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2009 Year In Review

Timeline

Jan. 1
 With MLB Commissioner Bud Selig calling it the ultimate television destination for baseball, MLB Network goes on the air with an estimated reach of 50 million households.
Jan. 2
 San Diego Padres owner John Moores and his wife, Becky, reach an agreement in principle to sell the club to a group led by former Arizona Diamondbacks general partner and CEO Jeff Moorad. Sources value the deal at more than $400 million.
Jan. 6
 The New York Yankees introduce free agent acquisition Mark Teixeira and again defend their historic offseason player spending that surpassed $423 million in future salary commitments.
Jan. 7
 U.S. Olympic Committee partner The Home Depot says it is ending its sponsorship of the Olympics and Paralympics. The company had sponsored the U.S. Olympic team since 1992.
Jan. 8
 Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Boston Ventures-owned Petty Holdings agree to form a new racing organization that will field three full-time Sprint Cup cars and one part-time entry in the 2009 NASCAR season.
Jan. 13
 The ATP World Tour and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour launch TennisTV.com, the new official live streaming Web site of the two tours.
Jan. 20
 Miami Dolphins co-owner Stephen Ross closes on his purchase of an additional 45 percent stake in the team from co-owner Wayne Huizenga as part of a $1.1 billion deal that gives Ross a 95 percent share in the team.
Jan. 23
 Tribune Co. selects the family of Tom Ricketts, founder and CEO of Chicago-based investment banking firm Incapital Holdings, as the favored bidder to buy the Cubs, Wrigley Field and a 25 percent stake in Comcast SportsNet Chicago for $845 million.
Feb. 2
 Doritos wins USA Today’s Super Bowl Ad Meter, ending Anheuser-Busch’s 10-year run.
Feb. 7
 The English Premier League announces a record television deal that will be worth almost $2.7 billion over three years. The deal grants United Kingdom television rights to the 2010-11 season through the 2012-13 campaign. BSkyB obtains five of the six broadcast packages. Setanta Sports wins a single package.
Feb. 10
 Live Nation and Ticketmaster unveil a deal to merge in an attempt to create what would be the most powerful company in the live-music business.
Feb. 11
 Golf Channel and the LPGA agree to a 10-year partnership that will make the network the exclusive cable home of the LPGA beginning in 2010. Terms were not disclosed.
Feb. 17
 Tennis Channel decides to not televise the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships to protest the United Arab Emirates ’ refusal to grant an entry visa to player Shahar Peer, an Israeli citizen.
Feb. 20
 Tiger Woods announces that he will return to competition after an eight-month layoff to compete in the following week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
 The Sports Museum of America, a $93 million for-profit museum in New York City that opened in May 2008, shuts down.
Feb. 27
 Wachovia will not put its name on the PGA Tour tournament it sponsors in Charlotte. The move comes as banks face criticism over their marketing spending at a time when they are receiving federal bailout money.
March 2
 CBS College Sports Network expands its reach to more than 30 million subscribers after reaching a deal with DirecTV that will see the network move to the Choice Xtra package.
March 12
 The NFL decides to keep Westwood One as its radio partner, agreeing to a two-year deal worth more than $30 million in guaranteed money. Westwood has held the NFL’s radio rights for 29 of the past 31 years.
March 15
 DeMaurice Smith is elected as the new NFLPA executive director during a vote in Hawaii, as players opt to be led by an attorney from outside the sports industry.
March 19
 Wasserman Media Group’s Sportnet merges with GrindTV to create a digital network of action sports Web sites that collectively claims more than 10 million monthly visitors. The new company will be known as Sportnet.
March 20
 MLS awards expansion franchises to Portland and Vancouver, to begin play in 2011.
March 23
 DirecTV renews its deal to serve as the NFL’s exclusive satellite carrier through 2014. Sources value the deal at $1 billion a year.
March 24
 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Chairman and CEO Larry Scott announces he will leave the organization to become commissioner of the Pac-10 Conference, effective July 1.
March 29
 Women’s Professional Soccer kicks off its inaugural season.
March 30
 The International Olympic Committee and USOC reach a two-part agreement that will see the USOC pay more for its participation in the Olympic Games and enter into a discussion in 2013 to draft a new revenue-sharing agreement with the IOC.
 Fox Soccer Channel outbids ESPN to win the U.S. rights to the UEFA Champions League, giving the soccer network one of the most coveted international assets in the sport. Financial terms are not disclosed.
