IMG has "made its first genuine dent in the lucrative
naming-rights business by brokering" a deal to put the name
of PA-based phone company Hyperion Telecommunications on the
Titans' new stadium in Nashville, according to Andy
Bernstein of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, who writes that
sources "inside and outside IMG confirm" that the deal will
be announced in the "next several weeks." IMG has made an
"aggressive push" into the stadium naming-rights business by
"creating a dedicated" group to represent venues. IMG is
the sales agency of record for the Mets in their "new
stadium efforts and was recently selected" by RDV Sports to
sell naming rights to the Orlando Arena. IMG Stadium Group
VP Kevin Lovitt, who will "spearhead the group's consulting
functions," said that IMG will "structure its commissions at
the going market rate," which is between 3-8%. IMG's "chief
motorsports salesman," Denny Young, will "head sales" for
the group. In a sidebar, Bernstein adds that the Steelers,
who have retained IMG on a naming rights deal, "have
invited" NFLP to "join them at the bargaining table." This
marks the first time that NFLP execs "might actually sit at
the negotiating table and package in some of their own
inventory" in a name deal (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/14).
