ATLANTA
Braves share Chipper with fans
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A 4-game ticket plan includes keepsakes.
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The Atlanta Braves are offering fans the chance to celebrate the career of retiring third baseman Chipper Jones with promotional giveaways through the balance of the season. The first 20,000 fans at the team’s game on Aug. 16 will receive a Jones bobblehead courtesy of Coca-Cola. In addition, a commemorative print set presented by SunTrust Bank with four prints of Jones at different stages of his Braves career will be given out at the club’s final four Friday home games starting Aug. 17.
BOSTON
Deutsche Bank extends with tour event
Deutsche Bank and the PGA Tour agreed in principle to a four-year contract extension that will keep the bank as title sponsor of the Deutsche Bank Championship through 2016, according to a Boston Globe report. Deutsche Bank has sponsored the Boston-area tournament since 2003.
BOULDER, COLO.
Insole maker moving headquarters
Footbalance North America is relocating its company headquarters this month to Boulder, Colo., citing the city’s reputation as a hub for the outdoor and footwear industries. The sport insole maker has been based in San Diego.
BUFFALO
Bills sign radio show sponsor
The Buffalo Bills signed locally based gas and retail company NOCO Energy Corp. as title sponsor of “The John Murphy Show.” Murphy, the Bills’ radio play-by-play voice, hosts a two-hour weekday show on WGR-AM 550, the team’s flagship station.
CCM sponsoring prospects game
CCM signed on as title sponsor of the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, scheduled for Sept. 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The event will include 40 of the top American prospects eligible for the 2013 NHL entry draft.
CHARLESTON, S.C.
Stingrays align with NHL Bruins
The ECHL South Carolina Stingrays agreed to an affiliation deal with the Boston Bruins. The Stingrays have played in North Charleston, S.C., since 1993 and are the first professional ice hockey team established in the state. The club had been the ECHL affiliate for the Washington Capitals since 2004.
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The Kia Ice Crew is back for another
season, keeping the ice in prime condition.
Photo by: COLUMBUS CREW
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COLUMBUS
Blue Jackets, Kia renew deal
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Kia Motors America renewed their corporate sponsorship, encompassing a package of traditional and electronic in-arena messaging as well as vehicle displays during home games. Kia also will continue their presenting sponsorship of the Kia Ice Crew, the 16-person promotional team responsible for maintaining the ice during breaks in play. Kia joined the Jackets as a team partner last season.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
Commemorative ticket design chosen
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Daytona International Speedway unveiled the commemorative ticket for next year’s 55th annual Daytona 500, a design that was selected by fan vote on the track’s Facebook, Twitter and Google+ sites. The ticket features the Harley J. Earl trophy and American flag.
FOXBORO, MASS.
Boxing follows MLS at Gillette Stadium
The New England Revolution, in association with Warrior Boxing and DiBella Entertainment, are scheduled to present a unique doubleheader on Sunday, featuring Gillette Stadium’s first boxing match. After the Revolution’s game against Montreal, “Irish” Danny O’Connor (from Framingham, Mass.) will headline a professional boxing card. Also appearing on the three-bout card will be Boston police officer and former New England Golden Gloves champ Billy Traft.
GREEN BAY
Health partner sponsoring Lambeau gate
Bellin Health agreed to sponsor the new north gate at Lambeau Field. The health care group, which has been the Green Bay Packers’ official health care partner since 2007, will also partner with the team on a health and wellness initiative.
KANSAS CITY
Royals in the mood for “Moose”
The Kansas City Royals are building off fans’ support for third baseman Mike Moustakas and the “MOOOOOOOOSE” call that greets him at home games. Participants in a new “Let Loose Your Inner Moose” contest can upload videos to the Royals’ website (through Aug. 20), showcasing their most innovative calls. The winning fan will receive two tickets to the team’s Sept. 1 game, at which the first 10,000 fans will receive exclusive “Moose”-takas Antlers courtesy of the Kansas City Zoo.
