ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Rangers partner with Oakley, Total Engine Oil
Oakley will be the official eyewear of the Texas Rangers as part of a new multiyear partnership. The deal also provides for signage at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. More than 20 styles of Oakley frames can be customized with the official Rangers team colors and icons and the official MLB logo etched on the lens. Additionally, the Rangers have partnered for another year with Total Engine Oil, making Total the official engine oil of the team. The partnership includes signage in the visiting bullpen at Rangers Ballpark, radio inventory on the team’s broadcasts and season tickets.
BOSTON
Kids can eat for free at Fenway
The Boston Red Sox are offering free food and cheaper drinks at home games in April, according to a Boston Globe report. Kids under 14 can eat free before the third inning from specially designated concession stands. Also, for all fans, hot dogs will be two-for-one, hot chocolate will be half price and a 12-ounce beer will be $5, down from as much as $8.50, according to the report.
Sox offer vanity plates in Connecticut
The Red Sox and the Red Sox Foundation have started a charity license plate program in Connecticut. The vanity plates, which feature the club’s hanging socks logo, will help fund a college scholarship program to be established by the foundation for Connecticut public high school students.
BUFFALO
Sabres launch social campaign
The Buffalo Sabres launched an anti-bullying campaign, a partnership between the team and the New York regional office of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It includes videos available to schools that feature Sabres players Ryan Miller, Patrick Kaleta, Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Myers plus events in April and May.
CHARLOTTE
Moe’s back with MLL All-Star
Moe’s Southwest Grill will return as the official presenting sponsor of the MLL All-Star Game for a second consecutive year. The match will be held July 13 at American Legion Memorial Stadium, home of the league’s Charlotte Hounds.
CHICAGO
BMO ads feature Blackhawks
BMO Harris Bank launched an ad campaign featuring Chicago Blackhawks players Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Two 30-second spots will air throughout the Chicago region. The ads were created by Y&R, Chicago.
DALLAS
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Golfer Kenny Perry (background, in white shirt) helps Aaron Baddeley line up a shot on a Southwest flight from Orlando to Houston last week.
Photo by: BUFFALO COMMUNICATIONS
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Southwest, Adams team on tour
Southwest Airlines and Adams Golf, both based in Dallas, formed a partnership that puts logos of both brands on the hats and golf bags of eight PGA Tour pros, beginning last week at the Shell Houston Open. Southwest is using eight existing Adams players, including Aaron Baddeley and Kenny Perry, in the deal. Working with CAA Sports, the move is Southwest’s first in golf.
DENVER
Blue Moon toasts Rockies’ 20th
Blue Moon Brewing Co. launched a beer to honor the 20th anniversary of the Colorado Rockies. The 20th Anniversary Ale is an amber ale that will be served exclusively at Coors Field throughout the 2013 MLB season. Blue Moon Brewing opened for business in 1995 at The Sandlot, a brewery within Coors Field.
Broncos hire Fields Inc.
Sports general contractor Fields Inc. was chosen by the Denver Broncos to rebuild two natural grass practice fields at the Broncos Conditioning Center in Dove Valley, Colo. Fields will install a hydronic heating system under both practice fields to prevent the turf from freezing.
KANSAS CITY
Royals will hold 50/50 fundraisers
The Kansas City Royals’ charitable group Royals Charities will host a 50/50 raffle during each of the club’s home games this season. The fundraiser will be sponsored by Edelman & Thompson. Royals Charities staff will sell raffle tickets from the time the gates open until the end of the sixth inning. One winner gets half of the evening’s net proceeds; the other half will go to Royals Charities.
‘Buck’s seat’ continues
The Royals and Fox Sports Kansas City will again partner on the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat program this year. Since 2007, the club has paid tribute to the Kansas City Monarchs legend by filling “Buck’s seat” with a member of the community who is deemed to embody an aspect of O’Neil’s spirit.
PHILADELPHIA
TriRock gets title sponsor
Johnson & Johnson will title sponsor the TriRock Philadelphia Triathlon in June. Formerly known as the Philly Tri, the 9th annual TriRock Philadelphia will feature a Sprint distance race June 22 and an Olympic distance race June 23. Both events take place in Fairmount Park.
SACRAMENTO
River Cats renew app partnership
The Class AAA Sacramento River Cats renewed their partnership with inGame App, a smartphone application that lets spectators earn points and compete for prizes during promotions at River Cats games. The locally based franchiser of Jiffy Lube stores developed the app with digital partner CyberSense.
SEATTLE
Sounders Women sign 3 Point
3 Point Productions is partnering with Seattle Sounders Women to produce game entertainment and provide fan experience consulting for the team’s W-League games this season at Starfire Sports Stadium. The team’s season begins this month.
ST. LOUIS
Blues partner with LockerDome
Social media platform LockerDome agreed to a deal with the St. Louis Blues, marking the company’s first team-based deal. The Blues LockerDome Network will offer various prizes to fans based on their engagement with the team, including game tickets and the ability to greet the team as it takes the ice.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
COVENTRY, ENGLAND
Haskell to buy into Coventry City
U.S. billionaire Preston Haskell agreed to a deal to purchase a half share of League One Coventry City’s stadium with the hope of buying the club out of an impending administration, according to a (London) Sunday Times report. Haskell’s plan includes bringing The Sky Blue Trust onto a restructured board by offering the supporters’ body a 20 percent stake in the club.
LONDON
Wimbledon to OK new roof
Wimbledon is set to give the green light to a roof above Court No. 1 as part of a redevelopment of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, according to a Daily Mail report. The club’s hierarchy is believed to have already made the decision to cover the 11,500-seat secondary arena as part of a plan called Wimbledon 2020.
MADRID
Atletico working on Bwin deal
La Liga club Atletico Madrid is negotiating a deal with online betting provider Bwin to become its title sponsor next season, according to a Goal report. For this season, the Madrid-based club has a main jersey deal with Azerbaijan’s tourism authority worth $15.6 million.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Ecclestone eyes grand prix return
Rio de Janeiro could see the country’s Formula One grand prix return to the city in the near future, according to a Globo Esporte report. F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone reportedly is not satisfied with the infrastructure of the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo and has talked to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes about having the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio in 2016. The race had runs in both Rio and São Paulo between 1972 and 1989 but has been held in São Paulo since 1990.
STUTTGART, GERMANY
VfB Stuttgart sporting Benz letters
Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart will wear a special jersey for the introduction of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA. Through April 21, the club’s jersey will feature the letters “CLA” on the chest. The team plays in Mercedes-Benz Arena and has a jersey sponsorship with Mercedes-Benz Bank.
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