Coast to Coast

ATLANTA
Board OKs terms for $1 billion stadium
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority board unanimously approved terms intended to provide the framework for a deal on a $1 billion, retractable-roof stadium, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report. Key aspects of the nonbinding term sheet include the GWCCA owning the stadium and the NFL Falcons operating it under a 30-year license.

CHICAGO

Cubs wrap up ‘Twelve Days’ auction
The Chicago Cubs were scheduled to conclude their “Cubs Authentics Twelve Days of Auctions” yesterday with shortstop Starlin Castro’s autographed game-worn jersey from the Sept. 7 game in which he had his 500th career hit. The auctions were held for only one day apiece, and the number of items was limited to that day’s sequence in the promotion: 12 pairs of game-used pants, 11 game-used lineup cards, and so forth.

CINCINNATI
Redsfest signs new sponsors
Redsfest, the Reds’ winter fan festival, added four major sponsors for this year’s run: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, Western & Southern Financial Group, the 21c Museum Hotel, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. This year’s Redsfest was Dec. 7-8 at the Duke Energy Convention Center. The new sponsors reportedly paid anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000.

Reds to feature ‘Los Rojos’
The Cincinnati Reds will wear a “Los Rojos” alternate jersey for select dates next season, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer report. The report quoted Karen Forgus, Reds senior vice president of business operations: “We found there’s an appetite with our fans that they love things with Los Rojos on it, because it’s fun. We’re not changing our main uniform.”

DETROIT
Tigers season tickets going up $2-$3
The Detroit Tigers sent out season-ticket renewal forms last week, and the team’s average season ticket for 2013 will cost between $2 and $3 more a game than it did this past season, according to a Detroit Free Press report. The team’s average ticket price will reportedly be below the median MLB ticket price for 2012.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Bowl revs up with motorcycle sponsor
Victory Motorcycles signed on as an official sponsor of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Victory will have bikes on display in the Armed Forces Adventure Area, the bowl’s official fan fest site. A Victory-brand motorcycle also will be on display at the bowl’s team kickoff luncheon the day before the Dec. 29 game.

INDIANAPOLIS
Pacers to receive $10M from city
The Indiana Pacers will get another $10 million from the city of Indianapolis under a one-year deal approved by the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County, according to an Indianapolis Business Journal report. The funds are intended to assist the Pacers with their management of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The deal, characterized as a short-term contract extension, aims to keep the team at the arena until at least the middle of 2014.

LAS VEGAS

NASCAR’s Jim O’Connell (left) presents William Clements, Mars’ VP of sponsorships and sports marketing, with the award. Photo by: JEFF BOTTARI / GETTY IMAGES FOR NASCAR

Mars wins NASCAR marketing award    
Mars Chocolate North America won the 2012 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon held at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas on Nov. 29. In a recent study, it was revealed that Mars receives a 4-to-1 return on its investment in NASCAR.

LOUISVILLE, KY.
Arena’s construction debt outlook negative
The outlook for the KFC Yum! Center’s construction debt is negative, according to a (Louisville) Courier-Journal story citing a Standard & Poor’s report, but that report stopped short of downgrading its opinion of the project’s bonds. The report comes amid new management by entertainment giant AEG promising more revenue and a high number of events.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Vikings groundbreaking set for October
A Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority official said groundbreaking for the Minnesota Vikings’ new $975 million stadium is tentatively set for October, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune report. That timetable is a bit later than the target date mentioned earlier this year by authority and team officials.

NEW YORK
Knicks, Chase launch hoops initiative
The New York Knicks, Chase, and city of New York Parks & Recreation launched Basketball in the Boroughs presented by Chase, a community initiative intended to serve thousands of youths in the city’s five boroughs. The program will run from December to April. Appearances at Chase branches will offer fans the opportunity to meet current and former Knicks players and win prizes and tickets.

SACRAMENTO
Kings sign 1-800LoanMart
The Sacramento Kings signed 1-800LoanMart as a corporate sponsor. The company is one of California’s largest auto title loan companies.

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
Sony signs with 49ers, new stadium
Sony will become the official consumer electronics partner for both the San Francisco 49ers and the new stadium in Santa Clara. Sony also becomes the presenting partner for the 49ers hall of fame. The partnership centers on using Sony technology to create interactive fan features.

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Bucs reduce some season-ticket prices
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not raise season-ticket prices for 2013, the fifth straight year of no increases. Thirty-five percent of stadium seats will have reduced prices. Season passes begin at $30 per game for adults and $15 for children.

 

      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS

HANOVER, GERMANY
Hannover 96 signs energy sponsor

Bundesliga club Hannover 96 signed a new co-sponsorship deal with energy provider Enercity. The two-year deal will include ad presence inside the stadium as well as hospitality packages and online ads.

LONDON
Chelsea signs Japanese partner
Chelsea FC has formed a partnership with Orient Corp. (Orico) making it the club’s official Japanese financial services partner. The deal will see co-branded payment cards, featuring the club logo, become available to Orico customers within Japan.

West Ham eyes safe standing
West Ham United co-owner David Gold told fans he is ready to explore the possibility of incorporating a safe standing area at London’s Olympic Stadium, according to a London Daily Mail report. In October, Aston Villa became the first Premier League club to publicly back a campaign for trials of standing areas for fans in top-flight and Championship League matches.

SÃO PAULO
Corinthians, Nike extend deal
Campeonato Brasileiro club Corinthians agreed to a contract extension with kit supplier Nike worth $145 million, according to a Folha De S. Paulo report. Corinthians’ current kit deal with Nike was due to expire at the end of the 2014 season but has now been renewed through 2022.

For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.