ABILENE, TEXAS
Adidas will outfit ACU athletes, coaches
Abilene Christian University signed a multiyear deal with Adidas to outfit all of its athletic teams with game, practice, travel, sideline and coaching gear. The deal, effective June 1, is the first of its kind for ACU. Terms were not disclosed.
CHARLOTTE
Knights hire TSE as tech consultant
The Charlotte Knights hired TSE Services to consult on new technologies being incorporated into BB&T Ballpark, scheduled to open in 2014. TSE will be responsible for the oversight and purchasing of nine LED displays, along with three scoreboards. The Knights are the Class AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
CHICAGO
‘A Piece Of The Game’ debuts
Taping began last week at Harry Caray’s Tavern in Chicago for “A Piece Of The Game,” a new reality show in which fans of Chicago sports teams can have their sports memorabilia appraised for free, according to a Daily Herald report. The half-hour show is sponsored by Allstate and will debut this Saturday on WGN.
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Existing PSL holders can buy new plans without fees and still receive PSL benefits.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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CLEVELAND
No PSLs needed for new Browns buyers
The Cleveland Browns will not require personal seat licenses for any new season-ticket buyers at FirstEnergy Stadium, according to a WEWS-ABC report. The Browns said that current PSL owners who have season tickets will still hold on to all PSL benefits. Season-ticket prices will remain flat for the 2013 season.
COLUMBUS
Jackets partner with Volkswagen
The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Central Ohio Volkswagen Dealers reached a new corporate marketing partnership. The partnership includes branding rights and on-site promotion of Volkswagen Floor Seats at Nationwide Arena and the chance for Volkswagen drivers to have exclusive access to a VIP area.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
O’Reilly, TMS extend Nationwide deal
O’Reilly Auto Parts and Texas Motor Speedway agreed to terms on a four-year extension of its current sponsorship of both NASCAR Nationwide Series races at TMS. O’Reilly will continue to be the sponsor of April’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 and November’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge races through 2016.
HAMILTON, ONTARIO
Bulldogs renew lease, affiliation
The AHL Hamilton Bulldogs signed a three-year agreement with Global Spectrum to remain the primary tenant at Copps Coliseum. The team also signed a three-year extension to their affiliation agreement with the Montreal Canadiens.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.
Mikasa renews with USA Water Polo
Mikasa Sports enters a third decade of supporting USA Water Polo as the national governing body’s official ball, renewing with them through the 2016 Olympics. Mikasa joins 15 other partners that have re-signed with USA Water Polo at least through 2013.
LAS VEGAS
MGM, AEG pursuing new arena
MGM Resorts International and AEG agreed to pursue the development of a new 20,000-seat arena in Las Vegas. The venue would be privately funded and located west of the Strip between the New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts.
LEXINGTON, KY.
TWC sponsoring Wildcats
Time Warner Cable will sponsor University of Kentucky athletics in a multiyear deal, specifically the football and men’s basketball teams. TWC will sponsor UK athletics across its core video, high-speed data, Wi-Fi and home phone products and services.
LOS ANGELES
Dodgers to add Korean TV, radio
The Los Angeles Dodgers are planning to add Korean-language radio and TV broadcasts next season, according to a Los Angeles Times report. The Dodgers are reacting mostly to interest generated in Southern California’s Korean community by the addition of pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, according to the report.
NEW YORK
Isles reportedly owe $3.8 million
The New York Islanders and Nassau Coliseum’s management company, SMG, owe Nassau County as much as $3.8 million in unpaid rent, utilities and other expenses dating to at least 2011, according to documents cited in a Newsday report. The unpaid bills include $607,502 in rent and more than $2.4 million in electric bills.
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Sales of “comeBacK” shirts will benefit charities, as well.
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Cyclones mark Mondays for Sandy
The Brooklyn Cyclones throughout the summer will hold Meaningful Monday nights at MCU Park. Three dollars from every ticket sold will go to various local charities that focus on the recovery effort after last fall’s Super Storm Sandy. Each of the six Monday night games will focus on a different neighborhood that was affected by the storm. The first game, July 1, will be Coney Island Night to benefit ConeyRecovers.org.
PITTSBURGH
Pitt alumni group picks PGS
The University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association selected Premiere Global Sports to manage Pitt athletic fan travel programs. The multiyear deal will offer Panthers fans travel options to various events, including regular-season men’s basketball and football away games.
SACRAMENTO
New arena part of bid to keep Kings
Sacramento’s counteroffer to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle will include a bid from 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and a plan for a new arena on the site of Downtown Plaza bankrolled by Southern California grocery magnate Ron Burkle. More than 20 local investors who have pledged at least $1 million each will make a bid in bankruptcy court for minority owner Bob Cook’s 7 percent stake in the Kings.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Qatar Airways coming to Barca kits
Qatar Airways will become FC Barcelona’s jersey sponsor starting July 1, according to a Marca report. It will mark the first commercial deal on the Barcelona jersey. The deal is for six years and $221 million.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Local firms corner contracts
The Scottish government revealed Scottish companies have secured $375 million worth of contracts for Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games, amounting to 90 percent of the value of the contracts to date, according to a Herald Scotland report. Legacy 2014, the department charged with maximizing the impact of the Glasgow games, has been praised by British Olympic Chair Sebastian Coe, according to the report.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND
Team completes stadium buy
The owners of League Championship club Leicester City completed the purchase of the club’s King Power Stadium for $25.5 million, according to a BBC report. The Srivaddhanaprabha family has purchased the ground from an American pension fund manager through its K Power Holdings company.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Forces seize control of slums
Brazilian security forces seized control of two crime-ridden slums near Rio de Janeiro’s international airport and seaport in a new bid to drive out drug traffickers ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, according to an AFP report.
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND
Gold medalist’s track to be torn down
Councillors in Sheffield dealt a blow to Britain’s Olympic legacy by voting to demolish Don Valley Stadium, the home track of London 2012 heptathlon gold medalist Jessica Ennis, according to a London Telegraph report. The proposed demolition of the stadium is part of a $75 million cost-cutting package.
ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND
Public votes down Olympics bid
A joint Swiss bid from St. Moritz and Davos to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics was narrowly rejected by the public in a referendum on March 3.
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