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Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast

AUBURN, ALA.
$13.9M in stadium upgrades approved

The Auburn University board of trustees unanimously approved a $13.9 million upgrade to the video scoreboard in the south end zone of Jordan-Hare Stadium, according to an Opelika-Auburn News report. The project will include new ribbon boards along the upper deck and a new public address system.

BUFFALO
Sabres collect cellphones for troops

The Buffalo Sabres Green Team is joining up with the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers to provide troops with cost-free methods of communication with their loved ones. Donated cellphones will be sent to Michigan-based ReCellular for recycling. For every donated phone, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide 2 1/2 hours of free talk time for deployed troops.

CINCINNATI
Reds installing The Bootlegger

The Cincinnati Reds are adding The Bootlegger bar to Great American Ball Park just in time to host the MLB All-Star Game this summer. The new bar on the first-base side of the lower-level concourse will give fans the feel of walking into an old-time bar while also moving some of the concession lines out of the concourse walkway.

CLEMSON, S.C.
Board OKs $63M arena project

Clemson University’s board of trustees gave final approval to renovation of Littlejohn Coliseum, according to a Greenville News report. The $63.5 million renovation of the nearly 50-year-old arena will include an overhaul of the playing area and add more than 450 premium-level seats. The project is scheduled for a fall 2016 completion.

COLUMBUS
Jackets set up annual Career Fair

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ 10th annual Career Fair is set for Feb. 24 at Nationwide Arena. Registration includes entry to the fair, a “Breaking Into Sports” panel discussion and a ticket to the game that night, when the Jackets host the Buffalo Sabres.

DALLAS
Investors sought for stadium area

Dallas-based developer Citizens Capital is seeking investors for a multimillion-dollar project it says would bring hotels, restaurants, retail and apartment complexes south of AT&T Stadium, according to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram report. Citizens Capital CEO Billy Hawkins said that he expects to close on the 28.5-acre bank-owned property in the next 90 days.

Torres (left) holds his No. 9 jersey with Houston Dynamo President Chris Canetti.
Photo by: WILF THORNE / HOUSTON DYNAMO
HOUSTON
Dynamo look to future with Torres

The Houston Dynamo formally introduced Erick “Cubo” Torres, and team President Chris Canetti called the acquisition of the Mexican national team player the most significant signing in franchise history, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Torres was developed by Mexican team Chivas de Guadalajara and is on loan with the club through the next five months.

LAS VEGAS
Arena settles on 52 suites

AEG and MGM Resorts think that 44 luxury suites and eight bunker suites at their $375 million arena fit the local market, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report. The companies came to that assessment by visiting arenas across the country and analyzing Las Vegas’ population and corporate demographics.

LOS ANGELES
UCLA receives $10 million gift

A $10 million gift from longtime philanthropists Jim and Carol Collins will be put toward the Wasserman Football Center project at UCLA. The university will name an aspect of the center in their honor. In addition, the east plaza of Pauley Pavilion will now be known as the Collins Family Plaza.

The soon-to-be-renamed winner’s circle
Photo by: CHURCHILL DOWNS
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Mumm’s the word at Churchill Downs

G.H. Mumm will be the official Champagne of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Racetrack after a three-year partnership was completed between the two companies. The partnership begins with the 141st running of the Derby on May 2 and calls for the G.H. Mumm Winner’s Circle to be created as part of construction at the track.

MIAMI
Marlins start B2B program

The Miami Marlins created their corporate engagement program, Baseball to Business (B2B). B2B is a platform that connects team partners, community leaders and corporate clients, and the businesses they operate. Members of B2B receive personal attention from the Marlins executive membership team.

PHILADELPHIA
76ers fill mascot position

The Sixers’ new mascot, Franklin, dropped in for some fluffy fun with schoolchildren at the Franklin Institute last week.
Photo by: DAVID DOW / NBA PHOTOS
The Philadelphia 76ers unveiled a new mascot at a media event last week. Franklin made his public debut by rappelling from the top of the rotunda in the Franklin Institute, high above the statue of Ben Franklin, and proceeded to show his dance moves with the Sixers Dancers and clown around with the Phillie Phanatic. Franklin will make his in-game debut on Friday. The Sixers have been without a mascot for four seasons after the demise of Hip-Hop, an acrobatic rabbit.

Sixers freeze prices for early renewers
The 76ers will hold season-ticket prices at their current level until after the 2016-17 season for fans who renew their tickets by April 15 of this year. The offer was made to season-ticket holders in an email sent out by the team earlier this month.

Arena Wi-Fi gets upgrade
Comcast-Spectacor is introducing an upgraded and free Xfinity Wi-Fi network at Wells Fargo Center. Comcast-Spectacor partnered with Cisco and Comcast Business to build the network using the Cisco Connected Stadium solution.

NEW YORK
Knicks, Rangers extend radio deal

MSG Networks and ESPN New York 98.7 FM agreed to a multiyear extension. The station will continue to serve as the exclusive radio broadcaster of New York Knicks and New York Rangers games. It has aired Knicks and Rangers games since 2004.

PITTSBURGH

Pens, Labatt tap Power Play Lager
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Labatt partnered to create a specialty Power Play Lager, which is available for a limited time in the Pittsburgh area. Each bottle of Labatt Power Play Lager features the Penguins logo. In addition, with each specialty case purchase, fans will get a free Penguins T-shirt.

