ATLANTA
Fans flock to new hall of fame
Fans of more than 150 colleges visited the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience on its opening day Aug. 23, according to an Atlanta Journal Constitution report. Rather than a traditional ribbon-cutting, dignitaries on stage blew whistles to signal the opening.
BERKELEY, CALIF.
Cal arena getting $10M overhaul
Haas Pavilion at the University of California will undergo a $10 million renovation, including a new center-hung scoreboard, upgraded sound and lighting systems and modernized video production facilities. Construction is expected to begin in May. The lead engineer will be Idibri, San Diego.
BOSTON
Mayor has sights on Grand Prix
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh assembled a Boston Grand Prix committee and is in contact with Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles in a bid to land a Verizon IndyCar Series race, according to a Boston Herald report. The nascent Grand Prix Boston is spearheading the drive to bring the open-wheel championship race to town.
CHARLOTTE
City may spend $27M on arena upgrades
The city of Charlotte is prepared to spend $27.5 million in capital improvements for Time Warner Cable Arena, as well as 10 years’ worth of annual payments of $600,000 for continuing maintenance, according to a Charlotte Observer report. City Council members are scheduled to vote on the deal Sept. 8.
CLEVELAND
|
The newest Cavalier looks out over the intersection of East 9th and Prospect.
Photo by: ICONIX BRAND GROUP
|
Starter welcomes Love to Cleveland
Starter signed NBA All-Star Kevin Love as its newest brand ambassador and erected a billboard welcoming him to Cleveland. The athletic apparel brand signed an agreement with Love to endorse its Starter Pro Series collection. Love is slated to appear in the brand’s 2014-15 national advertising campaign and marketing initiatives.
Browns report brisk ticket sales
The Cleveland Browns increased their season-ticket base by about 10 percent in each of the last two years, according to a (Cleveland) Plain Dealer report. Single-game tickets were made available to the public Aug. 12 this year, and within 15 minutes, games against the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers sold out, including all premium areas.
COLUMBUS
Jackets staff, volunteers clean up
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ ticket sales and service team invited season-ticket holders to join them for a beautification project Aug. 16. The group of 164 volunteers worked on landscaping, painting and litter abatement projects around the Dodge Park area of Columbus’ Franklinton neighborhood.
DETROIT
Red Wings partner with Perani’s
The Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars Amateur Sports reached a three-year partnership with Perani’s Hockey World to make the sporting goods store the official hockey retailer of both organizations. Perani’s is a Michigan-based sporting goods retailer focused on hockey and lacrosse.
KANSAS CITY
Royals, Sprint reward phone recycling
The Kansas City Royals are partnering with Ericsson and Sprint on a phone recycling campaign this season. To promote the program, Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie will join mascot Sluggerrr to meet fans at Sprint stores on Sept. 12. Fans who turn in old phones will receive two free Royals tickets to a 2014 home game and a Sprint store credit of up to $300.
MILLVILLE, N.J.
Yamaha, Ion partner with NJMP
Yamaha renewed its partnership with New Jersey Motorsports Park. Yamaha receives signs at the facility’s Thunderbolt and Lightning raceways, exhibit space, and a seasonlong souvenir program ad. Additionally, the park reached a partnership with Ion, making Ion the official camera of NJMP and presenting sponsor of the 2014 Kawasaki Devil’s Showdown, an AMA Pro Road Racing event this month.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
SMG to operate new Vikings stadium
SMG will operate the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium after beating AEG and Global Spectrum in an intense competition for the contract, said Lester Bagley, the team’s executive vice president of public affairs and stadium development. As part of a 10-year deal, SMG will pay a $6.75 million annual guarantee to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the Vikings’ landlord.
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
WTA event fan attendance up over 2013
The 2014 WTA Connecticut Open finished with an overall attendance of 47,140 — up 1,344 from the 2013 total, according to a Connecticut Post report. Long-term plans for the Connecticut Tennis Center include the installation of a new heating/air conditioning system, as well as a permanent kitchen/catering facility.
NEW ORLEANS
Track adding new video screens
Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans will be installing two high-definition video screens by the opening of the 2014-15 horse racing season, according to a (New Orleans) Times-Picayune report. Fixing a broken infield screen was required by the Louisiana Racing Commission for Churchill Downs Inc. to be granted a license renewal to run the track.
OAKLAND
Plan calls for multiple new facilities
Oakland city officials released planning studies for the development they envision around O.co Coliseum, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. In addition to a new ballpark for the A’s and a new football stadium for the Raiders, the plan includes an arena for the Golden State Warriors, who want to build a new facility in San Francisco.
ORLANDO
Magic drafts FanDuel in sponsorship
FanDuel joined the Orlando Magic as a Champions of the Community sponsor. COTC sponsors seek opportunities to work with the Magic on outreach initiatives that benefit the local community. Founded in 2009, FanDuel offers one-day and one-week fantasy sports leagues.
PHILADELPHIA
Union renews Bimbo partnership
The Philadelphia Union renewed its multiyear partnership with Bimbo Bakeries USA, extending the company’s reign as the team’s jersey and team apparel sponsor. Bimbo will also continue to support youth soccer in the Delaware Valley as well as nationally.
|
Fresh slices from Marc Vetri’s Pizzeria Vetri can be found at Lincoln Financial Field.
