ATLANTA
Braves rev up official luxury vehicle
The Atlanta Braves reached a multiyear agreement with Infiniti, naming the auto manufacturer the official luxury vehicle of the team. Included in the partnership will be the Infiniti Club at SunTrust Park. The 6,465-square-foot club will feature vaulted ceilings, a private entrance and Infiniti vehicles on display.
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Part of Mizuno’s multiyear deal includes glove stations where fans can try out mitts.
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Mizuno setting up shop
The Braves’ new long-term partnership with Mizuno includes a Mizuno Experience Center that will open in The Battery Atlanta. As the official baseball gear partner of the team, Mizuno will have multiple baseball glove kiosks inside SunTrust Park where fans can check out Mizuno baseball gloves to catch foul balls. Fans will be able to return the gloves at no cost or buy them at the end of the game.
Turner Field turns to golf
The Braves, in partnership with Callaway Golf, are turning Turner Field into a nine-hole golf course, according to an Atlanta Journal Constitution report. The course will open for the three-day event that begins Friday. There will be a cash purse of $1,000 awarded to the top three scores and a $100 cash prize awarded for any hole-in-one.
AUBURN, ALA.
Skyview takes on Tigers
Fox Sports, multimedia rights holder of Auburn University athletics, selected Skyview Networks as official radio network provider for football, men’s basketball, baseball and its weekly “Tiger Talk” show. It will also provide its AdView Inventory Management and Live Read capture software for full control over all advertising inventory.
BERKELEY, CALIF.
Cal athletic programs at risk
A soaring deficit has prompted the creation of a University of California, Berkeley task force to determine whether the Cal athletic department is sustainable in its current form, according to a San Jose Mercury News report. Cal is projecting a loss of $21.76 million for fiscal 2016 and $18.8 million for fiscal 2017, according to documents the newspaper obtained.
BUFFALO
Bills health challenge awards suite
The Buffalo Bills and Independent Health are embarking on another round of their Health and Wellness Challenge. This is the fifth installment of the initiative, which began two years ago and has welcomed more than 13,000 participants in adopting a healthier lifestyle. This round will be held through Nov. 15, and the top prize includes a suite for a Bills home game for 12 people.
CLEVELAND
New court design for Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers during their Wine and Gold Scrimmage at Quicken Loans Arena revealed an updated court design, according to a (Cleveland) Plain Dealer report. A new black border around the court is a nod to the team’s popular black-sleeved jerseys worn in Game 7 of this year’s NBA Finals. The Cleveland skyline shadow effect is gone, replaced by the team’s sword logo, and a state of Ohio design appears along the sideline at midcourt, flanked by the statement, ‘All for One. One for All.’”
COLUMBUS
Jackets order more Papa John’s
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Papa John’s Pizza reached a multiyear renewal and enhancement of their corporate partnership. Papa John’s has been affiliated with the team since the 2011-12 season. The newest component of the partnership is title sponsorship of the Blue Jackets promotions team. Members of the “Papa John’s Goal Patrol” will engage fans at games and around the community.
Jackets extend radio partnerships
The Blue Jackets reached three-year extensions of their partnerships with WBNS-FM and WWCD-FM through the 2018-19 season. WBNS, Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan, will continue to be the flagship station of the club’s radio network.
DENVER
Nuggets may pursue D-League options
A Denver Post report cited sources as saying that the Denver Nuggets are likely to get back into the D-League business next season. The Nuggets are not affiliated with a team but can assign players to a D-League team connected to another NBA team. Fourteen teams own and operate their D-League affiliates outright.
DETROIT
Pistons eye new practice facility
The Detroit Pistons are in talks to build a 60,000-square-foot practice facility north of Little Caesars Arena if a deal is worked out to relocate the team from The Palace of Auburn Hills, according to sources cited in a Crain’s Detroit Business report. Details such as specific location, time frame and cost are yet to be determined.
LOS ANGELES
Kings eating LeBron’s pizza
Blaze Pizza reached a deal to become the exclusive pizza of Staples Center and an official partner of the Los Angeles Kings. The LeBron James-backed quick-service restaurant’s new location in the arena will be its first in a sports and entertainment venue.
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Among the creations at Hard Rock Stadium is a Don Shula sculpture by Portuguese artist Vhils. It stands outside the 72 Club. In all, 19 murals cover 29,000 square feet on the stadium concourses.
Photos by: MARTHA COOPER / GOLDMAN GLOBAL ARTS
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MIAMI
Dolphins get artsy at stadium
Goldman Global Arts unveiled its project with the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Highlighting 18 artists from 10 countries, the mural project is curated by co-founders Jessica Goldman Srebnick and artist Peter Tunney.
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Twin brothers How & Nosm in front of their “End of Summer” mural, and Chilean artist Dasic Fernández nearing completion on “All the Way.”
