| • | Under Armour Raises Annual Expectations After Strong Q3 |
| • | Red Sox Raise '11 Ticket Prices For 30% Of Seats At Fenway |
| • | NFLPA Not In Favor Of Punishing Players For Improper Benefits |
| • | NFL Linemen Diehl, Herrera Agree To Endorse Prilosec OTC |
UNDER ARMOUR RAISES ANNUAL EXPECTATIONS AFTER STRONG THIRD QUARTER
Under Armour (UA) today reported "higher expectations" as it released its Q3 earnings and said that it "was raising its outlook for the year as it has continued to enjoy better-than-expected sales of its products." The company reported profits of $34.9M, or $0.68 per share, up from $26.2M, or $0.52 per share, in the year-ago quarter. UA said that it expects a full-year revenue in the range of $1.030-1.035B, up 20-21% over last year (BALTIMORESUN.com, 10/26).
UA Chair & CEO Kevin Plank today said the company will introduce its "first true performance cotton shirt" next spring. Plank said the product will "introduce Under Armour to a whole new level of consumers." He added that UA "will provide more information on the cotton product in the first quarter of 2011" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/26).
RED SOX RAISING '11 TICKET PRICES FOR 30% OF SEATS AT FENWAY PARK
The Red Sox today announced that 30% of tickets at Fenway Park will increase in price for the '11 season, with 70% to remain "at the same price they were in 2010." The team said "designated prime infield seat locations" will see an increase of up to $5 per ticket. These include field box, loge box and infield grandstand seats. Green Monster seats, the "highest-priced single-game ticket in the ballpark," will remain unchanged at $165. The lowest-priced upper bleachers will remain $12 (PROJO.com, 10/26).
NFLPA NOT IN FAVOR OF PUNISHING DRAFTEES WHO GOT IMPROPER BENEFITS
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
The NFLPA is not in favor of a proposal in which NFL players or players entering the NFL Draft would be punished for violating NCAA rules, NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir for External Affairs George Atallah said. ESPN reported yesterday that players who lost their college eligibility for receiving improper benefits from agents could face financial penalties upon entering the NFL Draft under a proposal that was being discussed by the leadership of a number of football organizations. Legal sources said any punishment of NFL players for what they allegedly did in college would likely have to be approved by the NFLPA. Atallah said ESPN did not contact the union for comment prior to publishing the story.
NFL LINEMEN DIEHL, HERRERA TO ENDORSE PROCTER & GAMBLE'S PRILOSEC OTC
Procter & Gamble today announced that NFL Giants OT David Diehl and Vikings G Anthony Herrera will be part of the "Living Proof" marketing campaign for P&G's Prilosec OTC brand. The two linemen will endorse the medicine by sharing their "heartburn protection stories" on prilosecotc.com. There also will be TV and digital advertising featuring the two players (Procter & Gamble).
HELIOS PARTNERS ANNOUNCES CREATION OF EUROPEAN BUSINESS UNIT
By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
Helios Partners today announced the creation of Helios Partners Europe, a new business unit that will be headed by Helios Partner Chris Renner. Renner recently relocated to Paris from Beijing and will build out a staff to work across the sports industry in Europe with a particular focus on sponsorship sales, sponsorship consulting, property consulting and other areas. Helios COO Chris Sanders said, "It expands our European presence, so that we can take advantage of the London and Sochi Olympics. It also creates better synergy with our sister company (Amaury Sport Organisation)."
Atlanta-based Helios Partners is a division of Amaury Group, a media, event and agency conglomerate.
FOX NOT ALLOWING CENTER ICE TO PICK UP PANTHERS-MAPLE LEAFS GAME
As the News Corp.-Dish Network dispute persists, Fox is "not allowing" the NHL Center Ice out-of-market package to pick up tonight's Panthers-Maple Leafs game and broadcast it in South Florida. This is the "reason Saturday's MSG broadcast" of Islanders-Panthers "was blacked out as well." The MIAMI HERALD's George Richards writes, "If you have DirecTV and bought the NHL package to get those dozen games FS Florida doesn't show, too bad for you" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/26).
BUZZER BEATERS….
Audi of America and the New Jersey Audi Dealers formally announced that they have reached a long-term agreement for the naming rights to the premium seating section at Rutgers Stadium. Nelligan Sports Marketing negotiated the deal on behalf of Rutgers Univ. (Nelligan Sports Marketing).
White Sox P Mark Buehrle and his wife Jamie have partnered with Adopt-a-Pet.com for a public service campaign launching today in the greater Chicago area. The effort will include light-hearted adoption-promoting TV PSAs and billboards, funding for which was provided by Nestle Purina
(Adopt-a-Pet.com).
 |
Art Brands Of Ohio Expands Its Roster Of
NFLers To Include 19 More Players |
Pro golfer Brittany Lincicome has signed an endorsement deal with Mirae Asset Global Investments. She will wear the clothing with the Mirae Asset logo during tournament play
(Mirae Asset Global Investments).
