ATLANTA
Hawks sale to Meruelo off
The Meruelo Group founder Alex Meruelo’s deal to buy the Atlanta Hawks is off the table. The deal between Meruelo and Atlanta Spirit Group was mutually terminated Nov. 4. Meruelo reportedly would not meet economic conditions placed on the deal by the NBA. Atlanta Spirit will remain the Hawks’ owner.
BUFFALO
Turbines help power stadium
The Buffalo Bills installed micro-wind turbines to generate supplemental energy for Ralph Wilson Stadium. The agreement with WindStream Technologies represents an effort by the Bills to evaluate alternative sources for power. The units are on the west end of the stadium beneath the video scoreboard.
CINCINNATI
U.S. Bank Arena gets display upgrades
Cincinnati-based LSI Industries provided updated main video displays and new LED digital signs for U.S. Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati. The arena, home of the ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones, now provides fans with LSI Smartvision video displays that provide clear broadcasts, replays and interactive features.
Bengals partner with Skyview
The Cincinnati Bengals and Skyview Networks agreed to a multiyear partnership. Skyview will provide its F.A.S.T. Inventory Management solution and Live Read Logging service to the franchise that has reabsorbed its radio rights in-house this season.
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| Players are at the halfway point of their ’Mos. |
CLEVELAND
Monsters get in the ‘Mo’ mood
Seventeen players with the Lake Erie Monsters are participating in “Movember” this year, the first year of the AHL team’s participation in men’s health awareness month. Fans can vote for which of the players will grow the best mustache. The Monsters’ “Movember” game on Nov. 25 will include a mustache giveaway for fans to join the effort.
COLUMBUS
Jackets renew with ThorWorks
The Columbus Blue Jackets renewed their corporate partnership with Sandusky, Ohio-based ThorWorks, a team partner since the 2008-09 season. The renewal calls for in-arena signage as well as virtual signage seen only by Fox Sports Ohio viewers during select home telecasts. ThorWorks produces specialty coatings and sport surfaces.
DETROIT
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In-game elements of the deal include the Coke Zero Super Shuffle scoreboard game.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Wings, Coke renew through 2015-16
The Detroit Red Wings and Coca-Cola renewed their long-standing partnership agreement through the 2015-16 NHL season. Coca-Cola will continue to be the official soft drink of the team and maintain its status as the exclusive provider of non-alcoholic, non-coffee-related beverages to Joe Louis Arena, Fox Theatre and Hockeytown Café.
Wings, Fifth Third doing service project
The Red Wings and Fifth Third Bank began another year of the S.H.O.T.S. (Students Helping Others Through Service) program. Students can enter by creating a team of up to six participants that design and carry out a project. The contest runs through the end of February. The grand prize includes recognition at Joe Louis Arena during the Red Wings’ game on March 24.
KANSAS CITY
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Bluestone brick packages range from $95 to $350.
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Royals begin brick effort ahead of All-Star
The Kansas City Royals are selling personalized bluestone bricks that include a commemorative 2012 All-Star Game logo. All orders received by June 15 will be installed in the grand walkway at Kauffman Stadium prior to the 2012 MLB All-Star Game on July 10. The Royals are offering several brick packages.
MIAMI
NASCAR holding first Green Summit
NASCAR is holding its first Green Summit for the industry on Thursday at the Eden Roc Renaissance hotel. This is the first year NASCAR is using ethanol fuel in its cars, and is the first time ethanol fuel will be used in the cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ford Championship Weekend begins Friday and concludes Sunday.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Poll shows preference for gambling
Minnesotans prefer using new forms of gambling revenue to pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium instead of higher taxes, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune poll. The poll showed widespread public support for everything from a state lottery scratch-off game to slots at horse racing tracks.
Wild tickets good for gasoline discount
The Minnesota Wild and SuperAmerica formed a new multiyear partnership that includes discounted gasoline purchased after home games at Xcel Energy Center. Fans taking game tickets to any participating SuperAmerica store in Minnesota after the game will receive one cent off the price of every gallon of gas equivalent to the number of goals scored by the Wild.
Sun Country presenting Wild’s ‘Movember’
The Wild’s “Movember” campaign this month is presented by Sun Country Airlines. Movember is an annual charity event held during November that engages men to grow mustaches to raise awareness and funds for cancers affecting men. Fans who join the Minnesota Wild Mo Bros team and raise a minimum of $150 will receive a two-for-one ticket voucher to a 2011-12 regular-season game.
NLL Swarm wins business award
The National Lacrosse League’s Minnesota Swarm was named the 2011 Deubener Award winner in the category of family-owned business. The awards are presented annually by the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in honor of Walter and Lydia Deubener. John Arlotta and son Andy purchased the Swarm in 2008 and serve as the team’s owners.
NEW YORK
Rangers partner with Spring44 Gin
The New York Rangers and Spring44 Distilling formed a new multiyear marketing partnership. Spring44 Gin branding will be featured on the LED and GardenVision center-hung scoreboard at Madison Square Garden. In addition, fans will have the chance to participate in promotional activities in-arena presented by Spring44 Gin.
MSG Net launching new programs
MSG Network will launch two new original programs, “Knicks Greatest Rivalries” on Sunday, and “First Person” later this winter. “Rivalries” will feature former Knicks players as they take fans inside some of the team’s most memorable games, and “First Person” will spotlight one legendary player or entertainer as he or she recalls and shares the details of a classic performance.
Rangers expand youth hockey effort
The New York Rangers, Coca-Cola, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and Boys & Girls Clubs partnered to launch the second season of a free program to provide indoor youth hockey instruction for more than 1,500 New York City youth this winter. This year’s expanded program includes additional rec centers and a new partner in the Boys & Girls Clubs.
PHILADELPHIA
Eagles promoting energy conservation
Peco Energy Co. teamed up with the Philadelphia Eagles on a raffle to promote energy conservation. Five winners, one from Philadelphia and one each from the four surrounding suburban counties, will get a free energy audit valued at $400 — along with an autographed jersey signed by tight end Brent Celek and a football signed by Celek, former Eagles Troy Vincent and Mike Quick, and radio announcer Merrill Reese.
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Beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh gives pointers to middle school players.
Photo by: ROSS DAVIS
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SAN ANTONIO
Kerri Walsh challenges students, media
Gold-medal-winning Olympian Kerri Walsh announced ticket details for the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, which takes place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Dec. 15-17. At the announcement last week, Walsh played volleyball with the eighth-grade volleyball athletes at Garner Middle School, and local media members were able to either join in or try to return her serves one-on-one.
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