CHICAGO
3PT opens regional office
Seattle-based sports and entertainment production company 3 Point Productions opened a regional office in Chicago to better connect with clients in the Midwest. 3PT is expanding its consulting services.
DETROIT
Pistons sporting chrome threads
The Detroit Pistons will sport a new alternate jersey this season. The uniforms feature a matte chrome base color with clean simple lines inspired by classic muscle cars. The navy trim and Detroit emblazoned across the chest represent the blue-collar work ethic associated with the region and the auto industry. The team will debut the look on Oct. 30 against the visiting Chicago Bulls.
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Photo by: ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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LOUISVILLE
Twin Spires subject of photo project
Local volunteers, Rochester Institute of Technology students and local RIT alumni participated in the 31st Big Shot at Churchill Downs. People used flashlights and other handheld devices as the primary light source to illuminate the famous Twin Spires while RIT photographers shot an extended exposure photograph of the clubhouse. The Big Shot event, which uses a new site each year and took place at AT&T Stadium in 2013, began as a way for RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences to teach students about flash photography. Longtime Big Shot sponsor Nikon loaned high-end photo equipment for the event.
MIAMI
Heat fires up new team app
The Miami Heat launched its new team app, created in conjunction with SapientNitro. Fans can customize their experience through their mobile devices. The “mission control” of the new app is the “Heat Stream.” The stream, of which there are 27 variations, provides a comprehensive look at the franchise.
MILWAUKEE
Bucks pair new court, new jersey
Several thousand fans turned out for the Milwaukee Bucks’ third annual fan fest Oct. 3, during which the team introduced an alternate “Fear the Deer” uniform and playing court for the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks are the first team in the NBA to feature an alternate court design to complement the alternate uniform.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Wild keen on last-minute tickets
The Minnesota Wild launched a GameDay Tickets initiative designed to help fans get last-minute tickets to Wild home games that have limited availability. Subscribers will receive a text message on home game days when multiple grouped tickets or discounted single seats become available.
NEWARK
Devils add Goya Foods as sponsor
Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils and Goya Foods have formed a new partnership. Goya, based in Jersey City, N.J., will be the presenting sponsor of Prudential Center’s Latin concession locations. They include the Ironbound on the upper concourse, named after Newark’s largely Hispanic district adjacent to the arena, and the Goya Street Taco Stand on the main concourse.
NEW YORK
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Best overall award and best non-gameday event.
Photo by: BROOKLYN CYCLONES
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Cyclones win back-to-back honors
The Brooklyn Cyclones won Best Overall Promotion for the second straight year at the annual Minor League Baseball Golden Bobblehead Awards on Oct. 1 in Columbus. The team’s Ambush Baseball promotion, chosen from more than 300 nominations, also won in the category of best non-gameday event. As a way to celebrate their 15th anniversary, the Cyclones surprised two local youth baseball teams and bused them to MCU Park for the full minor league experience. Last year, the Cyclones took the crown for their “Salute to Seinfeld Night” at MCU Park.
OMAHA, NEB.
Storm Chasers adding party patio
The outfield concourse at Werner Park will receive a fifth anniversary facelift. Sun Valley Landscaping, in partnership with the Omaha Storm Chasers, is installing the Sun Valley Party Patio. The new addition will provide a backyard-themed area for hosting company outings and group picnics during games in 2016.
ORLANDO
Chase presenting Magic preseason
Chase will serve as the Orlando Magic’s presenting partner for preseason games and the presenting partner for its opening week games, Oct. 28 vs. Washington and Oct. 30 vs. Oklahoma City. The month of October is billed as “Orlando Magic’s Pure Magic Tip Off Presented by Chase.”
Magic signs new Spanish flagship station
Entravision Communications Corp.’s Salsa 98.1 FM will be the Magic’s new flagship home for Spanish radio broadcasts. The station will broadcast Magic preseason home games and all regular-season games. This year will mark Joey Colon’s 18th season as the team’s Spanish play-by-play announcer.
TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Lightning, USF push new alliance
The Lightning and the University of South Florida have a new initiative, the Bolts Business Alliance, which aims to connect business professionals year-round through the team. The alliance will offer networking opportunities and events hosted by the Lightning and USF featuring content-specific speakers in the areas of hockey, business and the Tampa Bay region.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
AMSTERDAM
Euro 2020 facility to be upgraded
Amsterdam ArenA, which will host four Euro 2020 matches, announced a $56 million renovation project, according to an Inside World Football report. The upgrade, called Plan 2020, will see the shape of the facility change from concave to convex, while the upper-tier concourse will be widened by more than three times its current width.
LAHITI, FINLAND
FIS finals signs presenting sponsor
Renewable materials company Stora Enso was named the presenting sponsor of the 2017 International Ski Federation Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahiti, Finland. The company will build on its experience from the 2015 event in Falun, Sweden, where, as a partner, it contributed to the sustainability of the event.
MANCHESTER
Man City partners with Tecate
Tecate beer became the official regional partner of Manchester City as part of a multiyear agreement. The partnership will allow Tecate to reach and connect with the team’s local fan base in Mexico.
TOKYO
National sports agency established
The Japanese government established a national sports agency to coordinate administration ahead of the 2020 Games, according to a Japan Times report. The agency named 1988 Seoul Olympic 100-meter backstroke gold medalist Daichi Suzuki as its leader.
Self-driving cabs eyed for Olympics
Japan will allow tests of self-driving taxis on public roads with passengers next year as the country readies itself to showcase the technology by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to a Bloomberg report. The government will work with the Japanese social media and gaming company DeNA Co. to test self-driving cabs in the nearby city of Fujisawa.
VALENCIA, SPAIN
Dentsu will market for La Liga team
La Liga side Valencia appointed Singapore-based sports marketing firm Dentsu Sports Asia as its strategic partner. The two-year partnership will see the firm provide Valencia with marketing, branding, commercial and sponsorship services.
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