ARLINGTON, VA.
Runner tracking going social
Runners and spectators at the 36th Marine Corps Marathon this year for the first time will be able to view a participant’s progress every 10K in real time via individual Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, email and text messages. By registering for a new runner tracking program, available on the marathon website, runners and spectators will be able to receive continuous updates at the Sunday event.
BUFFALO
Sabres seeking junior reporters
The Buffalo Sabres are teaming with New York’s 529 College Savings Plan on a Buffalo Sabres Jr. Reporter contest. Participants will have a chance to win the opportunity to interview a Sabres player or coach and have the interview shown during a Sabres game. The contest will have monthly winners.
Sabres’ rink open to amateur teams
The Buffalo Sabres will open the rink at First Niagara Center throughout the duration of the 2011-12 regular season as part of their “Future Sabres” amateur hockey initiative. The program will give local hockey players an opportunity to play on the same ice as the Sabres and their NHL opponents before that night’s game.
CHICAGO
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KENA KRUTSINGER VIA CHICAGO BEARS
High school athletes from Illinois joined Urlacher and Adams (center) in creating concussion awareness commercials. |
Students, Bears team on campaign
Twelve student athletes from Illinois High School Association member schools this month had a chance to work with Brian Urlacher and Anthony Adams of the Chicago Bears to create a concussion awareness campaign. The players and students filmed a pair of 30-second commercials through the IHSA-Bears joint effort that will be used during IHSA TV and Internet broadcasts.
CANTON, OHIO
New team named Charge
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ D-League team in
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Canton will be named the Canton Charge. The team’s colors, logo and court design were unveiled this month at the Canton Memorial Civic Center, which will serve as home court for the club.
HARTFORD, CONN.
Newman’s Own renews with conference
Newman’s Own re-signed for a third consecutive year as title sponsor of the America East Conference men’s and women’s basketball championship. The 2012 event will be held March 1-4 at the University of Hartford. Newman’s Own Foundation has given more than $200,000 to America East nonprofits and communities during the first two years of the sponsorship.
MIAMI
Ford 400 winner to trade tires for buoys
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HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
Contender’s multiyear partnership with the track includes a trophy with form and function. |
The winner of the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month will take home a unique prize: a 25-foot tournament model Contender fishing boat with a four-stroke 300 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine. The total value of the customized boat and trailer is more than $115,000. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is the circuit’s season finale.
PHILADELPHIA
Eagles drop wind turbine plan
The Philadelphia Eagles scrapped a much-heralded $30 million renewable energy plan at Lincoln Financial Field in part because of the stadium’s heavy use of energy on game days as well as lack of substantial use other days. The plan would have included installing 80 small wind turbines along the stadium’s upper rim along with 2,500 solar panels. The Eagles now intend to pursue a $30 million solar-panel plan.
Arena starts composting project
A new composting initiative at Wells Fargo Center was launched at the Philadelphia Flyers’ home opener earlier this month. Waste Management, in partnership with arena owner Comcast-Spectacor and the arena’s food services vendor, Aramark, are collecting and composting the food waste from the Wells Fargo Center kitchens.
Sony completes tech upgrade
Sony Electronics has completed an upgrade to the high definition and LED technology used for video displays at Wells Fargo Center. The arena’s new HD control room now has Sony HSC-300K and PDW-700 cameras, an MVS-8000 production switcher, LCD professional monitors and studio recorders.
Flyers partner with Pointstreak
The NHL Flyers signed a long-term partnership with Pointstreak Sports Technologies. The Flyers will provide area youth leagues with access to Pointstreak’s real-time scoring and official statistics system, content management and website hosting system, and online registration platform. The Flyers will install the Pointstreak hardware and software system in more than 80 ice rinks throughout the region.
PITTSBURGH
Pirates name flagship radio partner
The Pittsburgh Pirates and CBS Radio’s KDKA-FM, Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan, entered into a multiyear broadcast agreement beginning with the 2012 season. The partnership calls for KDKA to become the team’s new flagship radio station, producing and broadcasting all Pirates regular-season and postseason games.
RALEIGH
Karmanos keeps equity in-state
Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos said he has sold $22 million in franchise equity to nine people, all from North Carolina, according to a report in The (Raleigh) News & Observer. Among the new stakeholders, Karmanos said, is Michael Kahn, who is the owner of the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
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ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
Players Grant Catalino and Joe Walters (at left and right) join Jody Gage, team VP of player personnel; and Newman from WBEE. |
Knighthawks sign radio partner
The Rochester Knighthawks will broadcast regular-season and playoff games on their new radio partner, Sportsradio 950 ESPN. The NLL team announced the partnership by signing Jeremy Newman from the BEE Morning Coffee Club radio show. Newman joins the Knighthawks as the team’s spokesman as part of the a partnership between the Knighthawks and Entercom Radio.
SACRAMENTO
River Cats carving up contest
The Sacramento River Cats on Friday will hold a children’s Halloween pumpkin-decorating contest, with entries required to have a baseball theme. The winning entry gets the opportunity to trick-or-treat with team mascot Dinger. All participants will receive a 2012 River Cats game voucher for any April or May game.
SUNRISE, FLA.
SSE partner gains Pillar status
Gold Coast Beverage Distributors, a longtime partner of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, has become a Pillar Partner and the exclusive malt beverage provider of the Florida Panthers and the team’s BankAtlantic Center home.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Bank offers $5 bonus for every Bucs win
Community Bank & Co. was named the official bank of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under a five-year marketing agreement, according to a report in the St. Petersburg Times. Community Bank gains rights to use team logos and display signage throughout Raymond James Stadium. The bank this season and next will add $5 to a new Bucs fan checking account whenever the team wins a game, according to the report.
PALM HARBOR, FLA.
PGA Tour event picks agencies
The PGA Tour Transitions Championship selected marketing agencies Ad Partners of Tampa and Bayview Public Relations of St. Petersburg, Fla., to lead marketing and publicity for the 2012 event, which is scheduled for March 12-18 in Palm Harbor, Fla.
TOLEDO, OHIO
Walleye sets season-ticket mark
The Toledo Walleye has sold 2,378 season tickets for the recently started 2011-12 ECHL season. The sales mark is an all-time best among season-ticket holders for any Toledo hockey franchise dating to 1947.
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