ANAHEIM
Ducks’ community rinks partner with bank
The Anaheim Ducks and The Rinks Development Program signed a five-year partnership agreement with Pacific Premier Bank. Elements include the presence of Pacific Premier Bank at all Rinks locations, including Anaheim ICE, Westminster ICE, Huntington Beach Inline, Irvine Inline and Corona Inline. The bank will receive branding opportunities at each location, on www.The-Rinks.com, and the five individual facility websites.
BALTIMORE
Fields, Ripken return to Chevy program
Fields Inc. and Baltimore-based Ripken Design were selected for the third consecutive year to participate in Chevrolet’s Diamonds and Dreams program. In partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro and Major League Baseball, Ripken Design and Fields will help refurbish 12 baseball fields across the country. Chevy will select one new field for the program each week through July 22 based on entries at chevybaseball.com and local dealerships.
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Robinson is the only player to earn league MVP honors in both the National and American leagues.
Photo by: BALTIMORE ORIOLES
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O’s great Robinson immortalized
The Baltimore Orioles unveiled a statue for hall of famer Frank Robinson late last month. The ceremony was one of six unveilings planned this year as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. All fans in attendance at the April 28 game received a Robinson miniature statue.
O’s add incentives to mobile app
The Orioles have new promotions to accompany the free MLB At the Ballpark mobile application. At the Ballpark offers mobile check-in, social media, special offers, rewards and exclusive content. Incentives include an “I’m Checked In” T-shirt for the first 20 fans who check in and visit Fan Assistance each game.
CARY, N.C.
NCAA women’s soccer site chosen
The NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee selected Cary to host the 2013 Women’s College Cup championship weekend. The event, to be hosted by Campbell University, will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park on Dec. 6 and 8, 2013.
EL PASO, TEXAS
High-profile bout gets green light
University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa will allow a high-profile boxing match to be held on the campus of UT-El Paso if law enforcement can ensure a safe environment, according to an Associated Press report. Cigarroa’s decision reversed a ban that had upset city leaders. Cigarroa had canceled the June 16 fight between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee at the Sun Bowl, citing a higher than normal security risk, according to the report.
FOXBORO, MASS.
Solar canopy construction begins
NRG Energy and The Kraft Group started construction of a solar canopy, part of a one megawatt solar installation at Patriot Place. The canopy will generate renewable power while providing shade for visitors. Standard rooftop solar panels will provide additional power, bringing the expected annual output of the solar power system to 1.1 million kilowatt hours.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA.
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Photo by: MARINE CORPS MARATHON
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Commemorative wines for Historic Half
To mark the fifth anniversary Sunday of the Marine Corps Historic Half marathon event in Fredericksburg, the Marine Corps Marathon organization has partnered with DelFosse Vineyards & Winery to create two commemorative Historic Half labeled wines. They will be available for sampling and purchase at the event’s Healthy Lifestyle Expo this Friday and Saturday. The winery is based in Faber, Va.
JACKSONVILLE
Jags lean on military for theme
Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping said the franchise is working to build a team brand and identity around the city’s military presence. The military-inspired brand will build on the principles of commitment and sacrifice. Lamping joined the Jaguars in January after Shahid Khan acquired the club late last season.
LOS ANGELES
Steinberg to get $1M severance
Current Boston Red Sox senior adviser Charles Steinberg will receive $1.01 million in severance pay from the Los Angeles Dodgers as a result of a ruling by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Steinberg had been battling with the Dodgers in court for several months over the amount of back pay owed to him after his 2009 dismissal from the club.
MIAMI
Marlins build out social media suite
In conjunction with MLB Advanced Media, the Miami Marlins are expanding from their existing presence on marlins.com, Facebook and Twitter with more than a dozen new social marketing initiatives. The team is working to enhance its exposure via growing platforms such as Google+ and Pinterest; location-based check-in incentives; two mobile apps; a Tumblr photo blog; and three official behind-the-scenes blogs.
MILWAUKEE
Braun, Rodgers plan restaurant
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and SURG Restaurant Group are planning a new restaurant called 8*twelve located in suburban Brookfield, Wis. The restaurant will be owned and operated by SURG, marking the second partnership between Braun and the group (joining Braun’s Graffito restaurant) and the first between SURG and Rodgers.
Kohl ready to kick in for new arena
Milwaukee Bucks owner and U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl said that now is the time to find a way to finance and build a new multipurpose arena to replace the Bradley Center, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. For the first time, Kohl said he was willing to make a personal financial commitment toward a new facility, an amount he noted would not be insignificant, according to the report.
