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Outfielder Mike Trout chases down fly balls in front of the Yokohama Tire sign.
Photo by: LOS ANGELES ANGELS
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ANAHEIM
Tiremaker keeps rolling with Angels
Yokohama Tire and the Los Angeles Angels are teammates again in 2016, marking the seventh consecutive season in which Yokohama is a sponsor of the team. The sponsorship includes its logo in the highly visible position of left center field. Yokohama also sponsors the Boston Bruins and Chelsea FC.
ATLANTA
Coke adds to Braves deal
The Atlanta Braves agreed to a multiyear deal with Coca-Cola Co. The historic Roxy Theatre, which will be located at The Battery Atlanta, the multiuse development next to the team’s new SunTrust Park, will be renamed The Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre. Coke also will remain the exclusive nonalcoholic beverage partner of the Braves. Each fan sitting in the left field Red Porch section will receive a 20-ounce beverage with their ticket, as well.
CHICAGO
Coke takes over on South Side
The Chicago White Sox reached a multiyear deal making Coca-Cola the team’s official soft drink, a category previously filled by Pepsi. The brand will receive prominent exposure and product placement at concession stands, and it will sponsor a new interactive digital feature that allows fans to share photos from each game on new video boards at U.S. Cellular Field.
Cubs, Sox turn the dial
The Chicago Cubs and White Sox are switching radio stations for the first time in the same year since 1944, according to a Chicago Tribune report. The Cubs are moving from WBBM-AM to an all-sports format at WSCR-AM, and the White Sox are moving from WSCR to WLS-AM. WLS created a sports staff in anticipation of the move.
INDIANAPOLIS
Ticket broker suing Colts
A Pennsylvania ticket broker is suing the Indianapolis Colts over their revocation of his season tickets, according to an Indianapolis Business Journal report. In the lawsuit, Yehuda Frager contends the team declined to let him renew the same 94 tickets he bought in 2015 for the coming season. Frager said he paid more than $75,000 for the tickets. Sources close to the team said the Colts are taking a hard line with out-of-town ticket brokers and an amicable resolution is unlikely.
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The reimagined end zone tunnel will create premium-seating options at field level.
Rendering: POPULOUS |
JACKSONVILLE
Jags redoing end zone tunnel
The Jacksonville Jaguars released renderings and confirmed details of the new south end zone tunnel to be constructed at EverBank Field. The improvements will establish a new team entrance, create premium-seating options and pave the way for future club space. The redesign will result in the relocation of about 150 season-ticket accounts.
KANSAS CITY
Soccer SkyCam debuts
Sporting Kansas City debuted the SkyCam Wildcat system during the team’s April 2 match against Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting KC becomes the first MLS club to feature a semi-permanent installation of the system at its home stadium.
PHILADELPHIA
Union starting fan advisory board
The Philadelphia Union plans to launch a fan advisory board that will begin regularly scheduled meetings in June. The board for the MLS club will have 15 to 20 elected members who will meet throughout the year at Talen Energy Stadium. Applications to be considered for the board are due this week.
Phillies, Xfinity Live collaborate
The Philadelphia Phillies and Xfinity Live formed a partnership that will feature postgame specials and monthly parties. Discounted drinks and appetizers will be available at Xfinity Live after every Phillies home game. The entertainment complex also will host postgame parties at its 1100 Social venue that will feature appearances by Phillies celebrities and alumni.
READING, PA.
Fightin Phils piloting Drone Cam
The Reading Fightin Phils, Class AA affiliate of the Phillies, partnered with locally based Weidenhammer Systems Corp. to create the Fightin Phils Drone Cam. Before each home game, the camera will fly above FirstEnergy Stadium and take video and photos of fans. At select games, the camera will provide a live broadcast of between-inning contests and on-field performances.
SALT LAKE CITY
D-League team moving, changing name
The Utah Jazz’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, will relocate from Boise, Idaho, to Salt Lake City starting with the 2016-17 season. The team will be known as the Salt Lake City Stars. The team will play at Salt Lake Community College’s Bruin Arena.
SONOMA, CALIF.
Great Clips adds three years
Great Clips is continuing its long-standing sponsorship of Sonoma Raceway through a three-year extension of their deal. Great Clips continues as title sponsor of the Great Clips Fast Friday, scheduled for June 24 this year, as well as the official hair salon of the track for the fifth consecutive year.
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Fans are able to watch content outside of the
stadium each evening.
Photo by: KELLY PRICE / MSU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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STARKVILLE, MISS.
MSU adds content on back of board
Mississippi State University partnered with Quince Imaging to bring projection imaging to the back of the north end zone video board at Davis Wade Stadium. The company is known for 3-D imaging on basketball courts. The school purchased two projectors and has started playing videos and displaying graphics daily from sundown until 11 p.m. Future plans call for showing live programming as well as airing press conferences and highlights after games.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Rays, Centerplate fill out roster
Centerplate and the Tampa Bay Rays renovated and updated concourse offerings at Tropicana Field with new designs, additional points of sale and new menus. In partnership with Green Bench Brewing, the team created its own craft beer, 2-Seam Blonde Ale, to be sold exclusively at the ballpark. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria’s Ducky’s restaurant is also debuting at Tropicana Field this season. Other additions include Pipo’s Café, Cuban Favorites, Ybor Dog and Burger Up.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
LONDON
West Ham signs Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster will be West Ham United’s official ticket partner when it moves into its new stadium, according to a report in The Drum. The club will play at the redeveloped Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park beginning with the 2016-17 Premier League season.
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Charlton last played for Man U in 1973.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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MANCHESTER
Man U section named for Charlton
Former Manchester United player Bobby Charlton was given an emotional salute on the Old Trafford pitch on April 3 when the South Stand was named the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand in his honor. Charlton, 78, made his debut for Man U 60 years ago and scored a club record 249 goals in 758 appearances.
MUMBAI
Cricket team fashions new deal
The Reliance Industries-owned Mumbai Indians of the Indian Premier League will collaborate with fashion brand Diesel to produce a limited-edition collection, according to an Economic Times report. The first collection will be launched later this year, followed by a second release next spring, and will be sold globally in all major cricket-playing markets.
PARIS
Asics extends marathon deal
Sportswear brand Asics extended its partnership with the Paris Marathon for three years, until 2019, according to a Les Echos report. Asics saw a 17 percent increase in running shoes sales in 2015.
TOKYO
Travel partners join Tokyo 2020
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee announced KNT-CT, JTB Corp. and Tobu Top Tours as Tokyo 2020 official partners, the second domestic tier of the sponsorship program for that year’s Summer Games. The three entities were collectively given the category of “travel agency services and national trip hospitality services.”
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
