Coast to Coast

BUFFALO
Sabres start ‘Rafters Club’
The Buffalo Sabres have a new initiative designed to bring together some of the franchise’s legendary players to act as ambassadors at charitable events and programs. The Rafters Club will be made up of former Sabres whose jerseys have been officially retired. The group includes Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, Pat LaFontaine and Danny Gare.

CONCORD, N.C.
Race firm moving from Las Vegas
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc. is moving its Las Vegas operations to the Charlotte area after losing a bid for an exclusive contract at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The company provides race fans with the training, safety gear and race cars needed to test their skills on the track. It will operate at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord.

DENVER
Pepsi Center club rebrands, reopens
The former Denver Post Newsroom on the club level at Pepsi Center was remodeled and has reopened as the Land Rover Denver Club. Established through a partnership between Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Levy Restaurants, Land Rover Denver East and Land Rover Highlands Ranch, the space is open to all premium ticket holders.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS
TCU reaches extension with IMG
Texas Christian University reached an agreement with IMG College on a 12-year extension to its current seven-year multimedia rights partnership. The agreement runs through the 2023-24 academic year.

ASYMCA partners with bowl
The Armed Services YMCA has agreed to return as one of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl’s official charity partners. This year’s game, marking the bowl’s 10th anniversary, is scheduled for Dec. 29 at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

INDIANAPOLIS
Fieldhouse fundraising under way
Butler University launched a public fundraising campaign to repair and modernize 84-year-old Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler President James Danko said the school already has raised nearly $12 million in gifts and pledges, according to an Indianapolis Star report. The campaign ends Dec. 31.

LOUISVILLE
New seating planned for Derby, Oaks
Churchill Downs Inc. announced plans for a new Section 110 seating and hospitality venue for the 2013 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. The section will be trackside along the first turn.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.
Carrier Classic coming back

An hour of teamwork wiping down the court only resulted in a cancellation. Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

The Carrier Classic will return to the USS Yorktown to open the college basketball season in 2013 despite the cancellation of this year’s game, featuring Ohio State and Marquette. Event promoter Mike Whalen said organizers believe they have an engineering solution to correct the court condensation issue that plagued this year’s effort on Nov. 9. Whalen said the format would remain the same with both a women’s and a men’s game.

NEW YORK
TWC partners with MSG on branding
Time Warner Cable and The Madison Square Garden Co. reached a long-term marketing partnership that will align TWC’s “Enjoy Better” brand campaign at the arena. TWC is now the naming partner for the concert series at Madison Square Garden, as well as an official partner of the New York Knicks and Rangers.

Stones coming to Brooklyn
The Rolling Stones added a show on Dec. 8 at Barclays Center, making it the first U.S. date on the band’s “50 And Counting” tour. Other scheduled shows at sports venues include November dates at O2 Arena in London and two mid-December shows at Prudential Center in Newark.

PHILADELPHIA

Notre Dame took the relocation in stride, winning the conference title at PPL Park. Photo by: BEN SOLOMON

Sandy moved Big East soccer finals
The Big East Conference men’s soccer championship was moved from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. to PPL Park in Chester, Pa., because of issues related to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The tournament was held Nov. 9-11. Red Bull Arena had hosted the tournament the past two years.

Sixers sign with Skyview
The Philadelphia 76ers and Skyview Networks agreed to a new multiyear deal. Skyview will provide its full menu of services to the franchise. The company in October began collaborating with the Sixers on integrating play-by-play broadcast systems for expanding the club’s affiliate network and streamlining inventory management.

Sixers partner with Main Line Health
The 76ers renewed their marketing partnership with Main Line Health, marking the fifth year the Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based health system has served as the Sixers’ official health care provider. The deal includes a new “Ask the Doc” feature, where fans submit health questions that are answered — online, on radio broadcasts and in-arena — from doctors at Main Line’s six hospitals.

RALEIGH
Canes’ upgrades a mystery for all
The Carolina Hurricanes locker room received $300,000 in upgrades during the offseason, part of $1 million in renovations at PNC Arena. However, because the NHL is still in a lockout, none of the players — nor anyone else — has seen the new digs yet. According to the hockey team’s policy, nobody is allowed to see the locker room before the players do.

