ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Sponsors set up Rangers Sleepover
Buckner International and Fox Sports Southwest are presenting the 2014 Texas Rangers Sleepover and Fireworks Show on July 3 at Globe Life Park. Fans can stay overnight or just attend the fireworks show. Tickets for the sleepover are $40 for adults and $30 for children with a limit of 2,000 fans.
BUFFALO
Bruins owners not pursuing Bills stake
The Jacobs family, which owns the Boston Bruins, will not pursue an ownership interest in the Buffalo Bills, but is looking at operating and owning at least part of a new stadium for the team, according to a Buffalo News report.
CHARLOTTE
Hurney hits the airwaves
Former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney and radio personality Al Gardner last week started the “Hurney and Gardner” show on ESPN Radio 730 Charlotte. The show will air weekdays from 1-3 p.m. Hurney since March has been serving as a guest analyst on ESPN’s “NFL Insiders.”
CHICAGO
Cubs extend contract with Smokies
The Chicago Cubs and the Tennessee Smokies reached a four-year player development contract extension, keeping the club’s Class AA affiliate in Kodak, Tenn., through the 2018 season. Affiliated with the Cubs in 2007, the Smokies have participated in postseason play in five of seven seasons.
CINCINNATI
Reds roll out Tickets For Troops
The Cincinnati Reds and Convergys partnered for a Tickets For Troops campaign. The program allows active military personnel to receive a free, nonpremium ticket for most regular-season games Monday through Thursday at Great American Ball Park for the 2014 season.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
City, USL Pro team sign lease
The Colorado Springs City Council this month agreed to a 10-year lease with the new Switchbacks Football Club men’s professional soccer team to play at Sand Creek Stadium. The United Soccer Leagues Pro team will pay the city $18,310 a year in rent.
EL PASO, TEXAS
Talks begin for MLS expansion team
MountainStar Sports Group, which owns the Class AAA El Paso Chihuahuas, had preliminary talks with Major League Soccer about an expansion franchise in the city, according to an El Paso Times report. MountainStar President Alan Ledford said that there have been several meetings with MLS representatives, including two with Commissioner Don Garber.
EXTON, PA.
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The special glass panels are coated with a weather-resistant fluoropolymer resin.
Photo: COURTESY OF AGC
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Chemical firm participates in World Cup
Materials and technology developed by AGC Chemicals of Exton, Pa., and its parent company, Asahi Glass Co., are being used for glass-enclosed benches on the sidelines of all 12 World Cup venues in Brazil. The players’ benches are nearly 40 feet long and have roof and back panels made with a double layer of a chemically strengthened glass called Dragontrail X.
FRISCO, TEXAS
RoughRiders announce sale of franchise
Mandalay Baseball Properties, owner of the Frisco RoughRiders, entered into an agreement with Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju for the sale of the team. The agreement is subject to closing conditions, including the approvals of the Texas League and Minor League Baseball and the review of the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
LA CROSSE, WIS.
Daktronics lights up the Loggers
Daktronics designed, manufactured and installed a new video display for the La Crosse Loggers baseball team at Copeland Park. The new 17-by-30-foot display is positioned above the existing Daktronics fixed-digit scoreboard. The Loggers are one of 16 teams in the Northwoods League.
LAFAYETTE, LA.
Ragin’ Cajuns getting big board
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette partnered with Daktronics for a new LED video display at Cajun Field. The display will feature a 15HD pixel layout and measure 30 feet tall by 54 feet wide. The technology also includes multiple levels of protection from the elements in an outdoor setting.
MIAMI
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HMS will continue to host the season-ending races for all three series through 2019.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Ford, HMS extend partnership
Ford Motor Co. extended its partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway in a five-year deal, with an option to renew for an additional five years. Other details were not disclosed. Ford has been the official title sponsor of the three NASCAR series races held at the facility since 2002.
MILWAUKEE
Pettit center upgrades displays
The Pettit National Ice Center is installing a new LED-based scoreboard for speedskating competitions for the upcoming 2014-15 season. Daktronics is customizing the scoreboard for the facility. The board replaces the smaller, original 22-year-old board, which had more than 14,000 incandescent bulbs.
MONTREAL
Track signs 10-year deal with F1
Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will host the Canadian Grand Prix for at least the next 10 years after signing a new deal with Formula One, according to a BBC report. The track has a new contract until 2024. As part of the long-term arrangement, organizers will invest $32 million in upgrading the track’s facilities.
PHILADELPHIA
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The 12-piece product line includes hats, sweatshirts, tank tops, T-shirts and scarves.
Photo: COURTESY OF MITCHELL & NESS
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Bethlehem Steel FC gear unveiled
Athletic apparel company Mitchell & Ness kicked off the start of this year’s FIFA World Cup by unveiling a limited-edition Bethlehem Steel FC soccer product line. Bethlehem Steel FC, which played from 1913 to 1930, was a five-time winner of the National Cup (now the U.S. Open Cup), the longest-running soccer competition in the country.
