BALTIMORE
Stadium earns LEED Gold
M&T Bank Stadium earned a LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the first NFL facility to receive the designation. The stadium eclipsed Soldier Field, which earned LEED certification two years ago, as well as Lincoln Financial Field, which on Nov. 17 received LEED Silver status.
BOSTON
Sox raise prices, add variable pricing
The Boston Red Sox are introducing a variable pricing structure for regular-season games at Fenway Park in 2014. According to The Boston Globe, the average ticket price will increase from $53.38 to $55.94, up 4.8 percent.
LOS ANGELES
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Yokohama’s exposure at Staples Center includes arm stanchions on each basket.
Photo by: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
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Clippers sign Yokohama
The Los Angeles Clippers named Yokohama Tire Corp. as the team’s official tire in a two-year sponsorship agreement. Yokohama’s sponsorship includes courtside signage at home games, spots on the Clippers’ flagship radio station, in-stadium displays on LED boards and in-game announcements.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Arena bond ratings downgraded
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded its rating on $339 million in construction bonds used to build the KFC Yum! Center. Moody’s lowered its rating on the project revenue bonds to Ba3 from Ba2. The agency gives its Ba rating to bonds that have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk. Moody’s cited as reasons for the change the arena authority’s deal with the University of Louisville and scheduled increases in interest and principal payments that are expected to be a drag on profitability.
MIAMI
Heat partners with TigerDirect.com
The Miami Heat signed a partnership with retailer TigerDirect.com. The deal provides for the unveiling of a technology lounge and retail center called the TigerDirect Zone at AmericanAirlines Arena. The designated area will function as a pop-up shop featuring select products, including the 80-inch LG Ultra HD 4K TV.
NEW YORK
Rangers, Celebrity plan Legends Cruise
The New York Rangers and Celebrity Cruises agreed to a new marketing partnership that includes Celebrity presence at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers will hold contests at five home games for chances to win tickets on a Legends Cruise to Bermuda next August featuring Rangers greats Ron Duguay, Adam Graves, Ron Greschner and Stephane Matteau.
OAKLAND
Raiders station debuts on Pandora
The Oakland Raiders now have their own channel on Internet music provider Pandora, according to a San Jose Mercury-News report. The station, called Raider Nation Station, plays a mix of Raiders-themed songs and tunes chosen by the players and will be broadcast on the service throughout the season.
OKLAHOMA CITY
Thunder using Skyview solutions
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Skyview Networks reached a new multiyear broadcast solutions agreement. Skyview will provide its satellite distribution service and software — AdView Inventory Management — to the franchise. The team will have a panoramic view of all available and sold inventory, as well as detailed reporting and affidavits for clients.
ORLANDO
Soccer team extends with Orlando Health
USL Pro club Orlando City reached an extension of its sponsorship deal with Orlando Health, with the group remaining the primary sponsor and official health care partner of the club after the team’s move to Major League Soccer. That move to MLS was announced last week. Orlando Health also will align with Orlando City Youth Soccer and the club’s proposed downtown stadium.
PHILADELPHIA
Eagles help create Swoop comic
The Philadelphia Eagles teamed with Marvel Custom Solutions to create an exclusive comic featuring Swoop, the team’s mascot. Penciled by Canadian comic book artist Tom Grummett, the comic tells the tale of Swoop’s origin and illustrates Swoop’s role with the Eagles, their fans and the community. The Eagles released the comic frame by frame through the team’s social media networks. Hard copies of the comic also were distributed to members of the Eagles Kids Club at a Lincoln Financial Field event this month.
PORTLAND
City gets 2016 track championships
The IAAF voted unanimously to award the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships to Portland. The event, to be held at the Oregon Convention Center, is expected to draw more than 600 athletes from more than 200 nations.
5050 raffles set for Moda Center
The Make It Better Foundation has partnered with The Safeway Foundation and Pointstreak 5050 to introduce a fundraising platform and a new game-day experience for fans. The 5050 Rip City Raffle will be held at the Moda Center during Portland Trail Blazers games this season. The raffle will be managed by the foundation.
SPARTA, KY.
Speedway streamlines ticket buying
Fans purchasing tickets for Kentucky Speedway’s five 2014 race events will see lower prices and a simpler price structure. New speedway ticket partner Ticketmaster will offer customers a personal account management tool, enhanced maps and views of the speedway from specific grandstands.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BARCELONA
Barca to build second-team stadium
FC Barcelona announced a 6,000-seat stadium for the club’s second team to be built on land the club recently purchased near its training facility, according to a Sport report.
HOFFENHEIM, GERMANY
SAP adds to Bundesliga team deal
German data company SAP expanded its relationship with German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and added German national team manager Oliver Bierhoff as a brand ambassador, according to an Inside World Football report. The team has been using software from SAP for several years.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Everton named healthiest workplace
Everton FC was officially certified as a healthy workplace by Health at Work’s Workplace Wellbeing Charter, according to an FC Business report. Everton is the first football club in the country to have been awarded the status.
MANCHESTER
Nike negotiations get complicated
Manchester United’s worldwide commercial success in splitting up its sponsorships into different regions has complicated negotiations with Nike for a potential $1.6 billion kit deal renewal, according to a (London) Daily Mail report. Man U has been in talks with Nike about the new contract for three years. The current 13-year, $488 million shirt agreement expires at the end of next season.
MOSCOW
WADA suspends drug-testing lab
The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facility’s accreditation will be imposed, according to an Associated Press report. The Moscow center is slated to be the drug-testing lab for the 2014 Sochi Games.
Luzhniki renovations begin
Renovations began at Luzhniki Stadium, which will act as the centerpiece of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, according to a SoccerEx report. The stadium’s outer shell will be maintained, but the structure will otherwise be rebuilt at a cost of $800 million.
SOCHI, RUSSIA
Logistics firm handling IPC needs
Logistics company DB Schenker extended its agreement to provide the International Paralympic Committee with logistics, freight forwarding and customs clearance services spanning the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
