Coast to Coast

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
Isotopes GM co-authors book
Albuquerque Isotopes general manager John Traub has co-authored a book with longtime Minor League Baseball executive Dave Rosenfield called “Baseball … One Helluva Life.” The 263-page book encapsulates the life story and baseball career of Rosenfield, who has worked in the minor leagues since 1956.

BUFFALO
Bills pour MariO’s cereal
Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams is the latest pro athlete to have his own brand of cereal. MariO’s, produced via PLB Sports of Pittsburgh, is being sold exclusively at Tops Friendly Markets. Williams joins other former Bills, including Terrell Owens, Jim Kelly and Doug Flutie, and current Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller as local athletes who have had a cereal brand.

CHICAGO
New Holland gains status with NASCAR
In a joint announcement this month at the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council meeting in Chicago, New Holland became the official agricultural equipment of NASCAR. New Holland manufactures a range of equipment essential for the crop production and harvesting of corn used to produce ethanol.

CINCINNATI
Xavier hires outside ticket sales help
Get Real Sport Sales and Xavier University Athletics reached a partnership for 2012-13. GRSS is charged with increasing group and season-ticket sales across all ticketed sports for the school. The Indianapolis-based company will provide an on-site ticket sales staff as part of the agreement.

COLUMBUS
Jackets expand with jeweler
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Meyers Jewelers renewed and expanded their partnership. The deal includes presenting sponsorship of several team-supported events, including a meet-the-team event for premium-seat customers; a female-focused fan development program; and the Blue Jackets Foundation’s annual Golf Classic.

EVANSTON, ILL.

The timetable for construction on the new facility is dependent on fundraising. Rendering: POPULOUS

NU committed to lakefront facility
The Northwestern University Board of Trustees voted in favor of a plan to build a multipurpose facility on Lake Michigan, according to a Chicago Tribune report. The school is prepared to commit between $225 million and $250 million for the on-campus project. The facility would feature practice, training and competition venues for some of Northwestern’s varsity sports as well as recreational space.

FORT WAYNE, IND.
TinCaps break attendance record
The Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps welcomed fans to Parkview Field in record numbers during the 2012 season. Including the regular season and playoffs, 408,044 fans attended a game at the downtown ballpark, marking the highest attendance in the 20-year history of professional baseball in Fort Wayne.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Bowl adds partner, program
The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is partnering with the American Red Cross for this year’s game. The Red Cross will serve as one of the official charity partners for the bowl, to be played Dec. 29 at the newly renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. In addition, bowl organizers have started a new program called the Purple Heart Campaign. The offer allows 2012 TCU season-ticket and suite holders to purchase their same seats for the bowl game, with a portion of the proceeds from each Purple Heart Campaign ticket purchased to be donated to the TCU ROTC programs.

KANSAS CITY
Riggle to be grand marshal
Actor-comedian Rob Riggle was named grand marshal for the Hollywood Casino 400, the sixth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Riggle recently hosted the 20th annual ESPY Awards on ESPN, which will air the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Oct. 21. Riggle is from Overland Park, Kan., and is a University of Kansas graduate.

LANCASTER, CALIF.
JetHawks extend contract with Astros
The Houston Astros extended their player-development contract with the Class A Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. The two-year extension continues the affiliation between the Astros and JetHawks through the 2014 season.

LONG POND, PA.
Track, New Era extend partnership
Pocono Raceway and New Era Tickets extended their partnership, one that started in 2008. New Era Tickets’ customized ticketing solution for Pocono integrates mobile ticketing, access control management systems, wireless ticketing technology, fraud prevention, multi-tiered entrance ticketing, and automated digital fan communications.

MEMPHIS
Ford joins Pera’s Grizzlies bid
Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) has agreed to become a member of prospective Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera’s bid to purchase the team, according to a (Memphis) Commercial Appeal report. Ford, who is from Memphis, said he met Pera through mutual friends more than a year ago, before Pera began his pursuit of the Grizzlies, according to the report.

MIAMI
Speedway names FANatics
Homestead-Miami Speedway announced its selections to serve on its first fan advisory network. The six FANatics members will serve rotating one-year terms. The purpose of FANatics is to establish direct communication with track personnel and provide year-round feedback. The participants are Melodye Brantley of Miami; Scott Bronson of Naples; David Gonzalez of Homestead; Teresa Noah of Labelle; Bryan Pease of Naples; and Julie Shafer of Homestead.

NASHVILLE
Sounds, Brewers extend contract
The Nashville Sounds and Milwaukee Brewers extended their player development contract for two more years, through the 2014 season. The Sounds have been the Brewers’ Class AAA affiliate since 2005.

NEW YORK
Isles partner with SportsYapper
The New York Islanders partnered with social media startup SportsYapper. Sports-Yapper will sponsor the in-game promotion “You Gotta Yapp That” during all Islanders home games. The feature asks fans at Nassau Coliseum to “Yapp” about major highlights during the game via SportsYapper’s free download for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Mets, Cyclones add four more years
The New York Mets and the Brooklyn Cyclones renewed their player development contract for four more years, through 2016. The Cyclones have been a Mets affiliate since the Class A franchise’s inception in 2001.

PHILADELPHIA
Joe Frazier statue planned
Philadelphia city officials plan to erect a statue honoring boxer Joe Frazier at the Xfinity Live! venue at the sports stadium complex in south Philadelphia. The city is looking to raise $150,000 for the statue, expected to be installed next year. The city also plans to begin a public bidding process for sculptors interested in creating the statue. Frazier moved to Philadelphia as a teenager and later owned and managed a gym there. He died in November at age 67.

STOCKTON, CALIF.
Tigers bring in Ports sales leadership
The University of the Pacific athletic department reached an agreement with the Class A Stockton Ports’ tickets sales department in an effort to increase season-ticket and group-ticket sales for the school’s 2012-13 men’s basketball season. Ports leaders will advise a staff of Pacific students on the sales effort. The Tigers are playing their final season in the Big West Conference before moving to the West Coast Conference next year.

Photo by: ARMY ATHLETICS

WEST POINT, N.Y.
Army overhauls stadium signs
The Army Athletic Association partnered with Indianapolis-based Sport Graphics on a comprehensive branding and signage campaign at Michie Stadium. The project involved updating 493 signs, ranging in length from 18 inches to 87 feet.

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