HK News

In arguably the least climactic vote in Super Bowl hosting history, San Francisco/Santa Clara was awarded the coveted Super Bowl 50 in 2016, while Houston received Super Bowl 51 in 2017. The votes were considered a foregone conclusion after Miami failed to secure a stadium renovation deal that was critical to its bid. Most incredibly, both votes were decided on the first ballot, which required 75% of owners to agree and hasn’t happened in a decade. [read more]

On Tuesday, a ferocious tornado bore down on greater Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant and the Thunder led a fast break of outreach and generosity. Durant, through his charity, the Kevin Durant Family Foundation, pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross. His donation came a day after "encouraging his fans to make $10 donations" to the disaster relief group. [read more]

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has long advocated expanding his league to 20 teams, with the milestone franchise being located within one of New York City’s five boroughs. Now, the “Soccer Don” is finally getting his wish. The New York Yankees are partnering with English Premier League club Manchester City to buy a MLS expansion franchise for $100 million. [read more]

Even though it isn’t the majors, Minor League Baseball is still a big business. Merchandise sales for the 160 clubs affiliated with MLB teams collectively were $54 million in 2012, up 3% from 2011 and the second highest annual total since 2008, according to research by SportsBusiness Journal. Additionally, the big business is extending to teams, two of which are in various stages of development on new ballparks. [read more]

HKS Sports & Entertainment unveiled design plans for the Minnesota Vikings’ new $975 million stadium. At 1.6 million square-feet, the stadium will be nearly twice the size of the Metrodome. The new venue will seat 65,000 fans for NFL games, and up to 73,000 for special events, such as a Super Bowl. [read more]

On Tuesday, as a ferocious EF5 tornado bore down on the Oklahoma City and suburb Moore, destroying 2,800 homes, two elementary schools and killing 24, the Thunder could take small comfort in their name not further contributing to the pain, and go to work hastening the healing. As we see over and over again when disaster strikes the U.S., America’s sports teams and athletes are always there as second responders behind the emergency crews, ready to help with open hearts and open wallets. [read more]

**Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is threatening to move the team to a new ballpark if a planned Wrigley Field renovation falls through. **Levi Strauss has purchased the naming rights to the San Francisco 49ers’ new $1.2 billion stadium. **TBS will air both men’s basketball Final Four semifinal games in 2014 and 2015, marking the first time the games will be televised on cable. [read more]

**MLB is being criticized for banning pink bats without Louisville Slugger logos on Mother’s Day. **MLS signed a six-year deal with Topps to make the company the “official trading card producer” of the league. **MLB is seeking a protective headgear product for pitchers, though no solution is imminent. [read more]

These days, it is seemingly impossible to open the sports page and NOT see a story about somebody suing someone. From retired NFL players suing the league over health benefits and head trauma to golfer V.J. Singh suing the PGA Tour over deer antler spray, and most recently, former NBPA head Billy Hunter suing the union and President Derek Fisher for defamation and breach of contract, the list of legal tangles in sports never seems to get any shorter. [read more]

**MLB is being criticized for banning pink bats without Louisville Slugger logos on Mother’s Day. **The family of late NHL player Derek Boogaard has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the league. **Fast food chain Zaxby’s has signed sponsorship deals with 25 universities as it attempts to brand itself as “The Official Chicken of College Sports.” [read more]