Coast to Coast

ATLANTA
Hawks retain CSE
For the second consecutive year, CSE will be the marketing agency of record for the Atlanta Hawks. CSE is working jointly with the Hawks’ marketing team to develop advertising campaigns as well as promotion and event activation, media planning and sponsorship group assistance.

BOSTON
NBA’s Season of Giving under way
The NBA last week began its NBA Cares Season of Giving, a community service effort that runs through the end of the year. Events will be led by current and former players, coaches and executives and will focus on areas of education, health and wellness, and hands-on service. The Boston Celtics started off the season with their Jason Terry Thanksgiving event Nov. 19.

CLEVELAND
Cavs sign startup UpTo
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed the NBA’s first team deal with startup UpTo as the club looks for additional social media marketing outlets. UpTo launched last year, with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s Detroit Venture Partners providing the company’s seed round of financing. Its social media application allows users to share their plans and calendars.

KANSAS CITY
Loyal race fans going to Vegas
Kansas Speedway season-ticket holders who renewed their accounts by Nov. 14 were automatically entered for a chance to win an opportunity to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series banquet. Daniel Nelson, Loren Washburn, Scott Strohm and Ken Nowlin Jr. and their guests will attend the banquet, a fan reception, the NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon and the NASCAR After the Lap event. The banquet is this Friday at the Wynn Las Vegas.

MIAMI
AT&T aligns with Heat broadcasts
AT&T U-Verse will be the presenting sponsor for Miami Heat broadcasts this year for the third consecutive season. Sun Sports’ “Heat Live” pregame show will be sponsored by Papa John’s, while the halftime show is sponsored by Chevrolet and the postgame show presented by Hyundai.

MILWAUKEE
Brewers seek a ‘YOUniform’
The Milwaukee Brewers are seeking their most creative fans to participate in the “Design a YOUniform” contest. Fans are invited to submit an original design for a Brewers uniform, and the winner will receive a trip to Brewers spring training next year to see the entire team wear the design in a game. Designs can be uploaded to Brewers.com/uniform or dropped off at the Brewers Team Store by Majestic. The deadline is Dec. 13.

NEW YORK
PBR signs Monster Energy
The Professional Bull Riders signed a multiyear partnership with Monster Energy Drink to be the official energy drink of the PBR. Activations will include a “Monster Money Bull” at 10 Built Ford Tough Series events, in-arena branding positions and event title sponsorship of the series season opener, the Monster Energy Invitational, at Madison Square Garden Jan. 4-6.

Yankees win retailer award
The New York Yankees were named the 2012 MLB Club Retailer of the Year for their commitment to driving merchandise sales. The Yankees and Legends Hospitality earned the award based on improvements to the team store at Yankee Stadium as well as product innovation and reinvention.

Yankees on Broadway?
Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo have turned their attention to baseball with the commission of a new play that draws on the history of the New York Yankees, according to a Hollywood Reporter report. Kirmser and Ponturo have previously collaborated to bring “Lombardi” and “Magic/Bird” to Broadway.

Bike Expo registration open
Bike New York’s exhibitor registration is open for Bike Expo New York 2013, to be held May 2-4 at Basketball City (Pier 36) leading up to the 36th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour. Free and open to the public, BE NY 2012 launched as the largest inaugural bike expo in the country, attracting more than 43,000 attendees.

PALO ALTO, CALIF.
49ers team store opens
Centerplate opened its first permanent San Francisco 49ers team store at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto. The 1,800-square-foot store features a Santa Clara Stadium Preview interactive area that allows customers to test potential sight lines at the 49ers’ planned stadium.

Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider welcomed youth players to the new rink. Photo by: ZACK HILL

PHILADELPHIA
Snider foundation adds fourth rink to roster
The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation refurbished its fourth ice rink through its partnership with the city of Philadelphia. Tarken Ice Rink, in the Oxford Circle part of the city, is the last facility to get a makeover by the foundation. Founded in 2005, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation serves 3,000 children between the ages of 5 and 17.

Comcast-Spectacor promotes ‘Big Ticket’
Comcast-Spectacor created “The Big Ticket” Sweepstakes with 93.3 WMMR. The winner of the six-week-long promotion, which requires fans to enter on the Wells Fargo Center Facebook page, will get two tickets to every event at the arena in 2013.

Army-Navy ramps up social media
The Army-Navy Game presented by USAA will have an expanded presence on social media, leading up to and following the annual matchup, this year taking place at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 8. Scavenger hunts and trivia contests, online polls, blog posts, online chats, interaction and spirit video contests and photo submission elements are all part of the new initiatives.

READING, PA.
Fightin Phils field ostrich
The new name of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Class AA affiliate is the Reading Fightin Phils. The Berks County team had been known as the Reading Phillies during its 46-year affiliation with the Philadelphia team. The new name will be highlighted by an ostrich logo and mascot. The team worked with San Diego-based Brandiose on the rebranding campaign.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.
LPGA Championship returning
The Wegmans LPGA Championship will be back in Rochester next summer, continuing the city’s long affiliation with the women’s tour. The 2013 event is June 6-9 at Locust Hill Country Club. Two major golf events will be played in Rochester next year; the PGA Championship is scheduled for Aug. 8-11 at Oak Hill Country Club.

SACRAMENTO
Kings players donate thousands of tickets
Eight Sacramento Kings players donated more than 5,000 tickets to the Kings for the Community program to benefit local youth groups and charitable organizations. Created in 2007, the program allows underprivileged children to attend Kings games at Sleep Train Arena.

SAN ANTONIO
Baseball set for Alamodome
The Texas Rangers will play a two-game exhibition series against the San Diego Padres at the Alamodome, the first time baseball will be played at the facility. The Big League Weekend is March 29-30. Tickets go on sale on Friday. Ryan Sanders Baseball collaborated with AstroTurf to build a 133,000-square-foot custom field for the Alamodome floor.

