AMASA, MICH.
Court maker awarded grant
Connor Sports was awarded a U.S. Forest Service Woody Biomass Grant that will be used to support a major boiler automation project at its manufacturing mill in Amasa, Mich. The timing of the biomass project for Connor Sports coincides with the start of the 2015-16 college basketball season, when thousands of men’s and women’s games from all levels of the NCAA will be played on Connor courts.
CLEMSON, S.C.
Football complex breaks ground
Clemson University held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new state-of-the-art football operations complex, and construction will begin next month, according to a Greenville News report. The multilevel facility, set for a February 2017 opening, has a price tag of $55 million and will be funded by the athletic department and booster group IPTAY.
DALLAS
Wings invoke Pegasus
The WNBA’s Dallas Wings presented their new team logo, inspired by the winged horse Pegasus, at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. The Dallas Wings begin play next spring.
LAWRENCE, KAN.
STMA names annual winners
Lawrence, Kan.-based Sports Turf Managers Association and Minor League Baseball announced the 2015 Sports Turf Manager of the Year award winners. Award winners include John Stewart, Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA, Syracuse, N.Y.); Brock Phipps, Springfield Cardinals (Class AA, Springfield, Mo.); Keith Winter, Fort Wayne Tincaps (Class A, Fort Wayne, Ind.); and David Yearout, Spokane Indians (Short Season or Rookie, Spokane, Wash.).
LOS ANGELES
Funny or Die producing Clippers content
The Los Angeles Clippers launched DTLAC, a downtown Los Angeles-inspired initiative, highlighted by the team’s wearing black alternate uniforms during Saturday home games at Staples Center this season. Funny or Die will produce original content for the video boards and live fan engagement.
Kings clean up in multiyear deal
CleanWell is the new official hand sanitizer of the Los Angeles Kings and presenting sponsor of the LA Kings Ice Crew. As part of the multiyear deal, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, CleanWell will have branding on Ice Crew uniforms and the equipment they use to clean and maintain the ice during games at Staples Center.
 |
Users can navigate the track’s many features.
|
MIAMI
Street View goes inside HMS
Homestead-Miami Speedway is now virtually accessible via Google’s Street View. Using imagery collected in August, users can experience the 1.5-mile oval track along with the 2.2-mile infield road course in full 360-degree panorama.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Vikings sign wintry 10-year deal
Polaris, best known for making snowmobiles, signed a 10-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings to become a founding partner of U.S. Bank Stadium. As part of its deal, Polaris is developing game-day features that could include chauffeur services from tailgates to the stadium.
NEW YORK
Long Island Nets tip off next year
The Brooklyn Nets acquired the right to own and operate a D-League team. The Long Island Nets will begin play in the 2016-17 season at Barclays Center before relocating to their permanent home at the new Nassau Coliseum for the 2017-18 campaign.
 |
Voelker (center) is joined by Eagles cheerleader Michelle Morris, Eagles kicker Cody Parkey, Santander’s Angela Moultrie, and cheerleader Janel Petrovich.
Photo by: BOB WILLIAMS FOR SANTANDER
|
PHILADELPHIA
Fan will kick for $20,000
More than 20 Philadelphia Eagles fans went head to head at the Santander Field Goal Challenge tryouts at the NovaCare Complex. Tom Voelker from Sinking Spring, Pa., won with a 30-yard kick. Voelker will attempt a 30-yard field goal at Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. A successful conversion will net a $10,000 prize. An additional $10,000 will be donated to the regional K-12 school of the winner’s choice, courtesy of Santander, the official bank of the Eagles.
PHOENIX
Suns expand mobile ticketing
The Phoenix Suns, in conjunction with Experience, are delivering last-minute ticket opportunities for students, new mobile ticket options for SixthMan Members, and a new 100 percent mobile subscription ticket option. Seat upgrades and day-of-game experiences are also available through the Suns mobile app.
SONOMA, CALIF.
Toyota going drag racing
Toyota Motor Sales signed a multiyear agreement to become the title sponsor of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Sonoma Raceway. The 29th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals will be July 29-31. Toyota has served as co-title sponsor of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event since 2007, as well as the raceway’s official vehicle.
 |
At the groundbreaking, from left: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, Nationals owner Mark Lerner, Commissioner Rob Manfred, Astros owner and Chairman Jim Crane, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, Astros general counsel Giles Kibbe.
Photo by: HOUSTON ASTROS
|
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.
Nats, Astros complex breaks ground
Ground was broken last week for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the future spring training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. The facility, with separate complexes for the Astros and Nationals, is scheduled to be completed by January 2017. Team representatives joined government officials in the ceremonial groundbreaking by digging shovels into sand on a miniature baseball diamond.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY
City eyes Grand Départ
Düsseldorf will submit an official application to host the start of the 2017 Tour de France, according to a Cycling News report. It was thought that London was about to be awarded the 2017 Grand Départ, but Transport For London — which had submitted the proposal — pulled out at the last minute.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Reds launch Arabic language site
Liverpool FC launched an Arabic-language website to further engage its Arabic-speaking supporters. The website — arabic.liverpoolfc.com — features breaking news from the club, behind-the-scenes video content and fan interaction across all platforms.
LONDON
Darts channel returning
Sky Sports is bringing back its dedicated darts channel this year, after a record-breaking debut during the William Hill World Darts Championship a year ago. Launching on Dec. 14, Sky Sports Darts will give fans 23 days of nonstop darts action from Alexandra Palace.
PARIS
Olympic Village site revealed
Olympic bid officials said that the 2024 Olympic Village will be built in the northern suburbs of the French capital if they win the right to host, according to an AP report. The Paris bid committee said the village would be in the Pleyel area, a 125-acre site in the district of Seine-Saint-Denis.
SÃO PAULO
Corinthians adds ad agency
Corinthians reached a partnership with São Paulo-based sports advertising agency TZK, according to an Eco Foot report. TZK represents Sockatyes, a Hong Kong-based company that holds the worldwide patent for adding advertising space to teams’ socks.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
