BALTIMORE
Fan design part of O’s giveaway
As part of this year’s Baltimore Orioles Fan Appreciation Week, a fan will design a giveaway T-shirt to be distributed to the first 10,000 fans at the team’s Sept. 26 game against Toronto. Submissions will be accepted online until Aug. 31. The winner will receive four tickets to the Sept. 26 game.
CHARLOTTE
SEC, Belk Bowl reach agreement
The Southeastern Conference and the Belk Bowl reached a six-year agreement to put an SEC school in Charlotte’s postseason college football game, starting next year. The Atlantic Coast Conference, a partner in the Charlotte game since its inception in 2002, signed a six-year contract extension earlier this summer.
CHICAGO
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The American team will take the field in a vintage gray uniform, and the National team’s threads (below) were inspired by a uniform first worn by the Cubs in 1938.
Photos: UNDER ARMOUR
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Uniforms inspired by Cubs’ threads
Thirty-six of the nation’s top high school baseball players will be at Wrigley Field on Saturday for the 2013 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game. The players will be wearing Under Armour “Future Legends” uniforms inspired by the Chicago Cubs’ uniforms of the 1930s.
CINCINNATI
Bearcats to play at Bengals’ home
The University of Cincinnati will play its 2014 home football games at Paul Brown Stadium due to a 15-month renovation project set to begin at Nippert Stadium in December. The
temporary move required a deal between the university, the Bengals and Hamilton County.
DENVER
Lawsuit filed against Rockies
A lawsuit was filed in federal court against the Colorado Rockies, challenging the team’s exclusive arrangement with online ticket marketplace StubHub to resell game tickets. The lawsuit, filed by a Rockies fan, contends the club’s deal violates terms of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. A team official declined to comment on the action.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA.
‘Sandlot’ to make final stop at Coolray
Coolray Field, home of the Class AAA Gwinnett Braves, will host a screening of “The Sandlot” Sept. 21, marking the final stop of the baseball film’s 20th anniversary tour. The screening will include a pre-movie meet-and-greet session with David Mickey Evans, director, writer and narrator of the film.
LOS ANGELES
‘Helpful Honda’ comes to L.A. teams
The Southern California Honda Dealers are extending their “Helpful Honda” campaign to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Galaxy, UCLA athletics and USC athletics. Known for their blue shirts and irreverent commercials, the “helpful guys in blue” will be sharing their “random acts of helpful” at coming games for the teams and the schools.
NASHVILLE
Music City Bowl, SEC reach deal
The Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl reached an extension with the Southeastern Conference through the 2019 college football season for a participant in the annual game. The deal continues a relationship between the conference and bowl dating to the game’s debut in 1998. This year’s game is scheduled for Dec. 30 at LP Field.
ORLANDO
Marriott sponsors Magic’s 25th
Marriott Vacation Club agreed to a deal to serve as the presenting partner of the Orlando Magic’s 2013-14 season, the club’s 25th in the NBA. The partnership calls for a co-branded 25th anniversary logo and in-arena presence at Amway Center for games.
PHILADELPHIA
Flyers’ ‘Flight Plan’ up and running
The Philadelphia Flyers recently aired the first episode of “Flight Plan,” its new online series. The team said the series will give fans a glimpse of players, coaches and front-office staff, with a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of the organization. “Flight Plan” will continue to follow the Flyers on and off the ice throughout the season, with episodes available via PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
PHOENIX
ServiceMaster on track at PIR
ServiceMaster Clean and ServiceMaster Restore will be the title sponsor of the Phoenix International Raceway’s November NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The ServiceMaster 200 marks the first race title sponsorship for ServiceMaster in NASCAR. ServiceMaster is the official sponsor of the yellow-flag caution period for International Speedway Corp. and PIR.
SACRAMENTO
Kings owners pay deferred fees
The new owners of the Sacramento Kings have paid the city $1.4 million in deferred development fees that became due a year ago this month, when the Maloof family still owned the team. The Kings had received a 15-year deferment of the North Natomas public facilities fees under a 1997 agreement with the city.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
Panthers fly in for hockey programs
The Florida Panthers and JetBlue Airways returned to Puerto Rico last week for the second year in a row to host two days of hockey-themed activities. JetBlue, the official airline partner of the Panthers and their BB&T Center home, provided transportation and accommodations for the trip.
SEATTLE
M’s opt for ESPN Radio extension
The Seattle Mariners exercised their two-year option to keep the team on ESPN Radio 710 Seattle through the 2016 season. The team will continue to have a year-round presence on the station, including pregame and postgame shows, a weekly magazine feature during the season, and a hot stove league show in the offseason.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Outback Bowl, SEC extend to 2020
Outback Bowl officials extended their contract with the Southeastern Conference for six additional years, through the January 2020 game. The agreement continues an 18-year relationship with the conference to play at Raymond James Stadium, with the SEC school facing a team from the Big Ten Conference.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BERLIN
Hertha BSC extends with Nike
Bundesliga club Hertha BSC Berlin and kit supplier Nike extended their current deal, which was set to expire in 2015, until 2025. Nike has been the club’s official kit supplier since 1999. The club also introduced an e-payment system at Berlin Olympic Stadium that lets fans pay with rechargeable cards.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
Carlsberg sponsoring Aston Villa
Premier League team Aston Villa agreed to a deal with Carlsberg, the official beer of the EPL. The sponsorship extends for three seasons, starting with the 2013-14 season, and provides for pouring rights for Carlsberg and Carlsberg UK’s beer and beverage portfolio at Villa Park.
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY
Schalke 04, tech firm sign deal
Bundesliga club Schalke 04 signed a partnership deal with technology retailer Preisboerse24, through 2015. The company will receive ad space on LED boards as well as social media marketing opportunities.
MANCHESTER
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Survey shows Man City leading league in value of surrounding homes.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Homes around stadium gain value
Home prices near Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium surged 259 percent in 10 years, according to a Manchester Evening News report. A survey placed the north Manchester district at the top of a Premier League table of house prices close to stadiums. Home prices near the stadium reportedly now average $138,500.
SINGAPORE
Some TV viewers get EPL for free
Singapore telecom group StarHub doubled its rebate to $475 in its latest bid to win back soccer fan subscribers, according to a Straits Times report. The rebate will be offered to all of the telecom’s customers who choose to watch Premier League games. It offers a monthly discount of $23.77 for up to 20 months. Subscribers who pay less than $24 per month will owe nothing during this period.
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