BOSTON
Heartbreak Hill names official charity
Boston Children’s Hospital partnered with the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon and Festival as the official charity for the inaugural event, taking place June 6-8. The partnership will emphasize the free kids’ runs that kick off the race weekend.
Book ranks 100 greatest games
Author Rob Sneddon has ranked the greatest games in Boston sports history for a new book, “Boston’s 100 Greatest Games.” Sneddon used a four-part formula to determine the top 100 — a list that includes games from the 2013 World Series as well as from the 19th century.
BUFFALO
Bisons finish ballpark upgrades
The International League’s Buffalo Bisons completed upgrades at Coca-Cola Field for the 2014 season. The additions include a 120-speaker system and a pair of 50-foot full-video LED message boards on the ballpark’s club-level facade. The $500,000 investment was financed jointly by the Bisons and the city.
CHARLOTTE
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Top-ranked Florida State defeated Duke 45-7 in 2013 at Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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ACC finale signed through 2019
The ACC will keep the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium through 2019. The venue has hosted the last four ACC title games. The games have averaged attendance of 69,632, including sellout crowds in 2010 and 2011.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
Cubs sign field naming-rights deal
Florida-based Radiology Associates Imaging struck a five-year deal with the Class A Florida State League Daytona Cubs for naming rights to the team’s field, according to a Daytona Beach News-Journal report. The company also will have its name on several signs throughout Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
DETROIT
Wings, Warrior assisting youth hockey
The Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars Amateur Sports reached a new three-year partnership with Warrior Sports. Warrior will provide members of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club and members of the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League with equipment, footwear and apparel.
LOS ANGELES
MLS buys Chivas USA
Major League Soccer bought Chivas USA from Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes. The league has assumed responsibility for operating the club. The league will look to resell the club to a new ownership group that intends to build a new stadium and keep the team in Los Angeles.
ORLANDO
Magic brews up promotions
The Orlando Magic’s partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts tipped off last month and includes community initiatives and promotions throughout the season. As part of the “Make Every #MonDDayMagic” program, the Dunkin’ Donuts Mobile App features a coupon for free coffee every Monday through April 21.
PHILADELPHIA
AFL Soul tackles concussion issues
The Philadelphia Soul and Virtua teamed up to create a concussion program that will include players and coaches from the Arena Football League team teaching kids proper tackling techniques, and medical experts from the southern New Jersey health system educating coaches and parents about head injuries. The program is called “Virtua Certified, Soul Approved.”
PHOENIX
Host group starts ‘Business Connect’
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee announced its first community program, “Business Connect.” The program, presented by CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Co. and mining company Freeport-McMoRan, will inform and engage Arizona-based small businesses on procurement opportunities associated with Super Bowl XLIX.
Suns, Rattlers market together
The Phoenix Suns and the AFL Arizona Rattlers established a new marketing partnership. A redesign of the Phoenix Suns Gorilla Greenhouse will include “Gorilla and Friends” where Rattlers mascot Stryker joins the Gorilla and the Phoenix Mercury’s Scorch in the play area on the upper concourse of US Airways Center. The Rattlers branding includes an interactive football game to be projected on the floor for children to enjoy during both NBA and AFL games.
Coyotes, Pointstreak offer tech help
The Phoenix Coyotes reached an agreement with Pointstreak Sports Technologies to provide a technology overhaul for hockey players in Arizona. The Coyotes are providing participating leagues with access to Pointstreak’s real-time scoring and official statistics system, content management and website hosting system, online registration platform and video indexing system.
PITTSBURGH
Pirates partner with Van Wagner
The Pittsburgh Pirates reached a multiyear partnership with Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment. Van Wagner will maintain and operate the home plate and first base rotational signs at PNC Park and make adjustments to maximize exposure for team partners.
SEATTLE
Seahawks, Sounders to use Skyview
The Seattle Seahawks, Sounders FC and Skyview Networks reached new multiyear partnership for inventory management systems. Skyview will provide its AdView Inventory Management software and Live Read Service to the franchises’ traffic department. The system will manage both teams’ inventory in the same system.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Verizon Center gets iBeacon technology
Radius Networks partnered with LetsMoveDown to enhance the Verizon Center fan experience. LetsMoveDown brings mobile, iBeacon-enabled, in-game ticket upgrades and customized fan offers to arenas. iBeacons are short-range, Bluetooth, low-energy transmitters that notify mobile devices when they are within 100 feet of a beacon.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
ABU DHABI, U.A.E.
UFC Fight Night series scheduled
UFC organizers launched the first in a series of five events to be staged in the Arab region over the next two years, with two set for Abu Dhabi, according to a report in The National. The first UFC Fight Night will take place April 11 at the du Arena.
BARCELONA
Barca pays Neymar-related taxes
FC Barcelona said that it has paid $18.6 million to Spanish tax authorities after the club was charged with tax fraud in the signing of Brazil forward Neymar, according to a Reuters report. The team insisted that it had not committed any tax offense and said the payment had been made because of a possible difference of interpretation about the amount owed after signing Neymar.
CHORZÓW, POLAND
Sponsor pays team by the goal
Polish side Ruch Chorzów signed an innovative sponsorship deal with Germany’s Fuchs Oil, according to an Inside World Football report. The new sponsor will pay the club a fee each time it scores a goal.
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND
Team signs financial planner
Financial planner Louise Woollard Financial joined League Championship Huddersfield Town as a commercial partner. The 18-month partnership will see LWF conduct financial planning workshops with the club’s academy players.
MANCHESTER
Man City signs camera partner
Manchester City signed a multiyear partnership deal with camera company iON to become the club’s official global sports action camera partner. The deal will see iON cameras being used for training, coaching and scouting at the Premier League outfit.
WARRINGTON, ENGLAND
Wolves roll out VenueMenu app
Super League rugby side Warrington Wolves introduced a new app for fans at its Halliwell Jones Stadium, according to a Liverpool Echo report. Fans can use VenueMenu to order food, drinks and merchandise through their smartphones for delivery right to their seats. Centerplate partnered with the Wolves and VenueMenu to begin a trial of the app.
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