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
Stadium area getting wireless boost

Silicon Valley Power will partner with California-based DAS Group Professionals to install a $2 million wireless system near Levi’s Stadium, according to a San Jose Mercury-News report. SVP and DAS plan to mount 40 antennas inside power poles in the area of the stadium, California’s Great America theme park and the Santa Clara Convention Center.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Jersey includes fan cheer element

In a meeting with season-ticket holders, D.C. United unveiled its new secondary jersey, which features a nod to longtime supporters groups, according to a Washington Post report. The team inserted one of the groups’ classic cheers — “Vamos United Esta Noche Tenemos Que Ganar” — on the inside of the jersey’s necktape.

Redskins want loyal fans’ input
The Washington Redskins began surveying season-ticket holders about what they would want from a new football stadium, according to a Washington Post report. The 12-question survey asks whether fans would want the lower bowl seats to move/shake similar to the RFK Stadium experience, whether fans would want to be able to view the field from concourses, how important public transportation would be for a new stadium, and whether dedicated tailgating lots are important.

WEST POINT, N.Y.
Army, Aspire sign 5-year extension

The Army Athletic Association and The Aspire Group reached a five-year extension. Army and Aspire began working together in 2011 and have extended a partnership that allows Black Knights fans a full menu of ticket options for football, basketball, hockey and lacrosse games.


      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS


BERLIN
Hertha Berlin signs Kumho

Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin agreed to a sponsorship deal with South Korean tiremaker Kumho. The company will receive extensive ad presence on LED boards as well as in the club’s publications. The deal will run until the end of the 2016-17 season.

BOCHUM, GERMANY
Team adds 2 years to shirt deal

Second Bundesliga side VfL Bochum extended its shirt sponsorship deal with discount retail chain Netto for another two years. The company’s logo will remain on the front of the club’s jerseys through June 2017. Netto has been the club’s shirt sponsor since 2009.

DOHA, QATAR
F1 race closer to reality

Qatar is reportedly on the verge of signing a contract with Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone to host a race in the next two years, according to a (London) Independent report. The host of the 2022 World Cup has been pining for a place on the F1 calendar for years.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY
Team keeps Taiwan Embassy deal

Second Bundesliga club FSV Frankfurt extended and increased its partnership with the Taiwan Embassy in Germany until June 30. The sponsorship includes banner ads at Frankfurter Volksbank Stadion and other logos in press areas and in written publications of FSV Frankfurt.

GENEVA
Eurosport to show ATP event

Eurosport secured a three-year agreement to be the European broadcaster of the new ATP Geneva Open. The partnership will run from 2015-17. The deal includes exclusive TV and digital rights across all 54 territories covered by Eurosport in Europe.

LONDON
West Ham wearing lucrative new shirt

West Ham United reached a new shirt sponsorship deal with online bookmaker Betway, according to a (London) Guardian report. West Ham was left without a sponsor after its deal with Alpari collapsed when the Swiss company went into liquidation last month. Betway will pay West Ham $30 million over the next 3 1/2 years. The deal with Alpari was worth $4.5 million per year.

USMANOV
Arsenal backer helps Russia coach
Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov stepped in with an emergency loan so that Russia can pay national team coach Fabio Capello $6 million in back wages, according to a (London) Guardian report. Usmanov, a mining magnate worth an estimated $14 billion according to Forbes, is the second-largest shareholder in Arsenal.

Spurs appeal to Chinese fans
Tottenham Hotspur unveiled a new Chinese-language website. Partnering with Chinese online sports portal Netease Sports, the site launches in time for the Chinese New Year and will act as the hub for all digital initiatives, bringing the latest news and videos directly to Chinese fans.

MADRID
Atlético plans 200 stores in China

Atlético Madrid will open 200 retail outlets throughout China, according to an AS report. The club will have a bigger presence in China than any other European team. Atlético will open these stores in the Wanda Malls, the shopping centers owned by Wang Jianlin, who bought 20 percent of the club earlier this year.

MANCHESTER
Man U teams with Emtel

Manchester United reached a multiyear partnership with Mauritius-based mobile operator and IT company Emtel Ltd. The new partnership will see Emtel stream Man U content across TV, mobile and Internet platforms in conjunction with Canal+ and CanalSat.

Man City puts data on fans’ wrists
Manchester City unveiled a new match-day app for wearable Android devices. The app notifies users of key match-day moments such as team sheet announcements, goal alerts, penalties, red cards and other team commentary.

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND

Tourney extends with longtime sponsor
The European Senior Tour’s Travis Perkins Masters extended its sponsorship with the home improvement retailer until 2018, with a prize purse for this year of $490,600 — an increase of $30,700 over last year. This year marks Travis Perkins’ eighth consecutive edition as title sponsor at the Woburn Golf Club tournament.

MOSCOW
Kia ends FC Spartak deal

Kia Motors terminated its sponsorship of FC Spartak Moscow after more than five years. A two-year contract between Kia Motors and Spartak was signed in 2009 and was later extended. At the same time, a similar sponsorship contract was signed between the automaker and the Russian Premier League.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio security tab at $127M

Rio de Janeiro will spend $127 million on security for the 2016 Olympic Games over the three years of preparation for the event, according to a Rio Times report. Around $36 million of that budget has already been spent on new equipment.

ROME
Roma, Getty partner on content

Getty Images and Serie A side AS Roma announced a strategic agreement in which Getty will acquire global sales rights for a newly curated collection of imagery that documents the club both on and off the field. AS Roma content will be available exclusively via Getty Images’ platform.

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

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

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