BOSTON
New courtside club opens
The U.S. Business Group of Sun Life Financial and the Boston Celtics opened the newly branded Sun Life Courtside Club at TD Garden. Sun Life, an official partner of the Celtics since the 2010-11 season, acquired the naming rights to the courtside club in May.
CHARLOTTE
Hounds sign telecom partner
Columbia, S.C.-based Spirit Communications was named the official telecommunications provider of the MLL Charlotte Hounds. Elements of the partnership include game-day signage, print, Web, social media, email communication, networking events and the “Spirit Award” for a player and fan who show outstanding enthusiasm.
COLUMBUS
Jackets renew with Toyota
The Columbus Blue Jackets renewed their corporate partnership with the Central Ohio Toyota Dealers. Toyota has been a team partner since the 2005-06 season. The renewal retains title sponsorship for Nationwide Arena’s Toyota Tower, a stacked trio of suites designed for groups of 24 or 48 people.
DETROIT
Wings, Fifth Third taking S.H.O.T.S.
The Detroit Red Wings and Fifth Third Bank announced another year of the S.H.O.T.S. program (Students Helping Others Through Service), an initiative that encourages high school volunteerism. Monthly winners will be announced through February with a grand-prize recipient announced in March. The grand prize includes recognition at Joe Louis Arena during a Red Wings home game, up to six tablet PCs and a $530 donation to their school on behalf of Fifth Third Bank.
FORT MYERS, FLA.
County OKs Twins’ plan for upgrades
Lee County, Fla., commissioners voted 3-1 to approve a deal with the Minnesota Twins that calls for $47 milion in upgrades at the team’s spring training facilities in Fort Myers. The upgrades include expanding Hammond Stadium’s seating capacity from 8,000 to 9,300.
HOUSTON
Astros return to longtime colors
The Houston Astros officially revealed the club’s new uniforms, logos, color schemes and mascot for the 2013 season at a party at Minute Maid Park. More than 5,000 fans in attendance watched the club reveal the return of the blue and orange color scheme, the same colors worn by the franchise from 1962 to 1993.
LAS VEGAS
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The Professional Bull Riders has held its season finale in Las Vegas since 1994.
Photo by: AMY WATSON / BULL STOCK MEDIA
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World Finals set through 2015
A three-year sponsorship renewal will keep the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas through 2015. This year, the Professional Bull Riders World Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center drew almost 70,000 attendees, and generated an estimated economic impact of $15 million in non-gaming revenue for Las Vegas.
MIAMI
Discover rolls out Orange Bowl perks
Discover Card card members will have access to exclusive fan experiences leading up to and at the Discover Orange Bowl and Discover BCS National Championship. Starting this month, only card members can purchase premium, lower-level tickets to both games. Card members also will have access to the Discover Tailgate, game-day fan zones and a sneak peek at Orange Bowl halftime entertainment.
Dolphins sell prorated season tickets
The Miami Dolphins sold hundreds of prorated season tickets since the season started and have managed to eclipse last year’s season-ticket sales count (42,584), its lowest since 1983, according to a Miami Herald report. A season ticket to the final five games resulted in getting the Nov. 11 Tennessee Titans game free.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Target Center using AXS Ticketing
Target Center is replacing Ticketmaster with AXS Ticketing as the venue’s ticketing agency. AEG introduced the beta version of AXS Ticketing last year. Target Center will align with many AEG clubs, theaters and other arenas that already operate on this platform. Additional AEG arenas such as Staples Center in Los Angeles will shift to AXS Ticketing in 2013.
NEW YORK
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The Madison Club gives MSG patrons another option amid arena renovations.
Photo by: ARI GERVER / MSG PHOTOS
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Foxwoods’ Madison Club opens at MSG
Foxwoods Resort Casino and Madison Square Garden unveiled the new Madison Club presented by Foxwoods, as part of Phase II of the arena’s three-year renovation. The 174-seat premium club, located on the Lexus Madison Suite Level, will provide businesses and fans a suite experience and premium access to more than 100 sporting events annually.
PHILADELPHIA
Cordish Cos., Greenwood eye new casino
Greenwood Gaming, which operates Parx Casino and Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., formed a partnership with the Cordish Cos. of Baltimore for a proposal to build a casino at the stadium complex in South Philadelphia. The two organizations have formed a joint venture, Stadium Casino LLC, to seek the one open gaming license for the Philadelphia region.
Arena begins new composting effort
Comcast-Spectacor, working with Waste Management and Aramark, launched a new green initiative at Wells Fargo Center. Waste Management will begin collecting and composting all of the building’s food waste. Comcast-Spectacor and Philadelphia-based Aramark are introducing new compostable serviceware in all concessions and premium-seating areas.
