ATLANTA
Speedway, hotels offer package deal
NASCAR fans planning to attend the Winston Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway this fall now can get better mileage out of their money. Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Henry County Convention & Visitors Bureau are offering the first-ever package deal that includes a hotel stay and a shuttle to the track. For $325, fans get two tickets to the Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night, two tickets to the Oct. 25 Aaron's Busch race and two tickets to the Oct. 26 Georgia 500, along with Friday and Saturday stays at either the Microtel Inn and Suites at Eagle's Landing or the Amerihost Inn at Eagle's Landing.
Falcons fans help redesign Web site
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| Fans weighed in on Falcons’ site redesign. |
Eighteen Falcons fans huddled with team officials in Flowery Branch recently to help redesign the team's Web site. The members of the fan advisory board, chosen based on how frequently they post to the team's message boards, were asked to look at NFL and other Web sites before showing up. They were given a questionnaire and took part in a round-table discussion at the team's training facility. The Web site relaunch is set for late August.
Golfweek: Hawks Ridge ranks in Georgia
Golfweek magazine has chosen the golf course at Hawks Ridge as the best modern course in Georgia. The course at the private golf club community in Ball Ground, just north of Atlanta, was also chosen as No. 2 overall in the state, behind only Augusta National, and No. 24 in the country on the magazine's 2003 list of 100 Best Courses in America.
Thrashers introduce new logo
The Atlanta Thrashers have begun a multilayered "True Blue" marketing campaign 
around the team's upcoming fifth season in 2003-04, and have unveiled a commemorative logo that will appear on the team's jerseys this season. The campaign includes a reintroduction of the Thrashers Blue Line Club, which is membership-based and open to all season- and multigame-ticket holders, providing benefits based on the level of participation. The Blue Line Club was originally formed when the team began accepting deposits for season tickets prior to the 1999-2000 inaugural season.
BOSTON
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| The Sports Museum’s “Tradition” honored (from left) Boston Herald sports writer Tim Horgan, former Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant, former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan, women's baseball pioneer Mary Pratt, former Bruins great Phil Esposito, legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach, Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn and legendary TV sportscaster Don Gillis. |
Museum honors Auerbach at 'Tradition'
The Sports Museum held its second annual "Tradition" event June 12, presented by New Balance, and honored legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach with a Lifetime Achievement Award and several other Boston sports greats with Legacy Awards. The awards ceremony and gala reception drew nearly 1,000 people to the FleetCenter. Former Bruin great Ray Bourque, former Red Sox player Rico Petrocelli and former Patriot John Hannah were on hand to present awards.
CHARLOTTE
Panthers challenge tax value
The Carolina Panthers are challenging county property tax values assessed to Ericsson Stadium, the team's privately owned stadium. County tax assessors peg the $187 million stadium's worth at $150.4 million; the team says it's worth $20.8 million. The county valued the stadium based on how much a new stadium would cost to build, minus depreciation. The Panthers determined the value based on how much revenue can be attributed to the stadium — not the business based there. If the appeal succeeds, the Panthers would cut their tax bill by $1.5 million annually. A decision is expected later this year.
Johnson considering bid for bank
Bobcats owner Robert Johnson is considering a bid for Washington, D.C.-based Independence Federal Savings Bank as a way of helping spread seed money for minority-owned businesses. The bank has about $260 million in assets. Johnson already has a 3 percent ownership stake in the bank.
CINCINNATI
Sosa draws day-game sellout for Reds
The June 19 Reds-Cubs game was the first day-game sellout in the history of the Reds franchise, barring Opening Day. The crowd reached 42,000, with attendance helped by the return of Sammy Sosa from a seven-game suspension for using a corked bat. The June 18 game was a sellout as well.
DALLAS-FORT WORTH
AMR cuts back part of naming deals
The parent of American Airlines Inc. has made undisclosed cuts in its naming-rights deals for arenas in Dallas and Miami, for which it had been paying a combined $8.6 million annually. The American Airlines Center in Dallas and the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami will retain their names, but the carrier's parent, Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., has sold back certain ad space at the facilities, according to The Dallas Morning News. AMR Corp. is cutting $4 billion in costs in a bid to avoid bankruptcy.
DENVER
City gets 2005 NBA All-Star Game
Denver has won the NBA All-Star Game for 2005, the league announced. The game will be played Feb. 20, 2005.
Centrix to name Grand Prix race
Centrix Financial LLC of Centennial, Colo., is the new title sponsor of the Labor Day Grand Prix race in Denver, replacing Shell Oil. The event will be called the Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
DETROIT
Shock puts Laimbeer on bobblehead
The first 2,500 fans who entered the Palace for the Detroit Shock's June 20 game against the New York Liberty took home a bobblehead doll in the likeness of Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer. The bobblehead, Laimbeer's first in his job with the WNBA Shock, was sponsored by Ticketmaster.