 Ohio State University awards its marketing and media rights to IMG College for a guaranteed $110 million over 10 years, making it the richest annual rights fee ever given to a university.
March 31
 HOK Sport is now Populous, the new name chosen after the practice’s buyout and separation from HOK Group in St. Louis.
 The University of Kentucky introduces John Calipari as its new coach, signing him to an eight-year, $31.65 million deal that will make Calipari the highest-paid men’s basketball coach in the NCAA.

April 3
 The new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are ready to make their debut, with the New York Yankees playing host to the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets welcoming the Boston Red Sox in exhibition play.
April 7
 AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami and Philips Arena (below) in Atlanta become the first venues in the NBA and NHL to earn the LEED certification for their steps to reduce their effect on the environment.
April 9
 AVP Chairman, CEO and Commissioner Leonard Armatoresigns from his positions and will become a special adviser to the tour.
April 10
 The Kansas City Royals unveil the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium in a game against the Yankees. The $250 million project added a variety of fan amenities, ranging from a party deck to a section that offers inexpensive, general admission seats.
April 16
 NFL analyst and Pro Football hall of famer John Madden retires from broadcasting.
April 20
 The AVP has a new lead investor in RJSM Partners, which is moving from a minority partner to taking over controlling interest in the volleyball tour.
April 23
 NASCAR announces that it will move its Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week festivities to Las Vegas. The event had been held in New York City since 1981.
April 30
 The New Orleans Saints reach a tentative agreement with the state of Louisiana on a Superdome lease that will keep the franchise in New Orleans through 2025.
May 4
 The Miami Dolphins say they are close to a stadium naming-rights deal with Land Shark Lager, a joint project of Anheuser-Busch and musician Jimmy Buffett.
May 5
 BBDO, New York, resigns as the NFL’s lead creative agency after a three-year run.
May 6
 In a sign of how the economy is forcing college sports programs to tighten their belts and reduce costs, the ACC says its 2010 baseball championship will be held at the 7,499-seat NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C., instead of Fenway Park as originally planned.
May 7
 Los Angeles Dodgers left-fielder Manny Ramirez becomes the most famous player to be suspended under the drug policy implemented by MLB in 2004, receiving a 50-game ban.
May 14
 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes that the state sell some of its assets, including Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, to raise cash amid the state’s growing fiscal crisis.
May 17
 The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club debuts the new retractable roof on Centre Court during an exhibition doubles match featuring Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf against Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters.
May 19
 NFL Network and Comcast finalize a carriage deal that will add 10 million homes to the network’s distribution.
 NFL owners select New Orleans to host Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.
May 20
 Santa Clara officials sign off on the parameters of a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to build a 68,500-seat stadium in South Bay.
May 21
 The New England Patriots unveil plans to develop the first licensed NFL instant ticket in a partnership with the Massachusetts State Lottery, just days after league owners voted to allow teams to partner with lotteries across the country. Several other NFL teams soon follow suit.
June 1
 The Phoenix Mercury becomes the first WNBA franchise to sell advertising space on its team uniform. The three-year deal is with Arizona-based LifeLock.
June 2
 After 16 years of supporting Team USA , Bank of America is ending its longtime partnership with the USOC.
June 3
 Global insurance giant Aon Corp. is replacing fellow business-to-business insurer AIG as the jersey sponsor of Premier League club Manchester United. Sources put the four-year deal between $30 million and $32 million per year.
 Sports Properties Acquisition Corp. agrees to purchase the Florida Panthers, BankAtlantic Center, the team’s arena management company and land surrounding the arena for $240 million.
June 4
 NBC and the NHL are set to announce an extension to their broadcast relationship for another two years.
June 12
 General Motors is cutting its factory support of teams in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series as the automaker restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
June 15
 The Miami Heat, in a deal with Bacardi, becomes the first NBA team to take advantage of the league’s reversal of a longtime ban on courtside advertising by spirits brands.
June 16
 Timex reaches a 15-year partnership with the New York Giants that includes naming rights to the team’s new training facility and corporate headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J. Sources value the deal at $35 million over the length of the partnership.
June 21
 Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett reaches an agreement in principle to sell his 80.1 percent stake in the franchise, as well as complete control of Bell Centre and Gillett Entertainment Group, to a consortium headed by the Molson family.
