ATLANTA
Predictions can lead to prizes
The Atlanta Braves partnered with Atlanta-based FanBeat to launch a real-time predictive gaming and trivia experience. The game is presented by Georgia Lottery. Fans at Turner Field can use the app to predict game action and answer trivia questions. Each correct answer earns points for prizes.
BOSTON
Boston Landing to house Celtics training
The Boston Celtics and NB Development Group announced that the Boston Landing mixed-use development will be the home of the team’s new 70,000-square-foot training facility. The new space, to open in 2018, will be visible from the Massachusetts Turnpike, with a 40-foot glass wall enclosing the courts.
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From left: M&T Bank’s Jim Jarosz, finalist Michelle Rickicki, finalist Michelle Layer, winner Alison Barone, finalist Angela Mest and finalist Thomas Betrus.
Photo by: BUFFALO BILLS
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BUFFALO
Bills, M&T Bank honor teachers
The eighth annual M&T Bank Touchdown for Teachers initiative with the Buffalo Bills ended with the top award to Alison Barone, a physical education teacher at PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School in Buffalo. The annual event was staged around the NFL’s draft weekend. Barone will receive a $2,000 grant and a classroom appearance by a Bills player. More than 400 nominations were received.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
Cavs, Outfront extend rights deal
Outfront Media Sports extended its multimedia rights deal with the University of Virginia through June 2026. The partnership, which also includes social and mobile property rights, began in 1998.
CHICAGO
Bears select Trisect ad agency
Independent advertising agency Trisect was named advertising agency for the Chicago Bears. The decision came after a year-end review in which more than 10 Chicago shops competed for the account. Trisect will work on strategy, creative, digital/social, media and event marketing.
CLEVELAND
Cavs app delivers fan photos
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed a deal with mobile app 15 Seconds of Fame. Fans who attend games at Quicken Loans Arena can download the app and take a selfie. Using facial recognition technology, the app will receive all videos and photographs when a fan appears on the video board.
KNOXVILLE, IOWA
Knoxville Nationals gets title boost
5-hour Energy will title sponsor this year’s Knoxville Nationals, one of the country’s marquee sprint car events, which typically draws more than 20,000 fans and several NASCAR drivers as team owners and competitors. The 56th annual event begins Aug. 10.
LOS ANGELES
$250M MLS stadium gets approval
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved plans for a privately financed $250 million stadium in Exposition Park, clearing the way for MLS expansion club LAFC to begin construction. The 22,000-seat stadium, next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, will be the centerpiece of a 15-acre complex that will include a conference center, restaurants and museum.
Ampm stores offering Dodger Dogs
Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers partner ampm will add Farmer John Dodger Dogs to its offerings at participating convenience stores. In addition to offering Dodger Dogs, ampm also partnered with the Dodgers in 2015 to open the first branded convenience store at Dodger Stadium.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Track, Levy extend for 10 years
Churchill Downs Racetrack and Levy Restaurants, its hospitality partner and on-track dining provider since 2001, agreed to a 10-year contract extension. Levy will continue as the track’s hospitality partner for the annual celebrations of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and the track’s three racing meets, which comprise more than 70 days of live racing each year.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS
Voters OK high school stadium bond
A majority of voters favored a McKinney Independent School District bond proposition that includes a 12,000-seat stadium and events center, according to a Dallas Morning News report. The $220 million bond proposal includes a high school football stadium roughly 4 miles north of the Allen ISD’s Eagle Stadium, which was built in 2012 for $60 million.
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Dolphins head coach Adam Gase joined the assembly line to pack meals.
Photo by: MIAMI DOLPHINS
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MIAMI
Dolphins return to pack million meals
The Miami Dolphins and AARP Foundation teamed up for the third annual Million Meal Pack, packing 1,035,360 meals that will be delivered by U.S. Hunger to Feeding South Florida’s network of individuals 50 and older in surrounding counties. Also, the Dolphins and AARP Foundation extended their community program partnership for three years. U.S. Hunger is a subsidiary of the nonprofit Feeding Children Everywhere.
PHILADELPHIA
Union plans away-game wine party
The Philadelphia Union will host a first-time event called Pinot on the Pitch. The event will give fans an opportunity to gather at Talen Energy Stadium to watch the Union’s road match against Orlando City SC on May 25. Tickets are $45 each, which includes two drink tickets, appetizers and a gift.
Wildcats win Wanamaker award
The NCAA national champion Villanova University’s men’s basketball team was named the recipient of the 2016 John Wanamaker Athletic Award. The annual award, bestowed by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, recognizes the athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia.
RALEIGH
NCAA tourney had $4.6M impact
The 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament first and second rounds, hosted by North Carolina State University at Raleigh’s PNC Arena, generated an estimated $4.6 million in direct visitor spending. The economic report was compiled by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance using an economic impact formula approved by the National Association of Sports Commissions.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
MLL Rattlers moving home games
The Rochester Rattlers will have a new home field during the 2016 Major Lacrosse League season. The team will move its games to the Wegmans Sports Complex, at Aquinas Institute in Rochester. An MLL original since 2001, the Rattlers have played at multiple facilities over the years, most recently at the State University of New York at Brockport stadium.
