ANAHEIM
Angels sell 30,000 in first day
The Los Angeles Angels sold more than 30,000 regular-season tickets on Feb. 26, the first day single-game tickets for the team’s 50th anniversary season were available for purchase, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
FanFest returns to Angel Stadium
The Angels will hold their FanFest on March 27 at Angel Stadium, marking the return of the interactive fan experience that was last held in 2007. Tickets for FanFest are $5 and include a free ticket to that day’s exhibition game against San Diego.
ARLINGTON, VA.
Runners blaze through race allotment
The Marine Corps Marathon sold out 30,000 online entries in just 28 hours and 4 minutes on Feb. 24, marking the fastest sellout in the race’s history. The previous MCM registration record occurred in 2005, when the event sold out in 62 hours and 9 minutes. The 36th MCM will take place on Oct. 30.
ATLANTA
Great Clips returns as title sponsor
Great Clips will title sponsor the Labor Day weekend NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway for a second consecutive year. The Sept. 3 race will be titled the Great Clips 300. Great Clips is the longest-standing primary sponsor in the Nationwide Series, having been a sponsor since 2000.
BOSTON
Bruins raising some ticket prices
The Boston Bruins are increasing the average season-ticket cost by $4.34 per game for the 2011-12 regular season, according to a report in The Boston Globe. Some seats won’t increase at all in price while others will jump as much as $9, according to the report.
CHARLOTTE
Myrtle Beach CVB sponsoring race
The Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will title sponsor the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals next month. The deal, which sources valued in the mid-six figures annually, makes VisitMyrtleBeach.com the naming sponsor of the second annual race at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway.
CHICAGO
Cubs offering more games in Spanish
The Chicago Cubs and WRTO 1200-AM extended their agreement for the station to broadcast games in Spanish for a third season this year. After broadcasting 35 games in 2010, the Cubs and WRTO are increasing the total number of games to 43. This season will feature home broadcasts against 16 different Cubs opponents.
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SKYLINE CHILI
Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red and Gapper hit the town for Skyline Chili commercial shoots.
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CINCINNATI
Reds mascots do Skyline commercials
Cincinnati Reds mascots Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red and Gapper recently filmed new television commercials with longtime corporate sponsor Skyline Chili for an upcoming Reds contest campaign. The contest kicks off this month, and Skyline customers can win a Reds suite, Reds hats and Skyline gift cards.
Abdul-Jabbar to show documentary
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be featured next Monday as part of the University of Dayton’s Diversity Lecture Series. The Ohio premiere of Abdul-Jabbar’s documentary, “On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Greatest Basketball Team You Never Heard Of,” will precede the event at the Victoria Theatre. The documentary chronicles the Harlem Rens, an all-black New York team that won a world championship in 1939.
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BEN HALL / LAKE ERIE MONSTERS
Monsters center Ben Walter (left) sported a
Browns-themed uniform for the ceremonial puck drop. |
CLEVELAND
Monsters welcome Browns
The AHL Lake Erie Monsters held Browns Night at their Feb. 26 game against the Grand Rapids Griffins. There was a public pregame autograph session with current Cleveland Browns players Josh Cribbs, Mike Adams, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward. The four then joined Browns alumni Bob Golic, Hanford Dixon, Kevin Mack, Doug Dieken, Herman Fontenot and Aaron Shea on the ice before the start of the game.
Paisley playing Progressive June 11
The Cleveland Indians will stage a country music event at Progressive Field on June 11 headlined by Brad Paisley. Paisley will be joined by Blake Shelton and Jerrod Niemann for the newly created “Indians Music Festival.” Tickets will range from $30-$125.
Indians offer new Spanish Web content
The Cleveland Indians launched a Spanish-language spring training Web offering at indians.com/boletos. The Spanish-only pages offer news stories, Goodyear Ballpark details, ticket information and the ability to purchase tickets.
