ATLANTA
City to host volleyball tournament
Atlanta will serve as the host city for the 2004 USA Open Volleyball Championships. The championship games, divided into 14 men's and 14 women's tournaments in five age categories, will be played May 29 through June 5 at the Georgia Dome.
Women's Final Four yields $26.7 million
The 2003 NCAA Women's Final Four, played at the Georgia Dome in April, pulled down $26.7 million for the city, according to the Atlanta Sports Council. The council estimated the event's economic impact for the whole state was $33.8 million. The council said the money spent by each of the 23,132 out-of-town visitors per day breaks down to: hotel, $47; food, $53; retail, $51; transportation, $17; and $37 spent at the event.
BUFFALO
College adds sport management studies
Hilbert College, located in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg, is adding a concentration in sport management. The program will be offered by the Hilbert Business Administration Department.
Tops renews Watkins Glen deal
Tops Friendly Markets LLC has renewed its partnership as official supermarket of Watkins Glen International, track President Craig Rust recently announced. The partnership will continue to provide race fans with an on-site grocery store and another avenue to purchase tickets through Tops' tickets.com store locations. Tops Friendly Markets has been a corporate sponsor at The Glen since 2000. The Tops on-site store, Tops at Turn 10, will be on the infield of the facility for the Sirius at The Glen NASCAR Winston Cup weekend in August. The store gives race fans the opportunity to purchase grocery and camping items while at the track without having to leave the grounds.
CHARLOTTE
City lands women's bowling tourney
Visit Charlotte, the city's convention and visitors bureau, completed a deal to bring the Women's International Bowling Congress tournament and annual meeting to Charlotte in 2007. The event will generate an economic impact for the city estimated at $20 million. The tournament and annual meeting will begin in April 2007 and last three months.
SpeedParks signs Sadler as spokesman
NASCAR SpeedParks, a licensed chain of go-kart amusement centers, has signed stock car racer Elliott Sadler as spokesman for its three locations. Sadler will make appearances later this summer at the SpeedPark locations in Concord, N.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Sevierville, Tenn.
DALLAS-FORT WORTH
Heisman winners' jerseys to be sold
A group formed to market Heisman Trophy winners has signed a three-year deal to sell jerseys of 46 recipients of college football's top honor. Financial terms of the Heisman Winners Association's deal with Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Valley Apparel weren't disclosed. The jerseys, of which high-end versions will cost around $250, will be peddled at major retailers and college stores, according to The Dallas Morning News. The association was created last year by the Dallas-based Sports Group.
DENVER
City lands NCAA hockey tourney in 2008
Denver has been awarded the NCAA men's hockey championship in 2008, which will be held in the Pepsi Center. The city also will host the 2007 West regional hockey competition. Denver was one of 12 cities that submitted bids to host the championship, called the "Frozen Four."
DETROIT
Ticket sales brisk for 'BasketBowl'
The Michigan State-Kentucky basketball game scheduled for Dec. 13 at Ford Field, dubbed "The BasketBowl — Hoops on the 50," is aiming for a world basketball attendance record. As of June 27, more than 50,000 tickets had been sold to donors and season-ticket holders. The remaining 19,000-plus tickets will go on sale to the public Tuesday. The official basketball capacity is listed at 69,200. The previous record of 75,000, set in 1951 during a Harlem Globetrotters game played in Berlin Stadium, likely will be broken when suite holders, band members, cheerleaders, media and game-day personnel are included in the final attendance figures.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.
Sports Authority to lay off 12
The Sports Authority has filed a mandatory notice with Florida saying it will lay off 12 employees active in managing companies and enterprises by Aug. 26. Earlier last week, the Fort Lauderdale-based company moved closer to being purchased by Englewood, Colo.-based Gart Sports Co. when the Securities and Exchange Commission said Gart may issue common shares in connection with the companies' proposed combination.
SportsLine.com sells VegasInsider.com
Fort Lauderdale-based SportsLine.com said it has sold its VegasInsider.com subsidiary to Sports Information, a United Kingdom-based company. The Internet sports media company that publishes CBS SportsLine.com did not give terms of the sale. Sports Information operates sports gaming information Web sites in Europe and Asia and generates sports content for use by partner Web sites.