Photo by: JOHN GEORGE
|
Eagles, Aramark add food options
The Philadelphia Eagles and Aramark added new food offerings at Lincoln Financial Field. Among the additions to the stadium clubs this year are Marc Vetri’s Pizzeria Vetri and Quick & Carmichael’s BBQ, named in honor of the former Eagles All-Pro wide receivers Mike Quick and Harold Carmichael. Also new this year is the addition of Dunkin’ Donuts and Rita’s Italian Ice stands throughout the stadium.
SEATTLE
Husky Stadium section adds beer, wine
University of Washington football fans will be able to buy alcohol at a new standing-room-only section of Husky Stadium this season, according to a Seattle Post-Intelligencer report. Beer and wine will be available before and during games at the stadium’s new Off-Leash Deck. Tickets in the section are $25.
Seahawks, Boeing start youth program
The Seattle Seahawks and Boeing announced a community program — Legion of Youth Powered by Boeing — that will give out 100 tickets for each home game to a group or organization. Twenty-five youths will each receive four game tickets, breakfast with a special message from a Seahawks alum, concession vouchers and a sweatshirt.
SONOMA, CALIF.
Raceway unaffected by earthquake
Sonoma Raceway officials said that the circuit was not damaged by the earthquake that hit the Napa Valley region Aug. 24, allowing the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma to begin that afternoon as scheduled.
TORONTO
Raptors get green light for $30M facility
The Toronto Raptors last week got the go-ahead from Toronto City Council to build a $30 million practice facility at the city-owned Exhibition Place site, according to a (Toronto) Globe and Mail report. The city will own the building, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment will cover operating costs and lease the facility for 20 years.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
AKTOBE, KAZAKHSTAN
New stadium part of larger effort
FC Aktobe unveiled plans to build a new stadium with a seating capacity of 32,000, according to an Inside World Football report. The club said construction of the new facility, to be built in compliance with UEFA standards, will be supported by the country’s government as part of an effort to promote the sport. The team’s current stadium has about 13,500 seats.
DORTMUND, GERMANY
Team signs electronics firm
Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund signed a sponsorship deal with electronics company Grundig to become the team’s official technology partner. As part of the deal, Grundig will equip Signal Iduna Park with its displays.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Team weighing takeover input
Supporters of Scottish Championship club Hibernian are being asked their views on the possibility of taking control from owner Tom Farmer through a community buyout, according to a BBC report. Parties have expressed an interest in buying the team since the Edinburgh club was relegated to the Championship.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Newcastle owner ups Rangers stake
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley would buy the Scottish Championship Rangers only if he sells the EPL club, according to a (London) Daily Mirror report. Ashley has increased his stake in the Rangers but is not looking to take control of the franchise at this point, according to the report.
Aquatics event awarded
Glasgow was named host city for the 2018 European Aquatics Championships. It will be the first time Scotland has staged the event, which includes swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and open-water competitions.
HANOI, VIETNAM
Players, bookmaker found guilty
A Vietnam court found nine players and a bookmaker guilty of match-fixing after they colluded to throw an AFC Cup game in Malaysia in return for a $40,000 bribe, according to a Reuters report. The court jailed bookmaker Dao Duc Loi and former national team player Tran Manh each for 30 months and gave suspended sentences to eight others.
MANCHESTER
Man City partners with MTN Cameroon
Manchester City reached a new club partnership with telecom provider MTN Cameroon. As part of the two-year deal, MTN will become Man City’s official telecom partner in Cameroon. MTN acquired wide-ranging licensing rights to use the club crest and player imagery in national marketing campaigns.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Arena renews Hisense naming rights
Hisense Australia reached a three-year renewal of its deal to be the naming-rights sponsor of Melbourne Park’s Hisense Arena. The electronics brand also signed an agreement with Tennis Australia, extending its sponsorship of the Australian Open through 2017 and remaining the tourney’s official TV and refrigerator supplier.
PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
Stadium construction restarting
The construction of Botev Plovdiv’s Hristo Botev Stadium will restart this week after club owner Tsvetan Vasilev decided to transfer his shares in the team to business partner Veselin Bushev, according to an Inside World Football report. The club previously had announced plans to invest $13.5 million for an extensive refurbishment of the venue.
|
A commercial plaza is part of the larger development around AS Roma’s new home. Stadium construction is set for this year.
Rendering: AS ROMA
|
ROME
AS Roma stadium up for approval
Officials for AS Roma and the city of Rome announced plans for development around the Serie A club’s planned new stadium, including a new Metro station, a pedestrian bridge and a park near the Tiber River. The development plans will be up for approval by Rome’s City Council this week.
SOCHI, RUSSIA
Ecclestone: Grand prix will proceed
Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that F1 has no argument with Russia and that the country’s debut grand prix will go ahead as planned in October despite the crisis in Ukraine, according to a Reuters report. Ecclestone: “We have a contract. Our friends there, they are happy with the contract, so we’ll be there.”
SYDNEY
Overhaul set for stadium, cricket ground
ANZ Stadium will get a roof and the Sydney Cricket Ground will become a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment district as part of a $465 million overhaul of Sydney’s sporting venues, according to a Sunday Telegraph report. The two projects are at the heart of a plan expected to be unveiled soon by the state government that would put Sydney ahead of Melbourne in the race for major sporting events.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.