CHICAGO
Pepsi keeps pouring at Wrigley
The Chicago Cubs reached an extension of their partnership with PepsiCo that includes pouring rights at Wrigley Field. Pepsi will offer fans a chance to sit in four reserved seats in the Pepsi Batter’s Eye, located in the center field Budweiser Bleachers. The facade will feature a Pepsi logo to go along with rotational signage behind home plate and in the main concourse.
COLUMBIA, S.C.
Gamecocks extend with CLC
The Collegiate Licensing Co. signed a five-year extension of its global partnership with the University of South Carolina to continue managing the school’s trademark licensing program. CLC began partnering with South Carolina in 1983, and officially licensed product is sold at more than 4,300 retail locations across the country.
HOUSTON
Dynamo powers up with Skilsaw
Skilsaw partnered with the Houston Dynamo to become the club’s official power tool sponsor. Skilsaw will be the presenting sponsor of field seats at BBVA Compass Stadium this season. The Skilsaw brand began with the invention of the circular saw in 1924.
LAS VEGAS
Tourney will cross the street in 2017
The Pac-12 Conference will move its men’s basketball tournament from the MGM Grand Garden to T-Mobile Arena in 2017, with the three-year deal running through 2019, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report. The Pac-12 moved the event to Las Vegas from Los Angeles in 2013.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Derby ticket exchange off and running
Churchill Downs Racetrack launched its Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange by Ticketmaster. Ticket holders who are unable to attend the Kentucky Oaks or Derby will be able to resell their tickets at face value or above using various pricing options and be assured that they meet all state and local regulations on ticket resales.
NEW YORK
Rio tour coming to Times Square
The 2016 Road to Rio Tour, which began with three stops in 2015, next visits New York City for the 100 Day Countdown celebration in Times Square on April 27. The tour engages fans through athlete meet-and-greets, interactive sport elements, athlete demonstrations, Team USA giveaways and sponsor activation.
PHILADELPHIA
Union adds Uber to roster
The Philadelphia Union reached a new partnership with the ridesharing company Uber. This season, Talen Energy Stadium will have a dedicated pickup and drop-off location. Fans trying out Uber for the first time will be able to use the promo code “PhilaUnion” in their Uber app to receive $15 off their first ride.
Palestra tabbed for Ivy playoffs
The University of Pennsylvania will host the Ivy League’s first conference playoffs next year. The games are scheduled for March 11 and 12 at the historic Palestra. The winning men’s and women’s teams will get automatic bids to the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Historically, the Ivy League team that finishes with the best regular-season conference record goes to the tournament.
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Seating at the Miller Lite Rooftop is reserved for dog owners and their pets.
Photos by: PITTSBURGH PIRATES
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PITTSBURGH
Pup Nights get title sponsor
Ainsworth Pet Nutrition’s Rachael Ray Nutrish brand will title sponsor the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 10 coming Pup Nights at PNC Park. Pup Nights will take place on select Tuesdays starting May 3. At each game, one Western PA Humane Society and Animal Friends shelter will bring a dog to be available for adoption. If someone in the park adopts the dog at the game, Ainsworth will provide dog food for a year to the dog’s new owner.
PRATTVILLE, ALA.
Yokohama returns as title sponsor
For the third consecutive year, Yokohama Tire Corp. is teeing it up with the LPGA in Prattville, Ala. The 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, traditionally held in late summer, has been moved to Mother’s Day weekend to enable golfers to participate in the Rio Summer Olympics.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Rhinos under new ownership
The Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League secured new local owners in time for the 2016 season. David and Wendy Dworkin have formally purchased the team, which last fall won the USL championship. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the new owners have agreed to a 10-year lease at Sahlen’s Stadium.
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Warm up the bus for steak frites, salade chèvre chaud (hot goat cheese salad) and escalope de veau (veal scallopini).
Photo: COURTESY OF CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
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SAN ANTONIO
Parker revs up French food truck
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker and his personal chef, Cliff Chetwood, rolled out their Crème de la Crème French food truck last week at The Point Park and Eats. The truck is inspired by Parker’s French heritage and Chetwood’s travels to France. A rotating menu will include savory and sweet crepes, croque monsieurs, plus classic French café and brasserie dishes.
STATE COLLEGE, PA.
PSU considers alcohol sales
Penn State University trustees are considering whether to permit limited alcohol sales inside Beaver Stadium for football games, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report. If they approve the measure, possibly at their May meeting, beer and wine would be available to fans in the stadium’s club seats, suites and reception areas. The plan also calls for approving sales at the university’s two golf courses and at events in the Bryce Jordan Center.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BARCELONA
Barça chooses stadium designer
Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei, in collaboration with Joan Pascual-Ramon Ausió Arquitectes, was chosen to design the new Camp Nou stadium for FC Barcelona, according to an Arch Daily report. The winning team was chosen over three other finalists.
LYON, FRANCE
Coke signs as founding partner
Coca-Cola will be an official provider of French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais. As part of the deal, Coke will also become a founding partner for the club’s new Parc OL stadium for the next three years.
MANCHESTER
Man U signs lubricants partner
Gulf Oil International will be Manchester United’s first official global lubricant oil and fuel retail partner. As part of the deal, the company’s distinctive orange disc will be featured on the club’s digital perimeter boards at Old Trafford.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Zenit’s Heineken deal signals shift
The signing of a sponsorship contract between Heineken and Russian club Zenit may become a major step toward the return of beer sales and advertisements to the country’s football arenas. In 2013, all beer ads were banned in Russia, but as the country prepares to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, legislation was relaxed.
TOKYO
Tsunami area eyed for events
Japanese Olympic Minister Toshiaki Endo said that he hopes Fukushima prefecture can host preliminary rounds of baseball and softball at the 2020 Games, according to an AP report. Endo made the comments on the fifth anniversary of a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 18,000 people.
XINJIANG, CHINA
League One team signs two deals
Chinese League One side Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard FC established two sponsorship deals for the 2016 season. The Xinjiang Lottery signed as title sponsor of the club, while sports marketing firm Oceans Sports becomes a strategic partner.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
