ABERDEEN, MD.
Ripken Stadium seeks naming partner
Ripken Baseball is looking for a naming-rights sponsor for Ripken Stadium, home of the Class A New York-Penn League Aberdeen IronBirds, according to a Baltimore Sun report. Bank of America was a previous naming-rights partner for the ballpark, but its deal expired five years ago.
BUFFALO
Bills running back on M&T team
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson will return for a fourth season as a member of the M&T Bank team. As part of the partnership, Jackson will appear in M&T Bank’s multimedia advertising campaign throughout Western New York and will work with M&T on select appearances and community events.
CHICAGO
Cubs eye new bunker suites
The Chicago Cubs want to build bunker suites below the stands at Wrigley Field near the home team’s dugout and down the third base line, according to documents cited in a Chicago Tribune report. Three suites are shown on architectural drawings and described in an eight-page document summarizing the team’s construction phases.
DETROIT
Lions partner with Unifi
The Detroit Lions debuted a marketing effort with North Carolina-based polyester yarn company Unifi last week, according to a Winston-Salem Journal report. Unifi President and COO Roger Berrier said it marks the company’s first sustainability partnership with a major pro sports team. The deal includes the Lions quarterbacks wearing green practice jerseys made from recycled material instead of donning their customary red practice tops.
U.S. astronaut to take SEC Network to the stars
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WILMORE
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U.S. astronaut Barry Wilmore had NASA arrange to provide the new SEC Network at the International Space Station for his journey into space next month, according to a Nashville Tennessean report. Wilmore will make this third journey into space, this time with two Russian cosmonauts, and the crew will return to Earth in March. Wilmore, 51, played football for Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn.
Wilmore plans to watch Tennessee Tech’s games on the Internet.
“I don’t watch a lot of sports — my wife might not agree with that — but I do like to watch football, the SEC Game of the Week, and I try to catch Tech every chance I get,” Wilmore said.
HOUSTON
Astros raising ticket prices
The Houston Astros will increase their ticket prices next year, marking the first time they have raised prices for season-ticket holders since 2008, according to a Houston Chronicle report. The increase will affect about 70 percent of the tickets.
LOS ANGELES
Arena floor will be replaced
UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said in a statement that the entire hardwood floor at Pauley Pavilion will be replaced with a new court and should be ready by the end of October, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report. UCLA officials said that six facilities were damaged in the flooding that struck Pauley last month.
Dodgers set for second LGBT night
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ second annual LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium is scheduled for Aug. 22. The event was designed by the Dodgers in partnership with Tom Whitman and Flip Events. Fans are invited onto the field after the game for a fireworks show.
MILWAUKEE
Bucks to ID new arena site soon
Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman said that Milwaukee Bucks co-owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens hope to identify a site for a new multipurpose arena in the next three or four months, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. City and team officials have been meeting about the prospects of a new venue for the club.
Brewers plan social media night
For the third consecutive year, the Milwaukee Brewers will be hosting a Social Media Night at Miller Park. The event this season will revolve around the Twitter platform, with fans having the opportunity to elect their favorite Brewers player on Twitter as the 2014 #BrewersMVT (Most Valuable Tweeter). The game is Sept. 8 against Miami.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Fritted glass requested for stadium
The Minneapolis City Council called for safety measures to protect migratory birds from flying into the new Minnesota Vikings stadium and are requesting as part of the solution fritted glass, a bird-safe glass that has subtle patterns to make it more noticeable. The Vikings previously said they would not install the glass.
NEW YORK
Cyclones dress up with Haggar deal
The Brooklyn Cyclones and Haggar Clothing have teamed for a partnership that calls for all Cyclones players, coaches and front-office staff to be outfitted in Haggar Performance Microfiber Slacks. Players were issued pants in accordance with the team’s long-pants rule when traveling.
NEWPORT, R.I.
HOF to induct PHIT America founder
PHIT America founder and CEO Jim Baugh will become the ninth inductee into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. Baugh joins tennis legends Billie Jean King and Nick Bollettieri in receiving the honor. He will be recognized during the Tennis Industry Association Forum and Show on Aug. 24.
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Above and below: The new plan places the MLS stadium a few blocks west of Amway Center.
Renderings: ORLANDO CITY SC
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ORLANDO
City drops lawsuit related to MLS site
The city of Orlando dropped an eminent domain lawsuit to claim the land needed for a future MLS stadium. The land is currently occupied by a church. As a result, Orlando City SC’s planned venue will be shifted slightly west, a move that will allow for a larger stadium footprint and parking for Orlando City SC employees.
PENSACOLA, FLA.
Blue Wahoos partner with hospitals
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are partnering with Baptist Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospital to welcome newborn babies to the world as Wahoos fans. Every infant born at Baptist or Sacred Heart will receive a Blue Wahoos cream knit beanie. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
PHILADELPHIA
$2.5M renovation begins at complex
Work began on a new field for the North Philadelphia Blackhawks, a youth football team that won the 2010 Pop Warner Pee Wee National Championship. The $2.5 million renovation will update fields that were built in 1970, replacing an existing grass field with artificial turf.