Tigers pay tribute to pioneer Doby
Parties, picnics and a high school baseball all-star game are among the scheduled activities for Comerica Park July 24-27 during the Detroit Tigers' homestand against the Kansas City Royals, which will include the Tigers' annual Negro Leagues Game on July 26. A tribute to the late Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League (Cleveland Indians) will be held on July 25 as part of the Negro Leagues weekend celebration. Doby finished his career as an outfielder with the Detroit Tigers in 1959.
HOUSTON
Texans practice with Astros
Houston Texans punter Chad Stanley proved he can make more than one type of ball travel far when he hit two home runs June 19 during batting practice with the Houston Astros.  |
| Texans cornerback Aaron Glenn gets ready to take a swing with the Astros. |
In an different sort of switch hitting, a group of Texans got a chance to practice their swings with the Astros in Minute Maid Park. The crossover athletes included Tony Banks, Kris Brown, David Carr, Marcus Coleman, Troy Evans, Jay Foreman, Aaron Glenn, Jason Lamar, Mike Quinn, Gary Walker and Stanley. A Texans spokesman says the players did "surprising well," and it was a good way for them to wind down after mini-camp. The players and their families stuck around afterward to watch the Astros play the Arizona Diamondbacks.
JACKSONVILLE
Arena imploded to make way for new
The Barracudas front office staff, coaches and players bid farewell to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum when it was imploded to make way for a new $130 million arena. The coliseum formerly was home to the ACHL's Barracudas and the Jacksonville Lizard Kings, who left Jacksonville in part because of the aging facility's deficiencies.
KANSAS CITY
K.C. Knights to return to ABA
The Kansas City Knights will return to the ABA for a 36-game season that is to run from November through March. Jim Clark, the Knights' former owner, serves as CEO of the minor league basketball league, which was plagued with financial problems during a two-season run that ended in 2002. The ABA suspended play last season. League offices have moved to the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa, Kan. Five other franchises are anticipated this season in Las Vegas; Long Beach, Calif.; Trenton, N.J., and Juarez and Guadalajara, Mexico.
KNOXVILLE, TENN.
Proffitt's to sponsor Vol Village
Proffitt's, a partner in the Saks Department Store Group, will be the title sponsor of the University of Tennessee's Volunteer Village this fall. Open 31¼2 hours before all home football games, Volunteer Village offers interactive inflatable games, live music bands and local sports talk "Game Day All Day" for fans. Proffitt's has 12 locations in Tennessee, five in the Knoxville area.
MIAMI
Office Depot sponsoring sweepstakes
Office Depot in Fort Lauderdale, sponsor of Alonzo Mourning's "Zo's Summer Groove" event, said it will sponsor the "Office Depot Zo's Summer Groove $50,000 Sweepstakes." Office Depot's 23 retail stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will give out up to four free admission passes to the "Carnival Cruise Lines All-Star Basketball Game," which takes place on July 13 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. On July 13, two people will be randomly selected upon redeeming their admission pass at the Will Call window for entrance to the game to compete in an Office Depot "pricing" game during halftime. The contestants who guess the correct price of back-to-school items have a chance to shoot a regulation basketball from half-court and, if successful, win $50,000.
Panthers schedule Hockey School
Florida Panthers Hockey School is scheduled July 7 at Incredible ICE, the team's training center in Coral Springs. The Panthers Hockey School, which offers five programs, will feature Panthers players Roberto Luongo, Stephen Weiss, Peter Worrell and Darcy Hordichuk, as well as former Panther and current St. Louis Blues center Ryan Johnson and U.S. Olympians Katie King and Tricia Dunn.
Miami hosts Adidas-Footaction party
Miami is one of four cities scheduled for block parties organized by Adidas and Footaction this summer. 
The companies are teaming to host block parties and basketball, as well as MC and DJ competitions, as a promotional element in last Friday's launch of Adidas' All Day All Night (ADAN) 3 product line. Other parties are scheduled for Los Angeles, Houston and Detroit.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Garnett throws out first pitch
Minnesota Timberwolf Kevin Garnett was to throw out the first pitch at a Minnesota Twins game last Wednesday as part of African-American Heritage night at the Metrodome. The Twins have had success honoring different ethnic groups with nights dedicated to their specific cultures the last two years.
Guardado gets his own bobblehead
Eddie Guardado was featured on the Minnesota Twins' first bobblehead of 2003. Austin-based Hormel Foods Corp. sponsored the bobblehead giveaway, which went to the first 10,000 fans at Friday's game against Milwaukee. Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie and A.J. Pierzynski will be featured later in the season.
Lynx to host American Indian night
Aug. 2 will be American Indian Communities of Minnesota night during the Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center. Before the game, the Lynx will host the inaugural American Indian Community three-on-three basketball tournament for boys and girls in ninth to 12th grades in the Northwest Athletic Club inside the arena. The tournament championship will be played on the Target Center court after the Lynx game.