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PORTLAND
PK80 to honor Phil Knight
The PK80 — Phil Knight Invitational — will take place over Thanksgiving week in 2017 at the Rose Quarter’s Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The 16-team, early-season men’s college basketball tournament honors Nike co-founder Phil Knight in advance of his 80th birthday. Participating schools are Arkansas, Butler, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Portland, Portland State, Stanford and Texas.
SAN DIEGO
Mayor backs Chargers ballot measure
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is endorsing the San Diego Chargers stadium ballot measure after reaching agreement with the team on a series of new financial safeguards and other concessions, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. Support from Faulconer could boost the measure’s chances of success on Nov. 8.
COAST TO COAST — BEYOND THE COASTS
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
City aims for 2026 Games
Birmingham is bidding to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which it hopes could result in a $500 million economic impact, according to a PA report. Civic leaders highlighted the possible financial legacy of hosting the games — creating thousands of new jobs, benefiting local suppliers, and boosting existing transport and housing plans.
BOCHUM, GERMANY
Team signs betting provider
Second Bundesliga side VfL Bochum agreed to a new partnership with betting provider Wette.de. The company will receive ad space on sideline signs as well as on the club website. The two parties signed a contract until the end of the season.
MANCHESTER
Man City signs health partner
Mundipharma will be Manchester City’s official health care product partner. Mundipharma will be a regional partner, with a presence in Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The logo of its Betadine medicines will be featured on the sleeves of Man City medical staff for any friendlies in the region.
Team to play on Chinese reality show
Manchester City will participate in the first football-focused reality TV series to be broadcast in China. The club will be featured in “Football Mania,” which will follow a newly formed team and track its progress from the start. The series was created by Guangdong TV, Camsing Global and Bingxun Sports.
Man City puts highlights in VR
Manchester City’s new CityVR app provides fans with the opportunity to enjoy highlights from a range of matches in virtual reality. The team, Sky Sports and app development collaborator LiveLike produced a live EPL match in VR for the first time in May 2015.
EA Sports, Man City renew
Manchester City agreed to a new multiyear deal that will see EA Sports remain the club’s official gaming partner. The renewal continues a five-year partnership with the video game developer.
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The Ligue 1 ground opened in 1937 and has undergone several renovations.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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MARSEILLES, FRANCE
Stadium officially goes ‘Orange’
The new name of Olympique de Marseille’s Vélodrome was officially launched this month. It is now the Orange Vélodrome for the next 10 years, according to a France3 report. Stadium owners Arema and the city of Marseille signed a naming partnership with telecom Orange in June.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND
Students work with Sunderland
Premier League side Sunderland agreed to a partnership with Sunderland College. The partnership will see wider opportunities for Sunderland College students to work with the club on a variety of placement schemes as well as support Sunderland’s day-to-day business activity.
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BRADLEY
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SWANSEA, WALES
Bradley to coach Swans
Former U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley will become the new manager of EPL club Swansea City. He is the first American ever to manage a team in one of Europe’s top four leagues. Bradley comes to Swansea from Le Havre in the French second division.
TOKYO
$1.5 billion stadium contract OK’d
The Japanese government approved a $1.5 billion contract to build a new main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to an AP report. Officials said that the stadium construction would begin in December after an earlier plan was scrapped because of spiraling costs and an unpopular design.
Thailand starts sports
tourism program
Thailand plans to attract more foreign visitors by setting up a sports tourism program, which it hopes will benefit the economy, according to a Jakarta Globe report. Using the power of certain sports, such as Thai boxing, cycling and marathons, the agency is determined to organize events that will attract people in general, rather than only seeing professional athletes chasing silverware.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Thailand Tourism Authority advertising and public relations executive director, said, “We’re not targeting elite sports. Instead, we aim to attract people, both local and international, to participate in sports events in Thailand.”
Olympics could cost $30 billion
The price tag of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could exceed $30 billion unless drastic cost-cutting measures are taken, an expert panel warned, according to an AP report. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said that she plans to discuss possible options with International Olympic Committee officials.
ULM, GERMANY
Ratiopharm expands Allianz deal
Basketball Bundesliga club Ratiopharm Ulm renewed and increased its partnership with Allianz. The insurance company signed a four-year deal with the club through the 2019-20 season. Allianz will receive logo presence on LED boards as well as on the jerseys of the club’s youth teams.
WORCESTER, ENGLAND
Stand gets clean treatment
Premiership side Worcester Warriors and Warwickshire-based Lee Sanitation agreed to a deal to sponsor the north stand at Sixways. It will be The Lee San Stand for the next three years. Lee Sanitation will invite junior rugby clubs to watch Premiership rugby from the stand as part of its strategy to support junior rugby.
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