Coast to Coast

ANN ARBOR, MICH.
Michigan, MSU to play outdoor hockey
The University of Michigan and Michigan State University reached a deal to play an outdoor hockey game at Michigan Stadium during the 2010-11 season, according to a report in the Ann Arbor News. Michigan reportedly considered no other opponents for the game, including the University of Wisconsin, whom Michigan agreed to play at Camp Randall Stadium on Feb. 6, 2010.

The 2009 game was the last of 30
consecutive Pro Bowls at Aloha Stadium.

BALTIMORE
Ravens bulk up Web offerings
The Baltimore Ravens deployed Sitecore’s Web content management system as the digital framework to engage and expand its fan base. Fans can interact and stay up to date via blogs, forums, video highlights and constant in-game and postgame updates.

CALGARY
RBC to present Stephen Ames Cup
RBC signed a four-year deal to become the presenting sponsor and official bank of the Stephen Ames Cup, a match-play event the golfer hosts each summer for teenagers from Canada and Trinidad & Tobago. The junior teams alternate playing host to the tournament. This year, the fifth annual Stephen Ames Cup will be in the Calgary region Aug. 17-20.

The Houston Rockets and New Jersey
Nets are freezing or reducing
season-ticket prices.

TICKETS NEWS Wrigley ‘rooftop’ has season ticket Skybox on Sheffield, one of the rooftop venues outside Wrigley Field, is offering season-ticket packages for the first time in its 16-year history, according to a report in the (Illinois) Daily Herald. Skybox is selling 12-game packages, which start at $145 per person per game and allow buyers to choose two games a month without restrictions, according to the report. Avalanche offers installment plan The Colorado Avalanche will not increase prices for any seat next season and is offering some lower-bowl seats at the Pepsi Center for $24.63 a game for the 2009-10 season, according to a report in The Denver Post. The Avalanche also will allow season-ticket holders to pay in 10 monthly installments, according to the report. Nets add hardship ticket option The New Jersey Nets are not raising any season-ticket prices for 2009-10, and they will lower the cost for most seat locations and provide an extended payment plan. The Nets also are offering qualified season-ticket holders who lose their income before the 2009-10 season the opportunity to receive a refund for their ticket purchase. Rockets cut prices by 20 percent The Houston Rockets are freezing or reducing season-ticket prices for 98 percent of tickets for the 2009-10 season, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle. Prices for more than 20 percent of tickets currently selling for between $22 and $200, with most in the $40 to $200 range, will be reduced, with some prices cut by roughly 20 percent, according to the report. Cardinals freeze uppers, raise lowers The Arizona Cardinals are keeping upper-level season-ticket prices for next season at the same levels as last season (from $25 to $92.50 a game), but will raise prices for lower-level season tickets. Season tickets that were $60 a game last season will rise to $63; $70 seats will be $73.50; and $92.50 seats will increase to $97.50. Coyotes enhance seat selection process The Phoenix Coyotes teamed up with Seats3D developer Ballena Technologies to build a 3-D seating chart of Jobing.com Arena. Fans can see the view of the ice from any seat in the arena, from seating sections to luxury boxes, before purchasing tickets. Walgreens offers LPGA discount The J Golf Phoenix LPGA International is running a promotion with Phoenix-area Walgreens stores to sell tickets to the March 26-29 event at a 20 percent discount. The discount also is available to those buying and printing tickets at the tournament Web site. Regular prices for daily tickets are $20 each and weekly passes are $75.

CLEVELAND
Cavs site attracts record traffic
The Cleveland Cavaliers Web site has generated record-breaking traffic this season. In February, there were more than 2 million visits, marking the most ever in a single month. The 2,024,059 visits represented a 13 percent increase over February of 2008.

CONCORD, N.C.
Track to open ‘50 Years of Firsts’
Lowe’s Motor Speedway will open an interactive display at the track on May 4 to kick off its 50th season celebration, according to a report in The Charlotte Observer. The 50 Years of Firsts display will cover more than 17,000 feet and will be open during the same hours as the track’s ticket office, according to the report. Admission is free.

DENVER
ABC station sponsoring rugby facility
Denver’s ABC affiliate, KMGH-TV, signed as the media sponsor for 2009 for the city of Glendale’s Infinity Park Rugby Stadium. The sports complex, which opened in 2007 and seats 5,000, is the first municipally owned rugby stadium in the United States.

HONOLULU
Pro Bowl returning in 2011
The NFL Pro Bowl will return to Honolulu in 2011 and 2012. The Hawaii Tourism Authority voted 9-1 to pay the NFL $4 million for each game. Board chairman Kelvin Bloom said the NFL has “heard the concerns of the board” that the annual all-star game be a success. Bloom said the NFL would decide within 30 days of the 2010 Pro Bowl in Miami whether to continue holding the game a week before the Super Bowl.

MILWAUKEE
Brewers to offer dollar menu
The Milwaukee Brewers are planning to implement a $1 menu concession stand this season at Miller Park, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The team is reportedly still working out the details with Sportservice, its concessionaire.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST-PAUL
A-B, Twins extend long-term deal
Anheuser-Busch signed a renewal of its long-term agreement to sponsor the Minnesota Twins, extending the deal through the team’s last season at the Metrodome and into its tenure at the new Target Field beginning in 2010. The deal includes a Budweiser-themed location within Target Field, as well as prominent marketing and advertising rights at the ballpark.

NEW ORLEANS
Superdome goes under the knife
In a process that began last month and is expected to last until April 2010, workers are replacing the entire outer layer of the Louisiana Superdome, according to a report in The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune. The $19 million project was financed by $7 million from FEMA and $12 million from a 2007 Louisiana state capital outlay bill.

SPARTA, KY.
Meijer on track with speedway events
Kentucky Speedway locked up a renewal with Meijer to title sponsor the track’s two biggest events: the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in June and the IndyCar Series event in August. The IndyCar race will include Meijer brands Red Baron pizza and Edy’s ice cream as presenting sponsors, while Ritz will serve as presenting sponsor of the Nationwide race. 

ST. LOUIS
Dobbs renews Gateway sponsorship
St. Louis-based Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, a promotional partner at Gateway International Raceway since 2006, signed an agreement to continue its relationship with the motorsports facility through 2011 as the track’s exclusive tire and auto center.