ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Rangers making the rounds
The 2015 Texas Rangers Winter Caravan is underway and will make stops at 13 Academy Sports and Outdoors locations in Texas. Rangers players, coaches, broadcasters and alumni will make appearances. The next stop is Thursday in Cedar Park, Texas.
ATLANTA
Hisense title-sponsoring AMS race
Electronics manufacturer Hisense was named title sponsor of the Feb. 28 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race will be named the Hisense 250.
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A victory over Arizona had players and fans smiling, and school officials counting dollars.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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BOISE, IDAHO
Broncos planning for bowl income
Boise State University received $4.167 million for its Fiesta Bowl appearance against Arizona, and after expenses, the Broncos could net about $1.5 million, according to an Idaho Statesman report. Athletic Director Mark Coyle said the athletic department could use its share to create a fund to help pay for increased student-athlete benefits authorized by new NCAA rules.
BUFFALO
Loyalty program includes HarborCenter
The Buffalo Sabres have enhanced the team’s fan loyalty program to allow users to earn points via HarborCenter and its various entities. Launched in October 2014 when the HarborCenter complex opened, Sabres Fan Advantage is a mobile app that gives fans the opportunity to earn points that can later be redeemed for merchandise, tickets and fan experiences.
Sabres ready for annual Challenge
The Sabres will host their 11th annual
Corporate Hockey Challenge on Jan. 29 at First Niagara Center. The 3-on-3 hockey tournament pairs Sabres alumni with members of participating companies in a tournament to raise money for the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. Each team includes seven players as well as one Sabres alumni member.
COLUMBIA, S.C.
Senator seeks athlete compensation
A proposed bill from state Sen. Marlon Kimpson (D-Charleston), would require the University of South Carolina and Clemson University to pay a weekly stipend of $150 to athletes who remain in good academic standing, up to $2,500 per semester, according to a Greenville News report.
HOUSTON
Astros extend with iHeartMedia
The Astros and iHeartMedia Houston reached a four-year agreement to keep SportsTalk 790 AM as the team’s radio home. The station this year will again broadcast all 162 Astros regular-season games as well as most spring training games.
Astros Caravan includes day of service
The 2015 Houston Astros Caravan begins next week with 13 cities on the four-day schedule. The Astros and the Astros Foundation’s cornerstone programs, the Astros Urban Youth Academy and RBI program, will kick off the caravan with a day of service on Jan. 19 throughout the Houston area. The tour is presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors.
MILWAUKEE
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Hank and Hank, Brewers ambassadors.
Photo by: SCOTT PAULUS
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Hank goes from rags to riches
“Hank, the Ballpark Pup” — the Milwaukee Brewers’ unofficial mascot — is nominated for Dog of the Year in the CW’s World Dog Awards, set to air on the CW Network on Thursday. Hank, named after Brewers legend Hank Aaron, first appeared as a stray at the first day of spring training last year in Phoenix.
Brewers creating Selig Experience
The Brewers are creating a fan experience at Miller Park to honor retiring MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. The Selig Experience will include a multimedia presentation that tells the story of Selig’s role in Milwaukee baseball. The 1,400-square-foot exhibit will include authentic artifacts from Selig’s tenure as team owner. Design and production is being led by BRC Imagination Arts.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Twins’ long-running caravan hits road
The 55th annual Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan begins today and is scheduled to visit more than 40 communities throughout the Midwest between now and Jan. 22. Current and former players will visit schools, hospitals, corporations and service clubs. The tour is presented by AmericInn Hotels and Suites.
PHILADELPHIA
StubHub signs with Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers signed a five-year sponsorship deal with StubHub, a notable move in the context of the NBA and many of its teams being aligned with Ticketmaster. Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil said the deal is at the team’s top, Patriot Partner sponsorship level, which includes radio, digital, courtside and LED signage, as well as in-game promotions.
Flyers fined for vacation travel
The NHL fined the Philadelphia Flyers an undisclosed amount for traveling during the league’s winter vacation. The team traveled to Nashville on Dec. 26, but teams are banned from holding activities Dec. 24-26, according to the league’s collective-bargaining agreement.
SAN FRANCISCO
Giants take trophies on tour
The San Francisco Giants are taking all three of their World Series trophies (2010, 2012 and 2014) on public tour. The focus of the tour, presented by Bank of America, is to share the trophies with fans in Junior Giants communities in California, Oregon and Nevada. Junior Giants is the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund. The tour began in Sacramento on Jan. 7.
SEATTLE
Mariners’ caravan tours Pacific Northwest
The 2015 Seattle Mariners Caravan hit the road last week with the first stops in Kitsap County, followed by a visit to a Boys & Girls Club in Tacoma. Over a three-week period, the caravan will make stops in two dozen communities across the Pacific Northwest.
ST. LOUIS
Fan photos part of Ozzie Smith contest
The St. Louis Cardinals launched #FansToThePast, a social media-based fan photo promotion that will award a private tour of the Cardinals Museum with hall of famer Ozzie Smith. Fans are encouraged to post as many photos and memories as they want on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter through April 5.
