Facility Notes

In S.F., Matier & Ross report the Warriors, under a ten-year, $30M arena naming-rights deal with Oracle, will have to “step up to help market the Oracle brand.” Also, the city of Oakland and Alameda County, which own the arena, “will have to pick up some of the marketing costs — including a luxury box for [Oracle CEO] Larry Ellison, new signs and promotional tickets.” There has been “speculation that Ellison may have a back-door deal with financially pressed Warriors [Owner] Chris Cohan for a cut of the team’s ownership.” But a source said, “There’s no handshake, wink or side deal –- it’s strictly a naming rights and sponsorship deal” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/25).

IFL Inks Revenue-Sharing Deal With William Morris Agency

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: In Boston, Scott Van Voorhis reports Delaware North Cos. has partnered with Empire Racing, a group that includes Magna Entertainment Corp. and Churchill Downs, “on a blockbuster bid to take control” of franchise to operate Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct horse tracks. Delaware North Exec VP Charlie Jacobs: “It’s an opportunity. We are horsemen first and foremost. That is our first love” (BOSTON HERALD, 10/25).

FIGHT CLUB: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Don Muret reports the Int’l Fight League (IFL) has signed a revenue-sharing contract with the William Morris Agency to book its events at arenas in ’07 and “explore media marketing opportunities.” IFL co-Founder & CEO Gareb Shamus said that WMA is “limited to booking IFL dates in the 32 states where mixed martial arts is now licensed” (SBJ, 10/23 issue).