Coast to Coast: Red Sox 'Won't Rest' in new campaign

ANAHEIM
Thousands kick off Angels’ 50th
About 6,000 people attended the Los Angeles Angels FanFest March 27 at Angel Stadium, according to a report in The Orange County Register. The event kicked off the club’s celebration of its 50th anniversary season.

DELAWARE NORTH SPORTSERVICE Overhauled store is ready for Opening Day.

BALTIMORE
Orioles open expanded team store
The Baltimore Orioles and new partner Delaware North Cos. Sportservice reopened the expanded Orioles Team Store on the first floor of the B&O Warehouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Sportservice added displays and restocked the store with a wider variety of merchandise, including designs exclusive to the ballpark.

BOSTON
Sox, Absolut continue clubhouse co-op
The Boston Red Sox and Absolut Vodka will continue to operate the Absolut Clubhouse at Fenway Park this season, the fifth year of the agreement. The space will serve as a private venue before, during and after home games. Absolut will also serve as the official vodka of Fenway Park and will help celebrate the venue’s 100th anniversary in 2012.

Sox ‘Won’t Rest’ in ad campaign
The Red Sox launched an ad campaign for the 2011 season called “We Won’t Rest.” The campaign includes TV, print and online ads. Locally based Conover Tuttle Pace worked on the campaign.

Pierce’s suite up for grabs
Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce is placing 12 tickets to his personal luxury suite up for grabs when the Celtics take on New York on April 13 at TD Garden. The winner will be chosen through an online raffle, with proceeds benefiting Pierce’s Truth on Health Campaign. Raffle tickets are $2, and the winner will be selected April 11.

CLEVELAND
Indians get social, open suite
The Cleveland Indians launched the club’s social media strategy for the 2011 season. The team plans to offer increased access to members of the organization via social media platforms and interactive events. New for 2011 will be the Indians Social Suite, an entire suite at Progressive Field catering to social media users.

Indians Volunteer Challenge returns
The Indians are bringing back Indians Volunteer Challenge, their successful community outreach program. Through a partnership between the team and Business Volunteers Unlimited, volunteers performed 26,376 hours of service in Northeast Ohio during 2010, the inaugural year of the program.

FORT WAYNE, IND.
TinCaps go 3-D for opening night
The Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, are partnering with Punch Films to bring 3-D video to Parkview Field for opening night festivities on Thursday. The evening will feature several 3-D video board elements throughout the game. Every fan in attendance will receive a pair of 3-D glasses.

HOUSTON
Insperity names premium space
The new premium-seating area on the main concourse at Minute Maid Park has been named the Insperity Club, following a deal between the Houston Astros and locally based business consulting firm Insperity. The section is located behind home plate where the press box had previously been and will feature premium dining services by Houston chef Bryan Caswell.

PBR-themed bar opens
The Professional Bull Riders, in association with Bayou Place, Houston Lounge and The Cordish Cos., held the grand opening of the newest PBR-themed bar in Houston on March 25. Houston becomes the fourth themed location for the bull riding organization.

LOS ANGELES
Dodgers flying United in new deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers and United Airlines agreed to a new multiyear partnership. United, as the team’s official airline, will transport the team and staff for all road games. In addition, United will become the first title partner of the Dodgers Club suites and suite concourse at Dodger Stadium.

ORLANDO
Magic gala raises $850,000
The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation held the 21st annual Black Tie and Tennies Gala presented by Fairwinds Credit Union at Amway Center on March 19. The event generated more than $850,000 for the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. Magic players, coaches and fans participated in games, auctions, a dinner and awards.

GETTY IMAGES In the last five years, Flyers fans have seen a 5 percent increase in ticket prices.

PHILADELPHIA
Flyers ‘rescaling’ ticket prices
The Philadelphia Flyers are raising ticket prices for next season for almost every seat at Wells Fargo Center, including a more than 21 percent increase for six sections in the lower bowl, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News. The report quoted Comcast-Spectacor President and COO Peter Luukko: “We’re rescaling the house. Since the lockout [in 2004-05], we’ve increased ticket prices just 5 percent.”

Harrah’s, Union reach deal
The Philadelphia Union reached a multiyear agreement with Harrah’s Chester in Chester, Pa. Harrah’s Chester, two miles north of PPL Park, will be the official postgame party location after all Union home games. Harrah’s Chester also receives promotional branding rights within PPL Park.

Phillies testing new food waste system
The Philadelphia Phillies’ kitchen staff will be trying out a food decomposing system in a pilot program with BioHitech America of Allendale, N.J. The system is designed to divert food waste from taking up space in landfills. The pilot study is part of the Phillies’ “Red Goes Green” environmental awareness and clean energy program.

Soul, Riversharks team on tickets
The independent Atlantic League Camden Riversharks and the AFL Philadelphia Soul formed an alliance to help both teams sell tickets for their respective 2011 seasons. The teams’ “Sharks got Soul” package will feature four ticket vouchers to Riversharks games and four ticket vouchers for Soul games for $99.

PHOENIX
D’backs gala raises $1.25M
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ sold-out Evening on the Diamond event at Chase Field on March 26 raised $1.25 million to benefit the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. Since 2007, the event has raised $6.5 million for Arizona charity and nonprofit organizations.

SPARTA, KY.
Truck race gets collegiate title
The University of Northwestern Ohio signed as the title sponsor for the fall NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. The track will host the newly named UNOH 225 on Oct. 1. The speedway hosts another truck series event, the Kentucky 225, on July 7. The university is in Lima, Ohio, about three hours north of the track site.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.
Store gets ’Cuse treatment
Tops Friendly Markets renovated a store near the Syracuse University campus to take on the school’s Orange theme. SU’s orange and blue colors now prevail, along with a ’Cuse Café, life-sized photos of past athletes, and a mini SU basketball court, complete with the school logo and court markings.

SKIP MILOS / TAMPA BAY RAYS Team promoting interactive aspects in ‘Only.’

TAMPA
Rays tout ‘Only At The Ballpark’
The Tampa Bay Rays rolled out their 2011 season marketing campaign, which will include print, TV, radio, digital billboards and social media advertising, according to a report in the St. Petersburg Times. The ads, with the tag line “Only At The Ballpark,” aim to emphasize the fun of attending Rays games in person. Agency Piper Paul and Kenney of Tampa worked on the campaign.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Nats relaunch fan loyalty program
The Washington Nationals relaunched their fan loyalty effort, the Red Carpet Rewards Program, as an online amenity. Believed to be the first of its type in MLB, the new, Internet-based program was created through a partnership between the club, MLB Advanced Media and London-based customer management outfit Fortress GB.

Send your Coast to Coast news to: CoastToCoast@sportsbusinessjournal.com or phone (704) 973-1436.