Cavs conclude heritage events
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ seventh-annual Black Heritage Celebration presented by State Farm concluded Feb. 26 with a concert featuring gospel recording artist Dr. Marvin Sapp. Four Cavaliers Black Heritage-themed game nights presented by PNC Bank — MLK Night, Pioneers Night, Achievement Night and Gospel Night — honored local heroes and sports legends in the monthlong celebration.
ESCONDIDO, CALIF.
County postpones ballpark vote
Escondido County officials postponed a vote on a $50 million minor league ballpark development agreement for the Class AAA Tucson Padres, according to a report in the North County Times. Both sides reportedly remain committed to the ballpark, and plans are still set for construction of the ballpark to begin next January.
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FIORELLA'S JACK STACK
Hungry fans can find Jack Stack Barbecue outside Kauffman Stadium this season.
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KANSAS CITY
Royals name exclusive tailgate caterer
The Kansas City Royals named Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue the exclusive tailgate caterer of Kauffman Stadium. The two will also partner with Accent Party and Tent Rental as part of the deal. Royals fans interested in catering their parking lot tailgate parties will be able to choose from a variety of buffet menus from Jack Stack.
Royals fans can vote for HOF
The Royals announced that, beginning with the 2011 ballot, fans will have a part in voting for the Royals Hall of Fame. Royals fans can submit their votes this year until noon on March 18 at www.royals.com/hof.
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JON SOOHOO / LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Dodgers teammates Andre Ethier, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp sported the “new” threads at spring training in Glendale, Ariz. |
LOS ANGELES
Fans pick satin for throwback dates
A 1940s “satin” uniform was selected by Los Angeles Dodgers fans as the winning throwback uniform for the team to wear for six midweek day games in 2011. Each of the games will feature half-price food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, for the first time ever at Dodger Stadium. Nearly 50,000 votes were cast, with the winning uniform edging out the franchise’s 1911 road uniform by fewer than 2,000 votes.
MEMPHIS
Grizzlies: Early deposits, free tickets
The Memphis Grizzlies are offering free tickets for their final 10 home games of the season to fans placing a 20 percent deposit on season tickets for the 2011-12 season. Anyone who purchases season tickets also will receive first priority on playoff tickets if the team makes the playoffs this season. The ticket offer is good until March 31.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Birdair aims for Aug. 1 roof repair
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission selected Birdair Inc. to replace the Metrodome roof, according to a report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. If Birdair completes the project by Aug. 1, it will receive a $500,000 bonus. If the company fails, there will be penalties, such as $20,000 per day and $700,000 for each missed Minnesota Vikings home game, according to the report.
‘Batter’s eye’ trees to be transplanted
The trees beyond center field at Target Field, which drew complaints last year from batters who said they interfered with their view, have been removed and soon will receive new homes. Ten of the 14 black spruce trees will be donated to the Minnesota State Parks system, and each tree will be planted in public view this spring as part of the Minnesota Twins’ Break a Bat, Plant a Tree promotion.
Wolves start dynamic ticket pricing
The Minnesota Timberwolves launched a dynamic-pricing system for single-game tickets in which prices will rise and fall based on availability and demand. The system, Wolves Tix, started with the March 1 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
OMAHA, NEB.
Team, Ovations form fundraising effort
The Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers and Ovations Food Services formed a fundraising initiative for not-for-profit groups during the 2011 season at Werner Park. Local community organizations are invited to work one of the ballpark’s five concessions stands and will be rewarded with a percentage of profits during the nights they work.
PHILADELPHIA
Verizon signs as Union founding partner
The Philadelphia Union added Verizon Communications as a founding corporate partner in a sponsorship deal that also makes Verizon the official provider of all non-wireless services for the MLS club and PPL Park. In addition, Verizon will serve as the official sponsor of the Spanish-language section of the team’s official website.
PPL Park wins development award
The Delaware County Planning Commission selected PPL Park as a recipient of the William H. Bates Memorial Award for 2010. The award, named in honor of the late chairman of the commission, is given annually to acknowledge outstanding land development projects in Delaware County.