PHOENIX
PIR pouring Vektor Vodka
Phoenix International Raceway welcomed Arizona-based Vektor Vodka to its family of official partners. Vektor kicked off their partnership during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend with the opening of the Bar Vektor Vodka Lounge in the fan midway. Vektor introduced a signature drink called The Redline, and had their logo on the hood of Bobby Labonte’s No. 47 JTG-Daugherty Toyota Camry.
PITTSBURGH
Pitt, Paciolan renew partnership
The University of Pittsburgh renewed its partnership with ticketing firm Paciolan. Pitt will continue using Paciolan’s core ticketing and fundraising technologies, and also will implement Paciolan’s customer relationship management solution. Pitt has been working with Paciolan since 1991.
SACRAMENTO
Kings power up new app
The Sacramento Kings introduced a new mobile app that offers more content and promises easier access. The app, which is sponsored by Verizon, is available from the iTunes App Store and on Google Play. The Kings’ new-media team designed the app, which is powered by app creator Mobile Roadie.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.
Summit League hoops event staying
The Summit League and the Sioux Falls Sports Authority reached a long-term agreement that will keep The Summit League Basketball Championships in Sioux Falls through 2017. Sioux Falls Arena will host the championships for two more seasons before the event moves into the new 12,000-seat Denny Sanford Premier Center in 2015.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Monumental, SB Nation share content
Monumental Sports & Entertainment formed a content partnership with SB Nation and its nine D.C.- and Baltimore-focused websites, which will expand the company’s local and regional coverage. The partnership, which began this month, is designed to offer fans more comprehensive coverage of the Wizards and Capitals.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
Heat signs Betta Home Living
Cricket team Brisbane Heat signed retailer Betta Home Living to be its major sponsor in the KFC T20 Big Bash League. The company will join principal sponsor Linc Energy as the major backers of the Heat, with both occupying prominent space on the playing and training apparel as well as an at-match presence.
DUBAI, UAE
VOSS signs with final round of Race
Norwegian bottled water brand VOSS signed an agreement to be an official supplier for the 2012 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the final round of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. The event will be at the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 22-25.
HANOI, VIETNAM
Paragliding event swoops in
Vietnam will host its first paragliding competition this weekend. The event will be held in Hoa Binh province, about 40 miles outside of Hanoi and is expected to draw 30 pilots from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, according to a Xinhua report.
HOFFENHEIM, GERMANY
Hoffenheim partners with Viagogo
Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim signed a new partnership with online ticket provider Viagogo. The sponsorship includes online and ticketing advertising, as well as ad space on boards in camera view at Rhein-Neckar Arena.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Arsenal to play Jakarta match
English Premier League club Arsenal will play a match in Jakarta next summer. The match will be organized and promoted in Indonesia in conjunction with Arsenal’s partners: private broadcaster RCTI and Hong Kong-based football management company Pro Events.
MUNICH
Aston Martin shuts door on 1860 Munich
British car company Aston Martin will end its sponsorship deal with German second Bundesliga club 1860 Munich at the end of the season, according to an SID report. The report quoted team President Dieter Schneider: “It is a fair move by Aston Martin. … This provides us with enough time to find a new title sponsorship deal before the start of the next season.”
NANJING, CHINA
Youth Olympics signs Internet sponsor
Chinese company Tencent will be a tier one sponsor of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. As an Internet service partner, Tencent will develop the official Nanjing 2014 website. Nanjing is 180 miles west of Shanghai.
PARIS
Annual subsidy ending for PSG
Paris City Hall will end its annual subsidy to Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain, according to a Le Parisien report. Le Parisien was able to obtain a copy of a memo with reasons for ending of the subsidy: “It appears that maintaining a municipal grant to PSG is neither necessary, nor appropriate in a context of fiscal restraint. From ’12-13, the club will continue its efforts on its own without financial support from the community.”
RIO DE JANEIRO
Senate OKs $120M stadium loan
The Brazilian senate approved an authorization for the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro to loan $120 million for the construction and reforms of the Estádio do Maracanã, according to an online report at UOL.com.br. The stadium is scheduled to host the opening match and final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
SHANGHAI
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The HSBC Champions in Shenzhen moves to Shanghai and joins FedEx Cup schedule.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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HSBC Champions joining PGA Tour
The HSBC Champions will become part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup schedule. The money earned at the HSBC Champions will count as official money on the PGA Tour, and the winner will earn a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour. The total purse will also increase from $7 million to $8.5 million. The tournament will return to Shanghai permanently in 2013 after being held this year at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen.
TOKYO
Marathon joining Majors
The Tokyo Marathon will join the World Marathon Majors in 2013. It will be the first in Asia and the world’s sixth major marathon, joining Berlin, London, Boston, Chicago and New York.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
AIG rugby deal worth $66M
The New Zealand Rugby Union’s five-year sponsorship deal with insurance group AIG is worth about $66 million, according to a New Zealand Herald report. NZRU is based in Wellington.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