Flyers HOF inductees announced
The Philadelphia Flyers will induct Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Eric Desjardins into the Flyers Hall of Fame during the 2014-15 season. Lindros and LeClair will be inducted Nov. 20 prior to the team’s game against Minnesota; Desjardins will join the group with a ceremony before the Flyers’ Feb. 19 game against Buffalo.
SACRAMENTO
Shovels in the ground for Kings
Work began Aug. 1 for the Sacramento Kings’ new $477 million arena. Mayor Kevin Johnson and Kings President Chris Granger made brief speeches to a crowd of about 100 construction workers on site for the project, according to a Sacramento Bee report.
SEATTLE
Lottery ticket has Seahawks prizes
The Seattle Seahawks have partnered with Washington’s Lottery on a new $5 Seahawks 12 scratch ticket. Second-chance prizes include a Seahawks game-day experience that consists of a hotel stay, dinner, brunch at CenturyLink Field, a pregame sideline tour, autographed football and a $400 Seahawks Pro Shop gift card.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
AMSTERDAM
Dew Tour Am Series arriving
Mountain Dew will host its first European Dew Tour Am Series in Amsterdam at the end of this month during the cultural festival Uitmarkt. NBC, which owns and manages the Dew Tour in the United States, is not putting on the European event but will advise Mountain Dew on the operation.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
2015 Games signs McDonald’s
McDonald’s will be an official supporter of the Baku 2015 European Games, according to an Azer News report. The partnership will see co-branding within McDonald’s restaurants and marketing campaigns about the inaugural European Games throughout Azerbaijan.
DOHA, QATAR
FIFA to monitor migrant workers
FIFA will monitor Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers building the 2022 World Cup facilities, according to a (London) Guardian report. A FIFA spokesperson said the group had repeatedly urged Qatari authorities to address any unacceptable conditions for migrant workers.
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
Fortuna extends hotel partnership
Second Bundesliga club Fortuna Dusseldorf extended its partnership with the Tulip Inn Dusseldorf Arena for another two years. The hotel, which is located inside Esprit Arena, has been a partner of the club since its opening in 2007.
HAMBURG, GERMANY
Freezers sign hockey retailer
German Hockey League club Hamburg Freezers agreed to a deal with hockey equipment retailer Schanner until the end of the 2016-17 season. Schanner will provide helmets, pants and gloves to players as well as goaltender gear and bags starting this season.
KAISERSLAUTERN
Team partners with pay system
Second Bundesliga club FC Kaiserslautern signed a shirt sponsorship deal with online payment system paysafecard. The company’s logo made its debut on the front of the team’s jersey during the club’s season opener last week against 1860 Munich.
LEEDS, ENGLAND
Leeds United signs snack partner
Symington’s joined the Leeds United Commercial Partners program, aiming to promote its Mug Shots range of instant snack soups. The Mug Shots brand will be featured around Elland Road stadium.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Anfield project reaches milestone
The Anfield redevelopment project reached a milestone recently after the demolition of the final two houses on one side of the ground, according to a (London) Daily Mail report. The Liverpool City Council, in conjunction with Liverpool FC, aims to redevelop and regenerate the community around Anfield by mid-2016.
Liverpool partners with InstaForex
Liverpool FC and Russian online trading company InstaForex agreed to a two-year partnership that will run until the end of the club’s 2015-16 season. InstaForex becomes an official partner of the club in Asia and in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Everton player gives tickets to jobless
Everton FC striker Steven Naismith pledged to buy home tickets for unemployed people across Liverpool this season, according to a (London) Independent report. Naismith asked that tickets be left at job centers and handed out to people seeking employment.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Team will remain at stadium
Ligue 1 club Marseille agreed to a deal with local authorities to continue playing at Stade Velodrome, ending weeks of disagreement that saw it threaten to play its matches elsewhere, according an AFP report. Marseille accepted a deal with the city council that will see it pay about $9.9 million per year to rent the stadium.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Rebels extend Gilbert partnership
Sporting goods company Gilbert agreed to an extension of its partnership with Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels and the Victorian Rugby Union. Gilbert becomes the official and exclusive ball and equipment supplier across all representative levels of Victorian Rugby.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Scorchers sign IT partner
Australian Twenty20 club Perth Scorchers signed national IT and communications company Amcom as the team’s new joint principal partner. Amcom’s logo will be featured on the club’s jerseys for the 2014-15 T20 Big Bash League Season.
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Photo by: NEW ERA
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PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND
U.S. golfers to wear New Era
New Era Cap Co. was named the official cap of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. The deal with the PGA of America lasts through 2016. New Era will offer six silhouettes to give players options depending on personal preference and weather conditions. This year’s Ryder Cup matches are scheduled for Sept. 26-28 on the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel.
TURIN, ITALY
Juventus, Fiat renew agreement
Juventus FC renewed its sponsorship agreement with Fiat until 2021, according to an Associated Press report. The agreement will begin with the 2015-16 season. Juventus said the new deal is worth $22.75 million per season plus variable bonuses based on the club’s results in national and international competitions.
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