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Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast

AUSTIN, TEXAS
H-E-B names Cedar Park Center

Supermarket chain H-E-B signed a multiyear naming-rights deal for 7,000-seat Cedar Park Center. H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, the new official name of the 7-year-old facility, is home to the AHL Texas Stars and NBA D-League Austin Spurs. Connect Partnership Group brokered the deal.

BERKELEY, CALIF.
Cal signs lucrative Under Armour deal

The University of California, Berkeley, selected Under Armour to be its shoe and apparel provider as part of a lucrative 10-year deal beginning next July. Sources indicated Cal’s new deal will be among the 10 richest in the country. The top apparel deal is Nike’s 15-year, $252 million agreement with Ohio State University.

BUFFALO

UB unis to emphasize region
The University at Buffalo is moving on from a controversial wordmark that emphasized its status in the State University of New York system over its home region. UB uniforms will now feature a new “Buffalo Bulls” wordmark, replacing the “State University of New York at Buffalo,” which it has been using for two years.

CHARLOTTE
Panthers offer more rent-free days

Charlotte reached a deal with the Carolina Panthers to have more opportunities to use Bank of America Stadium rent free, which could allow the city to host more international soccer matches and college football games, according to a Charlotte Observer report. In exchange, the city agreed to speed up a $23.5 million payment it owes the team by a year.


Barça to open 2nd U.S. academy
FC Barcelona named Charlotte as the location of its second football academy in the U.S. The La Liga team, in collaboration with agency ISL Futbol, will offer an after-school program that teaches Barcelona’s football philosophy to youth players in the region. Officially licensed coaches from the club will oversee the program, which is targeted at boys and girls ages 6-16.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
$2.5M grant goes to Motorsports HOF

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America received a $2.5 million grant from the Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation of Los Angeles for construction and development of the Robert E. Petersen Theater in the hall’s new permanent home at Daytona International Speedway. The first phase is expected to be completed by June, with the first stage of the museum open to the public June 30.

KANSAS CITY
New brand for SKC jersey sponsor

Ivy Funds, the jersey sponsor for Sporting Kansas City since 2013, is changing its branding to become Ivy Investments, which means a logo change, according to a Kansas City Star report. The new designs aren’t available yet. However, Ivy is keeping its leaf but opted for a more stylized version in the new logo.

LAKEWOOD, N.J.
BlueClaws at FirstEnergy for long term

The Lakewood BlueClaws, a Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, signed a long-term lease to remain at FirstEnergy Park. The lease extension runs through 2055. The BlueClaws debuted in 2001 and have led the South Atlantic League in attendance in each of the team’s 15 seasons.

LOS ANGELES
Dodgers select Univision Radio

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Univision Los Angeles reached a three-year partnership that will make Univision Radio KTNQ 1020 AM the Spanish-language flagship station of the Dodgers’ radio network through the 2018 season. Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín returns to the broadcast booth for his 58th season alongside son Jorge Jarrín.

Churchill Downs last hosted the event in 2011.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Churchill to host ’18 Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup will return to Churchill Downs in November 2018. Churchill Downs last held the event in 2011 and since then, more than $67 million has been invested in the facility. The return of the Breeders’ Cup will mark the ninth time Churchill Downs has hosted the event.

MILWAUKEE
New Bucks arena to expand club seating

The Milwaukee Bucks’ ownership group will go big on premium club seats while decreasing the number of suites in the new downtown Milwaukee arena compared with BMO Harris Bradley Center. While the current venue has 42 suites with a capacity of 840, the new arena will include 34 suites with a capacity of about 600. The new arena will feature a capacity of about 1,000 club seats in a variety of settings.

ORLANDO
Lion Nation welcomes members

Orlando City SC launched its Lion Nation membership program, designed to bring behind-the-scenes access to fans, according to an Orlando Sentinel report. For $99 a year or $9 a month after a $12 startup fee, fans receive a membership card and online access. Season-ticket holders automatically will be members at no cost. The website will feature exclusive content, including surveys where fans can earn points that can be redeemed for merchandise or fan experiences.

Chargers Chair Dean Spanos notes the work ahead as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former player LaDainian Tomlinson lend their support.
Photo by: MIKE NOVAK PHOTOGRAPHY / CHARGERS
SAN DIEGO
Chargers launch stadium effort

The San Diego Chargers’ effort to garner support for a tourism tax hike to help finance a $1.8 billion stadium and convention center got off to a raucous start on April 23, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. An estimated 4,000 people showed up to the signature-gathering campaign. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance and said that the new venue would be the perfect place for a Super Bowl.

