CSNBAYAREA.com’s Andy Dolich reported the 49ers are “closing in on a naming rights partner for their new stadium in Santa Clara.” Three companies reportedly are “in the hunt for a long term deal in the neighborhood of $12-14 million a year” (CSNBAYAREA.com, 4/9).
SWITCHING TO THE NEWCOMER: In Atlanta, Melissa Ruggieri reports the Gwinnett Center, which houses The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Convention Center and Performing Arts Center, will “switch to AXS Ticketing” after using Ticketmaster as its provider. The Gwinnett Center in March “entered into a partnership” with AEG, which owns AXS, that “will provide support services on both the facilities and ticketing sides of their business” (AJC.com, 4/10).
SECURITY FRONT: In Memphis, Kyle Veazey wrote the Grizzlies’ “new, stricter security measures” at FedExForum have “been in place for every game since the All-Star break.” Forum VP/Arena Operations Eric Granger “wants to make one thing clear: It's a mandate of the NBA, which has asked all of its arenas to comply this year -- and into the future, too.” Granger said that the NBA “told him there was no specific intelligence that prompted the crackdown, but the league is taking extra measures not just to protect fans, but players, too” (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 4/8).
SUGGESTION BOX: ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert wrote “cracking down harder on aggressive drunks in the stands” at NFL games would help the game-day experience. Perhaps a “hard-line, behavior-changing approach is in order for at least some stadiums.” Seifert: “Maybe obviously drunk and/or aggressive fans should get ejected, regardless of the degree to which they're disturbing others, until behavior changes” (ESPN.com, 4/9).
