| • | Saints, New Orleans Disclose Elements Of '13 Super Bowl Bid |
| • | SMI Reports Declines In Income And Total Revenue For Q1 |
| • | Lance Armstrong May Buy Financially Troubled Astana Team |
| • | David Stern, Gary Bettman Discuss Attendance, Social Media |
SAINTS AND NEW ORLEANS OFFICIALS DISCLOSE ELEMENTS OF '13 SUPER BOWL BID
Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation CEO Jay Cicero and Saints VP/Marketing & Business Development Ben Hales today unveiled elements of their bid for the '13 Super Bowl. The bid includes sending individualized cypress boxes to the NFL owners, with each box including art work and an iPod showcasing the "sights and sounds of New Orleans." The theme for the bid is "The Perfect 10," as it would be the 10th Super Bowl played in New Orleans (NEWORLEANS.com, 5/6).
Meanwhile, NFL and Dolphins officials today unveiled the logo for Super Bowl XLIV, which will be held in Dolphin Stadium in '10. They also announced that Dolphins season-ticket holders "will be given the first opportunity to buy tickets for the 2010 Pro Bowl." NFL Senior VP/Events
Frank Supovitz said that Pro Bowl tickets will be available to Dolphins season-ticket holders in July "for the same price as a regular-season game" (
PALMBEACHPOST.com, 5/6).
SMI REPORTS DROP IN NET INCOME, EVENT REVENUE, WITH FEWER Q1 RACES
SMI today reported Q1 net income of $20.3M, or $0.47 per share, down 34.1% from $30.9M, or $0.71 per share, in Q1 '08. Total revenues were $133.5M, down nearly 14% from $155.2M in the year-ago period. SMI also reported a 12.7% drop in admissions revenue and a 23.8% decrease in event-related revenue, while NASCAR broadcasting revenue rose 1.2% (SCENEDAILY.com, 5/6). SMI venues held "five major NASCAR races" in the period, compared with six in Q1 '08 (THATSRACIN.com, 5/6).
LANCE ARMSTRONG COULD BUY FINANCIALLY STRAPPED ASTANA TEAM
Lance Armstrong is reportedly "behind a planned management buyout of financially troubled" Team Astana. The team needs to locate funds totaling more than $2M in back pay owed to riders after Astana's Kazakh backers defaulted on their payments, or it will "face handing back the ProTour license" to the UCI (THEAUSTRALIAN.com.au, 5/7). Astana spokesperson Philippe Maertens said, "The team is not going to default. There is only a delay of payment" (AP, 5/6).
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS ATTENDANCE, PLAYOFFS, SOCIAL NETWORKS
Following a one-hour panel organized by the Wall Street Journal today in N.Y., CNBC’s Darren Rovell spoke with NBA Commissioner David Stern and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Bettman said of league attendance increasing each year since the '04-05 lockout, “We have great fans and they were ready to reconnect and forgive us for taking a year off, for which we're grateful, once they were fully clear we had fixed the problems.”
When asked whether it was important for economic reasons to have the league’s stars playing in the postseason, Stern said, “By definition, if you've got eight teams left … you're going to have a plethora of … stars and we have it and our fans are responding.”
Both commissioners were asked about their use of social media sites. Bettman: "Anything that we can do that enables our fans to connect with each other and with the game is something that we encourage." Stern noted he has used Twitter in the past but is not using the site currently because "I’ve decided I just can't fully express myself in 140 characters" (CNBC, 5/6).
MARK MARTIN TO RUN FULL SPRINT CUP SEASON FOR HENDRICK IN '10
 |
Martin Agrees To Drive Full Sprint Cup
Schedule For Hendrick Motorsports In '10 |
Hendrick Motorsports today announced that
Mark Martin will drive the No. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy for a full 36-race season in '10. Martin signed a two-year contract with Hendrick last July for a full season in '09 and a part-time schedule of 26 races in '10. The car's sponsorship lineup for '10 has not been determined (
Hendrick Motorsports).
The move "likely will impact Brad Keselowski's future with the team." Keselowski has a developmental deal to drive for Hendrick and "wants to race a full Cup schedule" in '10, but the team "does not have an open seat available" (AP, 5/6).
PGATOUR.COM THIS AFTERNOON LAUNCHES NEW FAN ZONE PAGE
By Jon Show, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
PGATour.com this afternoon launched a new page dubbed Fan Zone that pulls together user-generated, social media and fan-focused content. At PGATour.com/fanzone, visitors can link directly to the tour’s pages on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. There are also links to sign up for weekly e-mail blasts or mobile updates, listen to podcasts, download widgets and play fantasy games.
WEST HAM OWNER BJORGOLFUR GUDMUNDSSON REVEALS HE HAS $454M IN DEBTS
EPL club West Ham United Owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson today “revealed that he has personal liabilities” totaling US$454.2M “as a result of his failed financial dealings.” Creditors are in talks about a takeover of the team, “though control may end up in the hands of an asset management company appointed by the Icelandic government.”
Despite Gudmundsson’s struggles, West Ham United officials are “confident of meeting the conditions required to receive a UEFA Club license and will submit the necessary paperwork” to the EPL and FA by May 31. Without the license, the team “would be barred from competing in next season’s Europa League” (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 5/6).