SEATTLE

This rendering shows the new display, which will replace an existing multi-panel board. Rendering: SEATTLE MARINERS

Mariners plan giant video display
The Seattle Mariners are planning to install an enormous new video display at Safeco Field. The Panasonic display will stretch the entire width of the center-field bleachers, more than 200 feet wide and almost 57 feet tall. The display is reportedly the biggest portion of $15 million that the team is spending on improvements for next season.

3PT, Idol producing NCAA events
3 Point Productions is partnering with Idol Sports & Entertainment to produce game operations for the State Farm Battle in Seattle (Gonzaga vs. Kansas State) and Cougar Hardwood Classic (Washington State vs. Buffalo), both being played next month at KeyArena. This is the sixth consecutive year 3PT staff members have produced these neutral-site NCAA games.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
Armor to wear casino logo
The NBA D-League Springfield Armor signed a presenting sponsorship agreement with MGM Springfield that includes a jersey logo deal. The company’s logo also will be on the court during games at the MassMutual Center. Financial terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed. The jersey deal is the fourth in the 16-team D-League.
 


      COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS

BARCELONA, SPAIN
Barca switching jersey sponsors

The move has angered some fans, as it will be the first time a corporate logo will appear on the team’s shirts. Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

FC Barcelona’s main jersey sponsor, Qatar Foundation, will be replaced by Qatar Airways starting next season, according to a Mundo Deportivo report. Qatar Sports Investments, which pays Barca $38 million annually to be its main sponsor, has decided to switch the Qatar Foundation for the airline company.

City may land Formula E race
Barcelona is the leading candidate to host the Spanish race of the new Formula E, according to a Mundo Deportivo report. The new series, created by motorsports governing body FIA, is reserved for electric cars and will make its debut in 2014.

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
Team offers stadium naming rights
Ireland’s Ulster pro rugby team is seeking to secure naming rights for its proposed redevelopment of Ravenhill Stadium, according to a report in the Independent. The club plans to use the $23 million injection from Northern Ireland’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for the final stages of construction.

DOHA, QATAR
Cup organizers upset with U.K. media
Organizers of the Qatar 2022 World Cup hit back at bribery allegations published in the U.K. media, calling the reports malicious and reckless, according to an Arabian Business report. The (London) Sunday Times has claimed that Qatar officials considered offering $1 million to the son of FIFA Executive Committee member Amos Adamu.

DRESDEN, GERMANY
Indebted team’s profits rise
Second Bundesliga club Dynamo Dresden released its financial numbers for the 2011-12 fiscal year in which it generated a profit of $807,000, according to an SID report. The club generated $25.5 million in total revenue, which is almost double the amount of the previous year. However, the club continues to be highly indebted because of high liabilities from its past, according to the report.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Games’ merchandise partner named
Glasgow 2014 organizers revealed Venue Retail 2014 Ltd. will be in charge of delivering the merchandise for the Commonwealth Games. The company will also be responsible for online sales. Venue Retail was responsible for London 2012’s in-venue merchandise program, which was the largest in Olympics history.

HONG KONG
Benz out, BMW in at Derby
BMW replaced Mercedes-Benz as the main sponsor of the Hong Kong Derby, according to a South China Morning Post report. There will be no increase to the $2 million in stake money the Derby has carried since 2007, which leaves it sitting just ahead of the Epsom Derby, just behind the Kentucky Derby, but a long way behind the $3.6 million in prize money for the Japanese Derby.

LONDON
Overseas Games visitor tally at 680,000
The London Olympic and Paralympic Games attracted 680,000 overseas visitors in the three months ending in September, according to a Xinhua report. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 90,000 Games-related visits in September, which is in addition to the ONS’s announcement in October of 590,000 overseas visitors to Britain in July and August in relation to the London 2012 Games.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
Man U reaches deal with Turkish bank
Manchester United reached a four-year sponsorship with Turkish bank Denizbank. The new agreement will give Denizbank the exclusive rights to offer the official Manchester United credit card to the club’s 9.5 million followers in Turkey.

READING, ENGLAND
Reading FC signs Viagogo
Online ticket marketplace Viagogo signed with Reading FC as the English Premier League club’s official secondary ticket partner. The partnership with Viagogo gives season-ticket holders the opportunity to securely resell their tickets to the games they are unable to attend.

SÃO PAULO
Corinthians sign new jersey sponsor
Campeonato Brasileiro club Corinthians signed a title sponsorship deal with Brazilian bank Caixa Econômica Federal, according to a Maquina Do Esporte report. Corinthians had been without a main jersey sponsor since April when its deal with pharmaceutical company Hypermarcas expired.

SYDNEY
Rabbitohs fans could be shareholders
Fans of the National Rugby League club South Sydney Rabbitohs could become shareholders in the club after the decision by actor Russell Crowe to sell his stake by the end of next season, according to a report in The Australian. The club is worth between $7.3 million and $14.6 million, according to the report.

TOKYO
Zaha Hadid wins design contest
U.K. architect Zaha Hadid from Zaha Hadid Architects was selected as the winner of the design contest to update and remodel Tokyo’s Kasumigaoka National Stadium. If Tokyo is selected as host of the 2020 Olympic Games, the new Kasumigaoka National Stadium would host the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, football and rugby events.

ALSOK joins Tokyo 2020 bid
Japan security services group ALSOK, officially known as SOHGO Security Services, is Tokyo 2020’s eighth bid partner. ALSOK already partners with Japanese Olympians Saori Yoshida, Kaori Icho and Riki Nakaya. ALSOK will play an active role in Tokyo 2020’s campaign over the next 10 months.

For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.