Coast to Coast

ANN ARBOR, MICH.
Brandon seeks new street marquee
University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon is seeking approval to install a $2.8 million electronic marquee near Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center that could be viewed from Stadium Boulevard leading to the venues, according to an Ann Arbor News report. The marquee would have both video and audio capabilities.

BALTIMORE

Palmer statue debuts
The Baltimore Orioles unveiled a sculpture of hall of famer Jim Palmer before the team’s game against Detroit on July 14. The unveiling was one of six planned this year as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. All fans in attendance for the day’s game received a miniature Palmer sculpture.

New sponsors for Grand Prix
Grand Prix of Baltimore organizers launched their marketing campaign leading to this year’s Izod IndyCar Series race, according to a Baltimore Sun report. New sponsors on board for the Sept. 2 race include Giant Food, Sunoco and Dr Pepper. Race organizers Race On and Andretti Sports Marketing have said they do not expect to land a title sponsor for this year’s race, according to the report.

BUFFALO

A mobile phone fits into a slot on the scoreboard for a functional video display. Photo by: BUFFALO BILLS

Fan builds Lego stadium replica
Robert Hall, a Bills season-ticket holder since the 1970s, has constructed a Lego replica of Ralph Wilson Stadium. The project is 20 feet long and 3 feet deep, and it took more than five years and 30,000 Legos to construct. Hall, from Oakville, Ontario, said he’s now working on adding lights to the stadium.

Prices cut for Bills’ Toronto game
Ticket prices for the Buffalo Bills’ regular-season game in Toronto this season have been slashed. Seats for the Dec. 16 game against Seattle at Rogers Centre will range from $48 to $225, with more than half of the seats reportedly priced below $100. In 2008, the first year of the Bills’ five-year Toronto deal, prices ranged from $55 to $295.
 
Bills renew with Buffalo RV
The Bills renewed their partnership with Buffalo RV. Bills running back Fred Jackson will be the official spokesman for Buffalo RV and the company’s marketing and promotional efforts during the 2012 season.
 
Bills seeking ‘Junior GM’
The Bills and New York’s 529 College Savings Program are teaming for a contest called “Become the Buffalo Bills Junior GM for a Day.” Open to children ages 8-12, the contest calls for participants to submit a 100-word essay by Nov. 1 stating why they have what it takes to be the Bills Junior GM for a day. Twelve contestants will be invited to interview and read their essays to a panel of Bills employees, with one winner getting the opportunity to spend a day with team general manager Buddy Nix.

Sabres renewing at more than 99%
The Buffalo Sabres said the club’s season-ticket renewal rate is running at more than 99 percent. It marks the second straight year the Sabres have reported a renewal rate of at least 99 percent. Sales of season tickets, which increased in price $2 to $8 per seat for the 2012-13 season, are capped at 15,200 for the 18,690-seat First Niagara Center.

CHICAGO
Big Ten plans new HQ, museum
The Big Ten Conference plans to build a new headquarters building in Rosemont, Ill., that will include an interactive museum, according to a report in Chicago Real Estate Daily. Construction of the building is expected to begin next month, and the 12-team conference plans to move its headquarters there from nearby Park Ridge, Ill., by September 2013.

Invitational set for Ryder Cup week
The PGA of America and Pro Football Hall of Fame are partnering for the Hall of Fame Invitational for charity on Sept. 27 at Olympia Fields Country Club during the week of the 2012 Ryder Cup. Hall of famers scheduled to play include Marshall Faulk, Warren Moon and Thurman Thomas. Cost is $6,000 per golfer, and all proceeds benefit the PGA Foundation and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Olympia Fields is south of Chicago and about 40 miles from Medinah Country Club, site of the Ryder Cup competition.

DENVER
Mammoth plans ‘Trash Can’ tournament
The NLL Colorado Mammoth plans to host a “Trash Can Lax” tournament on Sept. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The 3-on-3 tournament, being billed as the first of its kind, is open to the public and calls for tipped-over trash cans being used in place of regulation goals. Participants will compete in U.S. and Canada lacrosse pinnies as a precursor to the evening’s Duel in Denver event, which pits the countries’ men’s national teams against each other in an international exhibition.

DETROIT
SiriusXM titling Hockeytown fest
SiriusXM secured title sponsorship of the Hockeytown Winter Festival set to take place at Comerica Park during the final two weeks of December as a lead-up to the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The festival will feature games, autograph signings, public skating, face painting, ice sculptures and live entertainment.