Speedway has official pierogie
Pieroguys Pierogies will become the official pierogie of Kansas Speedway this fall. Among Pieroguys’ pierogie options are traditional potato and cheddar; pulled pork, cheddar and organic broccoli; and the Krizman, which features kielbasa, sauerkraut and mustard.
LOS ANGELES
Dodgers surpass 3 million mark
The Los Angeles Dodgers reached the 3 million mark in tickets sold for the 2012 season. The Dodgers were averaging paid attendance of 41,212 through 49 dates, placing the club in the top three in the National League. That average also was up more than 4,500 compared with last season.
MEMPHIS
Prospective Grizzlies owner looks locally
Prospective Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera is actively seeking local partners to join his bid to buy the team, according to sources cited in a (Memphis) Commercial Appeal report. A source said Pera isn’t seeking local ownership based on need but rather because of the sense of a desire for local ownership that his group picked up from visiting with local business leaders recently.
Grizzlies open new prep school
Grizzlies Prep School, a new boys-only charter middle school created and sponsored by the NBA team, opened last week in downtown Memphis. The school will start with 75 sixth-graders, adding a grade per year until it has grades six through eight.
Grizzlies win Beyond Sport award
The Grizzlies and the team’s charitable foundation were named the winner of the Sport Team of the Year award at the recent Beyond Sport Awards ceremony. The Grizzlies received the award at a ceremony in London after being named as one of 30 organizations being considered from almost 300 groups worldwide in early May.
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Rodgers (left) and Braun mingled with fans at their new suburban restaurant venture.
Photo by: SCOTT PAULUS
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MILWAUKEE
Rodgers, Braun join crowd at 8-twelve
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers teamed with SURG Restaurant Group to open 8-twelve MVP Bar and Grill in Brookfield, Wis. The July 29 grand opening, which drew a VIP crowd, followed a soft opening several weeks ago.
NEW YORK
Coliseum site developers make deadline
Blumenfeld Development Group founder Ed Blumenfeld and Renaissance Downtowns President and CEO Donald Monti submitted their
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The names of season-ticket holders filled out jersey numbers.
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qualifications to become “master developer” of the 77-acre Nassau Coliseum site by last week’s deadline, according to a Newsday report. The winning developer would be required to immediately begin negotiations with the New York Islanders and arena manager SMG on the project for the NHL club’s home arena.
Jerseys include Red Bulls faithful
The names of more than 600 New York Red Bulls season-ticket holders were included in the fabric on the backs of jerseys worn by players last week in a game against Tottenham Hotspur for the Barclays New York Cup powered by Under Armour. Fans were required to opt in to the offer and were entered to win a signed game-worn jersey.
OAKLAND
Raiders dial up camp sponsor
Verizon Wireless is the presenting sponsor of the 2012 Oakland Raiders training camp as part of an expanded relationship. It includes signage and media backdrops at the Raiders’ Napa Valley training complex, branding on the team’s website, social media campaigns, hospitality events and VIP benefits.
PHILADELPHIA
Army-Navy soccer heads to PPL Park
Army and Navy are moving their annual soccer game for 2012 to PPL Park, home of the MLS Union. Philadelphia has been a traditional home for the annual football game between the academies. Tickets for the Sept. 30 soccer match went on sale last week exclusively online through ComcastTIX.com.
PHOENIX
Prospective Coyotes buyer short $20M
Prospective Phoenix Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison is approximately $20 million short of the money he needs to buy the hockey team and keep it in suburban Glendale, Ariz., according to published reports. While the shortfall makes the purchase plan tenuous, multiple sources said a deal could still happen. The NHL wants $170 million for the Coyotes. The league in 2009 bought the team out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy for $140 million.
PITTSBURGH
Pirates will Stand Up 2 Cancer
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Pirates Charities will have a Stand Up 2 Cancer Night at PNC Park on Friday. Ticket packages for the promotion at the game against San Diego are $30, with $10 from every package sold going directly to Stand Up 2 Cancer. Additionally, on the same night, the Pirates have partnered with Mylan Specialty to host the first Pirates Allergy Awareness night at PNC Park. The team is reserving a special area of the ballpark for those who have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.
