Coast to Coast

ATLANTA
College football hall picks 2 agencies
The new College Football Hall of Fame selected two Atlanta-based agencies as its marketing and communications partners. Jackson Spalding will manage communications planning, media relations, event planning and digital/social media strategy. CSE will direct the hall’s advertising, creative campaign development, media buying and production.

BALTIMORE
M&T Bank touts Ravens sans players
M&T Bank launched a new Baltimore Ravens-themed ad campaign that features coach John Harbaugh, team President Dick Cass and M&T Greater Baltimore President Augie Chiasera. Ravens players are absent from the campaign.

BOSTON
Sabermetrics conference sells out
The fourth annual “Sabermetrics, Scouting & the Science of Baseball” conference was held before a sold-out crowd at Boston University earlier this month. Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, team manager John Farrell and Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow headlined the presentations.

BUFFALO
NHL combine coming to Buffalo
The NHL and the Buffalo Sabres last week formally announced plans to hold the NHL combine in Buffalo in 2015 and 2016 at First Niagara Center and the soon-to-be-completed HarborCenter complex near the arena. Kaleida Health is partnering with the team and the league to provide all medical services and testing for the event.

Bills, M&T bank renew pact
The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank renewed their marketing agreement for another five years with a seating sponsorship added to the pact. Now on game days, there will be visits by mascot Billy Buffalo and a free giveaway to ticket holders in a 500-seat M&T Family Zone section at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

BRANDON

Bills CEO to promote accounting firm
The Bonadio Group plans to launch a Western New York marketing campaign that features Bills President and CEO Russ Brandon as the public accounting firm’s spokesman. Much like a 2008 agreement with former Bills head coach Marv Levy, Brandon signed a two-year deal that includes print, radio and online digital advertising.

CHICAGO
Pippen stumps for Giordano’s
Basketball hall of famer Scottie Pippen appeared at the opening of a Giordano’s restaurant in Glenview, Ill. Pippen will serve as a brand ambassador for Giordano’s, though he will not have a formal endorsement deal with the company, according to a Crain’s Chicago Business report. Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose in 2012 became an equity partner in the Chicago-based pizza chain.

Arena will add Allstate name to roof
Rosemont, Ill., officials renewed a naming-rights deal for Allstate Arena with a $15 million pact that will keep the company’s name on the publicly owned venue until 2024, according to a Daily Herald report. The extension features as a new element plans for Allstate’s logo to be placed on top of the facility.

Rodgers gets rare Hallmark treatment this season.

GREEN BAY
Packers QB will adorn Christmas trees
Hallmark stores in Wisconsin are stocking their shelves with an Aaron Rodgers Christmas ornament, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. Hallmark is featuring the ornament nationally this year as the 20th numbered figure in the company’s Football Legends series, which the company has been producing since it minted a figure of Joe Montana in 1995.

JACKSONVILLE
Jags partner with Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Subs entered into a partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the coming season. The deal will showcase the restaurant’s newest promo, “Field Goals for Firehouse.” Fans can score a free sandwich when the Jaguars kick a field goal of 40 yards or more.

MILWAUKEE
Self-service beer planned for ballpark
Milwaukee Sportservice, a subsidiary of Delaware North, filed an application with the city’s Licenses Division for approval to install two DraftServ self-service beer vending machines at Miller Park, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. The Minnesota Twins made the beer-vending service available at Target Field earlier this season.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Target Center picks branding firm
Kansas City-based Dimensional Innovations was selected to provide experiential branding, theming and wayfinding for the renovation of Target Center. Target Center’s $97 million renovation will include additional gathering spaces, clubs, a focus on traffic flow and improved guest amenities.

NEW YORK
Barclays Center, Levy extend deal
Barclays Center and Levy Restaurants extended their partnership with a multiyear deal, building on their acclaimed BrooklynTaste food program, which features selections from 55 popular Brooklyn restaurants and vendors. Levy also will become the food and beverage partner for the soon to be reimagined Nassau Coliseum, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2016.

Ice center, Bauer form partnership
The Kingsbridge National Ice Center and Bauer Hockey agreed a long-term partnership deal. The Bronx ice center, to be completed in 2017, will consist of nine ice rinks, a 5,000-seat arena, a 50,000-square-foot community center, and a health and training facility. Hockey hall of famer Mark Messier is chief executive officer of the center.

ORLANDO
Citrus Bowl Stadium to have new DAS
Mobilitie will install a distributed antenna system at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium as part of the venue’s ongoing renovation. The new system is expected to dramatically improve wireless connectivity for fans at the stadium, which is home to the Capital One Bowl, the Russell Athletic Bowl and future MLS club Orlando City SC.

PHILADELPHIA

Eagles, Acme partner for prizes
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will be featured along with mascot Swoop in the team’s promotional activities for corporate partner Acme Markets this season. The grocery store chain will be awarding weekly sweepstakes prizes, including a Foles jersey for his passing or rushing touchdowns.