HOUSTON
Texans offer 2-game ticket packages
The Houston Texans have introduced 
a new two-game ticket package that went on sale June 30. Two options were created: the Battle Red package and the Deep Steel Blue package. The Battle Red alternative includes the Denver Broncos preseason game on Aug. 9 and the regular-season game Nov. 30 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Deep Steel Blue deal includes the San Diego preseason game on Aug. 23 and the Tennessee Titans regular-season game on Dec. 21. Tickets for single games go on sale July 12, at which time Texans fans also can pick up free tickets to eight evening training camp practices. There is a limit of eight practice tickets per person.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indians stock sale raises questions
The sale of almost 7 percent of Indianapolis Indians stock has again raised the issue of the value of the city's Class AAA minor league baseball franchise. The sale on 56 shares of Indians stock closed this month; 28 shares selling for $13,000 and 28 shares selling for $13,100. That's considerably higher than the $9,200 per share the franchise offered in a company-led stock buyback initiated last August. The buyback price put an $8.3 million value on the team based on the number of outstanding shares. But based on the most recent sale, the team value would be $10.9 million. D.L. Diedrich, a retired Ball State University professor, sold 56 of his 58 shares after becoming increasingly upset over what he called team officials' devaluation of its own stock. A 1997 stock buyback offer had put a value of $10.6 million on the franchise.
Street-legal drags growing at IRP
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| The movies "The Fast and the Furious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious" (scene above) are credited with increasing the attendance and participation at street-legal races at IRP. |
The movies "The Fast and the Furious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious" are increasing business by a nearly double-digit percentage at Tuesday night's street-legal drags at Indianapolis Raceway Park. IRP officials said about 300 racers paying $10 each and more than 350 spectators paying $7 each are showing up for the Tuesday night street-legal drags. Anyone with a valid driver's license and a street-legal vehicle can participate. IRP spokesman Scott Smith said the street-legal drags were started at IRP a decade ago as a community service to get illegal drag racers off the streets and into a safer environment. But with the help of sponsors such as C&R Performance Racing, the event has turned into a profit maker. Sponsors too are pleased with the growing event, which runs April through October.
JACKSONVILLE
Cruise ships sign on for Super Bowl duty
The Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee and representatives of three cruise ship lines have completed contracts for five ships that will act as floating hotels and entertainment venues during Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Paul Shortall of Holland America Line, Mario Villalobos of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and Cherie Weinstein of Carnival Cruise Lines met at the Adam's Mark Hotel to sign the contracts. The cruise ship deals mean 3,617 rooms, 16 restaurants, 11 entertainment venues, 12 night clubs, 5 spas and 29 bars — all open to the public with prior credentials — for the 2005 game.
MIAMI
Orange Bowl renovations?
Miami probably will pursue a proposal for potentially $100 million in major renovations to the Orange Bowl. A Miami Herald story said the changes will include cutting capacity from 74,000 to 62,000, adding suites, chairbacks, upgraded rest rooms and building a new scoreboard in the west end zone. Renovations would keep the University of Miami at the stadium past its expiring lease in 2010.
MILWAUKEE
Miller High Life sponsors Jesel Racing
Miller Brewing Co. commemorated the  |
| The No. 66 High Life Dodge was designed to resemble the one Bobby Allison drove in 1983. Rookie driver Chad Blount finished 40th in it. |
100th anniversary of its High Life brand with a primary sponsorship of a car in the NASCAR Busch Series race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 29. Miller High Life sponsored the No. 66 Dodge owned by the Jesel Racing team and driven by rookie Chad Blount. Blount's car is designed to resemble the vehicle Bobby Allison drove in 1983. The High Life sponsorship was a one-race deal, but the company isn't ruling out future sponsorships, Miller spokesman Marc Spiegel said. Blount finished 40th.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
'Squiggy' spotted at Midway
David Lander, better known as "Squiggy" from the "Laverne & Shirley" TV show, was spotted at Midway Stadium watching a St. Paul Saints game, according to the team's Web site. Lander, now a baseball scout for the Anaheim Angels, was in town for a speaking engagement. Lander has multiple sclerosis. At his Web site, www.davidlander.com, he rates ballparks he has attended on their handicapped facilities. He has not rated Midway yet.
McCombs likes corporate partnership
While many derided the Chicago Bears' corporate partnership with Bank One, Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs saluted his division rival and said he would look into finding a similar corporate sponsorship deal for his team, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Bears made Chicago-based Bank One the team's presenting partner for the next 12 years in a $50 million deal.
NEW ORLEANS
Saints make suites, funds available to Tulane
Owner Tom Benson and the New Orleans Saints have teamed with Tulane University to form a unique suite sales partnering program that could help produce more than a half-million dollars in revenue over a three-year period for Green Wave athletics. The Saints have made 10 Louisiana Superdome suites available to Tulane. The university's corporate sales staff will have the opportunity to sell those 10 suite leases, with Tulane receiving a large percentage of the suite revenue each year of the three-year lease. Upon conclusion of the leases, revenue generated for Tulane would exceed $500,000. The program runs through the end of the Saints' preseason schedule. Superdome suite leases include Saints games, Tulane football games and special events at the facility.
