ATLANTA
Falcons plan $1M sales center
The Atlanta Falcons plan to spend more than $1 million on a sales center that will allow fans to preview their $1.2 billion stadium, which is set to open in 2017. The center will take about 7,000 square feet in Buckhead’s Piazza at Paces development, near the headquarters for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
COLLEGE PARK, MD.
Terps extend with Under Armour
The University of Maryland athletic department extended its contract with Under Armour for at least an additional 10 years. The original contract between Under Armour and the university from 2008 — a $17.5 million, five-year deal — was previously renewed in 2009 and expired Dec. 31.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
USL Pro team franchise awarded
Colorado Springs will become home of a United Soccer Leagues Pro team beginning in 2015. The unnamed team, which will be owned by Martin Ragain of Ragain Sports, will play at the 1,500-seat Sand Creek stadium. Plans are in the works for $1 million in upgrades and improvements to the stadium.
DENVER
Morton files lawsuit against NFL
Craig Morton, who played quarterback in the NFL for 18 seasons, including with the Denver Broncos from 1977 to 1982, filed a federal lawsuit against the league. Morton alleges the league hid the danger posed by head hits and concussions. Morton opted out of the August settlement to pay $765 million to former players in favor of pursuing his own case. The lawsuit was filed in California, where Morton now lives.
FAIRFAX, VA.
Mason signs Sodexo for Patriot Center
Sodexo is partnering with George Mason University’s Patriot Center to manage concession services at the arena. Sodexo will provide new LED menu displays, high-speed credit card acceptance and new graphics for all permanent concession stands.
LAS VEGAS
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The project is three miles north of another arena proposal by AEG and MGM Resorts.
Rendering: CUNINGHAM GROUP ARCHITECTURE INC.
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Retractable roof stadium proposed
A privately funded $1.3 billion arena with a retractable roof has been proposed at the former Wet ’n’ Wild site on the Las Vegas Strip, according to a Las Vegas Sun report. Former NBA player Jackie Robinson announced plans to break ground this year on the 22,000-seat arena that could house basketball, hockey, boxing, rodeos and concerts.
MILWAUKEE
Big barrels to conserve stadium water
When rain falls on Miller Park’s 8.5-acre roof this year, some of the water could drain into three 1,500-gallon barrels as part of a proposed stormwater management plan, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. Installing the barrels would reportedly reduce by 53 percent the amount of drinking water that the Milwaukee Brewers buy from the Milwaukee Water Works for exterior irrigation.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
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The Minnesota Wild gave Gebhart some screen time at Xcel Energy Center.
Photo by: MINNESOTA WILD
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Wild honors 10 millionth fan at arena
Emily Gebhart of Eagan, Minn., was the 10 millionth fan to attend a Minnesota Wild game at Xcel Energy Center on Dec. 29. She received a prize package including a custom Wild 10 Millionth Fan jersey, a team-signed hockey stick, and four tickets to two games on March 22 — a Wild game against the Detroit Red Wings and the Big Ten Championship game.
NEW YORK
Host committee plans recycling events
The NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee and the NFL are partnering with Verizon and the Broadway Green Alliance to collect and recycle electronic waste in New York and New Jersey. The two recycling events leading up the Super Bowl will be open to the public.
SACRAMENTO
Kings partner with India’s Krrish Group
The Sacramento Kings agreed to a corporate sponsorship with Indian development company The Krrish Group, according to a Sacramento Bee report. The deal will include advertisements during game broadcasts promoting The Krrish Group’s partnership with Jimboy’s Tacos in India, as well as ads inside Sleep Train Arena and on digital platforms, including the Kings’ Hindi-language website.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
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Players Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone, along with executives from the team, Chase and the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay, were in attendance at the launch of the new Street Lightning program last month.
Photo by: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
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Lightning, Chase donating equipment
The Tampa Bay Lightning and JPMorgan Chase partnered to introduce a revamped Street Lightning program. Chase and the team will donate full sets of street hockey gear for students to play in their free time and during school hours. Participants also will be given Street Lightning Playbooks with math and science concepts they can apply to their game experience.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Tax breaks on horizon for D.C. United
A planned new stadium for D.C. United could receive extensive breaks on sales and property taxes over the next three decades, and in return the team could share some of its revenue with the city, according to a Washington Post report. D.C. United would reportedly owe no sales tax on any commercial activity on the stadium footprint throughout the team’s 30-year lease, and for the first five years of the lease, the team would pay no property tax.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
SÃO PAULO
IndyCar suing race promoter
The IndyCar Series filed a lawsuit against Radio e Televisao Bandeirantes, the promoter of an IndyCar race in São Paulo, seeking to recover a seven-figure sanctioning fee that was due this summer, according to an Indianapolis Business Journal report. Despite troubles with the promoter, IndyCar officials haven’t given up on returning the series to Brazil.
SOCHI, RUSSIA
Activist sentenced; another flees
An activist who has reported on the environmental fallout from construction for the Sochi Olympics was sentenced to three years in prison, according to an Associated Press report. Yevgeny Vitishko was found guilty of deliberate destruction of property. Another activist, Suren Gazaryan, fled Russia.
TOKYO
Deputy to take on Olympics role
Tokyo Vice Gov. Toshiyuki Akiyama will replace Naoki Inose as the city prepares to launch an organizing committee early this year for the 2020 Olympics, according to a Kyodo report. Inose resigned Dec. 19 after a political funds-related scandal.
Evacuation plans considered
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is set to advance efforts to draw up evacuation plans for the 2020 Olympics after a key panel pointed out a 70 percent likelihood of a large earthquake striking the capital within 30 years, according to a Jiji report. The report was released in late December by the Central Disaster Management Council.
Bid planned for 2023 World Cup
Japan will bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, according to a Kyodo report. The Japan Football Association was originally planning to campaign for the 2019 tournament, but with the Rugby World Cup and Olympics coming to Japan in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the association felt it made more sense to organize its first Women’s World Cup in an open year.
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