Phillies billed for 2008 World Series
The Philadelphia Phillies owe the city of Philadelphia nearly $276,000 for extra services provided to the team during the 2008 World Series. The debt was included in a report issued recently by Philadelphia Controller Alan Butkovitz. The report identified 389 businesses and other entities that collectively owe the city’s police department $2.5 million.

SAN FRANCISCO
Warriors lay out Mission Bay plan

Rendering: GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors sketched out the team’s broad vision for a $1 billion arena and office complex in the Mission Bay neighborhood. The initial design would incorporate an oblong arena placed off-center on a 12-acre site. The main plaza area by the arena would be comparable in size to San Francisco’s Union Square.

STATE COLLEGE, PA.
Spikes extend affiliation with Cardinals
The State College Spikes agreed a two-year extension of their player development contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The extension maintains the affiliation between the Class A Spikes and the MLB Cardinals through the 2016 New York-Penn League season.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Redskins seek to overturn patent decision
The Washington Redskins filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Virginia seeking to overturn a U.S. Patent & Trademark Office decision that canceled the team’s trademark registration, according to a Washington Post report. The team also is suing five Native Americans who won the headline-making patent case on June 18.

      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS

BEIJING
Rogge comments on 2022 bid
Former IOC President Jacques Rogge said that Beijing will do a very good job if it wins the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, according to a Xinhua report. Rogge said that the Chinese people “have the capability of organizing any big event.”

BERLIN
Bikes before planes at new airport
Berlin’s new international airport, which is still under construction, will host a cycling race, according to a Bild report. The Charlottenburg cycling club will organize the final of the U23 Bundesliga at the open space in front of the airport terminal on Sept. 14.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
Aston Villa highlights Andalusia
Andalusia will be Aston Villa FC’s official tourist destination partner for the 2014-15 season. The region in southern Spain is visited by approximately 8 million international tourists every year, including around 2.5 million from the U.K.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
Roar signs exclusive Umbro deal
Umbro will be A-League club Brisbane Roar’s apparel partner for the next four seasons. Initial exclusivity was a priority for Brisbane, meaning the Roar will be the only club in the competition wearing Umbro in the 2014-15 season.

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND
Jockey Club investing in amenities
The Jockey Club will spend more than $52 million in 2014 on its facilities, according to an iSportConnect report. More than $12 million is going into projects including facility amenities for racegoers, owners and trainers, and maintenance work, in addition to more than $50 million this year on its flagship development project at Cheltenham Racecourse.

DORTMUND, GERMANY
Team partners with lighting brands
The Zumtobel Group and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund signed a partnership agreement. The partnership will be shaped by the Zumtobel Group’s two lighting brands, Thorn and Zumtobel, and will run five years.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Pro12 team tabs travel partner

Edinburgh Rugby appointed sports tour specialists Venatour Ltd. as the Pro12 club’s official travel partner. The company will oversee all of the team’s travel requirements, including flights and hotel accommodations, and create selected travel deals for fans for games on the road in the Pro12 and European Rugby Challenge Cup.

HAMBURG, GERMANY
Hamburg SV signs food company
Bundesliga club Hamburg SV signed a new sponsorship deal with German food company Bahlsen for the 2014-15 season. The company’s two brands, Leibnitz and Pick Up!, will be visible during home games on boards in camera view. In addition, the brands will be featured on the clothing of the club’s youth academy as well as on the jersey of team mascot Hermann.

Freezers renew with Lotto Hamburg
German Hockey League club Hamburg Freezers renewed its sponsorship deal with Lotto Hamburg until the end of the 2014-15 season. Lotto Hamburg’s logo will be featured at two spots on the ice at O2 World arena. The lottery has been a partner of the club since 2013.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Team, league renew partnerships
Football Federation Victoria and W-League club Melbourne Victory renewed their partnerships with Jetts Fitness and Banking on Football, according to a Goal report. The Jetts logo will appear on the front of the Victory’s match-day jerseys for a second consecutive season.

PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND
FedEx aligns with Ryder Cup
FedEx will be an official supplier to the 2014 Ryder Cup. FedEx is a long-standing sponsor of the FedEx Cup and the FedEx St. Jude Classic on the PGA Tour, but this is the first time the company has supported the Ryder Cup.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND
Premier League team signs Garmin
Southampton FC named Garmin as its official navigation and fitness device partner. The club will engage with Garmin — whose European headquarters is in Southampton — on a number of initiatives.

SYDNEY
Sydney FC signs business college
A-League club Sydney FC extended its relationship with the Australian Careers Business College by signing it as the club’s Australian marquee player partner for one year, according to an iSportConnect report. ACBC will be afforded match-day branding alongside player Alex Brosque’s headshot during the squad announcement on the scoreboard, match-day sponsorship for two games and other benefits.

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