ANAHEIM
Ducks ‘Smile’ with partnership
The Anaheim Ducks signed a two-year partnership agreement with the Smile Generation, a dentist referral service. The deal makes the Smile Generation the presenting sponsor of the Smile Cam and the Smile Generator goal feature on HondaVision during every Ducks game at Honda Center.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Five headed to Cotton Bowl hall
Five individuals will be inducted into the AT&T Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame during enshrinement ceremonies April 19 at Cowboys Stadium. The honorees in the ninth hall of fame class are Texas linebacker/defensive halfback Tom Campbell, Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz, BYU linebacker Shay Muirbrook, Texas A&M quarterback Kevin Murray and Arkansas defensive tackle Jim Williams.
BALTIMORE
Orioles plan ballpark renovations
The Baltimore Orioles revealed the first artist rendering (below) of planned renovations to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which include a new roof deck open to fans during games, a lower right-field wall to improve sight lines from the Flag Court and Eutaw Street, and the addition of bronze statues of Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. in a bullpen picnic area. The upgrades come as the ballpark marks its 20th anniversary this year.
CHICAGO
Ryder Cup license plates planned
The Illinois PGA Foundation, in conjunction with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, is releasing a limited-run special event license plate (below) to celebrate the 39th Ryder Cup taking place in September at Medinah Country Club. The commemorative plate is available via www.ipga.com and will be valid for Illinois drivers from Aug. 2 to Sept. 30.
CLEVELAND
Indians using six social media platforms
The Cleveland Indians, in conjunction with MLB Advanced Media, are expanding their social media reach with plans to use six social media platforms this season. The team last season had a presence on both Facebook and Twitter. This season, the club is adding TribeVibe, Tumblr, Pinterest and Google+.
Indians build on ‘What If’ campaign
Building on the popularity of 2011’s “What If?” effort, the Indians launched two new spots for the coming season. The 2012 chapter of “What If?” centers on two themes: a tribute to fans and the memories that Cleveland baseball evokes, and a celebration of Indians talent across generations with a spotlight on the promise of the 2012 club.
DENVER
Bloom’s firm gets equity funding
Integrate, the online marketing company co-founded by former University of Colorado athlete Jeremy Bloom, landed $11 million in equity funding. The growth-equity investment comes from Liberty Global, Comcast Ventures and existing Integrate investor Foundry Group of Boulder, Colo.
FORT WAYNE, IND.
TinCaps fan will be bobbled
One fan will be randomly selected from all in attendance during the Fort Wayne TinCaps opening night game on Thursday to become a TinCaps bobblehead giveaway later in the 2012 season. The promotion is tied to the Class A team’s “It’s All About You” Fan of the Year bobblehead giveaway on Aug. 31.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA.
Ballclub surpasses $1M in donations
The Gwinnett Braves reached a milestone in their community outreach by surpassing the $1 million mark in donations. Since moving to Gwinnett County in the fall of 2009, the Class AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves has worked steadily with schools, churches, youth leagues and a variety of nonprofit groups.
LOS ANGELES
Dodgers’ anti-pollution effort continues
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Metro transportation system will offer Dodger Stadium Express bus service from Union Station to Dodger Stadium this season through a grant approved by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. For the third consecutive year, a grant of $300,000 was awarded to Metro by the committee in support of clean fuel transit service.
MIAMI
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Dwyane Wade, at the gala with his girlfriend, Gabrielle Union, and his mother, Jolinda Wade, shows off his Hublot watch.
Photo by: ISSAC BALDIZON / MIAMI HEAT
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Heat gala raises $1 million
The Miami Heat Charitable Fund raised more than $1 million at its March 21 event, An Intimate Evening with Your Miami Heat presented by Hublot Watches. This year’s gala featured a performance by Patti LaBelle. About 150 guests walked the “white” carpet at the $20,000-per-couple event.
PHILADELPHIA
Sixers CEO speaks at Temple
Philadelphia 76ers CEO Adam Aron spoke to about 200 students from Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Fox School of Business on March 22. Aron was invited to speak as part of the School of Tourism’s continuing Executive in Residence series.
PHOENIX
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The Ram Truck brand hopes to make a splash with its new sponsorship.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Ram sponsoring Chase Field pool
The Ram Truck brand was named the new presenting partner of the pool at Chase Field. The pool, now named the RamTrucks.TV pool, sits 415 feet from home plate in right-center field. The pool measures 460 square feet and holds 8,500 gallons of water.
PUEBLO, COLO.
PBR signs licensing agent
The Professional Bull Riders reached an agreement with the All-American Licensing & Management Group to be a licensing agent for the Pueblo, Colo.-based PBR. All-American will be responsible for work in categories that include interactive games, health and beauty, snacks, foods, and non-energy and non-alcoholic beverages.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
RIT hockey aims for Division I
On the heels of capturing its first NCAA Division III title, Rochester Institute of Technology is applying to move its women’s hockey program to Division I status. If approved by the NCAA, RIT would join College Hockey America for the 2012-13 season.
SACRAMENTO
‘STOP’ arena group raising funds
A group that is trying to push the question of a new arena for the Sacramento Kings to the voters in November hopes to raise $100,000 to support its efforts. Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork wants to prevent big diversions of public revenue or assets to private projects without a vote of the public.
SAN ANTONIO
Alamo Bowl has $39M impact
The 2011 Valero Alamo Bowl generated $39 million in total economic impact based on direct visitor spending of $21.5 million for San Antonio last December, according to a survey conducted by Strategic Marketing Services and SportsEconomics. The direct spending from the 38,590 visitors attending the game between Baylor and Washington translated into $1.3 million in new tax revenue for the city.
STARKVILLE, MISS.
MSU reaches extension with NeuLion
NeuLion reached a multiyear extension with Mississippi State University and Bulldog Sports Properties that includes enhanced digital initiatives for HD video, live highlight editing and mobile apps. NeuLion has partnered with MSU since 2007.
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