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Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast

BUFFALO
Sabres boost Wi-Fi for draft

In time for the NHL entry draft this weekend, the Buffalo Sabres will upgrade Wi-Fi service in First Niagara Center in a deal with Extreme Networks. Officials said the Sabres have deployed Extreme’s full connectivity and analytics solutions to improve game-day operations and support mobile services such as ticketing and concessions.

CINCINNATI
High demand for Bengals’ London tilt

More than 2,100 Cincinnati Bengals season-ticket holders will travel to London for their home game against the Washington Redskins at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 30, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer report. That number rates as the third-best number of domestic sales in the league’s 10-year run of games in England.

DETROIT
5K to finish at center ice

The Detroit Red Wings are planning a race with the finish line at center ice in Joe Louis Arena, according to an AP report. The Sept. 10 Hockeytown 5K Run/Walk is part of events to mark the team’s final season at the arena. Current and former Red Wings will be along the course and inside the arena to help cheer on participants.

GAINESVILLE, FLA.
Gators sell naming rights

Medical supply company Exactech signed a 10-year, $5.9 million deal to acquire the naming rights to the University of Florida’s basketball arena, formerly known as the O’Connell Center. The new deal for the Exactech Arena gives the Gainesville-based company use of Florida facilities and TV coverage and commercial spots on FS Sun and FS Florida during arena events.

INDIANAPOLIS
Pacers, Kroger renew sponsorship

The Kroger grocery chain renewed its sponsorship deal with the Indiana Pacers. The five-year renewal also includes rights to the WNBA Indiana Fever and the D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants, both of which are owned by Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Kroger has been a Pacers sponsor for five years.

LAS VEGAS
F1 race plans accelerate

Plans for a Formula One race in Las Vegas have hit top gear, as organizers revealed that a Chinese conglomerate agreed to commit the $142 million needed for the race to get the green light, according to a BBC report. A race on the streets of Las Vegas is a longtime dream of F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone.

MILWAUKEE
Young fan adds blue nachos to menu

Tyler’s Nachos, the creation of 10-year-old Milwaukee Brewers fan Tyler Webb, will be available at Miller Park during a series later this month, according to an (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram report. Webb came up with the idea to have blue corn tortilla chips with nachos instead of the traditional yellow chips to match the team’s colors. Webb worked with his father on the initial message to Delaware North Sportservice, the Brewers’ concessionaire.

Stadium signage and ground-level fan activation is part of the five-year deal.
Photos by: NEW YORK RED BULLS
NEW YORK
Red Bulls sign official insurer

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey signed a five-year deal to become the New York Red Bulls’ official health insurance partner. Horizon BCBSNJ members will have access to discounts on tickets for all home games. The Newark-based insurer — the state’s oldest and largest health insurer — will receive a designated Horizon Healthy Zone within the Red Bull Arena concourse. The Upper 90 Challenge presented by Horizon BCBSNJ will be part of the arena’s BULLevard
and give fans the chance to kick soccer balls into a large goal to win prizes.

OLEAN, N.Y.
Bonnies getting new ANC boards

The home court for St. Bonaventure University basketball is getting a new video board for the 2016-17 season. College officials said the board from ANC Sports will be installed at the Reilly Center courtesy of an undisclosed donation from 1966 alumnus and trustee Albert Horton. The new center-hung scoreboard will feature two 13-foot-wide video displays.

ORLANDO
UCF taps Daktronics for displays

The University of Central Florida selected Daktronics to design, manufacture and install a total of 17 LED video displays and two custom audio systems for Bright House Networks Stadium and CFE Arena on campus in Orlando. The main display at the stadium will measure more than 36 feet high by 136 feet wide.

PHILADELPHIA

Paraguay supporters cheer for their team on June 11 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

Copa to generate $41M impact
Hosting three games in the international Copa America Centenario soccer tournament was expected to generate an economic impact of $41 million for the region, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. The games at Lincoln Financial Field were expected to draw more than 75,000 soccer fans to Philadelphia.

Union, Dunkin’ partner on program
Dunkin’ Donuts donated $6,000 in soccer equipment to Soccer For Success, a program sponsored by the Philadelphia Union Foundation, to kick off the Dunkin’ Donuts Saves for Kids community program. For each save by a Union goalkeeper this season, Dunkin’ Donuts will donate $100 toward sports equipment grants to regional youth athletic programs.

SEATTLE

Sorenstam has ‘Fundu’ in Seattle
Hall-of-fame golfer Annika Sorenstam picked Seattle as the first U.S. city to be featured on her new travel and discovery app called Fundu. Fundu shares city-specific suggestions for events, restaurants, activities and attractions based on users’ preferences. Sorenstam and her team designed a virtual “fun finder” unique to the market. Sorenstam was in town for the recent Women’s Leadership Summit before the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.


      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS


BARCELONA
Team to pay fine related to Neymar

FC Barcelona pleaded guilty to accusations of fraud related to its 2013 signing of Neymar, and agreed to pay a $6.2 million fine to the Spanish tax authorities, according to a Marca report. The scandal is based around the team’s purchase of Neymar from Brasileiro side Santos.

FREIBURG, GERMANY
Infront retains team marketing role

Infront Sports & Media and Second Bundesliga club SC Freiburg agreed to continue their collaboration. The long-term extension continues a deal that was initiated in 2010-11. Infront will continue to market the club’s sponsorships, naming rights, hospitality and advertising.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Alcohol banned around venues

The French government announced a ban on alcohol near Euro 2016 venues and fan zones, according to an AFP report. The move comes after Russian and English supporters — as well as French locals — clashed in battles in Marseille ahead of their teams’ first-round game.

NICE, FRANCE
Ligue 1 team stake purchased

A group of Chinese and American investors bought an 80 percent stake in Ligue 1 club Nice, according to a Reuters report. The club said the two principal investors are Plateno Group President Alex Zheng and NewCity Capital Founder and CEO Chien Lee. They partnered with Paul Conway, who represents the Pacific Media Group and a fourth investor, Elliot Hayes, also from the U.S.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Studies find ‘super bacteria’

Scientists found dangerous drug-resistant “super bacteria” off beaches in Rio de Janeiro that will host Olympic events, according to a Reuters report. The findings from two unpublished studies heighten concerns that Rio’s waterways are unsafe.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND
Team partners with Virgin Media

Premier League side Southampton FC reached a three-year partnership with Virgin Media. Virgin Media will become the club’s official shirt sponsor from the start of the 2016-17 season.

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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