ORLANDO
Disney, Orlando chamber team for Classic
Walt Disney World Resort and the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce have teamed for the 2003 Funai Classic. The Professional Golf Association golf tournament will be played at Walt Disney World from Oct. 23-26. The agreement makes the chamber a general admission ticket provider for the tournament. For its participation the chamber will receive all of the event's general admission ticket proceeds, including those from tickets sold through Ticketmaster outlets and the Funai Classic box office throughout the week of the tournament.
PHILADELPHIA
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| Philadelphia Mayor John Street (second from right) unveils the Negro League Memorial Statue. |
Negro League Memorial unveiled
The Philadelphia Phillies hosted the unveiling of a new Negro League Memorial Statue to honor former members of the Philadelphia Stars. The Business Association of West Parkside in Philadelphia led the effort to create the memorial. Five former Stars — Bill Cash, Mahlon Duckett, Stanley Glenn, Harold Gould and Wilmer Harris — attended the unveiling ceremony. The Phillies will display the statue for 30 days in a concourse behind home plate where a Negro League display sits. Then the statue will move to its permanent home on the southwest corner of Belmont and Parkside avenues, the site of the former home playing field of the Stars. The 7-foot bronze statue of a Negro League player was sculpted by Phil Sumpter, who also designed a statue of Roberto Clemente.
Two-day Sox series draws record crowd
The Phillies drew 96,472 fans to Veterans Stadium for June 21-22 games against the Boston Red Sox. The total was the largest ever for a two-game series at the Vet. (A scheduled June 20 game was rained out.) The team drew 60,985 fans — the team's largest crowd since Opening Day 1993 — for the June 22 game, which included a Steve Carlton bobblehead giveaway for everyone in attendance.
PITTSBURGH
Penguins announce team's share for arena
The Pittsburgh Penguins and MTR Gaming Group of Chester, W.Va., said they have partnered to provide $107 million for the construction of a new arena. The Pens, which play in Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the National Hockey League, would contribute $47 million, while MTR, owner of Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort, would contribute the rest. MTR said it will apply for a thoroughbred racetrack and license in Allegheny County and will contribute a share of its revenue to the new facility. In addition, the Pens and MTR will enter a joint partnership to promote the team, arena and track.
SACRAMENTO
River Cats again sell out women's camp
For the third consecutive year, the Sacramento River Cats sold out their Baseball 
101 half-day camp for women. The River Cats and Sutter Health held "The Diamond is a Girl's Best Friend: Baseball 101 for Women" June 21 with 133 women. The camp cost $35. Participants received lunch, a gift bag and a T-shirt.
SAN DIEGO
Padres, MasterCard offer cut rates
The Padres have teamed with MasterCard to offer fans half-priced club grandstand tickets and reduced-price view level tickets at Qualcomm Stadium for the remainder of the 2003 season. 
Club grandstand seats in sections stretching from center field to the left-field foul pole are now available for $5, half of the original $10 price. There are about 2,700 seats in this "MasterCard Grand Slam Seating Section." View (upper) level seats extending down both baselines from just beyond first base and third base will also be lowered to $5. The lone exception will be during the final series ever at Qualcomm, Sept. 26-28 against Colorado, as the team winds up its 35-season run at the Q before moving to a new downtown ballpark in 2004.
SAN JOSE
Jet company sues over landing curfew
The charter jet company that ferries the San Jose SaberCats to and from away games is suing the Mineta San Jose International Airport and the city of San Jose for the rights to land its Boeing 727 after the airport's 11:30 p.m. curfew. City officials say that granting that right to Horta Limited Liability Co. would effectively make the curfew invalid. Horta is connected to the Fry family, which also owns San Jose's Arena Football League team and Fry Electronics retail store. The curfew is in place to cut down noise in surround neighborhoods, city officials say.
TORONTO
Sun to provide stats for CFL games
The technology of Markham, Ontario-based Sun Microsystems will soon be used to provide real-time statistical information to the media and coaches during Canadian Football League games. Sun and the CFL signed a three-year marketing and technology sponsorship agreement under which Sun's systems will be used in the CFL offices and to keep track of on-field events during games. As part of the deal, the CFL's Web site at cfl.ca will be revamped to become more interactive.
ANC/Saco does signs for Air Canada Centre
Arena signage systems designer ANC/Saco has added Air Canada Centre to its stable of pro sports clients. The company, based in Purchase, N.Y., will install 2,489 square feet of its Smartvision light-emitting diode signage screen systems at the arena, a move that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment senior vice president Bob Hunter said will enhance the game experience for Leafs and Raptors fans. With installation to be completed for the opening of the 2003-04 NHL and NBA seasons, the systems will cover the entire fascia of the 200/300 seating sections.
