ATLANTA
Braves, Liberty reveal TV rights gains
Gregory Maffei, CEO of Atlanta Braves owner Liberty Media, said recently that the team and Liberty received a commitment of $500 million when they renegotiated the Braves television rights in 2013. Liberty previously said the Braves gained $36 million in revenue in 2013, boosting the team’s income 16 percent, to $261 million.
BILOXI, MISS.
City nixes contract with new ballpark
The Biloxi City Council voted unanimously to cancel its project management contract with Yates Construction for the $36 million MGM Park project, according to a (Biloxi) Sun-Herald report. The stadium will house the Class AA Southern League Huntsville Stars next season. The city originally decided to separately bid each phase of construction but will now bid out the entire project.
BUFFALO
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La Nova Pizzeria has been the official pizza of the Buffalo Bills for more than two years.
Photo by: BUFFALO BILLS
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La Nova retains official pizza status
La Nova Pizzeria reached a multiyear partnership renewal with the Buffalo Bills. In addition to its stadium game-day offerings, La Nova will also be active on many of the Bills’ media and digital platforms, including the team website and the “John Murphy Show.”
DENVER
Rapids will wear Ciao Telecom
Members of the Colorado Rapids soccer team will carry the logo of Ciao Telecom on the front of their jerseys through 2018. This is the first time the Rapids have a front-of-jersey sponsor. Denver-based Impression Sports & Entertainment brokered the deal, which also includes the Ciao logo at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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The 2013 race included stunning landscapes, including this canyon near Loveland, Colo.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Cyclists to pedal past two vertical miles
The 2014 USA Pro Challenge professional cycling stage race in Colorado will take riders to higher elevations than the Tour de France, and will end in downtown Denver. The USA Pro Challenge takes place Aug. 18-24. During Stage 3 of the race, riders will tackle the 11,300-foot Monarch Pass from Gunnison to Monarch Mountain.
DUBUQUE, IOWA
Loras students win top honors
Loras College students recently won the College Sport Research Institute case study competition, held in Columbia, S.C., for the third time in five years. The competition focused on reviewing the Knight Commission’s Academic and Athletic Database for NCAA Division I. The Loras College team chose to compare spending trends within the entire Football Bowl Subdivision versus the Football Championship Subdivision.
KANSAS CITY
Royals set aside peanut-free suite
The Kansas City Royals have a new offering: Peanut Friendly Games at Kauffman Stadium. During five games this season, the Royals will make the Joe Burke Suite available for those who have peanut allergies. Tickets are $55 and include food and non-alcoholic drinks. The first game will be May 28 against the Houston Astros.
Speedway, lottery renew partnership
Kansas Speedway and Kansas Lottery reached a multiyear renewal of their partnership, which has been in place since Kansas Speedway opened in 2001. Kansas Lottery will remain the title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in October.
LAS CRUCES, N.M.
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Stadium signs highlight the birds’ presence.
Photo by: ROBIN ZIELINSKI / LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS
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Aggies waiting for owls to hatch
A family of Western burrowing owls is delaying New Mexico State University’s plan to replace Aggie Memorial Stadium’s grass field with artificial turf, according to a Las Cruces Sun-News report. Officials are waiting for the birds’ hatching period to end before fully installing turf.
LOS ANGELES
Dodgers testing metal detectors
The Los Angeles Dodgers last week started testing walk-through metal detectors at several entrances of Dodger Stadium, according to a Los Angeles Times report. A team spokesperson said that they will be tested at different times throughout the season in preparation for their full-time use next season.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Twins fill transit facility with screens
Hennepin County, the Minnesota Twins and Target Corp. were set to unveil Target Field Station on May 17. The transit facility will feature multiple video displays designed, manufactured and installed by Daktronics. The installation includes a large video display, a ribbon display and an additional 18 eye-level video displays.
NEWPORT, R.I.
Tennis HOF expansion breaks ground
The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum broke ground last week on the first project in a $15.7 million expansion and improvement project. The project will increase the campus size by about an acre and enhance Memorial Boulevard.
PITTSBURGH
Pirates, GovX.com offer discounts
The Pittsburgh Pirates and GovX.com will offer ticket discounts to military service members at PNC Park. An online verification ticketing service provides specially priced tickets to all Sunday through Friday home games.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
Niners may block Montana’s plans
The San Francisco 49ers need more parking for Levi’s Stadium and are threatening to block Joe Montana’s plans to build a hotel and entertainment center next door unless they get it, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Under terms of the 2012 stadium deal, the team is entitled to 789 parking spots on land across the street from the stadium, where Montana’s company intends to build.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Arena awards 40 millionth fan
At the May 9 Washington Wizards playoff game against the Indiana Pacers, Verizon Center welcomed its 40 millionth fan to the arena. A section, row and seat was selected during the first quarter of the game to win a prize pack worth $3,000. The fan, Robert Dannemiller from Springfield, Va., won two lower-level seats to the 2015-16 Wizards home opener, autographed jerseys from the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics and more. Verizon Center opened in 1997.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COAST
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
Lerner confirms Aston Villa status
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner confirmed he has put the team up for sale, according to a London Times report. There had been mounting speculation surrounding a potential takeover of the Premier League team, which Lerner bought for $106 million in 2006.
LEEDS, ENGLAND
Leeds United shutters training ground
League Championship side Leeds United is temporarily closing its training ground at Thorp Arch, according to a (London) Daily Mail report. The move is part of attempts by new owner Massimo Cellino to cut the club’s costs.
MANILA
IPTL opts for Manila over Bangkok
The first leg of the inaugural International Premier Tennis League has been shifted from Bangkok to Manila because of political unrest in Thailand, according to a Reuters report. Singapore, Dubai and Mumbai are home to the other three franchises of the competition styled after cricket’s Indian Premier League.
SÃO PAULO
Airport terminal opens ahead of Cup
Brazil completed its biggest infrastructure project for the World Cup, opening the country’s long-awaited new international airport terminal in São Paulo, according to a Financial Times report. The consortium running the São Paulo Guarulhos airport on May 11 started operating the glass-and-steel complex, which will eventually handle all international flights.
STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND
Skins to outfit Stoke City
Stoke City FC reached a three-year agreement with Skins to become the club’s official compression partner. It is believed to be the first agreement of its kind in English football. Skins will supply base layer garments to the club’s first team and academy players and staff.
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TRIER, GERMANY
TBB Trier, brewer extend partnership
Basketball Bundesliga club TBB Trier extended its premium partnership with brewery Bitburger for three more years. The brewery has been a partner of the club for more than 15 years.
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