ALBANY, N.Y.
TWC plans ‘Sports Reporters’-style show
Time Warner Cable is planning the “Time Warner Cable Sports Press Box,” an Albany-based show similar to ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters,” according to a report in the Albany Times-Union. The plan is to use a rotation of local and regional TV sports anchors, newspaper writers, and radio hosts in roundtable discussions. The show likely will premiere this month on a trial basis before airing permanently locally in the fall.
BALTIMORE
Grand Prix taps Leffler Agency
Baltimore Grand Prix organizers tapped the Leffler Agency to handle marketing and advertising for the Izod IndyCar Series event, with local public relations executive Edie Brown to handle publicity for the Labor Day weekend street race.
Orioles return to 1090 WBAL
The Baltimore Orioles signed a multiyear deal with 1090 WBAL-AM to become the club’s radio flagship station. Orioles games were most recently heard on WBAL in 2006. The station first broadcast Orioles games in 1957, the club’s fourth season.
BOSTON
Celtics invite fans’ shoe designs
The Boston Celtics are promoting an exclusive Adidas shoe design contest inspired by past Celtics championships. Celtics fans can design a new “mi Adidas Superstar II” through the team’s online store. Monthly winners will receive their designs of the shoe, and a grand-prize winner chosen in May will receive two tickets to a Celtics game along with a meet-and-greet with center Kendrick Perkins.
DENVER
Tebow autobiography expected April 19
HarperCollins has scheduled the publication of Tim Tebow’s autobiography for April, with an initial print run of 200,000 copies. “Through My Eyes” is slated to go on sale April 19. The Denver Broncos quarterback’s co-author is Nathan Whitaker, who previously co-wrote sportscaster James Brown’s memoir, “Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family, and Significant Living.”
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HOUSTON ASTROS
A prominent billboard features the Houston skyline as part of the team’s ad campaign. |
HOUSTON
Astros launch new ad campaign
The Houston Astros rolled out the club’s 2011 advertising campaign tag line: “We Are Your Astros.” The campaign features landmarks that reflect the team’s connection with the community, including the downtown skyline, the Sam Houston statue at Hermann Park, Houston City Hall and Rocket Park at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Terms sought for Texans-related debt
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority asked for more time and lower installments to pay back a county loan used for the Houston Texans’ practice facility, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle. The debt goes back 10 years, to when the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. borrowed $19.1 million from Texans owner Robert McNair to buy the land for the field and parking spaces.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.
NGB taps Active for website boost
Active Media partnered with Huntington Beach-based USA Water Polo to give the sport’s national governing body an increased online presence. The agreement, which runs through 2012, will bring Active Media’s search optimization services to USA Water Polo and its website, www.usawaterpolo.org.
JUPITER, FLA.
Spring training sponsored by Xfinity
Roger Dean Stadium’s 2011 spring training season will be presented by Xfinity. The partnership coincides with the recent launch of Comcast’s Xfinity service in surrounding communities. Roger Dean Stadium is the spring training home of the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.
LAS VEGAS
UNLV stadium gets regents’ approval
The Nevada System of Higher Education board of regents gave its initial OK to a plan that would build a 40,000-seat domed stadium on the UNLV campus. The approval technically allows the university to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with developer Majestic Realty for 150 days, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
LEXINGTON, KY.
TwinSpires.com finishes office renovation
Churchill Downs Inc. completed a $1.4 million renovation of its TwinSpires.com offices in Lexington. The offices house the account-wagering operation’s national customer service center, along with offices for Brisnet.com, Churchill’s bloodstock research and information services company. TwinSpires.com and Brisnet.com employ 128 people in the Lexington office.
LOS ANGELES
Lakers, TWC sign 20-year rights deal
Time Warner Cable signed a 20-year rights deal with the Los Angeles Lakers that will lead to the creation of two new regional sports networks in the Los Angeles market next year. The RSNs — one in English and one in Spanish — will have the rights to preseason, regular-season and postseason games starting with the 2012-13 season.