TORONTO
Blue Jays warm up Winter Tour bus
The fifth annual Toronto Blue Jays Winter Tour will travel to Toronto, Calgary, Banff and Vancouver starting Friday and continuing through Jan. 24. Players and team staff will visit tourist attractions, sign autographs and participate in community events. The tour is presented by TD Bank Group.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.
City reverses stance on spring training
West Palm Beach took a big step last week in landing spring training when Mayor Jeri Muoio announced that the city will negotiate a possible land swap with Palm Beach County for a new ballpark complex, according to a Palm Beach Post report. The announcement marks a reversal of the city’s previous stance. The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros have targeted 2017 for a first spring training in West Palm Beach, as Washington’s lease at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., expires that year. The Astros have held camp at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., since 1985.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BARCELONA
Court dismisses team’s appeal
The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed FC Barcelona’s appeal and upheld a transfer ban that FIFA imposed on the club for breaking rules on registering minors as youth players, according to an AP report. Barcelona will be barred from signing any players during either the winter or summer transfer windows this year.
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL
MRV replaces Banco BMG on jerseys
Brasileiro side Atlético Mineiro signed a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with construction company MRV Engenharia, according to a SoccerEx report. MRV replaces Banco BMG on the front of the team’s shirts, and the deal is reportedly worth $8.5 million for the 2015 season.
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SARVER
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Rangers FC rejects Sarver’s bid
Scottish soccer club Rangers FC rejected a $27.5 million bid for the club from Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, according to an AFP report. The club said the offer for a controlling stake did not adequately value a controlling interest in the company.
LONDON
West Ham reports profits
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West Ham’s new home in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is 2 miles west of Upton Park.
Photo by: WEST HAM UNITED
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West Ham United FC recorded pretax profits of more than $15.6 million and co-owner David Sullivan has said he is satisfied with the achievements the club has made, according to a PA report. The club has also announced plans for its new Olympic Stadium home and agreed upon the sale of Boleyn Ground in Upton Park.
MADRID
Audit shows RFEF aid to Atlético
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) aided Atlético Madrid with $13.4 million, which the club planned to reimburse via UEFA payments from its participation in European competition, according to an AS report. An auditor made note that the federation made an upfront payment of 3.5 million euros in 2012 and an additional 7.5 million euros in 2013 to Atlético.
MÁLAGA, SPAIN
Team sets budget at $46M
La Liga side Málaga’s budget for the 2014-15 season will be $46 million after the figure was approved by the club’s shareholders, according to an EFE report. The club’s financial numbers from the previous season were also approved. Málaga announced that its goals for 2014-15 include building a sports complex.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Rolex stays on as Grand Prix title sponsor
For a third year, Swiss watchmaker Rolex will be the title sponsor of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix. The announcement comes as the Melbourne event prepares to celebrate two decades of F1 racing in the city.
OXFORD, ENGLAND
Team raffling off shirt sponsor
Premiership rugby side London Welsh is offering businesses the chance to become its main shirt sponsor for $1,500, according to an Oxford Times report. Businesses will be invited to buy a ticket for the sponsorship raffle, for which first prize will be sponsorship of the side’s home and away shirts for the rest of the season.
SANTIAGO, CHILE
Colo-Colo signs 3-year DirecTV deal
Chilean first division side Colo-Colo signed a three-year sponsorship deal with DirecTV. The satellite TV provider will be the club’s main sponsor, and the deal is reportedly worth a total of $8.4 million.
SWANSEA, WALES
Details emerge on outside investors
Details of negotiations with potential overseas investors in Premier League side Swansea City were laid out by the Swans Supporters Trust, according a South Wales Evening Post report. The trust, which owns 21 percent of the club, reiterated its position that it does not see a need to change the current ownership of Liberty Stadium.
TOKYO
Stadium demolition delayed
A series of problems is delaying the demolition of National Stadium to make way for a new main venue for the 2020 Olympic Games, according to a Jiji report. The National Police Agency has stepped in because of suspicions of bid-rigging in a tender for the demolition work. The stadium was built in 1958.
Atos, Panasonic partner for Games
Olympic TOP sponsors Atos and Panasonic will develop technology-based solutions for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Atos and Panasonic will form working groups to jointly develop and test AV security systems, as well as electronic visual display systems.
VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA
Stadium builders discover ordnance
Builders working on a new 2018 World Cup stadium in Volgograd have discovered 11 unexploded World War II bombs, according to a (London) Daily Mirror report. During the war, Volgograd was known as Stalingrad and saw some of the most bitter fighting at the end of 1942.
ZURICH
FIFA VP aims for presidency
FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein announced that he will be a candidate for the FIFA presidency at the organization’s May 29 meeting in Zurich, according to an AP report. The Jordanian prince is the first declared challenger to incumbent Sepp Blatter and was encouraged to run by UEFA President Michel Platini.
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