BALTIMORE
M&T Bank gets a ring
M&T Bank this month launched a Ravens World Championship Ring debit card, featuring an image of the Baltimore NFL club’s Super Bowl ring. As the official bank of the Ravens and the team’s stadium naming-rights partner, M&T Bank is among the first partners to use the ring image as part of a promotion.
FOXBORO, MASS.
Gillette lathers up hoodie
A new Gillette advertisement, developed by agency Integer, plays off New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s penchant for cutting the sleeves off his sideline hoodie. The ad appears on the back page of the most recent Patriots Football Weekly and could appear in other New England publications or as part of a digital execution later.
LOS ANGELES
Dodgers planning Korea Day
The Los Angeles Dodgers will hold Korea Day presented by the Korean Tourism Organization on Sunday when the Dodgers host Cincinnati. Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu and Reds outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, both from Korea, may potentially face off for the first time in their careers. Pregame celebrations will include musical and cultural performances.
NEWPORT, R.I.
Fila signs hall of fame deal
Fila signed a multiyear sponsorship as the official apparel and footwear supplier of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Fila has been a key partner of the hall for many years. The partnership features activation across the hall’s multiple platforms, including Fila’s having a presence at the ATP Hall of Fame Tennis Championships earlier this month.
PHOENIX
D-Backs raise $700K for firefighters
The Arizona Diamondbacks raised $705,395 in support of the families of the 19 firefighters who died fighting the Yarnell fire as well as members of the community who have been affected by the recent fires in the state. The money was raised in various fundraising efforts that began two days after the June 30 tragedy. The funds will benefit the 100 Club of Arizona, American Red Cross, Prescott Firefighters Charities and other charities that will assist in rebuilding efforts.
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Diamondbacks mascot Baxter handed out free samples of Dugout Delight to fans at a Cold Stone Creamery store.
Photo by: ALISON LUND / ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
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Game broadcast in Navajo language
The D-Backs held Native American Recognition Day, presented by Gila River Casinos, at Chase Field on July 13. The team’s game against Milwaukee was broadcast in native Navajo language on KTNN-AM 660, marking the first MLB game to be broadcast in a Native American language.
D-Backs debut Dugout Delight
The D-Backs launched an ice cream creation called D-Backs Dugout Delight at Cold Stone Creamery shops throughout the state and at the Cold Stone stand at Chase Field. The creation features cake batter ice cream, Butterfinger pieces, chocolate chips and fudge.
RENO, NEV.
Kings to operate Reno D-League team
The Sacramento Kings and the Reno (Nev.) Bighorns agreed to a two-year exclusive partnership that will see the Kings control everything basketball-related for the NBA D-League team. The Bighorns’ local ownership will remain responsible for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.
SAN ANTONIO
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Profits from the Corner Store sponsorship go toward funding Morgan’s Wonderland, a special-needs amusement park.
Photo by: SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS
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Scorpions sign CST Brands
Locally based CST Brands, operator of the Valero Corner Store chain, has become the official convenience store sponsor of the NASL San Antonio Scorpions. CST’s Corner Store signage at the team’s Toyota Field home resembles the business’s traditional yellow storefronts. The company also will sponsor all corner kicks and will give fans free whoopie pies after every home win.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
49ers plan museum at Levi’s Stadium
The San Francisco 49ers are working on a 17,000-square-foot museum at Levi’s Stadium slated to be open seven days a week. 49ers COO Paraag Marathe said that the team is hoping to attract school field trip groups to the museum. “We’ll have a learning lab downstairs where students can learn about the physiology of sports,” he said.
TUSCALOOSA, ALA.
Polk’s partners with Crimson Tide
Polk’s Meat Products will be the official smoked sausage of the Alabama Crimson Tide for the 2013-14 athletic season. Polk’s will receive partnership benefits that include LED signage inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, exposure in football game programs and product samplings with fans at four home football games.
VANCOUVER
Washington Stealth moving north
The Langley Events Centre will be the new home of professional lacrosse in British Columbia after the National Lacrosse League’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the relocation of the Stealth franchise from Everett, Wash., to Vancouver. The Vancouver Stealth will begin play at the arena next season.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Etihad sponsoring Nation’s Triathlon
Etihad Airways agreed to a deal making it the official airline sponsor of Events DC’s Nation’s Triathlon and marking the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first foray into sports sponsorship in the U.S. capital, according to a Gulf News report. This year’s Nation’s Triathlon is scheduled for Sept. 8 and is expected to feature 5,000 participants.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Open gets official backing
Aberdeen Asset Management and the Scottish government extended their backing of the Scottish Open until 2017, according to a Scotsman report. After three years at Castle Stuart, the event will be staged at Royal Aberdeen next year.
HANOVER, GERMANY
Team extends with Sportfive, A-B
Bundesliga club Hannover 96 extended its partnership with sports marketing company Sportfive. The two parties agreed to extend their current contract, which was set to run through 2014, until June 2019. The team also extended its sponsorship deal with Anheuser-Busch InBev for another five years, until 2018.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Beermaker extends Liverpool deal
Longtime Liverpool FC partner Carlsberg extended its deal by three years. Already the oldest continuing partnership of any Premier League club, the deal has now been extended to run until the end of the 2015-16 season, marking a total of 24 seasons.
LONDON
Giggs, Neville to open hotels, cafés
Former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville announced their GG Hospitality company will be launching hotel and café brands with the intention of building a hospitality empire, according to an Inside World Football report. “Café Football” will open its first outlet in Westfield, London, in November.
MANCHESTER
Man City to expand stadium capacity
Manchester City plans to expand capacity at both sides of Etihad Stadium, giving the club the potential to reach a capacity of 60,000, according to a (London) Independent report. Current capacity is 47,805. The club intends to add 6,000 seats in new tiers behind each goal.
MILAN
AC Milan keeps time with sponsor
AC Milan signed watch brand Chronotech as the official partner of the team for the 2013-14 season. Elements include company promotions and the Chronotech logo inside San Siro Stadium and at the Milanello training complex. Chronotech will also be present on the club’s website.
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