a joint venture between the team and the Coastal Carolina Univ. Theatre Department, includes an original script and a full cast. It will begin before the game against the Winston-Salem Warthogs and will continue throughout every half-inning during the game (Pelicans).
BUZZER BEATERS….
AT&T announced today that it will carry NFL Network on the company’s AT&T U-verse TV channel lineup on the equivalent of an expanded basic tier. The deal is the network’s first with a telecommunications company to carry its games (THE DAILY).
FIFA today opened disciplinary proceedings against Italy D Marco Materazzi, the recipient of France MF Zinedine Zidane’s head butt in the World Cup Final. Both players have been summoned for a hearing before the Disciplinary Committee on July 20 (FIFA).
FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee member Juergen Kiessling, who attempted suicide hours after the tournament ended, died today (AP, 7/13).
The Louisville Metro Council tonight will discuss a financial plan for a downtown arena and a “blueprint for the work force that will build it” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/13).
Two days of talks for a new Sacramento sports arena ended without a deal being reached. Sacramento Vice Mayor Rob Fong, Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson and former state Assembly member Darrell Steinberg, who represents the NBA Kings ownership group, will continue discussions via telephone (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/13).
FIA has launched a second online survey (AUTOWEEK, 7/10 issue).
QUICK HITS….
 |
Chip Ganassi (l) With Juan Pablo Montoya At NASCAR Nextel Cup USG Sheetrock 400 |
“This transcends every effort NASCAR has been involved in for 58 years to make our sport desirable, diverse and international” – NASCAR President Mike Helton, on F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya joining the circuit in ’07 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/13).
“I’m not just slapping my name on anything. I’m sitting in meetings ... and I’m never going to do anything that I don’t feel comfortable with” - U.S. Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer Amanda Beard, on her marketing endeavors. Beard appeared to discuss being named FHM’s “Sexiest Athlete” and her sexy photo spread in the magazine (ESPNews, 7/13).
“We’re all a part of the rays family. I don’t think anyone’s going to be a stickler on that” – D’Rays VP/Branding & Fan Experience Darcy Raymond, on the team using cownose rays instead of devil rays in a new aquarium at Tropicana Field (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 7/13).
"You're much better looking than you sounded on the phone" - LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, to Toronto Globe & Mail columnist Lorne Rubenstein after he introduced himself before asking a question during Bivens’ press conference today at the Royal Canadian Golf Association's HQs in Toronto (THE DAILY).
ARTICLES OF INTEREST….
The WASHINGTON POST’s Thomas Boswell writes of the prospects for DC’s planned ballpark, “Let the sight of PNC Park be an inspiration. And the sight of the woeful Pirates, playing there to empty seats, be a warning” (WASHINGTON POST).
The S.F. CHRONICLE’s C.W. Nevius writes of S.F.’s interest in hosting the 2016 Olympics, “Terrific. I just have one question. Do we know what we are getting into?” (S.F. CHRONICLE).
ESPNSOCCERNET.com’s Kristian Dyer writes of MLS’ initiative to bring in foreign players, “MLS is now a much better platform to showcase marquee international talent then it was even five years ago” (ESPNSOCCERNET.com).
Also:
- Six Flags President & CEO Mark Shapiro trying to turn company around.
- NBA-sanctioned summer league part of Las Vegas’ push to land team.
- Pilot Pen Tournament Dir Anne Worcester keeps working to improve event.
- Q&A with YES Network COO Ray Hopkins.
See the
Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The FCC voted 4-1 today to approve the $16.9B acquisition of Adelphia Communications by Time Warner and Comcast, “removing the last regulatory hurdle facing the deal.” The vote “culminates one of the longest cable-system transactions in recent FCC history, taking 404 days”
(MULTICHANNEL.com, 7/13).
Bobcats Owner and BET Founder Robert Johnson and The Weinstein Company Founders and former Miramax co-Chairs Harvey and Bob Weinstein today at Allen & Co.’s annual media conference announced a joint venture to create an L.A.-based film company that will develop entertainment aimed at the African-American community. JPMorgan Chase has committed to financing the venture with up to $175M (RLJ Companies). See the N.Y. TIMES blog for more on the conference.
WPP Group is forming a joint venture with marketing firm LiveWorld “to create online communities for companies hoping to build consumer awareness and loyalty” (N.Y. POST, 7/13).
CHANNEL SURF….
Additional portions of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger interview with ESPN’s Jim Rome will appear on “SportsCenter” at 6:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS….
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Luke Wilson |
| “The Tonight Show” | Rosario Dawson |
| “Late Night” | Paul Reubens |
| “The Late Late Show” | Joe Mantegna |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Magic Johnson (r) |
CLOSING STAT: HARRIS POLL BRAND SURVEY
Sony topped the Harris Poll top brand survey for the seventh year in a row. A survey of 2,351 U.S. adults was conducted online from June 7-13, 2006. Survey responses were unaided and a list of brand names was not presented to respondents (Harris Poll).
| HARRIS POLL: TOP BRANDS '06 |
| RK | BRAND | '05 RK | '04 RK |
| 1) | Sony | 1 | 1 |
| 2) | Dell | 2 | 3 |
| 3) | Coca-Cola | 4 | 2 |
| 4) | Toyota | 6 | 5 |
| 5) | Ford | 5 | 6 |
| 6) | Honda | 7 | 7 |
| 7) | Hewlett Packard | 10 | NA |
| 8) | General Electric | 8 | 10 |
| 9) | Kraft Foods | 3 | 4 |
| 10) | Apple | NA | NA |
NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….
2005
“The LPGA is on the upswing. The momentum is moving, and people are talking about it” - Ginn Clubs & Resorts Founder Bobby Ginn, on the company signing Annika Sorenstam to a five-year endorsement deal.
2001
The IOC selects Beijing to host the ’08 Olympics as the city’s 56 votes top Toronto’s 22 and Paris’ 18 in the second round of voting. Former Visa Int'l CMO John Bennett, on corporate sponsors’ view of China: "This is a country that is ripe for opening up the way Korea was."
2000
The 49ers name former FAO Schwartz exec Peter Harris President. Harris: “One of my first and immediate objectives is to get into the stadium issue.” In November ’03, when the team decides not to renew Harris’ contract, the S.F. Chronicle’s Kevin Lynch notes the “one great failing of his time was the inability to get a new stadium built.”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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