Daktronics building new Brown displays
Daktronics will be designing, manufacturing and installing a new integrated LED video and scoring system this fall at Brown University’s Brown Stadium. It will measure more than 18 feet high by nearly 36 feet wide. A custom football scoreboard 8 feet high by 36 feet wide will be installed below the video display.
SAN FRANCISCO
Airline plans airborne first pitch
San Francisco Giants sponsor Virgin America launched a contest offering fans a chance to throw out the first pitch for Saturday’s Giants game against Colorado while onboard a Virgin America commercial flight. The pitch, slated to happen when the flight enters Bay Area air space en route from Seattle, will be filmed by AEG Digital Media and transmitted live via Wi-Fi to AT&T Park.
SEATTLE
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After a warm ovation, Thompson delivered a strike to the Mariners’ Trayvon Robinson.
Photo by: NEIL ENNS / STORM PHOTOS
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Storm’s Thompson winds up for M’s
Seattle Storm forward Tina Thompson threw out the first pitch when the Seattle Mariners hosted the New York Yankees July 24 at Safeco Field. Thompson, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, is in her first season with the Storm and 16th in the league.
Council OKs amended arena plan
The Metropolitan King County Council took the initial step last week in the quest to build a new arena that could bring the NBA back to Seattle, approving an amended proposal from investor Chris Hansen by a 6-3 vote. The plan now goes to the Seattle City Council. Hansen’s $490 million arena proposal includes nearly $300 million in private funds and $200 million in public contribution.
ST. LOUIS
Rams switch ad agencies
The St. Louis Rams named Boxing Clever as their advertising agency of record. The deal encompasses print, TV and radio ads, as well as promotions, events, social media and digital marketing. The firm’s first assignment with the team will be to create branding and messaging for the 2012 season. The Rams’ previous agency of record was WhiteSpace.
VAIL, COLO.
U.S. Open moving from Vermont
The Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships is moving to Vail’s Golden Peak in 2013 after being held in Vermont since its inception in 1982. The event is scheduled for Feb. 25-March 2.
WORCESTER, MASS.
Sharks continue annual blood drive
The AHL Worcester Sharks and the SMG-managed DCU Center are hosting their annual blood drive on Friday. The drive has been held since the team’s inaugural season in 2006. The Sharks are providing game tickets as incentive for donors.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BEIJING
CCTV paying $160M for TV rights
The International Olympic Committee sold its TV rights in China for the 2014 Sochi and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games to CCTV for an estimated $160 million, a sum that’s up more than 800 percent from what the broadcaster paid for the 2006 Turin and 2008 Beijing Games.
LONDON
Omega replaces Rolex at club
As an IOC TOP sponsor and the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega’s timepieces are hanging in the All England Lawn Tennis Club. It’s a distinct change at the venue, where Rolex has served as the official timekeeper for Wimbledon since 1978, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Rolex-branded clocks on the grounds will remain covered during of the Olympics.
UPS moving 30 million items
According to an Ad Age report, UPS is responsible for receiving, warehousing and delivering every item used during this summer’s London Olympics. By the end of the Games, UPS will have moved 30 million items in and out of the Olympic Village and all the Olympic venues.
Bed props to be donated to hospitals
The beds featured in the opening ceremony of the Olympics will be donated to hospitals in Tunisia, according to a Press Association report. A team of 15 volunteers are spending three days removing LED bedding, batteries and wiring from all 320 showpieces, turning them into functioning hospital beds.
No fee for McCartney
Some of the biggest stars at the opening ceremony received just £1 ($1.50) for performing, according to an Evening Standard report. The top talent, including Paul McCartney, agreed to play for free.
TOKYO
Stadium to have retractable roof
Organizers of Japan’s bid for the 2020 Summer Games outlined plans for the intended Olympic stadium, Kasumigaoka National Stadium in central Tokyo, to have a retractable roof. It would be the first retractable-roof venue to be incorporated into an Olympic Games. The IOC is scheduled to select the 2020 host city in September 2013.
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