June 22
  ESPN secures all Premier League rights in the U.K. previously owned by Setanta.
 Donald Fehr says he will step down as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, ending a 26-year run. He will be replaced by MLBPA general counsel Michael Weiner.

July 1
 Tony George relinquishes his role as CEO of the Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but will remain on the IMS board of directors.
July 8
 The USOC announces plans to launch an Olympic network in partnership with Comcast. However, the organization later delays the plan following concerns voiced by the IOC.
July 11
 Carolyn Bivens resigns as commissioner of the LPGA soon after a group of players asks her to step down.
July 13
 Stacey Allaster is named chairwoman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She had served as the tour’s president since 2006.
July 15
 A U.S. bankruptcy judge allows General Motors to shed dozens of sponsorships, freeing the automaker from spending millions on the deals.
July 17
 The Scottish Premier League agrees to a five-year, $105.9 million deal with Sky Sports and ESPN to show 60 live matches each season.
July 20
 IBM renews its U.S. Open tennis sponsorship in a four-year deal that will see IBM spend around $20 million in rights fees, advertising and back-office infrastructure through 2012.
July 24
 RadioShack announces that it is partnering with Lance Armstrong to form a new U.S.-based pro cycling team.
July 27
 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell lifts the indefinite suspension of quarterback Michael Vick, who completed a jail sentence on dog-fighting charges. Vick later signs with the Philadelphia Eagles.
July 28
 Soccer United Marketing announces a multiyear sponsorship with AT&T that makes the company the official communications services sponsor of the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams and MLS.
July 29
 The NBA confirms that beginning this season the league will allow teams to sell ads on their practice jerseys.
July 31
 Lowe’s decides not to renew its naming-rights deal at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after this year, ending an 11-year relationship that began as the first racetrack naming-rights sponsorship.
Aug. 3
 The Orlando Magic and Amway Global sign a 10-year, $40 million naming-rights deal for the team’s new arena. The $480 million Amway Center is scheduled to open in October 2010.
 The PGA Tour announces that Buick has withdrawn its backing of the Buick Open in Michigan and the Buick Invitational in San Diego, ending the automaker’s 51-year relationship with the tour.
Aug. 4
 The AFL suspends operations indefinitely after its board of directors fails to reach any consensus on restructuring the league.
Aug. 13
 The IOC’s executive board recommends adding golf and rugby sevens for the 2016 Summer Games.
Aug. 18
 The NFL and NBC Sports announce a two-year extension of their broadcast partnership through 2013. Sources say the network’s rights fees will jump about 2 percent from the current approximately $600 million annual payment.
Aug. 19
 The Minnesota Vikings sell more than 3,000 season tickets and 10,000 single-game tickets in the 24 hours since news breaks that quarterback Brett Favre will sign with the team.
Aug. 26
 The IOC promises to help bail out the Vancouver organizing committee if the group fails to balance its operating budget by the time the 2010 Olympics conclude. It is believed to be the first time the IOC has made such a move.
Aug. 30
 The NHLPA executive committee votes to remove Paul Kelly as executive director.
Sept. 4
 EA Sports says it has no plans to renew its license to produce exclusive NASCAR video games once the deal expires at the end of the year. The NASCAR partnership began in 1997.
Sept. 10
 Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing announce they have signed a letter of intent to merge operations for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The four-car team will race Fords under the RPM banner.
 Cablevision says it will launch a cable channel dedicated to high school sports later in the month that will be exclusive to Cablevision customers.
Sept. 20
 The Dallas Cowboys draw 105,121 fans for the first regular-season game at their new stadium, marking the largest regular-season crowd in NFL history.
Sept. 21
 The NBA officially notifies the National Basketball Referees Association that it has declared a lockout of the referees. The league uses replacement referees in the preseason but reaches a new labor deal with the NBRA in time for the start of the regular season.
Sept. 23
 The New Jersey Nets announce the sale of a majority interest in the team to Russia-based Onexim Group, run by investor Mikhail Prokhorov. Onexim will invest $200 million for 80 percent of the Nets franchise along with a 45 percent stake of the proposed new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
 The College Football Hall of Fame announces it will move from South Bend, Ind., to Atlanta.
Sept. 28
 Details are announced for a new indoor football league called Arena Football 1, with select markets of both the shuttered AFL and the af2 to be part of the league. AF1 plans to begin play in April 2010.