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PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Subway Fresh Fit 500 winner Jeff Gordon helped break ground on the repaving project. |
PHOENIX
Track starts repaving project
Jeff Gordon, winner of the recent Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, helped get construction started for PIR’s upcoming track pavement project. Construction is scheduled to begin this month with the removal of the racing surface and the installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing.
Suns, Fox sign exclusive deal
Fox Sports Arizona and the Phoenix Suns have a new long-term agreement that will make the network the Suns’ exclusive television rights holder beginning next season. FS Arizona will televise about 75 Suns games each year, compared with about 32 games this season as a nonexclusive provider.
Suns win SMAZZIE Award
The Suns were recognized as a Business That Gets It, winning a SMAZZIE Award for their efforts on Twitter and Facebook during a recent Social Media AZ event in Tempe, Ariz. The category was open to non-social media/marketing entities that demonstrate creative and proficient use of social media.
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KENNY GLORIOSO
The direct spending from more than 46,000 visitors led to $2.1M in city tax revenue. |
SAN ANTONIO
Bowl generated $56.7M impact
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl generated for San Antonio $56.7 million in total economic impact based on direct visitor spending of $32.6 million last December, according to a survey conducted by Strategic Marketing Services and SportsEconomics. The direct spending from the 46,349 visitors attending the game between Arizona and Oklahoma State translated into $2.1 million in new tax revenue for the city.
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SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
SJSU hopes to break ground on a $10 million football stadium after next season. |
SAN JOSE
SJSU plans facilities upgrades
San Jose State University is planning an upgrade of its athletic facilities, including the construction of a football complex next to Spartan Stadium, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News. Five athletic projects are in various stages of development with a total estimated cost of $16 million to $20 million. At least one project could be used by the public, and all would be privately funded, according to the report.
ST. LOUIS
Cardinals flying Delta this season
Delta Air Lines’ sports sponsorships list continues to expand, with a fourth new partnership announced this year. The Atlanta-based airline has become the official airline of the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2011 season. Delta will fly the team and its staff for all road games. American Airlines had been the official airline of the Cardinals prior to this season.
Cards, Skyview expand contract
The Cardinals and broadcast services provider Skyview Networks expanded their multiyear contract. New to the contract for the 2011 season is Skyview expanding its services to include its satellite distribution capabilities for the franchise’s radio network of 110-plus affiliates.
TORONTO
Raptors slashing ticket prices
Toronto Raptors season-ticket prices for next season will be significantly cheaper than this year, according to a report in the Toronto Sun. Lower bowl season seats will be dropped from 5 percent to 30 percent, while upper bowl seats will drop from 10 percent to nearly 40 percent, according to the report. The team also will freeze prices for the 2012-13 season.
VANCOUVER
Whitecaps surpass 15,000 season tickets
Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber said that around 15,500 season tickets have been sold for 2011, the team’s inaugural MLS season, according to a Canadian Press report. The Whitecaps have sold more than 18,000 tickets for their first home game at Empire Field, against Toronto FC on March 19. The Whitecaps will move into BC Place later in the season.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Groupon signs with arena, teams
Groupon agreed to a deal that makes it the exclusive Daily Deal sponsor of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Verizon Center. Groupon will receive signage throughout the interior and exterior of the arena including in-game signage during games.
Nationals sign flagship deal
The Washington Nationals signed a two-year deal to shift their flagship radio home to CBS Radio-owned WJFK-FM, beginning this season. The pact includes a significant co-marketing partnership element in which the club and WJFK will combine on a variety of shoulder programming, promotional events and other activities.
YORK, PA.
Revolution signs concessionaire
The Atlantic League’s York Revolution established a three-year agreement with Ettline Foods to be the supplier of all food and related food-service products served at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Ettline Foods Corp. is an employee-owned foodservice distributor located in York that has been in business since 1889.
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