BOSTON
Revolution, WSBK renew TV deal
WSBK-TV renewed its exclusive television rights agreement with the New England Revolution and Kraft Sports Productions. Under the three-year agreement, WSBK will continue to be the team’s only television broadcaster in the Boston market airing all games that are not nationally televised.
BOWIE, MD.
Naming rights sought for ballpark
The Bowie Baysox are shopping the naming rights for the baseball field at Prince George’s Stadium. The opportunity is the first time the Baysox have made the sponsorship available in the 14-year-old stadium’s history. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
New Era is producing a Brooklyn Dodgers cap.
BUFFALO
New Era marking Robinson’s 90th
New Era Cap Co. is partnering with the Jackie Robinson Foundation in celebration of the late baseball pioneer’s 90th birthday. Locally based New Era is making a $250,000 investment to the organization’s scholarship and mentoring program and will donate $1 for every cap sold at the company’s flagship stores this month. Robinson, who died in 1972, was born Jan. 31, 1919. The foundation was started in 1973.
CARBONDALE, ILL.
Facility projects under way
Holland Construction Services and JE Dunn Construction have begun work on an $83 million expansion and renovation of the athletic complex at Southern Illinois University. The project includes a $25.3 million, 12,000-seat football stadium to replace 70-year-old McAndrew Stadium and a $29.9 million renovation of 8,460-seat Saluki Arena.
Ohio Cub Scouts used the buddy
system for their night of fun with
the AHL Monsters.
CLEVELAND
Scouts take over The Q
When the AHL Lake Erie Monsters welcomed a season-high 12,389 fans to their Jan. 31 game at Quicken Loans Arena, the crowd included 4,500 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from five Northeast Ohio Scout Councils. It marked the largest group sale ever at The Q. The scouts had access to the arena three hours before game time, with open ice for skating and shots on goal. The scouts were also able to tour the arena and its executive offices and meet players and cheerleaders.
Phoenix joins Cavs career fair
The University of Phoenix signed on as a presenting partner of the Feb. 24 Cavaliers Career Fair in conjunction with Dale Carnegie. University of Phoenix will receive branding on career fair brochures, print ads and other promotional pieces at Quicken Loans Arena.
COLUMBUS
Jackets, Sunshine extend deal
Sunshine Vacations expanded its corporate partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The new agreement includes a pair of interactive fan promotions that offer Blue Jackets experiences and a contest to win a suite for a special event at Nationwide Arena. Sunshine Vacations has been affiliated with the Blue Jackets and the arena since 2004.
KANSAS CITY
Royals draw up Opening Day
The Kansas City Royals will have a drawing to give fans an early crack at buying seats for Opening Day. This year’s home opener in newly remodeled Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for April 10 against the New York Yankees. Fans who want to participate in the drawing have until 1 p.m. Feb. 23 to register on the Royals Web site.
MEMPHIS
Gulf Coast to buy track complex
Alabama-based Gulf Coast Entertainment agreed to purchase Memphis Motorsports Park for $10 million from Dover Motorsports, according to a report in The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal. Gulf Coast expects to close the deal by April 30, with Dover receiving a 2 percent interest in Gulf Coast as part of the agreement, according to the report.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Target Field art to be reviewed
The Minnesota Ballpark Authority plans to review public art projects selected for two display areas at Target Field during its board meeting on Tuesday. The projects will be located at the ballpark transit station’s Vertical Circulation Building and the 5th Street Panels on the northeast side of the park. The artists were chosen by an 11-member committee.
NASHVILLE
Braun, Dollar aid Vandy program
Braun Racing and its sponsor Dollar General Corp. are starting an internship program in conjunction with the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering motorsports program. It will include a $10,000 donation to the school as well as campus visits from the two-car NASCAR Nationwide Series team’s engineers, mechanics and crew chiefs.
The Titans jumped out to a 10-0 start
and tied their franchise-best
season record of 13-3.
Titans raising ticket prices
The Tennessee Titans will raise ticket prices at LP Field for the third consecutive season and for the eighth time in 10 years, according to a report in The (Nashville) Tennessean. The increase of $2 to $3 per seat will put the price of season tickets between $43 and $83 per game but lets the Titans maintain an average season-ticket price that’s among the lowest in the NFL, according to the report.
PHILADELPHIA
Eagles tickets going up
Philadelphia Eagles tickets at Lincoln Financial Field are increasing in price, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News. The team’s most-expensive seats will jump $5, up to $95 from $90, according to the report, with lower-level end-zone seats increasing $10.
Comcast adds NHL on-demand
Comcast Corp. reached an agreement with the NHL that will let the Philadelphia-based cable giant make hockey coverage from the NHL Network available to Comcast subscribers on an on-demand basis. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The on-demand features will include news, highlights and “condensed” games available a few hours after a game’s completion.
Sixers market to female fans
The Philadelphia 76ers have introduced a ticket package called Ladies Night Out. The package includes two tickets, two chicken salads, two glasses of wine, two Sixers T-shirts, and two gift cards to Salon L’Etoile and Spa. The packages are priced at $50 or $75, depending on seat location.
Earthquakes co-owner Lew Wolff
presented a jersey to Amway’s
Steve Lieberman.
PORTLAND
Nike outfitting Beavers, Timbers
PGE Park, the Class AAA Portland Beavers and the Portland Timbers of the United Soccer Leagues entered into a multiyear partnership with Nike to support the Portland Beavers & Portland Timbers Community Fund. Nike will become the official on-field apparel and equipment provider for both clubs, which share PGE Park as a home venue.
SAN JOSE
Quakes to wear Amway logo
The San Jose Earthquakes struck a three-year sponsorship deal with Amway Global. The Earthquakes said the company’s logo will appear across the front of the team’s jersey, and the deal gives Amway rights to other promotions tied to the team. Financial terms were not disclosed.
ST. LOUIS
Blues owner targets Kiel work
SCP Worldwide, which owns the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center and the adjacent Kiel Opera House, revived plans to renovate the long-vacant theatrical venue. SCP Chairman Dave Checketts and his partners expect the Kiel restoration to cost $50 million to $60 million. They plan to submit a formal redevelopment plan to city officials by March.
Sponsors return for third Tour
The third Tour of Missouri pro cycling event, scheduled for Sept. 7-13, will feature Drury Hotels, Edward Jones and Emerson, all of St. Louis, and the Missouri Farm Bureau, based in Jefferson City, as return sponsors. The 2008 race drew more than 430,000 spectators.