GREEN BAY

The Lambeau Field Atrium is home to a variety of events year-round. Photo by: GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packers consider atrium overhaul
The Green Bay Packers are planning a major renovation of the 10-year-old Lambeau Field Atrium, according to a Green Bay Press-Gazette report. The proposed renovations may include moving the team’s Hall of Fame to the second floor of the facility and relocating the Curly’s Pub restaurant to the first floor near a renovated Pro Shop.

MillerCoors, Packers extend partnership
The Packers renewed their marketing agreement with MillerCoors, their largest sponsor and largest shareholder, according to a Green Bay Press-Gazette report. The 10-year extension was announced in the Lambeau Field Atrium, where Miller has been the primary sponsor since the renovated Lambeau Field opened in 2003.

KANSAS CITY
Royals event staff wins IDEA award
The Kansas City Royals’ event presentation and production staff was recognized for excellence in the game entertainment industry, winning the IDEA Golden Matrix Award for Best Show Open. The award was presented during the 30th annual Information Display Entertainment Association (IDEA) conference held earlier this month in Minneapolis.

LOS ANGELES
Lexus to title Dodgers’ Dugout Club
The Los Angeles Dodgers reached a deal with the Lexus Dealers Association of Southern California that makes the auto brand the first naming-rights partner of the Dugout Club premium seating area at Dodger Stadium. Lexus will receive brand exposure throughout the club, including branding on glass doors, in-seat menus, napkins and cups.

LOUISVILLE, KY.
Race event signs health sponsor
HumanaVitality signed on as presenting sponsor of the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon, scheduled for Nov. 3. This is the second year for the race. Chicago-based HumanaVitality is a joint venture between health care company Humana and financial services provider Discovery Holdings.

MIAMI
Speedway recruits fan advisory network
Homestead-Miami Speedway is recruiting race fans and community partners to become members of the track’s first fan advisory network, which will be known as HMS FANatics. FANatics members will serve rotating one-year terms that will include both a NASCAR and Grand-Am event. Members will participate in quarterly meetings and conference calls.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
‘Becoming Wild’ back for Web, TV
The Minnesota Wild’s “Becoming Wild” video series, presented by Toyota, is returning for 2012, with 18 episodes scheduled to air on Wild.com and FoxSportsNorth.com and six episodes slated for Fox Sports North starting Sept. 6. The series follows the team’s hockey operations department, including coverage of the 2012 NHL draft and the team’s training camp.

NEW YORK
Liberty partners with College Board
The New York Liberty and the College Board nonprofit group agreed to a marketing partnership for the remainder of the 2012 WNBA season. The deal makes the College Board an official partner of the Liberty, giving it visibility at Liberty games at Prudential Center, digital integration on the team’s website and exposure on MSG Network.

Sony to outfit arena’s broadcast controls
Sony Electronics, as part of a technology and sponsorship agreement with Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets, is teaming with the venue to provide HD production technology as the centerpiece of an HD broadcast control room. The alliance includes Sony branding throughout the venue and other media, as well as on-site consumer product demonstrations.

PHILADELPHIA
Phillies using Comcast’s Ethernet lines
The Philadelphia Phillies are using Comcast Corp.’s business-class Ethernet services to provide data connectivity at Citizens Bank Park. Comcast wired the ballpark with two Ethernet-dedicated lines. One connects the Phillies’ office personnel to the team’s internal computer network. The other is for the stadium’s guest media network, which is used by reporters, broadcasters, photographers, TV trucks and production companies.

Vick helps create clothing line
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick launched his own sports clothing line called V7. The line will be sold exclusively at Modell’s. Vick collaborated with celebrity clothing line mogul Ruby Azrak and with Brian Sher, a longtime business partner of Vick’s and a former ICM talent agent, to create the clothing line.

PHOENIX
Glendale rejects Coyotes petition
The city of Glendale formally rejected petitions that sought to put a referendum on the November ballot that would have allowed voters to weigh in the city’s Phoenix Coyotes deal, according to an Arizona Republic report. The city noted the petitions missed the deadline, lacked the required number of supporting signatures, and failed to include a summary of the measure and text of the ordinance with the application to gather signatures.