Destination status for footgolf
San Diego is poised to become the footgolf capital of the U.S. in 2016. With the addition of footgolf to Reidy Creek Golf Course, there are now eight courses in the county that offer the sport. In addition, Mission Bay Golf Course has seen a 200 percent month over month increase in its footgolf rounds since opening in August 2015.

WALLA WALLA, WASH.
Sophomores stepping to plate

Tenth-grade students in the entrepreneurship class at College Place High School are creating, producing and managing a regular-season Walla Walla Sweets game at Borleske Stadium on July 11. The students are responsible for developing the theme, marketing channels, sales efforts and game scripts. The idea started at the region’s “Pitch IT!” competition last November during International Entrepreneurship Week.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Monumental, Red Bulls join effort

FanAngel.com, a sports crowdfunding-for-performance platform, announced two philanthropic fundraising campaigns — one with Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation/Washington Capitals and one with the New York Red Bulls. The Monumental campaign will benefit Horton’s Kids, a community-based, nonprofit organization that supports at-risk children in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The Red Bulls, in partnership with Autism Speaks, launched the “Light It Up Blue” campaign to raise awareness.

D.C. United to gain land this summer
The District of Columbia plans to transfer land in the Buzzard Point area to D.C. United for a new stadium late this summer, and the MLS club is hopeful of breaking ground in fourth quarter of this year, according to a Washington Post report. The timetable to complete the $300 million project will take as little as 14 months. Initial plans call for the venue to accommodate 20,000 spectators: 19,400 seats, plus standing room for 600.

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.
Purdue taps firm for premium sales

The Purdue University athletics department appointed IMG Learfield Ticket Solutions to handle premium seating sales for football. IMG Learfield will focus on the Shively and Buchanan club areas, along with the suite area for the Ross-Ade Stadium premium seating program.


      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS



BRISTOL, ENGLAND
New kit sponsor for Bristol City

League Championship side Bristol City announced its new kit sponsor after images of next season’s home shirt leaked on social media, according to a Bristol Post report. Local construction company Lancer Scott signed a four-year deal to become the club’s new headline sponsor.

FIFE, SCOTLAND
Rockstar sighting at Knockhill

Knockhill Racing Circuit agreed to a sponsorship deal with Rockstar Energy Drink, which is distributed in Scotland by AG Barr. Rockstar is now a sponsor of the track’s Super Lap Scotland Championship and the official drink of Knockhill.

GLASGOW
City lands 2019 global indoor event

The European Athletics Indoor Championships will come to Glasgow in 2019 after a successful bid from the city, according to a (Scotland) Daily Record report. More than 600 athletes from 50 countries are expected to compete in the three-day event.

Leicester is in the EPL driver’s seat.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
LEICESTER, ENGLAND
Leicester City freezes prices

Premier League club Leicester City has decided to freeze season-ticket prices for next season despite the swell of interest after the team’s drive to the top of the EPL this season, according to a (London) Independent report. Season tickets start at $527. In comparison, Chelsea charges $1,082 and Arsenal charges $1,463 for their cheapest season tickets.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Anfield to host Four Nations final

Rugby will return to Anfield for the first time since 1997 after the Rugby Football League confirmed that the home of Liverpool FC will be the venue for the 2016 Four Nations final, according to a (London) Guardian report. Six venues across England will be used for the tournament, which features clubs from England, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. The final is scheduled for Nov. 20 at Anfield.

LONDON

Debenture holders are the only purchasers allowed to sell their tickets anywhere on the open market.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
Prize money for Wimbledon increases
Total prize money for Wimbledon this year is increasing 5 percent, to a sum of more than $41 million, the All England Club announced ast week. The men’s and women’s singles winners will each receive $2.9 million, up more than 6 percent from last year.

Price soars for No. 1 Court debentures
The All England Club set a price of $44,800 for its issue of five-year Wimbledon debentures for No. 1 Court, an amount that’s more than double the cost of the 2012-16 issue, according to a (London) Independent report. Each of the 1,000 debentures gives the holder a ticket on No. 1 Court for the first 10 days of the event.

MANCHESTER
Swissquote extends Man U deal

Manchester United’s official forex and online financial trading partner, Swissquote, is extending its global partnership with the club. The Swiss company will be visible during EPL, FA Cup and League Cup match days, including appearances on the club’s digital perimeter boards and post-match interview backdrops.

MANILA
NBA opens Philippines office

The NBA opened an office in Manila as part of its commitment to grow basketball and the NBA’s business initiatives in the country. NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson will lead a local staff.

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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