By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
June 18, 2013
“Bust”: Top Five Reasons the Armageddon is Near
1. Plumbing issues at O.co Coliseum resulted in raw sewage flooding the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners’ locker rooms during their game on Sunday. The building, which experiences regular plumbing problems, blamed this weekend’s incident on the added water usage from an unlikely A’s sellout.
2. The Phoenix Coyotes could relocate to Seattle if a new lease agreement isn’t reached with the Glendale City Council by July 2. Despite negotiations with several groups, the NHL has been unable to sell the team since buying it out of bankruptcy in 2009.
3. The Steelers are at odds with the Pittsburgh-Alleghany County Sports & Exhibition Authority over who will pay for upgrades to Heinz Field. The issue hinges on the team’s lease with the county, and what constitutes a “capital improvement” as opposed to a “modification.”
4. Despite the increased foot traffic in Brooklyn since Barclays Center opened last year, only some local businesses in the vicinity of the arena are seeing their sales increase. The mixed results have led some critics to question the true impact Barclays Center is having on its surrounding neighborhood.
5. Daytona International Speedway’s annual fan survey found that one of the biggest complaints from this year’s Daytona 500 was the cancelling of the pre-race military flyover because of weather concerns. Additionally, of the fans that said they wouldn’t return to another 500, 54% cited the cost as their reason why.
“Boom”: Top Five Reasons that Prosperity is Right Around the Corner
1. The Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB have reached a tentative deal that would allow the team to keep up to $6 billion from its TV rights agreement with Time Warner Cable. A settlement between the two parties would avert a case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and indicate the overall value of the TV deal at $8.5 billion.
2. Still two months from the start of the NFL season, NBC is on verge of matching its 2012 “Sunday Night Football” ad sales revenue. At the same point last year, the network had commitments for 75% of its total from the 2011 NFL season. The automotive and technology sectors are among this year’s biggest ad buyers.
3. Hewlett-Packard has signed a three-year sponsorship deal to become NASCAR’s first official technology partner. The agreement is valued at $2-3 million annually, and gives H-P the ability to develop new business solutions it could then sell to its other clients.
4. The Phoenix Mercury has seen interest spike this season thanks to the presence of rookie Brittney Griner. The team’s season-ticket sales are up 39% over last season, while group sales are up 33%. Several WNBA teams are promoting games against Griner and the Mercury as a way to boost their own sales.
5. The New Jersey Devils signed a new lease agreement with the city of Newark, ending a longstanding dispute between the two sides. Per the deal, Newark will pay the Devils $2.7 million per year in parking revenue, while imposing a 1.37% tax on all ticket sales at the arena.
“Hope”: Top Five Reasons That Creativity is the Key to Economic Survival
1. In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, the NFL has announced new safety measures. Beginning this preseason, the league is limiting the size and type of bags that can be brought into stadiums to small clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags. Large purses, backpacks, and fanny packs are among the prohibited.
2. NASCAR next month will open its exclusive TV rights negotiation window with ESPN and Turner Sports, according to John Ourand & Tripp Mickle of SportsBusiness Journal. Both networks have expressed interest in retaining their package, though it’s unclear at what cost. NASCAR last year signed an extension with Fox that represented a 33% increase from their previous deal.
3. The Florida Panthers have unveiled a new corporate hospitality promotion that guarantees buyers a return on investment. The ROI, which will be based on parameters agreed to during a customized business review by the team, will include networking opportunities, client cultivation, and B2B events.
4. Kansas City Royals DH Billy Butler is generating impressive sales for his Hit It A Ton Barbeque Sauce, which his store shelves this past April. Proceeds from sales of the product are being donated to Butler’s foundation, which distributes food to needy families in the Kansas City area.
5. Executives from Roc Nation Sports are looking into formal NBPA certification in order to represent clients in contract negotiations. Roc Nation currently is partnering with CAA for contract talks since none of its agents are certified. The agency reportedly is close to signing Kevin Durant for representation.
