| • | NFL Owners Close To Approving Nike As Uniform Rights Holder |
| • | Heat File Legal Action Over Clear Channel's Broadcast Priority |
| • | ESPN Records Most-Watched Fiscal Year In Network's History |
| • | RBS Gets Injunction To Halt Firing Of Liverpool Board Members |
SOURCES: NFL OWNERS CLOSE TO APPROVING UNIFORM RIGHTS FOR NIKE
By Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large
 |
NFL Nearing Five-Year Deal With Nike For
Uniform And Sideline Apparel Rights |
Numerous industry sources said that NFL owners are close to approving a five-year deal that would see Nike acquire uniform and sideline apparel rights for the league’s 32 teams, while New Era, the longtime MLB on-field rights holder would, for the first time, get NFL sideline rights for caps. The deal is subject to ownership approval. The new rights would take effect after next season. Nike was last on NFL fields with uniform rights in '01, and has since been visible in NFL games only through footwear and glove rights.
What the league will do with off-field apparel rights is not as clear, but sources said Twins Enterprises will get rights in the “downstairs” discounter category for caps, with G III and VF gaining additional rights across different levels of retail distribution for fan-wear, like jackets, hoodies, and T-shirts. In addition, it is unclear who between Haddad or Outer Stuff would win the kids rights, but they both could emerge by splitting them.
Sources said Under Armour retained its rights to the NFL scouting combine, along with limited apparel rights. Sources stressed that particularly in the kids area, the arrangement was still fluid and subject to the approval of NFL ownership. The NFL Business Ventures Committee, chaired by Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver, is meeting today in Chicago on the matter, with the full ownership due to consider the subject Tuesday.
Read the entire story.
HEAT FILE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CLEAR CHANNEL OVER DOLPHINS CONFLICT
The Heat have filed legal action accusing Clear Channel of "breaching its contract by favoring the Dolphins" for an upcoming game broadcast. Both teams are scheduled to play games at 1:00pm ET on Oct. 31, with the Dolphins game to air on the more powerful affiliate, WBGG-FM. But the Heat claim their rights deal with Clear Channel "specifies that if another Florida sports team was granted a rights agreement, the Heat would be entitled to an equivalent package"
(HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/11).
ESPN NOTCHES MOST-WATCHED FISCAL YEAR IN NETWORK'S HISTORY
ESPN today announced that it recorded its most-watched fiscal year and the highest-rated year in the last 20. The net's total-day rating of 0.9 was the highest since '90, equaling the highest ever. For the fiscal year, the net's viewership averaged 1,048,000 on a 24-hour basis, up 7% from the 975,000 recorded last year. Another fiscal-year record was set with the combined average total-day audience for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes (ESPN).
RBS OBTAINS INJUNCTION PREVENTING FIRING OF LIVERPOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Royal Bank of Scotland today said that it has obtained an "interim injunction preventing Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. from firing" club Chair Martin Broughton and two other board members. RBS, which holds the bulk of Liverpool's debt, is claiming breach of contract. This comes ahead of tomorrow's hearing in London's High Court that will help decide whether the club will be sold to New England Sports Ventures (AP, 10/11).
BLUE JACKETS INK MULTIYEAR RENEWAL OF ANHEUSER-BUSCH SPONSORSHIP
The Blue Jackets today announced a multiyear renewal with Anheuser-Busch, which has sponsored the team since its inaugural '00-01 season. As part of the deal, A-B will release a limited edition 24-ounce Bud Light can to celebrate the team's 10th season. The cans, available at central Ohio retail locations, will feature the team's official "10th season" logo (Blue Jackets).
ESPN PARTS WAYS WITH PRODUCER NEIL GOLDBERG IN WAKE OF ARREST
By John Ourand, Staff Writer
ESPN has let go Neil Goldberg, the senior producer for NASCAR who was arrested last week in Connecticut on public indecency charges, sources say. Goldberg's boss, coordinating producer Jill Frederickson, handled production for ESPN's NASCAR races over the weekend and plans to work this weekend's races, as well.
Goldberg has not worked at ESPN since his arrest last week, which also included charges of simple trespass, disorderly conduct and breach of peace. ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys would only confirm that Goldberg no longer works for ESPN.