PITTSBURGH
Pirates’ annual auction raises $600K
The seventh annual Pirates Charities on Root Sports Auction raised more than $600,000, a new record. All proceeds from this year’s auction will go to Pirates Charities and three nonprofit organizations: the Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, and Operation Troop Appreciation.
SEATTLE
Mariners, AquaSox extend contract
The Seattle Mariners and the Everett AquaSox extended their player development contract through the 2016 season. The AquaSox are the Mariners’ Short Season A affiliate in the Northwest League and have been affiliated with Seattle for 20 seasons.
SOUTH BEND, IND.
Notre Dame clears out Adidas gear
Thousands of Notre Dame fans packed Compton Family Ice Arena earlier this month for the athletic department’s Adidas clearance sale, according to a South Bend Tribune report. The sale preceded the university’s official switch to Under Armour on July 1. The proceeds from the sale will benefit Habitat for Humanity, according to the report.
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
Hockey planned for Carrier Dome
The AHL Syracuse Crunch will host the first professional hockey game held in the Carrier Dome when it faces the Utica Comets in the Frozen Dome Classic on Nov. 22. The Crunch will be competing in its 21st AHL campaign. The Comets’ inaugural season was 2013-14.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Georgetown building new athletic center
Georgetown University is scheduled to move forward with the construction of the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center. The university’s board of directors approved the next phase of the project and site work construction is scheduled to begin the first week in August. The center is named in honor of the hall of fame coach who guided the Hoyas for 27 years. The $62 million project will be completely supported through philanthropy.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
New rugby tourney boosts economy
The Auckland Nines rugby league tournament gave the city’s economy a boost of more than $7.8 million, according to a Stuff report. The figure was made up of $5.3 million spent by domestic visitors during the two-day tournament in February, and $2.8 million of new money that came into the New Zealand economy from overseas.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
2015 Games signs British BP
British BP will be an official partner of the Baku 2015 European Games, according to an Azer News report. BP will partner with the Baku European Games Operation Committee and its Games Academy initiative to help identify and develop professional talent in the country.
BARCELONA
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Barcelona FC kicked up $41 million in profit this year on more than $675 million in revenue.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Barcelona FC reports $41M profit
Barcelona FC President Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club will close this financial year with a profit of approximately $41 million, according to a Sport report. The report quoted Bartomeu: “We have not even closed the 2013-14 season, but I can say that we will again have more than €[$678 million] in revenue.”
BERLIN
Mayor says Olympic bid definite
Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said the city will definitely look at bidding for another Olympic Games, according to a DPA report. The report quoted Wowereit: “We will submit a bid, but we have to make sure there is acceptance. … It costs a lot of money and of course we need an acceptance among the population. Everything has to fit together.” Berlin previously bid, unsuccessfully, to host the 2000 Summer Games.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Kellogg’s supplying Games
The 2014 Commonwealth Games unveiled Kellogg’s as its latest sponsor. Kellogg’s will be the event’s official provider of cereal snacks and will supply its Nutri-Grain cereal bars for athletes and workers. The event is scheduled for July 23 through Aug. 3.
HANOVER, GERMANY
Airport title sponsoring marathon
The Hannover Marathon signed a new title and main sponsorship deal with Airport Hannover. The three-year deal starts with the marathon’s 2015 edition, on April 19, and calls for the new name of the event to be the HAJ Hannover Marathon.
MUNICH
1860 Munich signs busmaker
Second Bundesliga club 1860 Munich agreed to a two-year extension of its sponsorship deal with vehicle manufacturer Man, according to a SoccerEx report. Man will also become a premium sponsor of the club. It will supply a Neoplan Cityliner coach for the first team as well as six smaller vehicles for youth teams.
READING, ENGLAND
Thai billionaire buying Reading FC
A Thai billionaire has signed a deal to become the new owner of League Championship club Reading FC, according to a Reading Post report. The buyer, as of last week, had not been identified, but word of the deal brings to an end an ownership saga that has troubled the club for almost a year after majority owner Anton Zingarevich stepped down from its board.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND
New lights coming to stadium
Sunderland AFC reached a two-year deal with Thorn Lighting Ltd. Thorn will provide an upgraded floodlight system for the team’s Stadium of Light ahead of the next EPL season.
TOKYO
2020 group to review facilities plan
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics organizing committee agreed to conduct a review of the facilities being planned for the event as proposed by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, according to a Jiji report. Committee President Yoshiro Mori said Japan will stick to its basic principle of building 85 percent of all the venues in an area with a 5-mile radius.
TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND
Trump to rename Scotland course
U.S. billionaire Donald Trump will rename Turnberry Golf Course as Trump Turnberry, according to a (Scotland) Daily Record report. Trump confirmed that he will spend at least $170 million renovating the resort’s hotel.
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