Sept. 29
 The New York Yankees and the Big East and Big 12 conferences announce a partnership for a new college football bowl game at Yankee Stadium, set to begin next season.

Oct. 1
 The Minnesota Vikings announce that Mall of America will title the Metrodome field for the next three years.
Oct. 2
 Rio de Janeiro wins the right to host the 2016 Olympics, following a first-round vote that eliminated Chicago, a second-round vote that eliminated Tokyo, and a final vote that eliminated Madrid.
Oct. 5
 ESPN earns a 15.3 cable rating and 21.839 million viewers for the “Monday Night Football” game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, marking the highest rating ever on ESPN and the most-viewed program in cable TV history.
Oct. 7
 IMG, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees say they are partnering to offer personal seat licensing, premium seating and suite sales, and, eventually, concessions and merchandise services, to the college sports market.
Oct. 8
 The Las Vegas Locomotives defeat the California Redwoods 30-17 before a small crowd at Sam Boyd Stadium for the UFL’s inaugural game.
Oct. 19
 Staples announces it has extended its naming-rights agreement for the AEG-owned Staples Center. The company’s original 20-year naming-rights agreement will now be extended in perpetuity, marking the first lifetime naming-rights extension for a major-market arena.
Oct. 20
 The WNBA’s Detroit Shock announces plans to move to Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 22
 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill granting final approval to an NFL stadium proposal in City of Industry, allowing Majestic Realty Co. Chairman and CEO Ed Roski to proceed with his $800 million project as soon as he secures an NFL franchise.
Oct. 23
 The England Premier League reaches a three-year title sponsorship renewal with Barclays worth about $134.3 million.
Oct. 26
 ING finalizes an extension to continue as title sponsor of the New York City Marathon through the 2013 event.
Oct. 27
 The LPGA names Michael Whan its new commissioner.
 Longtime Olympic TOP sponsor Visa extends its partnership with the IOC through 2020. Meanwhile, the USOC and AT&T reach an agreement in which the company will stay on as the official telecommunications partner of Team USA through 2012.
Nov. 1
 The IndyCar Series is set to name Izod as its title sponsor beginning with the 2010 season in a deal expected to be worth $10 million annually.
Nov. 2
 A U.S. bankruptcy judge approves the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL, bringing to an end the team’s six-month bankruptcy proceedings. The league plans to run the team until a new owner can be found.
Nov. 10
 A breakaway group of six owners of United Soccer Leagues teams submits an application to the U.S. Soccer Federation for approval of a new, independent soccer league.
Nov. 11
 Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts is in advanced talks with Utah-based real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen about selling 49 percent of the MLS franchise.
Nov. 12
 International Speedway Corp. announces an agreement to sell its 676-acre parcel of property on Staten Island, N.Y., where it had hoped to build a racetrack. ISC bought the site for $114 million in 2004 but sold it to KB Marine Holdings for $80 million.
Nov. 16
 The Florida Panthers introduce Stuart Siegel and Cliff Viner as co-managing partners of the team. The two teamed up to take controlling interest from owner Alan Cohen.
Nov. 26
 The UFL lost roughly $30 million in its debut year, $6 million more than the league’s founders projected before the inaugural campaign began in October.
Nov. 27
 Tiger Woods is slightly injured after he crashes his car outside his home. The accident followed an apparent argument between Woods and his wife. The next weeks will see several women come forward claiming they have had relationships with the golfer.
Dec. 1
 The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board approves a $386 million project for a Hollywood Casino overlooking Kansas Speedway. Construction is expected to begin late next year, with an opening set for early 2012.
Dec. 3
 Comcast announces plans to buy control of NBC Universal from GE, a move that among other things will make Comcast a greater player in the sports media space.
Dec. 4
 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. signs a partnership to collaborate with FIFA licensee Global Brands Group to operate 2010 FIFA World Cup Official Event Stores in nearly all Wal-Mart retail markets worldwide.
Dec. 10
 Officials broker a deal to move the New Jersey Nets from the Izod Center to the Prudential Center.
Dec. 11
 The NHL signs a letter of intent to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to Ice Edge Holdings. The potential ownership group said that it plans to remain in Glendale but wants to be able to play five home games annually in Saskatoon. Sources close to the deal said that Ice Edge is expected to pay the league in the $140 million range.
— Timeline compiled from SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily archives

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