Skechers to present LA Sports Awards
Skechers will be the presenting sponsor of the LA Sports Awards on Thursday at the Beverly Hilton. Skechers is the first presenting sponsor in the award show’s six-year history. FS West will air the awards show on March 4.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Breeders’ Cup logo debuts
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and Churchill Downs introduced the official event logo for the 28th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held Nov. 4-5 at the historic Louisville racetrack. This year will mark the eighth time the Breeders’ Cup will be run at Churchill.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
MSFC moves on $18.3M Metrodome roof
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission voted to put a new $18.3 million roof on the Metrodome for the Minnesota Vikings’ last scheduled season there under the team’s lease agreement. MSFC officials estimated that the total price tag for the project probably will be $19 million, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The new-roof completion goal is Aug. 1. In case, however, the roof is not replaced in time, Vikings officials reportedly have had discussions with the University of Minnesota about potentially playing the Vikings’ two home preseason games at TCF Bank Stadium.
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GETTY IMAGES
The Twins are expecting big crowds at Target Field in the ballpark’s second season. |
Twins eye big events, big crowds
Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter said the team already has sold 2.4 million tickets for its second season at Target Field and figures to draw more than 3 million fans again this year, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. One of the big events the Twins have planned for this season is the 20th anniversary of the team’s 1991 World Series victory.
NEWARK
Devils, arena add corporate partners
Prudential Center recently added a number of corporate partners, including Subway, Walgreens, Cintas, Liquid Lightning energy drink, Calandra’s Family Restaurant and Bakery, Ecotect, and AMI Graphics. In addition, Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office was named the official IT solutions and copier provider to both the New Jersey Devils and the arena. Apollo Jets secured the naming rights for the arena’s visitors’ locker rooms.
NEW YORK
Cuomo to mediate Mets-Madoff fight
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Burton Lifland appointed former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo to mediate the legal fight between the owners of the New York Mets and the trustee overseeing the recovery of funds from Bernie Madoff’s collapsed Ponzi scheme, according to a report in the New York Daily News.
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ALLI SPORTS
Hannah Teter grabbed a fourth-place finish in superpipe above record crowds. |
OGDEN, UTAH
Dew Tour finale breaks attendance mark
The Winter Dew Tour’s four-day Toyota Championships, which concluded Feb. 13 near Ogden, Utah, drew a total of 44,300 fans, according to a report in The Salt Lake Tribune. It was the best-attended event in the three-year history of the winter tour.
ORLANDO
Magic to increase ticket prices
The Orlando Magic will increase season-ticket prices next season by an average of 4 percent, according to a report in The Orlando Sentinel. The team sold a record 14,200 season tickets for 2010-11, and season-ticket holders that renew in full and pay in cash by March 4 will receive a 6 percent discount.
PHILADELPHIA
Stadium to widen event-hosting scope
The Philadelphia Eagles will make Lincoln Financial Field available for special events, serving as a venue option for the corporate and public communities. Since its inception in 2003, the facility had been available only for a small number of events, mostly charitable endeavors.
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HKS
Chase Field’s project will be a win-win for power needs and shade-seeking fans. |
PHOENIX
Chase Field installing solar shade
Chase Field will have a new feature this season: a structure that will generate 75 kilowatts of solar power and provide Arizona Diamondbacks fans with extra summer shade. The structure, which will cover 17,280 square feet near the ballpark’s western entrances, is the product of a partnership between the team, the Maricopa County Stadium District and APS. Construction is expected to be complete by May.
Winery gets PIR rights
Bennett Lane Winery joined the Phoenix International Raceway’s list of corporate partners with an agreement that includes naming rights to the all-inclusive trackside club. The Turn 4 Wine Trackside Club will debut at this weekend’s Subway Fresh Fit 500.
LPGA event alters prize purse structure
The LPGA altered the setup of the RR Donnelley Founders Cup event scheduled for next month in Phoenix. The most significant change is that the amount being donated to charity has doubled, according to a report in Golfweek. The purse is dropping from $1.3 million to $1 million, and the entire amount will go to charity — $500,000 to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and $500,000 to designated charities of the top 10 finishers.
