SeatGeek has signed a long-term partnership for the naming rights to the Fire and NWSL Chicago Red Stars' stadium, currently known as Toyota Park. The deal, struck with facility owner Village of Bridgeview, will see the venue renamed SeatGeek Stadium following the final Fire match in '18. As part of the deal, SeatGeek will oversee ticketing at the venue for all future events starting in '19, and will work with venue management partner Spectra to bring more live programming to the facility. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

It is the first major, consumer-facing naming rights partnership for SeatGeek, which has also placed its name on MLS’ National Sales Center in Blaine, Minn. SeatGeek is an official league partner and is aligned with five individual MLS clubs, as well as the Cowboys, Saints and Pelicans. The deal was brokered by W Partners, the joint venture between veteran sports marketer Wally Hayward and the Cubs’ Ricketts ownership family. Toyota’s 10-year naming-rights deal had expired in '16.

Colorado State has reached a 15-year, $37.7M naming rights deal with Public Service Credit Union for the school's football stadium built last summer. Learfield's Rams Sports Properties and their Campus+ business brokered the agreement. The playing field will continue to be named for retired CSU coach Sonny Lubick, who now serves as PSCU VP/Community Outreach (CSU). CSU AD Joe Parker said that the agreement is "one of the most-lucrative sponsorship deals in college athletics." He added that the actual name of the stadium "has not yet been determined" as PSCU is "undergoing a rebranding" (COLORADOAN.com, 4/19).

The Univ. of Tennessee today announced that AD Phillip Fulmer "has received a four-year contract" worth $1M annually. Fulmer had been working as an "at-will employee since replacing John Currie on Dec. 1." Fulmer's contract will run through Dec. 31, 2021. His annual salary is comprised of his "base salary ($300,000), supplemental pay ($600,000) and a yearly retention bonus ($100,000)." He is also "eligible for up to $300,000 annually in performance bonuses." Fulmer said that he "doesn't intend to make any major shakeups within the senior athletic department staff that he inherited" (KNOXNEWS.com, 4/19).

The Jaguars unveiled five new uniform combinations during today's "State of the Franchise" event at EverBank Field. Gone are the "two-toned helmets and in are the all-black helmets the Jaguars used earlier in franchise history." Exec VP/Football Operations Tom Coughlin was "involved in the uniform re-design" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 4/19). Among the "first people to see them were not the reporters" at today's event, but "passengers leaving the secure area" at Jacksonville Int'l Airport. Before them were the "workers who put up the 'Welcome to Sacksonville' mural last night in the airport terminal hallway" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 4/19).

Classic. Timeless. Tradition. pic.twitter.com/q5r6lau7V8

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) April 19, 2018

Meanwhile, the Dolphins today also unveiled a new on-field look featuring a "slight change in the team's color scheme." The orange is "going back to original (darker) and the marine blue was removed from the outlines of the stripes, numbers and names" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 4/19).

Dolphins

The NFL named Nicholas Theodore the new Chair of its Head, Neck & Spine Committee, a critical outside advisory panel that has taken a lead role in crafting the league’s head injury policy. He replaces former co-Chairs Richard Ellenbogen and Hunt Batjer. Dr. Theodore is the Donlin M. Long Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics and Biomedical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine, and Dir of the Johns Hopkins Neurosurgical Spine Center.

The NFL did not say why Ellenbogen and Batjer are stepping down, though a source said they wished to refocus on their private practices. The two were central to the NFL crafting its concussion protocol and placing neurological spotters at games. They also had an important role in awarding grants in concussion research, but in '16 they came under criticism for allegedly steering money away from a Boston Univ. doctor who had previously criticized the league. Batjer is also the subject of discovery requests from insurance companies suing the NFL in an effort to not cover payouts to retirees as part of the concussion settlement.

Minnesota United has signed a multiyear partnership with Oak View Group, which will now represent the club nationally to potential partners. Minnesota United is scheduled to move into its new $200M stadium, Allianz Field, in ’19. OVG President of Global Partnership Dan Griffis, a former Targer Corp. VP/Marketing, will serve as the point person for the relationship.

The Nitro Circus action sports tour has struck a deal with video game publisher Psyonix to integrate its popular esports title “Rocket League” into the tour this season. The centerpiece of the relationship is online tournaments pitting fans against Nitro Circus stars in the game, which features cars playing a variation of soccer. Nitro Circus and "Rocket League" also will collaborate on branded content and giveaways.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

This week six years ago, the 49ers "kicked off the move to Santa Clara with a 'gold-and-scarlet-filled groundbreaking' for the team's new $1.2B stadium. The York family and city leaders "dug shovels into the 49ers logo on the ceremonial field," with CEO Jed York declaring to a grandstand full of supporters, "Welcome to the site of your new home on Sundays."

Other stories from this week in '12:

• NBPA seeks resignation from President Derek Fisher.
• Subway inks deal with Robert Griffin III ahead of NFL Draft.
• Jeremy Lin, Tim Tebow make Time's Most Influential list.

Hyundai is rolling out the second season of "Rolling with the Rookies," a four-episode digital series profiling NFL Draft prospects. This year's subjects are QB Josh Allen, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, OT Connor Williams and RB Derrius Guice (Hyundai).

Gregg Popovich "will not coach" tonight's Game 3 of the Spurs-Warriors firs- round series following the death of his wife yesterday. Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina "will fill in" (ESPN.com, 4/19).

The Chiefs have signed a partnership with Park Univ. for the institution to become the team's first-ever official higher education partner (Chiefs).

The NYRA and MSG Networks have reached a multiyear extension for MSGN's telecasts of the outfit's racing programming (MSG Networks).

NBA 2K League team 76ers Gaming Club named Raynor Group its official gaming chair provider (76ers).

“This exodus does raise some questions about succession, about the culture and really about the continuity in a company that's been otherwise thriving in terms of innovating its supply chain and its products” -- CNBC’s Sara Eisen, on Nike VP/Footwear Greg Thompson becoming the latest exec to leave company (“Squawk on the Street,” CNBC, 4/19).

“This one truly is the biggest draft in the football team’s history simply because there’s been so much change, so much changeover (in ownership and the front office)” -- Cleveland-based WKRK-FM’s Ken Carman, on Browns holding the No. 1 and 4 overall selections in next week's NFL Draft (“OTL,” ESPN, 4/19).

The NFL “Big Reveal” schedule announcement tonight. Have to chuckle at all the leaks out there. Just announce it and be done with it.

— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) April 19, 2018

If you're a Jacksonville season ticket holder (yes, they do exist), losing the Eagles game to London can not be a good feeling.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) April 19, 2018

Joey Votto, player-manager. Do it Dick Williams.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) April 19, 2018

Just saw a guy skateboarding to class while doing bicep curls with a dumbbell. Stanford students know how to manage their time.

— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) April 19, 2018

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

As part of a series of podcasts with the 2018 Forty Under 40 honorees, Turnkey Sports interviewed Pegula Sports & Entertainment's Brent Rossi.

Under Armour is releasing a new marketing campaign featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a group of "international athletes." The creative "will run in China and Europe as well as the U.S." (ADAGE.com, 4/19).

$4.7M -- Amount Disney has contributed to a Florida political action committee backing Amendment 3, which would "change the state constitution to stipulate that any future casino gambling expansion would have to be approved" by 60% of voters, as opposed to "being decided on by legislators." The proposal could affect the future of sports betting in Florida (THELINES.com, 4/19).