ATLANTA
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Harry the Hawk gets dialed in with Ashley.
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Hawks hire Ashley Madison(s)
The Atlanta Hawks signed three real-life people named Ashley Madison to promote the team’s 10-game flex plans. A YouTube video advertisement encourages fans to start a new love affair with the team. The three Ashley Madisons — two women and one man — are all Georgia residents.
BOSTON
Sox plan more seats, upgrades
The Boston Red Sox have a proposal to squeeze in 265 more seats at Fenway Park, according to a Boston Herald report. The bulk of the seats would be in 10 new rows on a deck on the right field roof. Other proposed improvements include enlarging and upgrading a concession stand on the first base deck. The team pegs the improvements at $6.25 million.
BUFFALO
Center’s final price to exceed $200M
The final price tag for the Buffalo Sabres’ HarborCenter project will be $200 million to $210 million, nearly 22 percent more than the original projection of $172.2 million, according to a Buffalo News report. Team officials attribute the increase to significant design upgrades, weather delays and added labor costs.
CHICAGO
Panasonic enhancing United Center
The Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks and United Center have a new deal with Panasonic to enhance digital and technology capabilities at the arena. Upgrades will include flat-panel displays on the 100-level concourse and new LED boards at each of the four main gate entrances, plus two new 35-by-9-foot curved video walls.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
UFC, NGB extend promotional efforts
USA Taekwondo and the UFC extended their partnership agreement to continue the promotion and exposure of amateur taekwondo competitions across the U.S. The national governing body and its activities will be featured across several high-profile areas, including UFC’s broadcasts as well as social and digital media.
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Rendering shows one concept of how Sunoco might customize its entrance.
Rendering: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
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DAYTONA, FLA.
Sunoco to customize “injector” gate
Daytona International Speedway revealed Sunoco as the sponsor of its fourth frontstretch “injector” entrance that is being built of as part of the $400 million Daytona Rising project. The four injectors had asking prices of $2 million to $2.5 million annually over 10-15 years, according to sources. The other three injector partners are Toyota, Florida Hospital and Chevrolet.
Qualifiers get new title sponsor
Bombardier Recreational Products, parent company of Can-Am, secured title sponsorship to the two Daytona 500 qualifying races. Starting next year, the races will be known as the Can-Am Duel at Daytona. Can-Am replaces Budweiser as title sponsor of the races.
GREEN BAY
Bank engages Packers fans
Associated Bank unveiled its “Touchdown Central” fan engagement program that features the Green Bay Packers’ Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. Fans can take touchdown celebration photos and pair them with images of their favorite receivers and share them on social media for a chance to win autographed jerseys. Associated has been the bank of the Packers since 1919.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Gophers behind the wheel with CarMax
CarMax reached a new multiyear sponsorship deal with University of Minnesota athletics. The agreement, secured through Learfield Sports’ Gopher Sports Properties, makes CarMax the team’s official used car retailer. CarMax will receive extensive branding at TCF Bank Stadium as well as media placements, including digital and social elements.
OAKLAND
Kephart dropped as developer
Floyd Kephart is being dropped as Coliseum City developer in a move local leaders hope will speed up and simplify stadium negotiations with both the Oakland A’s and Raiders, according to an Oakland Tribune report. The joint decision by Oakland council members and Alameda County supervisors sets the stage for a flurry of direct stadium talks with the Raiders, who are threatening to relocate to Southern California.
PHILADELPHIA
Baker to call games at Xfinity Live!
Xfinity Live! hired longtime Philadelphia sports venue public address announcer Dan Baker to be its host for game-day coverage during Philadelphia Eagles home and away games. Baker will provide customers at the entertainment complex an in-stadium atmosphere as he announces games over the public address system.
PHOENIX
Coyotes sign CoachMePlus
CoachMePlus signed a vendor agreement with the Arizona Coyotes to be the sports performance operating system for the NHL team. The CoachMePlus athlete operating system, which can be accessed by players, coaches, trainers and front office staff, will allow the coaching staff to quickly uncover performance trends to evaluate game-day readiness.
PITTSBURGH
Penguins gate gets title sponsor
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Peoples Natural Gas to a deal that includes gate-naming rights at one of the entrances to Consol Energy Center. The multiyear agreement, which includes “Peoples Gate,” makes Peoples a founding partner at the arena, includes promotional concepts for fans and Peoples customers.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BREMEN, GERMANY
Bird’s the word for Bremen
Bundesliga side Werder Bremen renewed its shirt sponsorship deal with poultry producer Wiesenhof, according to a Sponsors report. Wiesenhof, which has been a partner of the club since 2012, currently is paying an estimated $7.4 million annually for the partnership. The extension is for one season.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
Local firms stick with Titans
Three Gold Coast-based businesses — Global Road Technology, TFH Hire Services and Channel 9 Queensland — are all extending their relationships with the Aquis Gold Coast Titans. GRT, whose name adorns the back of the Titans’ National Rugby League jerseys, upgraded its deal to also include the back of the U20 team jersey.
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The logos of team sponsors can be visible only at training.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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LONDON
All Blacks changing on bus
The New Zealand national rugby team will use the team bus to change out of its training gear during the Rugby World Cup, according to a Bloomberg report. Under the rules of the tournament, the logos of team sponsors can only be seen at training. With players filmed arriving at and leaving training venues, changing on the bus will maximize exposure for companies such as insurer AIG, which sponsors the champion All Blacks.
TOKYO
Hadid won’t do Olympic Stadium
British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid abandoned her attempt to re-enter the race to build the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to a (London) Guardian report. The news comes two months after her initial design was scrapped amid soaring construction costs.
VALENCIA, SPAIN
Team hits road with VW
Volkswagen signed a sponsorship agreement with La Liga side Valencia and will be the official car provider for the club during the 2015-16 season. The agreement includes the provision of a fleet of vehicles for the chairwoman, coaching staff and players, including the new Golf Variant GTD.
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