GAY/LESBIAN CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP TO HONOR MAPLE LEAFS' BRIAN BURKE
By Fred Dreier, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
The gay/lesbian civil rights group Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays of New York City (PFLAG) will honor Maple Leafs President & GM Brian Burke at a dinner tonight in N.Y. that is being sponsored by the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will present Burke with the inaugural “Stay Close” Sports Leadership Award for his advocacy for equal treatment of gays and lesbians in sports.
Burke gained headlines in '09 for his public support of his 21-year-old son, Brendan, who was gay. Brendan Burke died in a car accident in February. “Sports are an important part of growing up for so many kids, it’s tragic that a child not be able to participate, much less be made to suffer, because they are gay,” Burke said in a release.
BUZZER BEATERS….
 |
Perky Jerky Signs Deal
With RPM, ISC Tracks |
The Pasadena City Council tonight is expected to vote on a proposed $152M financing plan for renovation of the Rose Bowl (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).
Roy Arnold today resigned as President of Arlington Park and its off-track betting facilities, a job he had held since '06. Arnold "will serve as a consultant" to track parent company CDI "during the transition period" (THOROUGHBREDTIMES.com, 10/11).
adidas today unveiled its TechFit football jerseys for seven college football teams: Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M and UCLA (adidas).
Richard Petty Motorsports today announced that Perky Jerky has signed a multiyear deal to sponsor the race team as its official jerky. Perky Jerky is also the official jerky of the '11 Daytona 500 and all ISC tracks
(Perky Jerky).
QUICK HITS….
“We go with our gut mostly, but that is always informed by the expertise of whoever is telling me that this should be the cover" – SI Group Editor Terry McDonnell, on the choice of the SI cover athlete on a weekly basis (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 10/11).
“I’m sure they’re not going to do a lot of discounting. If they do go under one roof, you’re going to see a pretty high price asked for sponsors to go into that facility” – Dietz Trott Sports & Entertainment President Mike Dietz, who used to work for Ilitch Holdings, on the cost of a corporate sponsorship in a proposed arena for the Pistons and Red Wings (CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS, 10/11 issue).
“There’s no shortage (of) passion here, that’s for sure. We just need to get more fans, and get more fans in the stadium. That’s something we’re being challenged with throughout the country but, clearly, it’s an issue here” – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the attendance struggles of the Raiders (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/11).
TWITTER ME THIS….
Lions DT Ndamukong Suh: “Woke up to the SportsCenter recap of week 5...can't wait for them to announce a Lions victory w/o the surprised voice.”
ESPN’s Bonnie Bernstein: “Can't remember the last time I was looking fwd to covering a reg season gm as much as I am Jets Vikings Stoked!”
Ventura County Star’s Jim Carlisle: “John McEnroe and David Feherty will talk NFL on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" on Wednesday... That should be hilarious.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt: “Mark Attanasio's open letter to loyal fans in JS this morning, thanking them for their support, was smart move. So was freezing tix prices.”
If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
THE DAILY'S HOT READS….
The BOSTON GLOBE's Gary Washburn writes an NBA lockout is "something the Players Association is convinced will occur. But the question is whether a lockout will shift the power to the owners or ruin a league that may be entering its most captivating era in its 60-plus-year history" (BOSTON GLOBE).
The DENVER POST's Lindsay Jones writes the death by suicide of Broncos WR Kenny McKinley "was a sobering reminder that emotional problems and mental health issues are universal, and that even professional athletes … are just as vulnerable as anyone else" (DENVER POST).
Also:
See the Hot Reads section for more sports business-related links.
DAILY DOWNLOAD….
"Sesame Street" parodies one of the more recognizable ads from the Old Spice "Swagger" campaign, which has recently gone in a sports-themed direction.
HEADLINERS….
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "Late Show" | Jim Parsons |
| "Tonight Show" | Jay Mohr |
| "Late Late Show" | John Malkovich |
| "Late Night" | Donald Trump |
| "Jimmy Kimmel Live" | Michael Chiklis |
DAILY DIGIT….
23% – Number of golfers interviewed in Golf Magazine's survey of PGA Tour pros who picked Ian Poulter as the tour's best-dressed player, making Poulter tops in that category. John Daly received the most votes for worst-dressed with 25% (GOLF MAGAZINE, 10/'10 issue).
NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….
2000
In Wizards Owner Abe Pollin's "most definitive statement to date on the subject," he declares he will "retain control" of the Wizards "for the rest of his life."
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at: pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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