The 49ers yesterday announced that Violin Memory will sponsor their new stadium in Santa Clara as a Founding Partner. The long-term deal makes the California-based company the team's exclusive data storage provider at the new venue, as well as for the remainder of the club's tenure in Candlestick Park. The company also gains exclusive branding in the new stadium's suite tower. Violin becomes the second announced founding partner for the stadium, following San Jose-based Brocade (49ers).
UNLEASH A JAGUAR: In Jacksonville, Timothy Gibbons reported after "rejecting a protest from incumbent facility manager SMG, a Jacksonville City Hall committee has picked Global Spectrum to run the city’s entertainment facilities." Yesterday's unanimous decision by the Professional Services Evaluation Committee "now goes to Mayor Alvin Brown." This decision "sets up a possible conflict" with the Jaguars, as the team has said that it "wants SMG to keep the job," which includes managing EverBank Field. Immediately after the selection was made around 4pm ET, Jacksonville Chief Financial Officer Ronnie Belton said that he "would be calling the team 'ASAP' to discuss next steps." The city’s lease with the team says that the facility manager "must be selected jointly" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 8/15).
SETTING UP CAMP: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said that the team continues "to evaluate potential sites in Richmond" for their '13 training camp. He added that team GM Bruce Allen "was in Richmond last week evaluating those sites, but no decision has been made on any of them." Shanahan: "In talking to Bruce, they've got three or four potential sites and he feels very confident that we'll get something done, and get it done the right way" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/16).
