ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Rangers retain Spokane presence
The Texas Rangers extended their player development agreement with the Short Season Class A Spokane Indians of the Northwest League through the 2014 season. The Rangers have had a team in Spokane since 2003, matching Class AA Frisco in the Texas League for the organization’s longest minor league affiliation.
ATLANTIC CITY
Sixers preseason includes Boardwalk
The Philadelphia 76ers will play one of their preseason games this year at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. The Oct. 13 game will pit the Sixers against the Brooklyn Nets. The game is being sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City and Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor. Longport Media is serving as a promotional partner.
BOSTON
Tour event featured text to pledge
This past weekend’s Deutsche Bank Championship used a text to pledge mobile platform — an extension of its Birdies for Charity initiative — to give fans the opportunity to text a $10 donation to all or one of 29 participating charities. The PGA Tour event has generated more than $20 million for local charities during its 10-year run.
BUFFALO
Jani-King signs Bills contract
The Buffalo Bills signed Jani-King International as the official cleaning company of the team and Ralph Wilson Stadium. Financial terms were not disclosed. Dallas-based Jani-King will promote its brand through a team sponsorship, which includes official designation and use of brand marks in the Buffalo region.
COLUMBUS
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Installation began last week at Nationwide Arena.
Rendering: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
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Jackets go big with new board
A $6.4 million package of technology upgrades is planned for Nationwide Arena and the Columbus Blue Jackets, highlighted by the installation of a high-definition scoreboard from Daktronics. The center-hung display, with 2,630 square feet of viewable space, is more than three times the size of the old unit. The overall renovation is to be completed by Sept. 15, one week before Blue Jackets training camp is scheduled to open.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Hooks get long-term extension
Ryan Sanders Baseball officials reached a tentative agreement with the city of Corpus Christi that would extend the current stadium lease at Whataburger Field an additional 15 years and keep the Corpus Christi Hooks in town through 2035. The Hooks, whose primary ownership group includes Nolan Ryan, are the Class AA affiliate of the Houston Astros.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
More Wolves games on local TV
The Timberwolves’ local regular-season broadcast schedule for the upcoming season includes a franchise-record 78 regular-season games on local television, including 50 on Fox Sports North and 25 on the Wolves’ exclusive over-the-air broadcast home, WFTC My29. Northland Ford Dealers will serve as the presenting sponsor for the 25 contests on My29.
NEW YORK
Mets plan ‘Hooves on First’ night
The New York Mets are partnering with Seraphim12 Foundation on “Hooves on First” night, Sept. 10 at Citi Field. The fundraiser will raise awareness about the treatment of horses. Joey, the life-size horse puppet from the Tony Award-winning play “War Horse,” will be appearing pregame on Mets Plaza and in-game during the seventh-inning stretch.
Developer pulls Coliseum interest
Developer Wilbur Breslin is not moving forward with his submission to develop the land surrounding Nassau Coliseum, according to a Newsday report. Breslin was one of four developers to express interest in the site, through Nassau County’s request for qualifications process that began in July.
PHILADELPHIA
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The Union front office and staff played the Sons of Ben supporters group at PPL Park.
Photo by: ANDREW ZWARYCH / PHILADELPHIA UNION
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Union, foundation play second River Cup
The Philadelphia Union and The Philadelphia Union Foundation held their second annual River Cup at PPL Park on Aug. 26. The event featured the Union front office and technical staff taking on the Union supporters group, the Sons of Ben, in a soccer match. Last year’s River Cup raised more than of $20,000 for the Philadelphia Union Foundation.
Flyers honor journalist with intern position
The Philadelphia Flyers established a new internship, in honor of Jessica Redfield, for a female college student interested in working in the digital media department of an NHL team. Redfield, whose dream was to be a sports broadcaster, was one of 12 people killed in July’s movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo. Redfield, 24, was covering the Colorado Avalanche for an online blog when the shooting took place.
Popular blood drive returning
On Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, the Union will team up with the American Red Cross to host their third annual blood drive. Due to overwhelming fan support the last two years, the 2012 event will take place on back-to-back Saturdays. Both blood drives are scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at PPL Park’s Stadium Club.
BlueClaws, Phillies extend contract
The Lakewood BlueClaws and their parent club, the Philadelphia Phillies, reached an extension of their player development contract. With the two-year extension, the BlueClaws will remain the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Phillies through at least the 2014 season.
PHOENIX
Golf tourney to distribute $5.5 million
The Thunderbirds, hosts of the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, will distribute more than $5.5 million to local charities through proceeds raised from the 2012 tournament. Since October 2003 when the event first brought on a title sponsor, The Thunderbirds and the Open have raised more than $51 million for charities.
PORTLAND
Timbers hold season-ticket prices steady
The Portland Timbers won’t raise season-ticket prices next season, according to a Portland Oregonian report. With a waiting list for tickets, the club had considered a 5 percent increase. The report quoted team owner Merritt Paulson: “Not a single ticket, not a single section.”
SAN FRANCISCO
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Designer Roland Hill received a Majestic gift package, game tickets and more for his winning design.
Photo by: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
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Giants T-shirt winner named
Roland Hill, a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan, won the first fan-designed Giants T-shirt contest, sponsored by Majestic Athletic, the Giants and MLB.com. Hill, 50, lives in San Francisco and as an artist had always wanted to create a design for his hometown team. Hill’s design was one of three finalists selected from more than 600 entries.
Warriors pick new arena designer
The Golden State Warriors selected AECOM and Los Angeles-based architect Snohetta to design their new $500 million arena on the waterfront. AECOM, formerly Ellerbe Becket, designed Barclays Center and is developing upgrades to New Orleans Arena for the New Orleans Hornets.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
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A collage of Pepsi 12-packs was the backdrop for Jose Molina (center) and customer Shaun Nadeau (right) at the Sweetbay event.
Photo by: TAMPA BAY RAYS
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Rays award fan, donate via Pepsi
Sweetbay Supermarket held its Customer Appreciation Day and the third annual Shop with a Player event recently, where customer Shaun Nadeau joined Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina in an attempt to fill his basket with $1,000 worth of groceries in just 20 minutes. Molina also presented a $1,000 gift card, donated by Pepsi Beverages Co., to Feeding America Tampa Bay.
Rays tap Mobilitie for DAS network
Mobilitie installed a new high-speed distributed antenna system at Tropicana Field. The Mobilitie DAS network will provide Rays fans and 2 million annual ballpark visitors with improved wireless service during games.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.
Football and free health screenings
Purdue University football fans can take advantage of free health screenings on the Fridays before home games this season, provided by Purdue Athletics’ partner Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The screenings began Aug. 31 at Marsh Supermarket in West Lafayette. The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield partnership is overseen by Purdue Sports Properties, a property of Learfield Sports.
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