In Detroit, JC Reindl reports Huntington Bank has "signed up to be the latest corporate sponsor" for the new Little Caesars Arena. The bank is "now the fourth 'Landmark'-level sponsor for the new basketball and hockey arena" under a multi-year agreement announced yesterday. Huntington also "becomes the official consumer banking partner" of the Red Wings and gains "ATM exclusivity" at the Legends Club and within the northwest entrance area (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/21).
TRAVEL TIME: In Seattle, Geoff Baker writes under the header, "Monorail Could Play Key Role In Easing Traffic If KeyArena Is Renovated For NBA, NHL Use." Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke said, "The Monorail is a great, unused opportunity. Because the fact is, we do have light rail that connects to this particular arena." Leiweke added that his group "has explored building the cost of a Monorail ride into a game ticket." The proposed Sodo arena site is a "10-minute walk from the nearest light rail station." So, those travel times at KeyArena "appear negligible compared to Sodo as long as the Monorail’s capacity can handle it" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/20).
PAIR IT DOWN: In Charlotte, Katherine Peralta reports Charlotte Motor Speedway is "removing some lower-demand seating areas and suites." CMS' parent company, SMI, also said that it will "start offering 'premium hospitality and entertainment activities' at the track." It is also "considering installing solar panels at the Concord track as part of its 'green initiatives,' after the seat 're-purposing' project." CMS VP/Communications Scott Cooper said that the speedway "would contact any fans who hold tickets for events that might be impacted if their seats are removed" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/21).
OVERDUE RETIREMENT: In Columbia, Dwayne McLemore noted Sunday's Women's NCAA Tournament game between South Carolina and Arizona State "was the last one" for Colonial Life Arena's video board. Univ. of South Carolina Senior Associate AD/Marketing & Branding Eric Nichols called it a "fossil of a video board." The change is part of South Carolina's "new 10-year deal signed in September with IMG as the exclusive multimedia rights holder" for the school's athletics (Columbia STATE, 3/20).
