ATLANTA
Shaq speaks for Krispy Kreme
Shaquille O’Neal is a new global spokesman for Krispy Kreme and has become an owner in the brand’s downtown Atlanta location, which opened more than 60 years ago. The doughnut chain has a “Shaq-or-Treat” social media promotion for Halloween.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
SMG to manage H-E-B Center
The Dallas Stars, the Texas Stars and the city of Cedar Park, Texas, signed SMG to a five-year deal to provide management and marketing services for the H-E-B Center. The H-E-B Center can accommodate up to 8,700 for concerts and special events and is home to the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Tournament effort exceeds $11M
A record-breaking Birdies for Charity campaign drove charity impact from the 2016 Dean & DeLuca Invitational past the $11 million mark for the first time. Along with the efforts of local nonprofits, golfers made 1,211 birdies during the PGA Tour event at Colonial Country Club.
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Three QB legends, one classic photo.
Photo by: GREEN BAY PACKERS
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GREEN BAY
Packers selling quarterbacks photo
The Green Bay Packers will sell the exclusive photo of the team’s legendary quarterbacks Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, taken last November when Starr returned to Lambeau Field for the ceremony placing Favre’s No. 4 on the stadium facade. The photo, “Legendary Quarterbacks,” will be available at prices that range from $99.95 to $399.95, with 100 percent of the profits being donated to charities chosen by Starr, Favre and Rodgers.
LOS ANGELES
AEG Facilities expands Archaio deal
AEG Facilities is expanding its relationship with cloud inspection software company Archaio in a new multiyear partnership. The deal with AEG-owned and/or operated facilities nationwide builds on AEG’s existing relationship with Archaio at Staples Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, as well as Barclays Center in New York.
MEMPHIS
Grizzlies extend with C Spire
The Memphis Grizzlies and C Spire finalized a multiyear extension of their sponsorship agreement. First signed in 2011, C Spire and the Grizzlies extended the partnership in 2013 through the 2015-16 season. C Spire will continue to have advertising and signage in FedEx Forum and will continue to be the official wireless provider of the Grizzlies.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Teams, arena land Chinese TV maker
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx landed a sponsorship with Chinese television maker TCL Corp. The deal puts the company in the backyard of Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. Inc., two Twin Cities-based retailers that sell TCL products. TCL will get naming rights to the premium loge boxes as well as a yet-to-be-announced club. TCL sold 20 million TVs last year, making it one of the five largest TV makers in the world.
NEWARK
Devils flip the switch with ECP&G
Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils reached a new partnership with East Coast Power & Gas, making ECP&G an official sponsor and energy supplier of the team and arena. East Coast Power & Gas will showcase various assets throughout Prudential Center, including ice-level dasherboards, concourse and in-bowl LED signage, and exterior marquee LED signage.
NORMAN, OKLA.
Sports commission to be formed
VisitNorman selected Phoenix-based Huddle Up Group to lead the formation of a new sports commission. The focus of the project will be the creation of a five-year strategic plan for an expended sports tourism, venue and events effort in the Norman area.
OAKLAND
Warriors sign multiyear United deal
United Airlines signed a multiyear deal with the Golden State Warriors. United will be the official airline of the team and the first founding partner of the planned Chase Center in San Francisco. United will have space at the new arena’s East Side Club. The partnership includes sales and marketing on radio, social media, online and in-arena messaging at Oracle Arena and Chase Center.
PHILADELPHIA
Snider auction to benefit foundation
An art collection owned by Ed Snider, the late founder and former chairman of the Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast-Spectacor, is being auctioned off to raise money for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. Sotheby’s in New York will auction off 16 paintings and one print valued at $5.9 million that were owned by Snider, who died in April at age 83.
PORTLAND
Blazers bring on community partners
The Portland Trail Blazers announced the team’s five nonprofit community partners for the next two seasons: Adaptive Sports Northwest, Black Parent Initiative, Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, Community Cycling Center and Latino Network. The partnership with the team will include promotion through the Trail Blazers Foundation 5050 raffle, youth basketball initiatives, player appearances and staff volunteer events.
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Defenders Joevin Jones (left) and Roman Torres celebrate their 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
Photo by: DAN POSS and JANE GERSHOVICH |
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Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro and game characters.
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SEATTLE
Sounders, stadium immersed in video game
The Seattle Sounders for their regular-season finale had their players don special “Gears of War 4” jerseys, according to a Seattle Times report. CenturyLink Field was transformed into a giant theme park extolling the Xbox video game’s virtues. Fans could participate in the game at six kiosks around the stadium and have pictures taken with various game characters.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BUDAPEST
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| Photo by: TEQBALL.COM |
Teqball has new spin on sport
The new sport of Teqball was officially launched in Budapest, according to an Inside World Football report. The table-based football game signed a number of ambassadors, including Brazilian Ronaldinho. Teqball, a Hungarian invention, is based around a curved table and is designed as a training tool.
MANCHESTER
Man City signs fashion partner
Dsquared2 joined Manchester City as the club’s exclusive official fashion partner. The multiyear partnership will see Dsquared2, known for its tailoring and denim, dress players in their pre-match uniforms when they travel for Champions League games.
MILAN
NBA exhibition back for second year
The NBA Digital Exhibition presented by Samsung will return for a second year from Nov. 16 to Dec. 4. The free exhibition will run within Milan’s Samsung District via Mike Bongiorno 9. The exhibition, which attracted more than 15,000 fans in its inaugural year, will feature appearances by an NBA legend and a dedicated multimedia campaign.
MUNICH
Lagardère Sports gains tennis rights
Lagardère Sports acquired the worldwide media distribution rights (excluding Germany) to the ATP 250 BMW Open by FWU AG in Munich until 2019. The agency also has renewed an existing worldwide media rights (excluding Brazil) contract with the ATP 250 Brasil Open in Sao Paulo, until 2022.
PARIS
Century 21 pedals with Tour de France
U.S.-based real estate firm Century 21 signed a three-year partnership with the Tour de France, according to Journal de L’Agence report. Century 21 will give a viewer the chance to win a house at the conclusion of the event, and also will give clients the opportunity to compete for the chance to ride in guest cars to watch the race.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
