BOISE, IDAHO
Team, arena, hotel sign U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank will be the official and exclusive banking partner of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, CenturyLink Arena and the arena’s adjacent Grove Hotel in a three-year deal. U.S. Bank also will title sponsor the Steelheads’ playoffs appearance this season.
BUFFALO
Canisius, ESPN partner on efforts
Canisius College is set to build a state-of-the-art sports broadcast center and this fall introduce a program in sports broadcast journalism. The initiatives were brought on by an agreement between Canisius and ESPN under which students will produce live athletic events for ESPN3 under the direction of the college athletics staff.
Bills planning Wilson statue
The Buffalo Bills will commission a statue of founding owner Ralph Wilson Jr., who died last year at age 95. The statue will serve as the anchor display in the soon-to-be-developed Founder’s Plaza at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
CINCINNATI
Reds sign casino to rename club space
Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati will have its name on the revamped Riverfront Club at Great American Ball Park. The newly redone space will be called the Handlebar at the Riverfront Club presented by Horseshoe Cincinnati. Horseshoe will get a 30-second ad on the video board during Reds games.
GENEVA, ILL.
Team has ‘Raging’ new beer
The Kane County Cougars’ specialty craft beer will be called Raging Cougar Ale after fan voting through social media channels. The beer was created by Two Brothers Brewing Co. and will be available at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark for Cougars’ games beginning with Opening Night on Thursday. The Cougars are a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
INDIANAPOLIS
IMS studying Turn 2 options
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is considering changing the Turn 2 viewing space, according to an Indianapolis Star report. IMS officials have local developer Browning Investments exploring options for the current suites that were built in 1973. The project could include a hotel, condominiums, meeting space and a restaurant.
MILWAUKEE
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The sponsorship included “delivery” of the game ball prior to the first pitch at games.
Photo by: SCOTT PAULUS / MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Brewers vow to win back Harley
Harley-Davidson ended a multiyear run as a sponsor at Miller Park, but Milwaukee Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger is vowing to win back the iconic Milwaukee-based brand to the team’s lineup. Schlesinger said that the Brewers are not seeking another motorcycle manufacturer to replace Harley-Davidson, and he has charged his sponsorship sales staff with developing another marketing program to pitch to Harley. In related news, the seating area formely known as the Harley-Davidson Deck has been renovated for this season and renamed The Associated Bank Check Deck. The section can hold 42 people, with ticket prices starting at $47. Patrons will have access to an all-you-can-eat buffet. The Green Bay-based bank has been a team sponsor since 2006.
NASHVILLE
Sounds playing games in new bar area
Strategic Hospitality will be opening a bar and restaurant in the right field concourse area of the Nashville Sounds’ new First Tennessee Park, opening this month. The Band Box will be a 4,000-square-foot outdoor area with pingpong, cornhole, table hockey and shuffleboard, along with the primary backdrop of the Class AAA team playing on the field.
NEW YORK
Mets break bread with King’s
King’s Hawaiian has signed on as a sponsor of the New York Mets this season. As part of the activation, fans will be able to share a picture of their Mets Opening Day game ticket on Twitter, tagging @KingsHawaiian and also featuring #SweetGiveaway, for a chance to win a year’s supply of bread or tickets to an upcoming Mets game.
MSG Co. splitting itself
Madison Square Garden Co. confirmed that it will break itself up, dividing the New York Knicks and New York Rangers from the company’s regional sports networks.
OAKLAND
StubHub suing team, Ticketmaster
StubHub filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and the Golden State Warriors, alleging the pair illegally conspired to force season-ticket holders of the NBA team to use a Ticketmaster-powered market for ticket resale and restricting consumer choice. Ticketmaster, in a response, called the lawsuit “baseless” and “without merit.”
PITTSBURGH
Pirates, Moe’s start Parrot promo
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a new program in partnership with Moe’s Southwest Grill that gives young fans the opportunity to join the team’s Pirate Parrot mascot on the field during home games. The Moe’s Pirate Parrot Sidekick promotion will award 81 prize packs, each of which includes four game tickets. Moe’s also will receive signage around PNC Park, in-game promotions and radio inventory as part of the deal.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Rays expand mobile capability
Fans in the Tampa Bay Rays’ membership club this season will receive half-priced parking and the ability to use a smartphone as a digital ticket and for payment at concession stands. Tickets and funds can be loaded directly on a Rays Card, and fans can use either the card or a Mobile Rays Card on their smartphone as their ticket to the game, as well as for payment at parking lots and for food and merchandise.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MSE program signs presenting partner
Insurance agency IOA will be the presenting partner of the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Business League. The league is a program designed to foster an environment of networking and business growth between business partners of MSE. IOA will receive in-arena digital and print advertising at Verizon Center as part of the partnership.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BEIJING
Woods to redesign golf course
Tiger Woods was hired to redesign a golf course in Beijing, according to a Golf.com report. The layout will become the flagship course in a constellation of a dozen private clubs.
BILBAO, SPAIN
Hoops team signs tech sponsor
Technology firm Dominion will sponsor Spanish Basketball League club Bilbao Basket, according to an AS report. The club will now be called Dominion Bilbao Basket. The sponsorship is for two seasons and is valued at $1.75 million.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Badminton event signs airline
Xiamen Airlines launched an official partnership with the Badminton World Federation World Championships in Jakarta in August. Xiamen will be the official airline partner and will receive brand exposure via TV coverage in more than 30 countries and to more than 1 billion viewers.
LONDON
West Ham renews Lycamobile
Lycamobile will remain an official partner of West Ham United for the next three years. Lycamobile has been a sponsor of the club since 2012, and the renewal sees the deal extend to include the first two seasons for the EPL club in its new stadium.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio Games signs Airbnb
Online home-rental marketplace Airbnb signed a deal to become the official alternative accommodations sponsor of the 2016 Olympics, according to an AP report. Official Olympic websites will feature a link to Airbnb’s site, which features about 20,000 offerings in the area.
TOKYO
Securities firm aligns with Olympics
Nomura Holdings will support the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the only securities firm among top-tier domestic sponsors, according to a Bloomberg report. Nomura’s deal makes it a gold partner for the Games.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
