BUFFALO
Amerks get Buffalo home date
With the NHL lockout ongoing, the Buffalo Sabres are moving one Rochester Americans home game to First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The game, originally set for Oct. 21 in Rochester, will be played instead in Buffalo on Oct. 23. The Sabres, the AHL Americans’ parent club, may move another game if the lockout extends into December.
CHARLOTTE
Bobcats unwrap new campaign
The Charlotte Bobcats unveiled their 2012-13 ad campaign, dubbed “TougherFasterStronger,” with online spots on Bobcats.com as well as radio and outdoor billboards around Charlotte. The campaign, which was developed internally by the team’s marketing and creative group, features images of the team’s new colors, logos and core of young players.
CLEVELAND
Monsters add ‘Cleveland’ to logo
The logo for the AHL Lake Erie Monsters, a mark the club has used since its debut in 2007, will now include a reference to “Cleveland,” written into the logo below the “Monsters” wordmark. The club’s home jerseys also have been revised for the 2012-13 season, which begins Oct. 12.
DETROIT
AAU Games returning to city
Detroit was selected to host the 2013 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games, scheduled for July 24-Aug. 3. Detroit previously hosted the games in 2003 and 2008 and is one of five cities in a rotation to host the games through 2016. With an estimated 32,000 spectators, the economic impact for the metro Detroit region from the event is estimated at more than $50 million.
DURHAM, N.C.
Duke hoops getting iPads
The Duke University men’s and women’s basketball teams will use the Apple iPad 3 64 GB for scouting reports, practice and game videos this coming season. Duke becomes the first college basketball program in the country to make such a move. The school will not place any restrictions on the iPads, allowing players to use them for educational and entertainment purposes as well.
GREEN BAY
Contest winner will do ‘Leap’
The Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are offering fans the chance to do the “Lambeau Leap” during the team’s Dec. 9 game against Detroit. The grand prize in the Lambeau Leap Sweepstakes, presented by Robert Haack Diamonds, also includes four club seats to the game, VIP sideline passes, a game ball and hotel accommodations. The winner will be selected from 10 finalists during Lambeau Leap tryouts during the week of Nov. 19. Fans can sign up for the contest through Oct. 21 at the newspaper’s website or at Robert Haack Diamonds retail locations.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.
Nike drops surfing event sponsorship
Nike informed IMG executives that the company was discontinuing its sponsorship of the U.S. Open of Surfing. The company had been the title sponsor of the IMG-managed event in Huntington Beach, Calif., since 2009. Sources valued the title sponsorship at $2 million to $3 million a year.
MEMPHIS
Grizzlies lease transfer approved
The Shelby County (Tenn.) Commission voted to approve transfer of the FedEx Forum lease with Hoops LP to RJP Group, the entity led by prospective Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. However, several commissioners protested the lack of financial disclosures from RJP Group, according to a (Memphis) Commercial Appeal report. Pera is awaiting approval from the NBA. The league’s board of governors meets Oct. 25.
MIAMI
Heat, Univision reach radio deal
The Miami Heat agreed to a multiyear deal with Miami-based Univision Radio’s WAQI-AM 710 to broadcast all regular-season Heat games in Spanish. Additionally, Univision Radio’s WRTO-FM 98.3 will exclusively air all Heat playoff games.
NEW YORK
Nets Shop opens at arena
The Nets Shop by Adidas held its grand opening at Barclays Center. While accessible from inside the arena during events, the store also will be open to visitors as a retail location seven days a week through a street-level entrance. The store is part of The Shops at Barclays Center, which also will feature Starbucks, Rocawear, MetroPCS and restaurant Elbow Room.
Giants to use Skyview services
The New York Giants and Skyview Networks reached a multiyear agreement for inventory management services. Skyview, which specializes in play-by-play broadcast systems, will provide its F.A.S.T. Inventory Management Software and Live Read Logging Service to the team.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
RedHawks, Astros extend deal
The Class AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks extended their player development contract with the Houston Astros. The two-year deal continues the clubs’ affiliation through 2014.
PHILADELPHIA
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The new “Sloppy Jose” has flavor upon flavor for fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
Photo by: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
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Eagles add ‘Sloppy Jose’ to menu
The Philadelphia Eagles; Lincoln Financial Field concessionaire Aramark; and Kevin Sbraga, a Philadelphia restaurateur and winner of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef: Season 7,” have collaborated to create a new menu for fans at the stadium this season. Among the new items is the “Sloppy Jose,” a short rib and chorizo sandwich topped with queso Chihuahua and slaw, served with homemade chips.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
49ers sign third founding partner
The San Francisco 49ers signed business software and analytics firm SAP as the third founding partner for their new stadium, a deal that covers naming rights to the team’s practice facility. As part of the deal, the 49ers will use SAP analytics, mobility and real-time systems to develop social media platforms. SAP joins tech firms Brocade and Violin Memory as founding partners.
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
Sixers return ‘home’ for exhibition
The Philadelphia 76ers, who this season are celebrating their 50th year in that city, will host a preseason game on Oct. 22 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, which is the franchise’s original home. The team played 14 seasons as the Syracuse Nationals before moving to Philadelphia in 1963.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Scottish Open returning
The Scottish Open will return to Castle Stuart for a third year before moving to Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2014, according to a BBC report. The event moved from Loch Lomond to the links course near Inverness to offer players better preparation for the British Open. The European Tour and title sponsors have also increased the prize fund by 20 percent to $4.9 million.
BEIJING
China eyes rugby sevens expertise
The Beijing Sport Bureau is set to invest $157,000 to send a group of rugby sevens players and coaches to New Zealand next month to learn more about the game from some of the world’s best players, according to a South China Morning Post report. Rugby sevens will be a medal sport at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Owner commits to Anfield project
Liverpool FC’s U.S.-based owner, Fenway Sports Group, is ending the club’s 10-year stadium saga by committing to develop Anfield as a refurbished 60,000-capacity venue, including 7,000 corporate seats, according to a London Daily Mail report. The club said publicly that plans are in place for a phased expansion, with the work in total expected to cost about $244 million.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Government OKs tourism spending
The Brazilian federal government approved a $104.6 million tourism plan for the 2014 World Cup, according to an online report at PORTAL2014.org.br. The money will be spread across the 12 World Cup host cities. The largest investment will go to Rio de Janeiro, which will receive $12.8 million.
SOCHI, RUSSIA
Firms gain official Olympic status
Russian agency CROS was named Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games supplier in the public relations services category. The company will focus on Sochi 2014 communications programs. The organizing committee for the 2014 Games also signed deals with Coca-Cola and Ingosstrakh, making them presenting partners of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay. Other new partners include German company Ottobock, the Klinsk Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Jet Set Sports.
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