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Friday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Star Struck

  • Hornets Shift Focus To '19 After NBA Moves '17 All-Star Game
  • Swofford: NBA's All-Star Move Won't Impact ACC Championship Game
  • PGA Of America To Keep '17 PGA Championship In N.C. Despite HB2
  • NBA Kings President Granger Announces Philanthropic LIFT Initiative

Hornets Shift Focus To '19 After NBA Moves '17 All-Star Game

By John Lombardo

The NBA yesterday officially pulled the ’17 All-Star Game from Charlotte due to the controversial surrounding the state of North Carolina’s HB2. Hornets Exec VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Pete Guelli last night told THE DAILY the NBA from the beginning “said it was going to be problematic, but they wanted to do everything they could to keep the game here.” He said, “We were still hopeful, but at the same time we completely understood the NBA’s position. We have 29 other partners and we try to look at the decision from the big picture perspective. We support the league.”
 
The league indicated that it would bring the game back to Charlotte in ’19 if changes to the law are made. The '18 game is already scheduled for L.A. Guelli said, “We already have spoken to the league and they have made it clear that we will have every opportunity to host the game as long as the environment is conducive. We have spent a huge amount of human capital preparing for the game and hopefully we can apply some of it to the 2019 game.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte Observer cartoonist Kevin Siers offers his take on the situation:

Swofford: NBA's All-Star Move Won't Impact ACC Championship Game

ACC Commissioner John Swofford yesterday said that the NBA's decision to pull its All-Star Game from Charlotte "won't have any bearing on the ACC championship game's future at Bank of America Stadium." The conference in May "decided to keep the ACC championship game in Charlotte despite North Carolina House Bill 2." Swofford yesterdray said that conference officials would "revisit the discussion at their fall meetings in October." Swofford: "Whatever we do won't be because of what the NBA does. ... We'll do what we think is right and best for the Atlantic Coast Conference" (ESPN.com, 7/21).

The NCAA basketball tournament "has first- and second-round games scheduled for North Carolina" in '17 and '18, but has "given no indication that it might move them elsewhere" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/22).

PGA Of America To Keep '17 PGA Championship In N.C. Despite HB2

By John Lombardo

The NBA’s decision to pull the ‘17 All-Star Game out of Charlotte puts the spotlight on other major sporting events in North Carolina, including the ‘17 PGA Championship that will be held at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. The organization last night released a statement that read, "The PGA of America strongly opposes North Carolina HB2. It contradicts our commitment to create an inclusive and welcoming environment at our events. We remain hopeful that the law will be changed."

The statement continues, "Since the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte is a private facility not subject to all of the provisions of HB2, at the 2017 PGA Championship we plan to allow spectators to use the restroom that conforms with their gender identity or gender expression. As we look to future events, our willingness to consider coming back to the State of North Carolina will be severely impacted unless HB2 is overturned."

NBA Kings President Granger Announces Philanthropic LIFT Initiative

NBA Kings President Chris Granger in a special to the Sacramento Bee announced that the team is launching a new philanthropic initiative. Kings employees in the coming year will "give back 10,000 volunteer hours" with local nonprofits. As part of the LIFT initiative, the team is also launching Kings Give 50, "offering every employee the opportunity to do at least 50 volunteer hours a year while paid by the team." The team will start its first project today at the American River Parkway Foundation, where employees will "help clean up the river and rebuild a shade structure." Granger: "Sustainability initiatives such as this are an important part of our role in the community but also central to our business strategy" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/22).

Vikings To Cut Ribbon, Open Doors To U.S. Bank Stadium This Weekend

Several dignitaries will gather today "for a ribbon-cutting at U.S. Bank Stadium," and the $1.1B stadium tomorrow and Sunday will be "open to public tours as part of this weekend's grand opening." There are "several free events on the stadium plaza and in Commons Park," including "music acts, movies, a 3D artist, ferris wheel and more" (KARE11.com, 7/22).

In advance of the stadium's opening, local columnist Jim Souhan writes, "The place is spectacular." He added, "U.S. Bank Stadium might be the best venue in the NFL, and it makes the Metrodome by comparison seem like an old, frequently-stomped mushroom" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/22).

