Menu
Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast

BUFFALO
Sabres, fans set for Community Assist

The Buffalo Sabres are introducing a community program called Sabres Community Assist that will involve the team and fans supporting nonprofit agencies in Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Oct. 18-23 effort will see participants visit area nonprofit organizations and join a fundraising walk to benefit the “I AM” effort.

CHARLOTTE
Turner tabbed for stadium upgrades

The Carolina Panthers selected Turner Construction as the builder for $112 million in upgrades to Bank of America Stadium. The project includes installing new video boards and escalators. Populous is designing the renovations. The Panthers are contributing $37.5 million to the project; the balance is being paid for through public funding.

Cute is what the Reds aim for.
Photos by: CINCINNATI REDS
CINCINNATI
Reds seek really young rookies
The Cincinnati Reds now have an official baby fan club. Reds Rookies members receive a Reds baby baseball cap and bib. A membership booklet of coupons includes vouchers for a free Reds ticket and exclusive ballpark experiences. Kits are $14 at Great American Ball Park, Kroger stores and online at Reds.com/rookies.

CLEVELAND
Drugstore chain presenting Cavs season

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Discount Drug Mart signed a multiyear agreement making the Ohio-based drugstore chain the team’s presenting partner beginning this season.

COLUMBUS
Papa John’s delivering for Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Papa John’s Pizza reached a multiyear renewal and expansion of their corporate partnership. Papa John’s has been affiliated with the team since the 2011-12 season. The partnership includes in-market and in-game promotions as well as ice-level and electronic in-arena messaging.    

HOUSTON
Astros install GilmanSound

The Houston Astros upgraded their audio system with the installation of GilmanSound at Minute Maid Park. The system upgrade reshapes sound waves and distributes them evenly throughout the ballpark. The system also streamlines concert production by allowing bands to use the ballpark’s audio system instead of bringing their own equipment to the venue.

NEWARK, N.J.
Shaq invests in apartment tower

Newark native Shaquille O’Neal was on hand to break ground for the city’s first high-rise apartment since 1962, according to a Newark Star-Ledger report. O’Neal plans to convert the former Science High School building into a 23-story, 169-unit apartment tower. The former NBAer is working in partnership with New Jersey-based Boraie Development, according to the report.

PHILADELPHIA
Eagles roll out new wine
The Philadelphia Eagles, in celebration of the team’s 80th anniversary, have launched a limited edition wine called Rollout. The 2011 cabernet sauvignon bottle’s label features the team logo and a hand illustration of an eagle. Rollout was made by winemaker Samuel Spencer and produced by Cameron Hughes Wine.

PHOENIX
Suns offer $149 season ticket with perks

The Phoenix Suns are launching a Commitment to Community ticket program. The team is offering a 2013-14 Suns Community Membership (season ticket) to military service members, police and fire officials, nurses, and teachers, for $149. Buyers will have dedicated entrances and concession lines, as well a 20 percent discount at participating area restaurants.

PITTSBURGH
Pirates ticket price going up 6 percent

The Pittsburgh Pirates will increase their season-ticket prices next season and add a third tier to their pricing model. The average per-game ticket price in an 81-game package will be $18.32, up from $17.21 this year, for an increase of 6.4 percent. The Pirates did not increase season-ticket prices from 2002 to 2011.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
AHL signs wireless network provider

The AHL reached a deal with ExteNet Systems, making the company the official arena wireless network provider of the league. ExteNet will work with teams and venues to create opportunities to install and operate wireless networks in AHL arenas. The AHL is headquartered in Springfield.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.
Orange athletics will fly Delta

Delta Air Lines signed on to become the official airline of Syracuse University athletics. Delta will be featured on game-day signage at the Carrier Dome and will sponsor in-game promotions during football, basketball and lacrosse games. The Orange football team also will use Delta for charter service during its season.

TORONTO

Drake is taking a visible role with the team.
Photo by: NBAE / GETTY IMAGES
Drake suits up for Raptors makeover
Rapper Drake will become a consultant with the Toronto Raptors, according to multiple reports. Drake, who is from Toronto, reportedly will be a key figure in the team’s planned image makeover that will coincide with the Raptors’ 20th anniversary season in 2014-15.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Monumental adding mobile ticketing option

Monumental Sports & Entertainment is adding a free mobile ticketing option for season-ticket holders of teams that play at Verizon Center. The program will be available to season-ticket holders for the NBA Capitals, NHL Wizards, WNBA Mystics and Georgetown Hoyas. The online account manager site for each team will be optimized for use with any mobile device.



      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS


HONG KONG
More seats sought for stadium

The Hong Kong Stadium must add at least 10,000 seats to its present capacity of 40,000 if the city is to remain an attractive destination for major rugby and other events, according to a South China Morning Post report. Hong Kong Rugby Football Union President Brian Stevenson called on the government for a longer-term solution to remedy the stadium’s shortcomings.

MANCHESTER

Man City adds 10 Twitter accounts
Manchester City expanded its global social media presence by launching 10 new international Twitter accounts. In addition to its existing English and Arabic accounts, the club now offers Twitter content in traditional Chinese, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
Team signs Thai apparel company

Cambodian football club Phnom Penh Crown signed a one-year agreement with Thai sports apparel firm FBT, according to a Phnom Penh Post report. Crown will see its senior and junior academy squads decked out in playing and practice kits as well as receive other gear.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Audit: Olympics cash mostly unspent

An audit into the finances of the 2016 Rio Olympics shows preparations are behind schedule with earmarked state cash largely unspent, according to a Gulf Today report. The Brazilian sports ministry set aside an Olympics and Paralympics budget of $712 million, but an audit has shown that only 5 percent of that funding has been spent.

SYDNEY
Sharks swim strong with infusion

The Cronulla Sharks’ future in the National Rugby League received a boost with news that developers at their Woolooware home base have offered to contribute an extra $9.3 million, according to a (Sydney) Daily Telegraph report. Sharks directors have been in talks to raise funds to pay off a $2.8 million bank loan.

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

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2013/10/07/Coast-to-Coast/Coast-to-Coast.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2013/10/07/Coast-to-Coast/Coast-to-Coast.aspx

CLOSE