CITI FIELD CONSTRUCTION BONDS COULD BE DOWNGRADED TO JUNK STATUS
Municipal bonds sold in '06 to finance Citi Field "may be cut to speculative grade, or junk, status" by Moody's Investors Service after surety bond provider Ambac Assurance Corp. was downgraded. Moody's has placed about $613M worth of Queens Baseball Stadium LLC bonds sold through N.Y.'s Industrial Development Agency "under review for possible downgrade." Moody's said that the $82M in bonds sold in January to complete the Mets ballpark "weren't affected" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/6).
PENGUINS INADVERTENTLY SEND SOME FANS TEXT ABOUT FREE PLAYOFF TICKETS
The Penguins inadvertently sent 460 fans a text message wrongly stating that they had "won tickets to a playoff game." Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan said that the message was sent to fans that entered “a text message contest the Pens hold before every game.” Each fan who received the message will be given “a gift package which will include a $25 gift card, a Penguins cap, T-shirt and two tickets to a regular season game next year” (KDKA.com, 5/5).
U.S. REP. BARNEY FRANK TO INTRODUCE BILL TO REGULATE INTERNET GAMBLING
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) today is unveiling a bill that would "establish a licensing and regulatory framework for Internet gambling operators" and would "effectively end" the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in '06. NTRA President & CEO Alex Waldrop said that his organization "will work with Frank to help protect online pari-mutuel wagering"
(THOROUGHBREDTIMES.com, 5/6).
COVER TO COVER ….
Sporting News this week features Cubs manager Lou Piniella and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on the cover of its "50 States, 50 Rivalries" issue with the copy, “Find Out What Happens When You Keep Your Enemies Closer.”
SI this week features a shot of Mine That Bird winning the Kentucky Derby on the cover with the header, “Miracle In The Mud … 50-1 Derby Long-Shot Winner Energizes Horse Racing.”
| | |
| Sporting News | Sports Illustrated |
BUZZER BEATERS….
 |
Sprint Center To Host Kings-Islanders
Preseason Game On September 22 |
Magna BOD member
Joe De Francis has said he would be “very interested” in buying back Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, which he sold to Magna Entertainment Corp. in ‘02 (
BLOODHORSE.com, 5/6).
Sprint Center officials today announced September 22 as the date it will host a preseason Kings-Islanders game. An announcement for an NBA preseason game in October at the venue is "expected in the next week, pending clearance from the league" (KANSASCITY.com, 5/6).
Collegiate Images today announced that it has signed Iowa State Univ. as its newest partner (Collegiate Images).
QUICK HITS….
“It’s an energetic building. It’s loud and they get into it. They’ll be tailgating all afternoon on Wednesday and it’ll be a loud building” – Bruins LW Mark Recchi, who has played for the Hurricanes, on the atmosphere for tonight’s Bruins-Hurricanes game at RBC Center (BOSTON HERALD, 5/5).
“I’d have to go back to the 1980s and the days of Dominique (Wilkins), Spud Webb and Moses Malone when there has been this much buzz” – Hawks Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Tracy White, on ticket demand for Games 3 and 4 of the team’s playoff series against the Cavaliers (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/6).
“The fight would make some money, but it hurts MMA in the long term. We don't do that because we love the sport. That's a Pride or K-1 matchup” – UFC President Dana White, on boxer Roy Jones Jr. wanting to fight the UFC’s Anderson Silva in a PPV bout (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/5).
THE DAILY'S HOT READS….
The DENVER POST's John Henderson writes of the BCS, "Neither Congress nor President Barack Obama can change a system that's locked into an ESPN contract through the 2013 season" (DENVER POST).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman writes, "The philosophy that favors speed and offense over slamming and banging pervades the current thinking of the four biggest professional-sports leagues in North America" (WALL STREET JOURNAL).
Also:
See the Hot Reads section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT'S EVENTS….
Michigan State Univ.’s Wharton Center will host “Izzo Goes To Broadway,” a charity event that will feature Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo singing and dancing in a nearly two-hour production of his life story. The American Cancer Society will receive proceeds from the event, which is expected to raise more than $135,000.
CBS’ Dick Enberg will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award during the WFUV-FM’s Spring Gala at the Puck Building in N.Y.
The Penguins will host a pep rally by the outdoor video screen at Mellon Arena prior to the team’s 7:00pm ET playoff game against the Capitals.
IN OTHER NEWS….
Sources indicated that National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) President David Rehr is stepping down today "after a rocky three-year tenure." The sources said that the NAB "has no permanent successor ready to step in" (TVNEWSDAY.com, 5/6).
DAILY DOWNLOAD….
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Rockets F Ron Artest chats with reporters for the popular celebrity gossip show "TMZ."
HEADLINERS….
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Bruce Willis |
| “Tonight Show” | Tim Allen |
| “Late Late Show” | Melina Kanakaredes |
| “Late Night” | Amy Poehler |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | David Spade |
DAILY DIGIT….
$925,000 – Appearance fee the Univ. of Georgia is paying New Mexico State Univ. for a football game scheduled for November 5, 2011, "believed to be the largest payout UGA has made to a visiting team." The contract stipulates that if either school pulls out of the deal without mutual consent, it will pay damages of $600,000 (AJC.com, 5/5).
NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….
1999
"We have come to view the top men as machines, as roboplayers, as forgettable cogs in a professional sports world full of interesting characters" – USA Today's Christine Brennan, on the lack of captivating personalities in men's tennis.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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