Rio Games Organizers Sell 100,000 Tickets In Less Than Five Hours

Rio Games organizers last night said that they “managed to sell 100,000 tickets for the upcoming games in less than five hours.” A last batch of 100,000 new tickets for the event “was put up for sale” yesterday, but organizers did not specify if the tickets sold “were all part of the new batch or if demand included tickets already in stock.” The batch made available yesterday “included tickets for several sports and for the opening ceremony on Aug. 5.” ROCOG said that some events, such as swimming and tennis, “already marked as sold out had added seats and were back on sale” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/22).

Saratoga Race Course Opens After Setting Business Records In '15

Saratoga Race Course starts its '16 season today, and while there is "no Triple Crown winner," many of the sport's "best horses, jockeys and trainers are expected for the 40-day season." Last year, when the sport had American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, Saratoga "broke wagering, merchandise, and food and beverage sales records" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/22). One new feature at the track this year will be the NYRA Bets Lounge, where guests will "have the opportunity to receive personal tutorials on the fundamentals and strategies of wagering from professional handicappers at this new attraction, which is open to everyone" (SARATOGIAN, 7/22).

Speed Reads....

Twitter has entered into a new digital media rights partnership with Campus Insiders, highlighted by the live streaming of more than 300 college football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, volleyball, field hockey, water polo and swimming events (THE DAILY).

The '16 MLS All-Star Game will be broadcast in Cuba for the first time (MLS).

F1 driver Nico Rosberg has "signed a contract extension with Mercedes that will take the current championship leader" through the '18 season (AP, 7/22).

The Sounders yesterday announced the launch of the RAVE foundation, the "new, official philanthropic branch of the organization whose mission is to build small, accessible soccer fields in urban areas" around Seattle (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/22).

College Notes....

The Univ. of Memphis yesterday said that its season-ticket sales are up nearly 18% from a year ago, a "reflection of the Tigers' recent success and continued improvements to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/22).

The Univ. of Tulsa for the first time in 20 years will "expand beer sales to include the general seating areas at its football games, starting with the Sept. 3 season opener against San Jose State" (TULSA WORLD, 7/22).

Utah, BYU, Utah State and Weber State yesterday announced "an annual alternating holiday basketball doubleheader at Vivint Smart Home Arena." The Jazz "essentially" brokered the deal, "bringing in a sponsor, and hosting the event" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/22).

Notre Dame unveiled "olive green" Under Armour uniforms with "gold gothic lettering" for its Nov. 12 Shamrock Series game in San Antonio against Army (SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, 7/22).

Quick Hits....

"The real foundations for growth are going to be in the development of American players, the domestic talent" – EPL club Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis, on how MLS can continue to grow (ESPNFC.com, 7/21).

"It’s a terrible (expletive) business. There ain’t no way we’re going to make money (on Saturday’s show)" – Top Rank Chair Bob Arum, on trying to sell this weekend's Terence Crawford-Viktor Postol bout in Las Vegas (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/21).

"Without knowing the specifics, I'm all for shorter games. I think games are too long. That's why kids don't watch baseball anymore" – Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira, on efforts by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to find ways to shorten games (NJ.com, 7/22).

"We’ve got some pretty savvy tech guys in our league, but they wanted to get a little deeper into it" – Warriors F Andre Iguodala, on the NBPA hosting its first technology summit (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/22).

"I guarantee we’re going to have a lockout next summer, there’s no doubt in my mind. First of all, this is business. These guys are billionaires. They're not going to let these players ruin their business" – TNT's Charles Barkley, on players in the NBA forming superteams and salaries escalating (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 7/21).

Morning Hot Reads: The Bold & The Beautiful

MMA JUNKIE examines WME-IMG's recent $4B purchase of UFC, noting the move "may be a bold and expensive one, but it also fits with a clear pattern the company has established in recent years." For fighters and fans "nervous about what the change in ownership ... might mean for the future of MMA? Those in the know suggest some reason for optimism."
 
Also:

Twitter Me This....

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

Today's Back Pages....

The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday   Boston HeraldPhiladelphia
Daily News

Spanning The Global....

The most-read Global stories today on SportsBusiness Daily:

1) CC Manchester Derby In Beijing Could Be Canceled Due To Bad Weather
2) Sam Allardyce's England Appointment Delayed By Haggling Over Compensation
3) League Championship side Wolverhampton Sold For Close To $60M To Chinese Group
4) Legal Dispute Delays Takeover Of EPL Side Swansea City By American Investors
5) Total Olympics Ban Likely After Russia's Athletics Appeal Rejected

Final Jeopardy!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Religion.”

“Letters mailed to ‘God, Jerusalem’ are placed in this alliterative landmark.”