NEW YORK
Nets, arena select Turnkey
The Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center selected Turnkey’s Surveyor research platform for a market-insights initiative. The Nets and Barclays Center will centralize all consumer data collection and use insights gathered via the platform to make decisions across all of their related businesses.
Crunch sponsoring Nets dancers
Crunch Fitness was named a Nets partner and presenting sponsor of the club’s dance team. Crunch has 39 locations worldwide, including two in Brooklyn. The deal marks the health club chain’s first major alliance with a pro sports team.
PHILADELPHIA
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Lawsuit contends that Comcast-Spectacor excluded game after season-ticket buys.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Lawsuit claims Flyers misled buyers
A Pennsylvania law firm filed a class-action lawsuit against Comcast-Spectacor, alleging the Philadelphia Flyers owner misled season-ticket holders regarding the sale of tickets to the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. The lawsuit contends that the company excluded the Winter Classic game from the season package only after season-ticket holders had prepaid for 44 preseason and regular-season games.
‘Flyerbot’ tags Flyers parking lot
The Flyers recently painted part of the Wells Fargo Center parking lot in orange with “good luck” Twitter messages using a vehicle the Flyers have dubbed Flyerbot. The Flyers said they are the first pro sports team to use the 2,200-pound machine, which uses 48 spray guns to create art. Team officials added that the messages were painted with an environmentally friendly mixture of soybean protein.
Nova, PPL Park tapped for College Cup
Villanova University and PPL Park in Chester, Pa., were selected to serve as hosts for the 2013 NCAA Men’s College Cup. The national championship weekend games are scheduled for Dec. 13 and 15, 2013.
Phillies HRs result in trees planted
The Philadelphia Phillies, Aramark and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society have teamed for an environmental project aimed at helping restore the region’s tree coverage. Every time a Phillies player hits a home run, a tree will be planted. Planting locations include local parks, urban settings and watershed areas. The Home Runs for Trees initiative is part of the horticultural society’s Plant One Million multistate tree-planting campaign.
PHOENIX
District partners with CenturyLink
Legends Entertainment District, a joint venture between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns, has a new partnership with broadband and telecom provider CenturyLink. CenturyLink will receive branding and informational exposure throughout the Legends digital LED network. The network spans more than 6,000 square feet of digital signage in downtown Phoenix.
PORTLAND
Jeld-Wen Field honored
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The original stadium was built by the Multnomah Athletic Club in 1926.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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The renovation of Jeld-Wen Field, home of the MLS Portland Timbers, won the Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture by the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The $40 million renovation, completed in time for the Timbers’ inaugural season in 2011, was praised for balancing contemporary architecture with the historic character of the iconic downtown stadium. AECOM was the architect of the project.
SACRAMENTO
Senior Open site picks Bruno Event Team
Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento selected Alabama-based Bruno Event Team to manage the 2015 U.S. Senior Open. With the hire, the country club adds to its group Bruno’s local team leader, Brian Flajole, who has been a key organizer in many of the top sporting events held locally, including the Amgen Tour of California and the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.
SAN JOSE
Sharks add pricing levels, raise prices
San Jose Sharks season-ticket prices are increasing 6.5 percent next season, according to a San Jose Mercury News report. A lower bowl reserved seat that cost $75 last season will be $80 at the end of the arena where the Sharks shoot twice and $76 at the other end, according to the report. The Sharks also have increased the number of distinct ticket price levels at HP Pavilion from 11 to 18.
SONOMA, CALIF.
Track pouring official margarita
Bob & Stacy’s Premium Margarita was named the official margarita of Infineon Raceway. Bob & Stacy’s, a product of Good Time Beverages, will be the exclusive margarita at all Infineon Raceway major-event weekends in 2012, including events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and Izod IndyCar Series.
ST. LOUIS
Rams’ renovation plans going public
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster intends to publicly release documents this week related to the St. Louis Rams’ plans to renovate the Edward Jones Dome, according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. St. Louis Convention & Visitors Center President Kathleen Ratcliffe said that the commission has no immediate plans to challenge the state’s release of the documents, according to the report.
TORONTO
Jays designate nut-free zone
The Toronto Blue Jays will offer a peanut-controlled zone at three home games this season at Rogers Centre: May 28, July 24 and Aug. 10. On those dates, peanuts and other nuts will not be allowed in the area of the 200-level right-field seats. Tickets for the zone are reserved for those fans with peanut and other nut allergies and their families and friends.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
Wind turbines in track’s future
Watkins Glen International signed on for a proposed $200 million wind farm to be developed by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, according to a report in the Elmira Star-Gazette. Turbines will reportedly be placed at high points and ridge lines on the 1,832 acres of the track.
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