AUGUSTA, GA.
Changes possible for Masters
Augusta National Golf Club is in discussions to buy a parcel of land from neighboring Augusta Country Club, according to a Golfweek report. ACC’s par-5 eighth and par-4 ninth holes would be involved in potential changes to Augusta National.
BALTIMORE
Bills, M&T Bank honor teachers
The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank have teamed again for their annual Touchdown for Teachers program, which honors teachers for their service to local schools and communities. This marks the eighth year of the promotion. The pool of educators will be scaled to five finalists, and the grand-prize winner will get $2,000 in grants for a school or district and an in-class visit from a Bills player or alumnus.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
Falcons seeing more clearly
Daktronics has partnered with the U.S. Air Force Academy to provide video display upgrades to Falcon Stadium. The installation includes end zone and fascia LED displays as well as the first digital audio facade in a collegiate venue. The work is slated for completion early this spring.
DALLAS
Mavs want input on court design
The Dallas Mavericks launched a fan contest to help design a new court for their 2016-17 season. Fans can visit the team’s website for official logos and colors, plus ideas for court design. The fans can then upload their designs to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram through Friday. A panel of judges will choose the top three designs on March 18.
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Groups buying out the space have first dibs on the pool feature that holds 68,000 gallons.
Photo by: MAGILL ASSOCIATES
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FRISCO, TEXAS
RoughRiders take it to the river
The Frisco RoughRiders, Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are planning a 3,000-square-foot lazy river at Dr Pepper Ballpark that highlights a new outfield party and group hospitality area that will serve as the signature visual element of the venue. The new area, to be completed by early June, will be sponsored by Choctaw Casinos of Oklahoma.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL.
Windy City Bulls get identity
The Chicago Bulls’ new NBA D-League franchise will be called the Windy City Bulls. The team’s primary logo features design elements that convey a new brand personality for the club while maintaining a connection with the NBA team’s mark. About 6,000 fans participated a name-the-team campaign presented by BMO Harris Bank. The team will begin play at the Sears Centre in the fall.
HONOLULU
State may spend to replace turf
The state of Hawaii is looking to replace the synthetic turf at Aloha Stadium at a cost of up to $1.5 million. The turf has come under criticism recently, including after the U.S. women’s national soccer team decided to not play a friendly at the stadium against Trinidad and Tobago late last year.
HOUSTON
Dynamo, Dash sign new partners
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit signed on as an official partner of the Houston Dynamo, NWSL Dash and BBVA Compass Stadium. Academy Sports and Outdoors also reached a multiyear partnership with the Dynamo and Dash to become the official sporting goods retailer for both teams.
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Ballmer delivered on a challenge posed by new mascot Chuck the Condor (left).
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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LOS ANGELES
Ballmer playing above the rim
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer performed a slam dunk last week as part of halftime entertainment while unveiling a new team mascot, Chuck the Condor. Ballmer jumped off a trampoline and cleared the rim for a two-handed jam. His effort won every fan in attendance a free pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
MILWAUKEE
Brewers hire Howard and Sergi
Consulting firm Howard and Sergi agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers to develop a food and beverage hospitality master plan for Miller Park. The full-service project encompasses every dimension of the ballpark’s fan services.
MONTREAL
City helps team convert fire station
The city of Montreal will spend $259,000 to help convert a vacant east-end fire station into the Montreal Impact’s training facility, according to a Montreal Gazette report. The MLS team is investing about $12 million to renovate the former Létourneaux firehouse and build four soccer pitches in the vacant lot next to the building.
NEW YORK
Nets remain on WFAN
The Brooklyn Nets and CBS Radio are extending their multiyear broadcast rights agreement. WFAN-AM/FM will continue as the team’s flagship radio station. The deal also extends beyond basketball to cover other parts of the business at Barclays Center, including select college basketball games, concerts and live events.
USTA plans temporary stadium
The U.S. Tennis Association plans to build an 8,500-seat temporary stadium for the 2017 U.S. Open, event officials said last week. The effort adds to the ongoing renovations at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which for the 2016 U.S. Open includes a roof over the complex’s main stadium, a new fan thoroughfare and a new 8,000-seat Court Three.
PHILADELPHIA
U.S. women to play at Union home
The U.S. women’s national soccer team will take on the Colombia women’s national team April 10 at Talen Energy Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union. The teams also will play April 6 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Conn. They last played each other in the round of 16 at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Sixers launch foundation with gala
The Philadelphia 76ers launched the Sixers Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The foundation will host its first event, An Evening on the Court, on Thursday. The gala, for which StubHub is serving as presenting sponsor, will be attended by former Sixers all-stars Allen Iverson and Julius Erving.
TUSCALOOSA, ALA.
