ANAHEIM
Ducks sign Dollar Loan Center
The Anaheim Ducks signed a partnership with short-term lender Dollar Loan Center, which becomes the game-night presenting sponsor for the Ducks’ April 7 game against Los Angeles. In addition to in-game promotions, Dollar Loan Center will partner with the team on social media promotions and on the team’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.
BOSTON
New Balance, museum renew deal
New Balance renewed its deal as presenting sponsor of The Sports Museum for the next three years. Since 2006, the museum has developed educational programs for kids in the greater Boston area.
CHICAGO
 |
Ernie Banks and Starlin Castro are among Cubs players in the special card collection.
|
Cubs, Topps promote archives set
The Topps Co. and the Chicago Cubs have created an exclusive, 82-card Topps Archives set, featuring current and former Cubs players. The set will be delivered to Cubs season-ticket holders. Fans additionally can secure the entire 82-card set by attending all four Topps promotional games at Wrigley Field this season: May 3, July 5, Aug. 2 and Aug. 30.
EVANSTON, ILL.
Wildcats promise Ryan Field games
Northwestern University has promised to keep six football games a year at Ryan Field while also securing a recent agreement to play more games at Wrigley Field, according to a Daily Northwestern report. The Wildcats will play as many as five football games at Wrigley Field over the next five years.
JOLIET, ILL.
 |
Miller Lite has been the official beer since 2001.
Photo by: CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY
|
Tracks renew with MillerCoors
Chicagoland Speedway, Route 66 Raceway and MillerCoors agreed to a multiyear sponsorship renewal that will keep Miller Lite as the official beer of the facilities. MillerCoors, with its corporate headquarters located in downtown Chicago, will continue to support all events across both facilities.
LOS ANGELES
Outdoor NHL game discussed
NHL officials were in town recently to talk with Los Angeles Kings executives about possibly staging an outdoor game next year, according to a Los Angeles Times report. The league’s portable rink and refrigeration equipment can be set up in a warm climate. Possible sites to host a game include Dodger Stadium, the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
PHOENIX
Suns Wives, Cold Stone hold book drive
The Phoenix Suns Wives organization is teaming with Cold Stone Creamery to host the group’s annual book drive at Cold Stone locations through Wednesday. The drive ends on Sunday, when the Suns take on the Brooklyn Nets at US Airways Center. Fans on that night will receive one raffle ticket per book donated and be entered to win one of five prize packages.
PORTLAND
Arena renovation plan vote delayed
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales delayed a City Council vote scheduled for last week on a $31.5 million renovation plan for Veterans Memorial Coliseum, according to a Portland Tribune report. The vote was originally scheduled last year by former Mayor Sam Adams, but Hales pulled the item from the agenda and referred it to his office.
SACRAMENTO
City to consider MLS acreage
The city staff of suburban Elk Grove is recommending that the community begin identifying up to 120 acres that could be purchased for a possible Major League Soccer stadium complex, a project that could cost in excess of $100 million and would require some public funds. The city has been negotiating since December 2011 with a group that is trying to buy a pro soccer franchise.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
 |
The priciest seats — in the suite tower and midfield club seats — are sold out.
Photo by: SANTA CLARA STADIUM AUTHORITY
|
New stadium 75 percent sold out
The San Francisco 49ers have sold three-quarters of the seats at their new Santa Clara stadium as the team prepares to make a huge cash transfer to the public agency building the facility, according to a San Jose Mercury News report. Fans and corporations reportedly have bought $403 million worth of seats, equivalent to the amount spent to build the stadium so far.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Bucs reach orthopedic agreement
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached a Pewter Partnership agreement with Florida Orthopaedic Institute beginning with the 2013 season. The relationship positions Florida Orthopaedic as the official orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians of the team and includes an integrated marketing campaign to be launched later this year.
 |
All things Glen are available at online store.
|
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
Track opens online marketplace
Watkins Glen International opened The Shop, an online merchandise store for the track. The outlet sells merchandise and collectibles that previously were available only via in-store purchase. The store is accessible online via theglen.com, and then clicking on the “merch” button.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
CAIRO
Fans burn Egypt FA headquarters
Fans of Cairo’s Al-Ahly football club stormed Egypt FA headquarters and set it on fire after a court acquitted seven of nine police officials on trial for their alleged role in the Port Said stadium riot last year, according to a (London) Daily Mail report. A Cairo court confirmed the death sentences given to 21 fans for their parts in the deadly riot.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
Titans reach 3-year coffee deal
National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans have partnered with home-grown coffee chain Zarraffa’s Coffee as a platinum sponsor for the next three years, until the end of 2015. The Zarraffa’s logo was on display on the club’s playing kit for its March 10 season opener against the Cronulla Sharks.
ISTANBUL
Big business on board for 2020 bid
Seven of Turkey’s leading conglomerates pledged to contribute to the bid to bring the 2020 Summer Olympics to Istanbul, with sponsorship deals worth $3.2 million, according to a Today’s Zaman report. The list of sponsors includes Turkish Airlines, Koç Holding, Ülker, Doğuş Group, Digiturk, Sabancı Holding and Turkcell.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Liverpool trying six-tier pricing
Some Liverpool season-ticket holders will be hit with a price increase of nearly 10 percent after the club announced a six-tier ticket structure for the 2013-14 season, according to a Liverpool Echo report. In a bid to keep some tickets more affordable, Liverpool is introducing a $7.50 children’s ticket for select Premier League games.
PARIS
PSG loss softened off the pitch
Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain made more money from miscellaneous sales than from its football operations, according to a Bloomberg report. PSG’s net loss during the 2011-12 season was kept down to $7.2 million because of $164 million of income from other products, according to figures released by French football’s licensing authority, the DNCG.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