PITTSBURGH
Stores stocking ‘Fleury Flakes’
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury introduced his own cereal, “Fleury Flakes,” this month at a new Giant Eagle supermarket in Glenshaw, Pa. The cereal is available exclusively at Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle locations. Fans outside of Pittsburgh can order boxes online at www.plbsports.com.
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC
Course set for hockey arena construction
Quebec City will begin construction within several months on a new NHL-style hockey arena — with or without any involvement from Ottawa or private industry, according to a Canadian Press report. Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume and Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the project will proceed with a 50-50 funding arrangement between the province and city.
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.
Golf Channel to air LPGA major
Golf Channel and the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship reached an agreement for the network to broadcast all four rounds of this year’s tournament, which will take place March 31-April 3. The number of hours of coverage will increase for the event, the first LPGA major of the year. It had been broadcast on ESPN2 and CBS.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Sahlen acquires naming rights
Sahlen Packing Co. acquired the naming rights to Rochester’s downtown stadium. The Buffalo-based meat company has a five-year agreement with the Rochester Rhinos’ holding company, Adirondack Sports Club, and a five-year renewal beginning in 2016. Sahlen’s Stadium, formerly Paetech Park and Marina Auto Stadium, will be home to the Western New York Flash of WPS, as well as teams in the United Soccer Leagues and Major League Lacrosse.
SACRAMENTO
Maloofs to lend expertise in arena effort
The owners of the Sacramento Kings said they will provide the Icon-David Taylor group their 11 years’ worth of studies and research toward the efforts to determine the financial feasibility of a new sports and entertainment center. Maloof Sports & Entertainment has invested several million dollars toward finding a replacement for Arco Arena, and will now share that information with the latest effort.
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SCOTT WACHTER / SAN DIEGO PADRES
Padres third baseman Chase Headley keeps an eye on a young fan’s hitting technique. |
SAN DIEGO
Padres see record crowds for fan fest
A record crowd of more than 21,000 attended the San Diego Padres’ FanFest on Feb. 12 at Petco Park. The team also sold more than 100 season-ticket accounts and several thousand tickets through their new Flex-10 Pack. One of the most popular destinations was the annual Padres Garage Sale, where memorabilia, such as jerseys, game-used helmets and hats were sold to the public. The team raised more than $80,000 during the event, with the proceeds earmarked for a new field maintenance program to maintain the 42 Little Padres Parks that have been built.
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS
Regents OK stadium expansion
The Texas State University System board of regents approved designs for the roughly $33 million north-side complex stadium expansion project. The expansion, designed by architectural firm O’Connell Robertson, will give Texas State University’s Bobcat Stadium about 13,000 new seats in the north end zone.
SEATTLE
Youth soccer group using Korrio platform
Seattle-based Korrio, developer of the sports automation platform Playflow, formed a partnership with Washington Youth Soccer, representing more than 124,000 members and their families. Washington Youth Soccer will use Playflow to manage all of their soccer business functions for member associations and clubs.
VANCOUVER
Whitecaps set 3 games at BC place
The Vancouver Whitecaps will play three games at the renovated BC Place Stadium in their inaugural MLS season, according to a report in The (Toronto) Globe & Mail. The 54,000-seat BC Place, undergoing a renovation, is expected to be ready by Sept. 30. The Whitecaps will play home matches at 27,000-seat Empire Field before that time.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Redskins may move training camp
The Washington Redskins are in talks to move their training camp from team headquarters in Ashburn, Va., for the first time since 2002, according to a report in The Washington Post. Sources said the team has made arrangements to take over The Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel in Fairfax, Va., in August, and has held preliminary discussions about using George Mason University’s campus for camp.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
City wants to sell stadiums to schools
Winston-Salem city officials are talking again about selling Joel Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium to Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State universities, respectively, in an effort to save money, according to a report in the Winston-Salem Journal. The city has lost about $850,000 a year for the last five years on the two facilities, according to the report.
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