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The center features a hydrotherapy pool to aid in faster post-exercise recovery.
Photo by: MIKE NOWAK PHOTOGRAPHY
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SAN DIEGO
$100K gift will establish UCSD center
Local businessman and philanthropist Doug Barnhart and his wife, Nancy, donated $100,000 to establish the Douglas Barnhart Athletic Rehabilitation Center at the University of California, San Diego. The new space will be in the Alex G. Spanos Athletic Performance Center.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.
SEAT aligns with Europe’s fcbusiness
Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology is aligning with fcbusiness, a European business news magazine for the soccer industry. SEAT Global Magazine is a quarterly digital publication focusing on the world of sports technology across the globe.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
AHL dons Baron rings
Baron Championship Rings will be the official championship ring supplier for the Springfield, Mass.-based American Hockey League. Baron also will provide the rings presented each year to new inductees into the AHL Hall of Fame.
ST. LOUIS
Track signs official rental partner
Gateway Motorsports Park named Fabick Cat the official rental partner of the facility in nearby Madison, Ill. Founded in St. Louis by John Fabick Sr. as the John Fabick Tractor Co. in 1917, Fabick Cat offers new and used Caterpillar equipment, including machines, trucks and trailers, power systems and construction rentals.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
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Olympic Stadium in Berlin originally was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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BERLIN
Team’s stadium rent could nearly double
Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin could suffer a financial hit after Olympic Stadium operators asked for a rent increase from $4.5 million to $8.5 million annually, with the new agreement set to run for 15 years, according to a Bild report. Hertha’s rental agreement with the stadium will expire in 2017.
DUBAI
U.S. firm designing new stadium
A stadium with a seating capacity of 60,000 will be set up at Dubai Club in Al Aweer, according to a Gulf News report. The stadium, which will cost $817 million, will be named after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The air-conditioned facility will be designed by the Dar Group and American firm Perkins+Will.
HANOVER, GERMANY
Team president increases S&S stake
Bundesliga side Hannover 96 President Martin Kind increased his stake in Hannover 96 Sales & Service, according to a Sponsors report. Kind has taken over the shares of fellow shareholder Detlev Meyer, who held a 25.69 percent stake. S&S is in charge of the club’s ticketing and merchandise.
JAKARTA
New league selects sales rep
ESP Properties was selected as the sponsorship sales representative for the organizers of Indonesia’s Torabika Soccer Championship presented by IM3 Ooredoo. The professional league officially launched in Jakarta on April 18.
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Subtle touches of gold, reserved for league champs, can be found on the new uniforms.
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LEICESTER CITY, ENGLAND
Foxes get golden touch
Leicester City and kit supplier Puma released the 2016-17 home kit. For the first time, the official Leicester City home shirt will be sporting the new gold Premier League embellishment reserved for champions.
Players to receive new cars
Thai billionaire and team owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will reward each Leicester City player with a new car for the team’s historic Premier League triumph, according to a (London) Daily Mail report. Players would each receive a Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive, valued at $47,300.
LONDON
West Ham sells out season tickets
West Ham United said that it has sold out of season tickets ahead of next season’s move to London’s Olympic Stadium, according to a Reuters report. The club has sold more than 50,000 tickets for the 60,000-seat venue.
Former partner supports fan opposition
A former sponsor of League Championship side Charlton Athletic turned its back on the club and is now supporting protesting fans, according to a This is Local London report. Axis Europe PLC ended its commercial link with Charlton in 2015 and is financially supporting the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet. Duchatelet owns the team and has drawn criticism for his leadership style.
MANCHESTER
Man City signs PAK Lighting
Manchester City signed a new partnership agreement with PAK Lighting. The supplier of indoor and outdoor lighting products becomes the club’s first official lighting partner in China. PAK will be a part of a range of in-market fan activations, beginning with the club’s preseason visit to China.
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The facility was built in 1972 and renovated in 1997 ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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MONTPELLIER, FRANCE
Ligue 1 team to replace stadium
Ligue 1 side Montpellier will replace its historic Stade de la Mosson and build a new 25,000-seat stadium by 2020 or 2021, according to a L’équipe report. Mayor Philippe Saurel said that the budget is $137 million to $148 million.
PARIS
2024 bid signs new sponsors
Paris’ bid for the 2024 Games signed three new sponsors, bringing total sponsorship revenue to date to $22.8 million, according to an AP report. The addition of MAIF, Vivendi and Orange brings the bid’s total to 10 major companies.
Mayor highlights projects amid bid
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is hoping to use the Paris 2024 Olympic bid to accelerate her municipal projects, according to a report in Le Journal Du Dimanche. Hidalgo will present a plan to the Council of Paris this week. The document comprises 43 measures that will be carried out in the next eight years.
STOCKHOLM
Cup to feature Leicester, Barça
Premier League champion Leicester City is scheduled to play FC Barcelona in its preseason fixtures, according to a Sports Keeda report. The newly crowned Premier League champions will face the La Liga club on Aug. 3 in the International Champions Cup at Friends Arena.
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