| • | New Orleans Submitting Proposal To Host 2013 Super Bowl |
| • | Franklin American Mortgage To Title Sponsor Music City Bowl |
| • | NCAA Tourney Games In Indy Could See Late Rush For Tickets |
| • | NFLPA Formally Notifies Agents Of Changes In "Junior Rule" |
NEW ORLEANS TODAY SENDING PROPOSAL TO NFL TO HOST ’13 SUPER BOWL
The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Saints today are “expected to send their proposal to host the 2013 Super Bowl to the NFL.” With the Saints’ current lease for the Superdome expiring after the '10 season, SMG Regional VP Doug Thornton said that “if a new lease isn’t in place, the Super Bowl bid would be rescinded.” But Saints and Louisiana officials have said that such a “scenario isn’t likely” and that they are “confident a deal will get done” (NOLA.com, 3/26).
FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE INKS NAMING RIGHTS DEAL WITH MUSIC CITY BOWL
Franklin American Mortgage has agreed in principle to a four-year deal to title sponsor the Music City Bowl starting in ’10. Gaylord Hotels, whose title sponsorship expires at the end of the year, will continue to “serve as a major sponsor for the bowl through 2010 and possibly beyond.” Music City Bowl Exec Dir
Scott Ramsey said that the bowl this summer would begin talks with SEC and ACC officials “in an effort to extend the tie-ins with both" through '13 (
Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/27).
LAST-MINUTE TICKET SALES EXPECTED FOR MIDWEST REGIONAL GAMES
More than 31,500 tickets have been sold for this weekend's NCAA men's basketball tournament Midwest Regional games at Lucas Oil Stadium (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/27). The fact two of the teams in the region – Michigan State and Louisville – are an "easy drive away," plus the "novelty of this being the first NCAA tournament action" at the venue, could drive late interest in ticket sales. The average price of a ticket on StubHub is about $200, down from $259 for last year's event (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/27).
Meanwhile, with Louisville set to play Arizona tonight, Louisville city tourism organizers today had planned to project "red-tinged laser images and messages on the sides of Downtown buildings" in Indianapolis. But Indy officials shut down the plans as “outdoor advertising signs are not permitted in the city’s central business district” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/27).
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ARE THIRD LIMIT IN NEW NFLPA "JUNIOR RULE"
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
The NFLPA has sent a notification to all contract agents informing them that the “Junior Rule” had been amended so that they now can speak to underclassmen after December 1, their last regular-season game or conference championship game, whichever is later. Sources had previously told SportsBusiness Journal that underclassmen's bowl game, not the conference championship game, would be one of the limits.
This change “now allows contract advisors to communicate with certain underclassmen as much as six weeks earlier than they would have otherwise been permitted to do so under the previous ‘Junior Rule,’” the memo stated.
GARY BETTMAN, RENE FASEL DISCUSS NHL’S PARTICIPATION IN OLYMPICS
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and IIHF President Rene Fasel Thursday at Sportaccord in Denver “had a frank and sometimes heated exchange that underscored the difficult negotiations ahead for the NHL to remain part of the Olympics.” Fasel said he would “work day and night” to have NHL players participating in the ’14 Sochi Games. But Bettman countered, “We shut down our season for two weeks to 17 days and there is a momentum to our season that is lost.”
Bettman added that the league has “invested a lot in the Olympics but is seeing diminishing returns, particularly when the Games are staged outside the U.S. and Canadian time zones.” Bettman also “scolded the IOC for not allowing the NHL to at least promote its participation” (REUTERS, 3/27).
LOCAL OFFICIALS VOICE SUPPORT FOR LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT AT RALLY
A rally last night near Nassau Coliseum in support of Islanders Owner Charles Wang's proposed $3.7B Lighthouse Project drew a crowd of more than 1,000 and an "array of local politicians." Nassau County Exec Thomas Suozzi offered a "vote of support," arguing that if Lighthouse "isn't approved, there won't be sufficient funding to rehabilitate the Coliseum – making it hard for the Islanders to remain." Wang and RXR Realty Chair & CEO Scott Rechler were in attendance (NEWSDAY, 3/27).
SHAHAR PEER INVITED TO PLAY IN NEXT YEAR'S DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Israeli-born tennis player Shahar Peer has been "extended an invitation to play" in next year's Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Dubai Tennis Championships. The United Arab Emirates denied Peer a visa to play in the '09 event last month, causing an int’l controversy. Peer said that the "world's reaction to the slight showed she was in the right." Peer: "I achieved what I wanted to achieve. The world stepped up and showed its power" (PALM BEACH POST, 3/27).
YAHOO SPORTS PROMOTING FANTASY OFFERINGS WITH EVENT IN FLORIDA
By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
Yahoo Sports this afternoon will hold a promotional event in Ybor City, Florida, with Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira to promote its fantasy baseball products. Teixeria will host an “old school versus new school” stickball competition between members of the Florida Stickball League that are all retirees and transplants from the N.Y. area. Teixeira is Yahoo's fantasy spokesperson for '09.
