AKRON, OHIO
FirstEnergy lines up to race
FirstEnergy Corp. signed a three-year agreement with the Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series to serve as the presenting sponsor of the marathon, half marathon and team relay held each September. FirstEnergy replaces Time Warner Cable, which had served as presenting sponsor since the marathon’s inception in 2003.
BETHLEHEM, PA.
USL team gets steely name
Lehigh Valley’s USL expansion team will be called Bethlehem Steel FC. The Philadelphia Union announced the expansion team in August and opened fan voting for the team name to the public in early September. The team will begin play next year.
BOSTON
Celtics partner with Aeromexico
The Boston Celtics agreed to a partnership with Aeromexico that includes a sweepstakes awarding a trip to the team’s game against Sacramento in Mexico City on Dec. 3. The partnership also includes in-arena exposure for Aeromexico and a presence on the Celtics’ website.
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The private jet charter company’s branding
is featured on elevator doors, hallway and in-suite art, and the @JETLUXLIFE BAR.
Photo by: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
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COLUMBUS
Jackets sign CTMS for suite level
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Corporate Travel Management Solutions agreed to a new multiyear partnership. The suite level at Nationwide Arena has been renamed the Jetlux Suite Level. CTMS, parent company of Jetlux, becomes the corporate travel services provider of the team.
DALLAS
FSTA moves Las Vegas event
The Fantasy Sports Trade Association will hold its annual winter convention Jan. 19-20 in Dallas, a decision that follows Nevada’s recent move to require daily fantasy operators to either have a gambling license or cease operations in the state. The event has been held in Las Vegas in recent years.
DETROIT
WSU approves Ilitch business school
The new Wayne State University business school named after Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch was approved by its governing board, according to a Detroit News report. A $40 million gift from the Ilitch family is the largest in the university’s history and one of the top 10 gifts in the country ever given to a public business school.
LAS VEGAS
Marathon series signs Geico
Geico signed on as the official insurance sponsor of the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series. The multiyear deal includes category exclusivity and title sponsorship of Sunday’s Las Vegas race. Geico also will have a presence at 22 other Rock ’n’ Roll races in 2016.
LOS ANGELES
USC eyes $270M Coliseum project
USC plans to spend $270 million to upgrade the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, according to a Los Angeles Times report. The plans include replacing every seat in the stadium, installing handrails, increasing leg room in many sections, and building a structure on the south side that will include suites, loge boxes and a new media area.
MIAMI
Dolphins, BofA saluting military
The Miami Dolphins are partnering with Bank of America this month to salute service members and military veterans. The events will include a Rebuilding Together service project for a veteran, crafting care packages to send to troops overseas, and a game-day sponsorship of the Nov. 22 home matchup against Dallas.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
USGA, UM to study golf
The U.S. Golf Association and the University of Minnesota agreed to a five-year research partnership to study and develop solutions to golf’s present and future challenges. The university’s Les Bolstad Golf Course will serve as a laboratory in support of the endeavor’s research projects as well as a classroom for demonstrating best practices in course design, maintenance and operations.
NEW YORK
MSG Co. aims for summer music fest
The Madison Square Garden Co. has applied for a permit to host a three-day music festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park next June. The music and arts festival would be held June 24-26 and is projected to welcome 75,000 attendees each day. A free Queens community celebration would be held June 18.
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Mickey Mouse joined Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo in a pickup game and photo shoot.
Photo by: WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
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ORLANDO
Disney extends deal with Magic, arena
Disney Parks extended its Champions of the Community sponsorship with the Orlando Magic and Amway Center. Walt Disney World will activate around the deal with digital and social media efforts as well as signage and other visibility within Amway Center. Disney remains the team’s official cruise line and theme park.
Invictus Games signs Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover will be the presenting partner for the 2016 Invictus Games. The world’s largest international adaptive sporting event will be held May 8-12 in Orlando and is expected to host 500 military athletes from 15 nations.
SAN DIEGO
ANOC backs World Beach Games site
San Diego will host the inaugural World Beach Games in 2017, a 10-day festival of millennial-focused sports created by the Association of National Olympic Committees. San Diego was chosen as host by ANOC recently over a field of global competitors. The event has a $150 million budget.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND
Team owner ends talks with bidders
League One side Blackpool FC owner Owen Oyston ended talks with the team’s supporters’ trust over a possible takeover of the club, according to a BBC report. The trust launched a $24.7 million bid for the Seasiders in July. Oyston has been the majority shareholder since 1988.
DUBAI, U.A.E.
City backs out of SportAccord
Dubai has withdrawn from hosting the 2016 SportAccord Convention, according to an Inside The Games report. Doha, Qatar, has been named as a possible replacement host.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Warriors sign ScottishPower
Glasgow-based utility ScottishPower reached a six-figure sponsorship deal with Pro12 rugby club Glasgow Warriors. The three-year partnership will see ScottishPower represented through shirt branding on the Warriors’ home and away playing kit. The company also will work with the team to develop a community youth program.
LEEDS, ENGLAND
Fan group to buy owner’s stake
The Leeds Fans United supporters group reached an agreement in principle to purchase club owner Massimo Cellino’s majority stake in the team, according to a London Times report. Cellino confirmed a deal could be in the offing.
PALERMO, ITALY
Team signs Instaforex
Online trading platform and brokerage Instaforex reached a sponsorship deal with Italian Serie A club Palermo, according to a SoccerEx report. Instaforex will be the official online trading partner of the Sicilian club for the next two years, giving the company exposure on LED pitchside boards at Stadio Renzo Barber.
PALMA, SPAIN
Real Mallorca signs German brand
Spanish second division club Real Mallorca reached a sponsorship deal with Assmann Büromöbel until the end of the team’s 2015-16 season, according to a SoccerEx report. The office furniture company is the first German brand to sign with Real Mallorca since the club began a partnership with German sports marketing agency MSC Sports this summer.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
