CHARLOTTE
Bobcats tout $6.25 season ticket
The Charlotte Bobcats on June 5 ran a full-page ad in The Charlotte Observer touting 2011-12 season tickets starting at $6.25 per game. The ad also featured a promotion to buy two season tickets and get two free.
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GETTY IMAGES
Great American Ball Park stocks ballpark concession stands with Sargento products. |
CINCINNATI
Reds, Sargento sign sponsorship
The Cincinnati Reds signed a three-year sponsorship deal with cheesemaker Sargento Foods. Sargento sponsors the Cheesy Dance Cam once a game on the main scoreboard at Great American Ball Park. Its string cheese will be the featured snack in ballpark value meals during six July games.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
Pikes Peak event gets electric
The 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26 will feature two electric automobiles and one electric motorcycle among more than 200 competitors already registered. Japan’s Ikuo Hanawa, who won last year, returns in his Concept two-wheel drive 2010 Custom Summit HER-02.
FORT COLLINS, COLO.
CSU, Coke sign 10-year deal
Colorado State University signed a 10-year, $5.2 million deal with Coca-Cola, according to a report in the Greeley Tribune. The deal gives the university $40,000 for a new Beverage Management Institute with the College of Business, $100,000 a year in scholarships for water sustainability efforts, and opportunities to collaborate with universities in China, according to the report.
INDIANAPOLIS
Five Big Ten title games set
Indianapolis was selected by Big Ten Conference representatives to host the conference’s first five football title games. The city, which reportedly beat out a bid from Chicago for the games, already had been awarded the inaugural game, to be played Dec. 3. All five games will be played in prime time and broadcast on Fox.
JACKSONVILLE
Late stadium bills still disputed
City and Jacksonville Jaguars officials are trying to settle more than $500,000 in stadium bills that are up to three years old before Jacksonville changes mayors, according to a report in The Florida Times-Union. The team and the city have disagreed since 2008 about who was responsible for several expenses, including scoreboard operations, cleaning crews and trash removal, according to the report. Mayor-elect Alvin Brown takes office July 1, replacing John Peyton.
KANSAS CITY
Joplin drum line plays Kauffman
The Royal Thunder drum line, made up of students from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo., debuted at Kauffman Stadium during a Royals game on June 4 and is scheduled for six more appearances this season. After visiting parking lot tailgates, Royal Thunder will entertain fans at stadium gates and make its way to the field for pregame performances and an in-game segment after the fourth inning.
LOS ANGELES
Garvey adds Hershiser to group
Former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey added ESPN’s Orel Hershiser, also a former Dodger, to a prospective ownership group, according to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News. The reported goal of the group, now known as the Garvey-Hershiser Group, is to purchase the Dodgers if the team were to be put up for sale.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Twins team with Tix for Tots
The Minnesota Twins’ slow start on the field has hurt resale demand for tickets, but at least one organization is willing to take tickets for free for a good cause. The group is St. Paul-based Tix for Tots, which provides the tickets to youngsters who otherwise might not be able to attend a game. The Twins have set up a partnership with the organization so that season-ticket holders can donate unwanted tickets and get a tax break in return.
NEW YORK
Skate marathon series debuts July 30
Lifestyle brand Adrenalina plans to launch the four-city Adrenalina Skateboard Marathon World Tour in New York this summer. The race series will debut on Governors Island in New York on July 30, followed by events in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Aug. 28); Plano, Texas (Oct. 16); and Adrenalina’s hometown of Hallandale, Fla. (Nov. 5). The series is sanctioned and governed by the USA Distance Skateboard Association. Overall winners will share $30,000, including a grand prize of $15,000.
PHILADELPHIA
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PPL Park in Chester, Pa., averaged 18,099 fans at Union games through May, which is close to 98 percent capacity. |
Union starts season-ticket waiting list
With 2011 full-season-ticket plans no longer available, the Philadelphia Union launched a waiting list for 2012 full-season tickets. Nonrefundable waiting list deposits are $50 per seat, which can later be applied to season tickets if and when they become available.
Joe Frazier statue in the works
Former Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is helping lead a fundraising effort to finance a statue to honor Philadelphia boxer Joe Frazier. One potential location for the statue is at or near the Philly Live! entertainment and retail complex being built by Comcast-Spectacor and Baltimore-based Cordish Co. at the former Spectrum site in south Philadelphia.
Sixers start text club, contest
The Philadelphia 76ers are holding a contest where the winner will receive two tickets to the Sixers’ 2011 draftee press conference and will meet the team’s 2011 draft pick. The winner will be selected from among fans who register for the contest online, and those who register can join the team’s Sixth Man Text Club.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.
DD extends naming rights
Dunkin’ Donuts reached agreement with the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority to extend its naming rights to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for another 10 years, according to a report in The Providence Journal. Dunkin’ will pay $425,000 annually for naming rights, sponsorship and advertising for the downtown facility, according to the report.
SACRAMENTO
Here We Build coalition formed
A regional coalition assigned the task of finding a financing plan for a new downtown arena that would host the NBA Kings has been formed. Here We Build is a 60-member coalition made up of elected and nonelected officials from local, county and state government and leaders from business and labor.
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SEGWAY POLO CLUB OF BARBADOS
The Flyin’ Fish (player at center) is the team to beat at this weekend’s championship. |
Segway Polo finals roll into Folsom
The World Championship of Segway Polo comes to Folsom, Calif., this weekend. The home team Folsom Breakout will host 11 other clubs, including teams from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, along with current world champions the Barbados Flyin’ Fish.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
New Niners stadium costs escalate
The latest estimate for construction of a new San Francisco 49ers stadium in Santa Clara has risen to $950 million, up from the original estimate of $937 million. The stadium is still on track for construction beginning in early 2013 with completion in time for the 2015 NFL season.
SEATTLE
Sounders campaign for ‘dates’
The Seattle Sounders have a marketing campaign that incorporates mock dating profiles for six Sounders players. The campaign includes outdoor billboards, TV and radio spots, personal ads placed in local weekly newspapers under the heading Sounders Seeking Fans, and a dedicated Facebook page.
SONOMA, CALIF.
O’Reilly gets official status at track
Infineon Raceway named O’Reilly Auto Parts the official and exclusive auto parts retailer in a multiyear partnership. O’Reilly also becomes title sponsor of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Legends in Sonoma program at Infineon Raceway’s FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 29-31.
ST. LOUIS
‘I-70’ series dedicated to Joplin efforts
The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals will dedicate their June 17-19 “I-70 Series” in St. Louis to relief efforts for the city of Joplin, Mo. The teams have lined up a variety of awareness and fundraising efforts.
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