Marketplace Roundup

Texans Lottery Tix Go On Sale Today

The Texans and the Texas Lottery have partnered for a Texans-themed scratch-off game, with tickets going on sale today at about 16,400 lottery dealers throughout the state. Cash prizes for the game range from $5 to $100,000 for a single winner. A second-chance drawing offers prizes of autographed Texans merchandise and a “Texans VIP Suite Package” to a ’09 or ’10 game (Texans).

HIGH ENERGY: In San Antonio, Buck Harvey examined the relationship between Valero Energy Corporation and local sporting events and wrote, "How many sports towns across America owe more to one corporate partner?" Valero is the title sponsor for the PGA Tour stop in San Antonio as well as the Alamo Bowl. The company also is a member of the Spurs ownership group. Valero's contract with the Alamo Bowl expires after this season's game, and "discussions for a new deal have begun." Only Spurs Owner Peter Holt "ranks higher among the most influential sports figures" in San Antonio (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/16).

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM: EPL club Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon said that the club has "inked an advertising and marketing deal" with China-based online betting service 188Bet. The service will use Chelsea players in advertisements and commercials in Asian countries, where Kenyon said betting has reached a "completely different level" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/17).

BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH: ATP World Tour player Andy Roddick said that he "dislikes using different tennis balls at different tournaments." Some events use Wilson balls, while others use Penn, and Roddick said, "I still think that we shouldn't be changing tennis balls midsummer. ... Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be priority on continuity throughout the U.S. Open Series as far as tennis balls go" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/16).

PLEASE PROCEED: The U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected the majority of arguments raised by Acushnet Co. on its appeal from a court ruling that the Titleist ProV1 brand of golf balls had infringed on patents owned by Callaway Golf (Callaway).