SAN FRANCISCO
City ahead of budget for America’s Cup
The city of San Francisco spent about $6.5 million in fiscal year 2011-12 for city staffers’ time, permitting costs and other expenses to prepare for the 2013 America’s Cup sailing races. That compares to an initial estimate of about $10.8 million. Organizers dropped plans to develop Piers 30-32 after the competition ends.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
Bridge opens early, under budget
A new bridge in Saratoga Springs opened to traffic more than two weeks ahead of schedule and about $200,000 under budget, at $4 million. The goal was to open the span and all traffic lanes before the start of the 40-day Saratoga Race Course meet last week.

SEATTLE
Storm, Radio Disney hold Kids Day
The Seattle Storm partnered with Radio Disney for its annual Kids Day game July 11 at KeyArena. Thousands of kids from day camps throughout Seattle participated, with live music and activities outside the arena before the game. During the game, Radio Disney provided entertainment during breaks in the action.

STOCKTON, CALIF.
Ports extend radio deal through 2014
The Stockton Ports extended their radio agreement with KWSX 1280-AM and Clear Channel through the 2014 season. The team began its partnership with KWSX in 2010. The Ports are a Class A affiliate of the Oakland A’s.

Coke’s ice-level signage at BankAtlantic Center will stay put after renewal of deal. Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

SUNRISE, FLA.
Coke renews with Panthers, facilities
Coca-Cola Co. renewed its marketing partnership with the Florida Panthers and the BankAtlantic Center. An original marketing partner of team owner Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, Coke will receive in-arena signage (including rights for Coca-Cola Food Courts); television, radio and print advertising; and pouring rights at both BankAtlantic Center and the club’s Saveology.com Iceplex practice site.

      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS

LONDON
BBC sending 765 to cover Games
The BBC will send 765 staff members to cover the Olympics, up from 493 sent to cover the 2008 Beijing Games, according to a London Guardian report. The broadcaster will produce 2,500 hours of live coverage.

Newspaper denied accreditation
The Voice, Britain’s oldest and largest black newspaper, was denied accreditation to Olympic Stadium for coverage of the forthcoming Games, according to a London Guardian report. Sports Editor Rodney Hinds called the decision by the British Olympic Association “outrageous.” The association told The Voice that it was completely oversubscribed for the stadium, according to the report.

Adidas faces Cambodia probe
Adidas is facing an investigation over claims that Cambodian workers are being paid about $16 a week in basic wages to make official merchandise for the Olympics, according to a London Telegraph report. At the company’s factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, workers said they earned a basic salary of $61 a month for working eight hours a day, six days a week, plus a $5 health care allowance, according to the report.
 
NBC Olympics, Adobe launch apps
NBC Olympics partnered with Adobe to launch two apps that will live stream all Olympic events to authenticated iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android users. NBC Olympics Live Extra will stream more than 3,500 hours from all 32 sports and all medal events at the Games. A second app, NBC Olympics, will have highlights and live results and will serve as a second screen for Olympic viewers.
 
Under Armour eyes market share
Under Armour plans to use its sponsorship of EPL club Tottenham Hotspur in an aggressive digital marketing drive this summer as part of a wider strategy to take market share from Nike and Adidas in Europe, according to a Marketing Week report. Under Armour will launch its campaign later this summer, including promotions on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Arsenal sets ticket prices
Arsenal FC announced that its most expensive ticket next season will be $196, according to a Press Association report. Tickets for “A” category games, including matches against Tottenham and Chelsea, will be on average $96.50, up 23 percent. The regrading of games into “A”, “B” and “C” categories will create about 90,000 lower-priced tickets for non-season-ticket holders, according to the report.

MOSCOW
Aeroflot to sponsor CSKA Moscow
Russian airline Aeroflot will become a main sponsor for Russian Premier League club CSKA Moscow, according to an RT.com report. Aeroflot will pay $9 million a year for sponsorship rights. Oil company Bashneft financed the club for about two years until last season. Aeroflot is the only airline to sponsor a soccer team in Russia, according to the report.
 
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND
New owners for Nottingham Forest
Football League Championship club Nottingham Forest confirmed that the Al-Hasawi family is the club’s new owner, according to a Press Association report. Kuwait-based businessmen Fawaz, Abdulaziz and Omar Al-Hasawi agreed to take control of the club after reaching terms to buy the late Nigel Doughty’s controlling stake, according to the report.
 
SÃO PAULO
Bank OKs facility financing
The Brazilian Development Bank, through its BNDES ProCopa Arenas program, approved $195 million in financing for the construction of Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, according to a report from COPA2014.gov.br. The venue is scheduled to host a number of 2014 FIFA World Cup matches.

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