SACRAMENTO
Socially active fans go courtside
The Sacramento Kings rolled out a six-seat courtside area for active online fans called Social Media Headquarters, or #KingsHQ. The team will reward loyal social media supporters with a chance to earn in-game seat upgrades. The Kings’ new media team will join the winners of those seats courtside to deliver updates and engage fans worldwide through social media.

ST. LOUIS
Blues provide home to youth hockey
The St. Louis Blues put down ice at Scottrade Center to provide a temporary home for the Fairview Heights Youth Hockey Club. Fairview Heights has been without its home rink, the U.S. Ice Complex, since Oct. 9, when it was closed after it was damaged due to the collapse of an old mine beneath the building.

TORONTO
Raptors fill headphones category
The Toronto Raptors signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Gentec International, the exclusive distributor of Klipsch headphones in Canada. Klipsch fills the headphones category for the team, with guard DeMar DeRozan signing an endorsement deal as part of the overall sponsorship. The deal also includes a media buy and in-arena advertising at Air Canada Centre.

      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS

BILBAO, SPAIN
Nike to outfit La Liga club
La Liga club Athletic Bilbao will use Nike as its kit provider starting with the 2013-14 season, according to an EFE report. The club had a deal through 2017 with Umbro, but the company was recently sold by Nike, which owned the brand. Nike will continue paying the $3.3 million annual fee that Umbro had agreed to in 2009.

BRADFORD, ENGLAND
Bulls, Provident reach 4-year deal
Super League rugby club Bradford Bulls agreed to a four-year, $1.9 million sponsorship with Provident Financial Group, according to a Telegraph & Argus report. ITV.com reported that the Bulls’ stadium at Odsal will be renamed The Provident Stadium.

HANOI, VIETNAM
2019 Asian Games awarded
Hanoi was chosen as the host city for the 2019 Asian Games. The city has previously hosted the 2003 Southeast Asian Games and the 2009 Asian Indoor Games. Hanoi beat out Surabaya, Indonesia, for the right to stage the 18th edition of the event.

INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
Samsung sponsoring 2014 Asian Games
Samsung Electronics Co. signed a sponsorship for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. Samsung’s support during the event will include providing mobile, audio and visual products.

LONDON
Hotspur pushing online offerings
English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur is embarking on a big push for its Web TV channel to offer additional content to its growing overseas fan base, according to a Marketing Week report. The subscription-based Spurs TV Online channel will host new exclusive content.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
ManU hiring social media expert
Manchester United is looking for a digital expert to join its online team to provide content for its estimated 659 million followers worldwide, according to a Manchester Evening News report. The role will be focused on the club’s Facebook page, where ManU has 28.6 million followers.

MOSCOW
Team’s logo under fire

The emblem of Torpedo Moscow FC, designed in 1930, has been outlawed by city police, according to an online report at RT.com. Scarves, flags and banners with the symbol were banned from sale or from being brought into the club’s stadium for its latest home match. Torpedo fans said police reportedly believe that the gear symbol in the background of the club’s logo is similar to one used by the Nazis.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio 2016 Committee adjusts roles
The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee revealed an internal restructuring process, naming Sidney Levy CEO and Leonardo Gryner COO, according to an AP report.

SINGAPORE
Open stays put, issues remain
The Singapore Open and World Sport Group extended their deal another five years, but the golf event is still facing a possible change of dates, prize money and even sanctioning bodies as organizers search for a new title sponsor following the withdrawal of Barclays, according to an AFP report.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA
VW still driving with PGA event
Volkswagen Group Australia will continue its position as the official vehicle of the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The deal is for two years with an option for a third. This year’s event is scheduled for Dec. 13-16 at the Palmer Coolum Resort.

TOKYO
JAL partners with Tokyo 2020 bid
Japan Airlines has become the seventh bid partner for Tokyo 2020. A bid committee press release quoted JAL representative director and President Yoshiharu Ueki: “The JAL group will utilise both its domestic and international networks to the fullest in various areas, such as specially painted aircrafts, airline magazines and airline videos, in order to realise the goal of hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.”

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