Puma today announced that it will acquire 100% of its joint venture Liberty China Holding, effective Jan. 1, giving the apparel maker full control of its business activities in China and Hong Kong (Puma).
NFL Players licensee Art Brands of Ohio today announced that it has expanded by 19 the number of NFL players it can depict as caricatures in its printing business, bringing the total to 38. Players added to the list include Terrell Owens, Tim Tebow, Philip Rivers, Donovan McNabb, Chris Johnson and Troy Polamalu (Art Brands).
QUICK HITS….
"It's D.C. United, and I'd love to see it stay here in the District. But if we can't get a solution to the stadium, we can't stay here and we'll have to look to other options" – MLS Commissioner Don Garber (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/26).
"We hope it gets done soon and it's something we don't have to worry about anymore" – Coyotes RW Shane Doan, on the team's ownership situation (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/26).
“One referee is not enough, not in the modern era where you have 20 cameras. It is unfair: the cameras can see everything but the referee only has one pair of eyes” – UEFA President Michel Platini, who does not support goal-line technology but is in favor of employing two extra officials at the ends of the pitch (London TELEGRAPH, 10/26).
"I don't feel that what I said originally requires an apology. I am sure there is a record of that which, if forced, I will have to find" – Alexei Sorokin, CEO of Russia's bid to stage the '18 World Cup, speaking at the Int'l Football Arena conference about his comments from earlier in the week on England's competing bid (AP, 10/26).
"The whole thing with the NFL and how much exposure there has been on television and all their analysts talking about their head shots too, this works really well for both sports" – Versus' Brian Engblom, on the NHL's efforts to curb hits to the head ("NHL Live," NHL Network, 10/26).
TWITTER ME THIS….
Jets Senior Manager of Database Marketing Russell Scibetti: “Any sports mktg analysts want to guess the free media value that JetBlue got from all of MNF's 'Jet Blue' references to the Giants' WRs?”
Bergen Record’s Al Iannazzone: “This isn't 1994 when the World Series was cancelled. There is a World Series and I, and 3 Million other paying customers, can't watch it.”
CBS Sports’ Seth Davis: “Glad to hear my good buddy Gus Johnson will be calling more games for Big Ten Net. Knicks made yet another bonehead decision letting him go.”
L.A. Times’ Joe Flint: “I wonder if Roger Goodell ran a network whether Charlie Sheen would be suspended.”
If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
A LIGHTER BUZZ….
The Knicks have put up a poster "inside the footprint" of the Nets' Atlantic Yards featuring F Amare Stoudemire backed by the Brooklyn Bridge. It reads, "Brooklyn Represent – You, Us, We, Now" (NETSDAILY.com, 10/26).
THE DAILY'S HOT READS….
The AP's Alan Zagier writes a new study "suggests that the so-called 'free ride' for college scholarship athletes isn’t quite so free." NCPA President Ramogi Huma indicated that athletes "whose academic expenses aren’t fully covered by scholarships are more susceptible to the influence of money-wielding sports agents" (AP).
BLOOMBERG NEWS' Levinson & Baribeau write of the impact of Heat players Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, "In addition to making the Heat the favorite to win the NBA title, the trio already has spurred a rebirth across the bay in the downtown area outside AmericanAirlines Arena" (BLOOMBERG NEWS).
Also:
See the Hot Reads section for more sports business-related links.
DAILY DOWNLOAD….
A video from Pat McCurdy and Banshee for the '10 Packers fan anthem, "We Love the Green and Gold."
CHANNEL SURF….
DIY Network has partnered with MLB Network for the baseball-themed “Turf Wars” at 8:00pm ET. The net’s Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac will help two St. Louis families design the best Cubs and Cardinals-themed backyards.
HEADLINERS….
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "Late Show" | Taylor Swift |
| "Tonight Show" | Robert Downey Jr. |
| "Late Late Show" | Danny DeVito |
| "Late Night" | Joan Rivers |
| "Jimmy Kimmel Live" | John Stamos |
DAILY DIGIT….
84 – Number of international players from 38 countries and territories on NBA team rosters at the start of the season, a new league record. The NBA at the end of the '09-10 season featured 79 international players, and the number was 45 for the '00-01 season (NBA).
NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….
2005
"He became the anchor to draw the Nets, the Devils, all the hotels, retail and office parks built around the stadium. He legitimized everything. It wasn’t a popular decision for him to make at the time, but it put us over the top" – Then-acting New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey, following the death of NFL Giants Owner Wellington Mara, who in '76 decided to move the team to New Jersey.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at: pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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