PHILADELPHIA
Harbor to manage stadium network
Harbor Technologies of Mount Laurel, N.J., was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles to design, deploy and help manage a state-of-the-art computer and communications network for Lincoln Financial Field, which opens Aug. 3. Harbor officials said the new 68,400-seat stadium's integrated computer network will connect everything from computers to merchandising stands, kiosks and cash registers. It also will serve as the stadium's central nervous system for ticketing, turnstiles, stadium operations, merchandising, food service and communications. In addition, the network will provide high-speed Internet access to the stadium's luxury suites and press areas.
Riversharks give away Ben Franklins
The Camden (N.J.) Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League gave away Benjamin Franklin bobblehead dolls to the first 1,500 kids at their June 29 game against the Atlantic City Surf. The bobblehead giveaway featured the historic figure holding a Riversharks baseball cap and wearing baseball cleats. The promotion was sponsored by the new National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which opened July 4.
PHOENIX
Arena to host Native American tourney
America West Arena will serve as the site of the first-ever basketball event made up entirely of Native Americans as it hosts the Native American Basketball Invitational, produced by POD Productions. Nike has joined the Phoenix Suns as presenting sponsor of the event, to be held Friday through Sunday. The tournament will feature teams of Native American high school student athletes, male and female, allowing them an exclusive stage before professional and college scouts.
RALEIGH-DURHAM
Soccer series coming to Cary
"Bridging Through the Game," a new international soccer series, is set for July 17 and 20 at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, near Raleigh. The event, produced by the Raleigh-based Sports Management Group, will feature the Dundee Football Club of Scotland; Northampton Town Football Club of England; and CD Marathon, the reigning Honduran Cup champions; plus a pair of local teams from the Capital Area Soccer League and La Liga. The event features a doubleheader format on Thursday and Sunday. The North Carolina Bankers Association is the event's lead sponsor.
SAN DIEGO
Padres' new park 70% complete
The Padres' new downtown ballpark is  |
| The new Petco Park is expected to open before Opening Day next spring. |
now 70 percent complete and is expected to be finished well in advance of Opening Day 2004. Tony Gwynn, who patrolled right field for the Padres for 20 seasons, was on hand to mark the installation of the right-field foul pole late last month. A crane lifted the 92-foot, 7,200-pound pole into position 322 feet from home plate near what was once the corner of Ninth Avenue and L Street.
SONOMA, CALIF.
Save Mart extends deal to 2008
Charlotte-based Speedway Motorsports Inc. said Save Mart Supermarkets has signed a multiyear agreement to continue as title sponsor of the annual NASCAR Winston Cup event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. Speedway executives say the deal continues the raceway's long-standing relationship with Save Mart, a Modesto-based grocery chain. Save Mart has been either the title sponsor or co-title sponsor of the event at Infineon since 1992. The new agreement extends through 2008.
ST. LOUIS
City to host 'Frozen Four' in 2007
The NCAA has selected St. Louis to host its Division I men's ice hockey national championship in 2007. The championship, also called the "Frozen Four," will take place at the 20,000-seat Savvis Center and is expected to bring more than 12,000 people to St. Louis. St. Louis beat out five other cities for the championship, which it last hosted in 1975.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Rays-Braves series boosts attendance
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays should 
send the Atlanta Braves a thank-you note. Attendance during their three-game weekend interleague series at Tropicana Field on June 27-29 drew an average of 21,921 fans per game, doubling the Devil Rays' average for home games so far this season. Rays executives had been hoping that increased ticket sales this season would allow them to increase next year's payroll, but the team has lost more than two-thirds of its games so far this season, including a 3-15 record in interleague play.
TORONTO
Jays angry over 'White Jays' article
Members of the Toronto Blue Jays reacted angrily to a front-page Toronto Star story that dissected the racial makeup of the team and found the Blue Jays the least diverse club in baseball. The story was headlined "White Jays" and ran color head-shot photos of each player while pointing out just six of 25 players were non-white. Slugger Carlos Delgado called the article "probably the stupidest thing I've ever seen." The story quoted a university professor who said a diverse city like Toronto should have a more representative baseball team. Delgado wondered why, if Toronto is such a multicultural and tolerant city, there is any need for an article focusing on race. The Star reported two days later that it received a flood of e-mails and letters complaining about the article. The original story made the point that the Blue Jays' trend toward drafting more college players would lead to fewer visible minority players on the team because there are comparatively few black players in college baseball.