HOCKEY CANADA AWAITING FINAL IOC APPROVAL OF REDESIGNED LOGO
Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson said that the organization’s “fifth version of a modified … logo and jersey design has been approved by the Canadian Olympic Committee and has been submitted” to the IOC for final consent. The crest on the jersey is reportedly “similar to the one used in past Olympics, with a large Maple Leaf but no player silhouette” (VANCOUVER SUN, 3/27).
SPEED READS….
 |
Reds Offering $5 Single Game Tickets For
Every Game This Season Except Opening Day |
The Reds have announced that the team is offering $5 single game tickets this season, which will be available for every game except Opening Day. The team also unveiled several value-priced concession items at
Great American Ball Park (
Reds).
The Red Sox and Fenway Park concessionaire Aramark announced that prices for all menu items available last year will be held at '08 levels this season, marking the ballpark's first concession price freeze since '02 (Red Sox).
Talladega Superspeedway announced that the regular $70 Sunday infield admission price has been reduced to $40 for the April 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 (Talladega Superspeedway).
Puma today releases its limited edition v1.815 Ferrari Soccer Boot worldwide. Only 100 pairs of the performance soccer cleat, which will retail for $349.99, will be available in the U.S. (Puma).
The Chicago City Council as early as today will consider an agreement signed by Chicago 2016 "guaranteeing some economic benefits" of the '16 Games bid "would go to minorities and resident groups" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/27).
QUICK HITS….
"I’ve been more concerned about finding out if this is something I really want to get involved in. … When the appropriate time comes up, I might do something" – MLB Rangers President Nolan Ryan, on considering buying a minority ownership stake in the team from Owner Tom Hicks (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/27).
“You have to be realistic. They’ve tried to do neutral courts and it hasn’t worked out yet for the women” – Univ. of Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese, on the NCAA this season hosting NCAA Tournament games at 16 predetermined sites (AP, 3/27).
“We respect the tradition of the game. We’re just trying to do our job. … We think this would add to the mystique and the rivalry” – Atlanta Sports Council President Gary Stokan, on wanting to host the Georgia-Florida football game once every four years at the Georgia Dome (ATLANTA CONSITUTION, 3/27).
"Clearly there's a huge demand for those seats and they're sold out perpetually, so we thought we could go ahead and charge a slightly higher price" – Texans President Jamey Rootes, on the club raising '09 ticket prices by an average of 3.7% (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 3/27).
“I love the NCAA tournament. It’s a pleasure to see these young college kids passing something other than a joint, isn’t it?” – ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 3/26).
TODAY’S EVENTS….
The 6th annual Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME '09) career conference begins in DC. The event, which runs through tomorrow, will include participation from over 100 int'l brands.
Former NFLer Jerry Rice is one of the instructors at the DeBartolo Football Festival, which runs today through Sunday at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose. The event is an offshoot of former 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo's sports agency.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The Washington Post Co. Thursday said that “it is offering buyouts to an undisclosed number of staffers at its flagship newspaper.” Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth said the paper “may have to resort to layoffs if it can’t meet its targets” from the buyouts (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/27).
THE BACK PAGES….
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
| | | |
| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News | Newsday |
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Boston Herald |
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “16th Century Thinkers.”
“In 1517 he wrote, ‘The treasures of indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the wealth of men.’”
LAUGH TRACK….
THE MONOLOGUES:
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Folks, I have been thinking about this for a long time. I have been working on this. I have a plan to end the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's what we do. We bring all our soldiers home. We send in our investment bankers. They'll screw up the place in six months. … As you may know, President Obama has made his prediction for the Final Four. He made his prediction today. The only ones left standing after next week will be Citigroup, Chase, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. … The economy is so bad, the Jolly Green Giant and Sprout have moved in together, civil union. It is so bad, on ‘Sesame Street,’ they won't even talk about the letters ‘a,’ ‘i’ or ‘g’ anymore. That's how bad. … People are outraged that the Federal government will no longer buy American-made condoms from a company in Alabama. The government is now going to go with cheaper condoms made in China and listen to this: It turns out these Chinese condoms are made by the same company that makes those Chinese finger handcuffs. … According to Playboy magazine, some studies say that Viagra might cure jetlag. I don't know. You want to use Viagra to fight off jetlag, huh? I don't even like when the beverage cart bangs me in the knee, okay? I can't imagine, and what if other guys on the plane start using it? You don't want to be in that aisle seat when the guy gets up and starts rummaging through the overhead bin. It’s being reported that Michael Jackson has now threatened the company that’s auctioning off thousands of items from the Neverland Ranch. He told the auctioneers that there was going to be bloodshed. If there’s one thing that sends a chill down your spine, it’s the threat of violence from Michael Jackson” (“Tonight Show,” NBC, 3/26).
CBS’ “Late Show” was a rerun due to the net’s NCAA tournament coverage.
FINAL JEOPARDY….
“Who was Martin Luther?”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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