Gift will help Alabama build facility
The University of Alabama announced a $3 million gift commitment from alumni Michael and Kathy Mouron to help fund a $10 million athletics facility that was recently approved by the Alabama system board of trustees. The two-story facility will include a game venue for wheelchair basketball, locker rooms, workout/training room, team meeting rooms and study halls.
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, ILL.
Arena enters final phase of renovation
The University of Illinois last week began preparation for the final phase of its $169 million State Farm Center renovation, according to a (Champaign) News-Gazette report. The plan is to have the project complete in time for tipoff of the 2016-17 basketball season. Among the new features are a scoreboard, video boards, LED lighting throughout the building, locker rooms and a new training room.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Fans can receive own pics at games
FanPics and Monumental Sports & Entertainment have partnered to provide fans with a new high-tech game-day experience for all Washington Capitals, Mystics and Wizards games at Verizon Center. Fans can enter their seat number into the free FanPics app, and photos are delivered in real-time to their mobile devices. The in-game imaging technology involves the use of 12 cameras installed throughout the arena to capture candid moments of every fan during games.
WHEELING, W.V.
Nailers celebrating 25th season
The ECHL Wheeling Nailers unveiled a logo to celebrate their 25th season. The logo will be worn as a patch on uniforms next season and will be used to highlight events throughout the season.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BARCELONA
Barça extends with UNICEF
FC Barcelona and UNICEF agreed to extend their partnership through 2020. In the club’s 10th year working with UNICEF, the team will increase its annual donation to the charity from $1.65 million to $2.2 million.
Russia cuts World Cup budget by $80 million
Russia has reduced the budget for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by almost $80 million less than five months after Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko ruled out further spending cuts, according to an AP report. The latest cuts, announced in a government document, come at a time of reductions in public spending across the board as low oil prices starve the government of revenue.
The changes bring total spending down to $8.15 billion and stem from removing the international broadcast center in Moscow from the plans. The World Cup organizing committee said it would save money by basing the broadcast center in an existing convention center on the outskirts of Moscow rather than building a new site.
LIVERPOOL
Reds partner with MG Auto
Liverpool FC agreed to an 18-month regional partnership with Chinese automotive firm MG Auto, according to a SoccerEx report. The deal runs for the remainder of this Premier League season and the entirety of next, expiring in the summer of 2017.
Moshiri takes over Everton
Iranian-born British citizen Farhad Moshiri agreed to a $277.6 million takeover of Everton FC, according to a Sunday Times report. Moshiri had been a co-investor in Red And White Holdings, which owns 30 percent of Arsenal FC, but sold his stake to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov for $208.2 million to fund his purchase of Everton.
LONDON
Spurs’ stadium plan approved
Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that its $559 million redevelopment plans for White Hart Lane received approval from London Mayor Boris Johnson, according to a (London) Evening Standard report. Tottenham hopes to move into its new 61,000-capacity stadium in time for the 2018-19 Premier League season.
MUNICH
Hoops team pulls out of arena plan
Basketball Bundesliga club Bayern Munich withdrew its support for a proposed new multipurpose arena, according to a Quotenmeter report. It will continue to play games at the 6,700-seat Audi Dome. The club plans to increase the arena’s capacity to 8,000.
PARIS
Paris Marathon flying Air France
Air France was named the official partner of the 40th edition of the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon, taking place April 3. The partnership is for the next three years.
Citroën looks for PSG exit
French car manufacturer Citroën wants to end its association with Paris Saint-Germain, according to a Paris Fans report. Citroën has branding on the seats of both team benches at the Parc des Princes as well as a Citroën-sponsored halftime game. The contract is worth $1.7 million a year and was set to end in 2017.
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Runners from 60 countries participated in the annual event in the coastal metropolis.
Photo by: AP IMAGES
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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
Marathon draws 40,000
The 2016 Tel Aviv Marathon and related races on Feb. 26 drew 40,000 runners from Israel and abroad in the country’s biggest international sports event. The number of international runners increased by 20 percent this year to 1,500. The marathon passed through the main streets and sites of the city, including Rothschild Boulevard, the White City — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and the city’s world famous beachfront.
TOKYO
Mitsubishi on board with Olympics
Mitsubishi Electric signed on as a 2020 Tokyo Games sponsor, providing elevators, escalators and moving walkways at Olympic venues, according to an AP report. The official partner agreement gives Mitsubishi Electric the right to use Olympic logos, mascots and slogans in marketing campaigns.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
Hurricanes sign Kia Motors
Kia Motors New Zealand agreed to a sponsorship deal with Super Rugby club Hurricanes. The deal puts Kia’s brand on the club’s away playing jerseys for the 2016 season.
For more international news, visit www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/global.
