ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Hyundai rebranding Rangers club
The Texas Rangers reached a five-year sponsorship with Hyundai. The partnership through the 2018 season includes a rebranding of the former Batter’s Eye Club, the indoor seating area located beyond center field.
ATLANTA
Judge OKs stadium bonds process
A Cobb County Superior Court judge late last month approved the process for the county to issue bonds to pay its share of the new $622 million Atlanta Braves stadium. Opponents say taxpayers shouldn’t pay for the stadium. They are expected to appeal the judge’s ruling.
KANSAS CITY
Pizzas get Royal treatment
The Kansas City Royals are featured on a new, limited-edition Papa John’s pizza box. The box, which incorporates the Royals’ official logo and team colors, is available at Kansas City area locations through the end of the 2014 season. Papa John’s is the official pizza of the Royals.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Fans can select hole location again
A PGA Championship hole location will be chosen with help from fan votes for a second year. Fans can visit PGA.com/vote to choose among four final-round pin placements for the 16th hole at Valhalla, site of this week’s event. Voting ends Saturday. The promotion is called the “PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge hosted by Jack Nicklaus presented by Samsung.”
MILWAUKEE
Ice Center renews with USOC
The U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. Speedskating and the Pettit National Ice Center renewed their agreement designating the center as an official U.S. Olympic training site. The agreement runs through April 2018.
NASHVILLE
Dogs welcome at Sounds game
The Nashville Sounds are having a “Bark In The Park” promotion on Sunday, giving fans a chance to bring their favorite pooch to the ballpark for the first time since 2004. The event is presented in partnership with the Nashville Humane Association. Designated seating sections will be set aside for all dogs and their owners. Tickets are $10 for owners and $3 for dogs. The Sounds are the Class AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
World’s Largest Golf Outing tees up across U.S.
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A wounded warrior tees off at RedGate Golf Course in Rockville, Md., last year. Bottom photo: A color guard appears with golfers at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course in Harrisburg, Pa., at last year’s outing.
Photos: COURTESY OF BILLY CASPER GOLF
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Billy Casper Golf will host the fourth annual World’s Largest Golf Outing on Aug. 11 to benefit Wounded Warrior Project. The simultaneous golf outing will be played at more than 120 BCG-managed courses in 28 states and is open to all golfers regardless of ability. A USGA handicap is not required. Teams are encouraged to raise additional funds to support the cause.
Last year, BCG hosted more than 10,000 golfers, including 70 injured service members at 110 of its courses in 24 states and raised $725,000 for WWP.
Judge issues injunction on website
A federal judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the current owner of OrlandoPredators.com from redirecting the site, according to an Orlando Sentinel report. The domain recently had been redirecting to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s list of sexual offenders and predators. The Arena Football League filed a lawsuit to take possession of the website.
PHILADELPHIA
World Cup qualifiers scheduled
PPL Park will play host to the semifinal, third-place match and championship games of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship on Oct. 24 and 26. The two finalists and the winner of the third-place match will qualify directly for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
50/50 raffles planned for Eagles games
Eagles Youth Partnership is introducing a 50/50 raffle at all Philadelphia Eagles home games. Proceeds will benefit EYP’s health and education programs. Fans can purchase tickets for a 50/50 drawing at Lincoln Financial Field for a chance to win half of the jackpot.
RICHMOND, VA.
New displays for VCU arena
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Stuart C. Siegel Center will have a new, center-hung LED video display system in place by the end of the summer. The main Daktronics display will include four screens, each 11.5 feet high by 15.5 wide. A two-foot-high ribbon display will ring the bottom of the center-hung unit.
SACRAMENTO
Judge OKs arena construction
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley cleared the way for construction to begin on the Sacramento Kings’ new $477 million arena, according to a Sacramento Bee report. Frawley rejected an attempt by the arena’s opponents to block the project.
SAN FRANCISCO
Seats from the ‘Stick’ for sale
Candlestick Park seats are being offered through the Candlestick Memories program. Pairs of seats can be purchased online as is or with the autographs from a pair of their favorite Candlestick Park legends, including Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, Will Clark, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper. Prices range from $749 to $3,500. Proceeds will benefit the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Redskins partner with the Times
The Washington Times and the Washington Redskins reached a partnership that will make the newspaper a content and marketing partner of the club. A weekly “Redskins Weekend Game Guide” will wrap the front page of the Times’ print edition each Friday during the NFL season.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
Team gets collegiate sponsor
W-League side Canberra United signed a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with the University of Canberra. As part of the deal, sports studies and communication students will be able to undertake internships with the team.
LONDON
Brentford FC signs betting partner
League Championship side Brentford FC reached a new partnership with sports betting exchange Matchbook.com. Matchbook is now the official betting partner of the club. The Matchbook.com logo will be displayed on Brentford’s home and away kit for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign.
MADRID
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Real Madrid fans find their sizes at a stadium store.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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New player drives shirt revenue
Real Madrid reportedly sold 345,000 James Rodríguez replica shirts since signing the player last month, according to a (London) Independent report. Figures from Euromericas Sport Marketing indicated that in the 48 hours after Rodríguez was introduced by Real Madrid, $34 million in shirts were sold.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Olympic athletes testing waters
Athletes concerned about pollution in Guanabara Bay that will be used for Olympic sailing competitions will carry out their own water tests this week, according to a Bloomberg report. International squads traveled to Brazil for the 2016 Summer Games’ first test event amid concerns over water quality in the bay.
VALENCIA, SPAIN
Bank customers get season tickets
La Liga side Valencia CF and Spanish bank CaixaBank signed an agreement in which the bank becomes one of the club’s official sponsors for the next three seasons, according to a SuperDeporte report. Valencia fans who are registered with CaixaBank will receive tickets for the 2014-15 season.
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