SportsBusiness Daily: Thursday, February 4, 2010 http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=print...
Thursday, February 4, 2010 Vol. XVI -- No. 99
Timber Land Talk Of The Town Portland Council approves $31M PGE Park The NFLPA’s scheduled renovation, which should clear the way for MLS to news conference this arrive in city in '11. (#20) afternoon in South 'N Sync Florida should contain MLS schedule matches European model of plenty of fireworks home-and-away series for each team. (#13) pertaining to current CBA talks with the league. Lotto Options (#21) DeMaurice Smith Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says lottery funds Wednesday ups the could help publicly finance new Vikings stadium. rhetoric between the sides, claiming NFL
King 'Kong owners not only are Nike signs projected No. 1 NFL draft pick preparing for a lockout, but may be looking for one. Ndamukong Suh to endorsement deal. (#6) Smith: "They have engaged in a concerted course of Bayou Buzz conduct where anybody looking at it will see that Saints converting fans throughout Louisiana on they have done more to prepare themselves to not strength of this season's Super Bowl run. (#15) play football than to play football." The union boss says NFL players have "seen no evidence that Entertainment Tonight (#8) anybody is losing money" under the current CBA. Rival networks plan steady diet of reality TV in However, Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti tells a effort to compete against Olympics on NBC. different story yesterday, calling the current deal a "bad deal." He claims if owners do not take on a On Top Of The Mountain greater percent of revenues, there will be a Lindsey Vonn enters Vancouver Games as the "long-term problem for the league." (#11) "boldest name" among U.S. Olympians. (#26) Meanwhile, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae Coming Attractions (#1) indicates a union proposal would cut league costs, Details continue to emerge about this year's including three-year maximum length on rookie Super Bowl ads: fewer studios will promote films, deals that would save as much as $200M. However, while automakers emphasize practicality. (#2) he claims the league insists players take at least a 20% pay cut without explaining the financial rationale (#12).
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ComPsych Corp. chief Richard Chaifetz appears to "After 25 years, the rhythm hasn’t gotten any be involved in group targeting Rams purchase, better." though he declines to confirm involvement. (#19) -- Former NFLer Jim McMahon, who will help recreate the "Super Bowl Shuffle" with members of the '85 Bears for Boost Mobile's Super Bowl ad ("The Jim Rome Show," 2/3). (#1)
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SPONSORSHIPS, ADVERTISING & MARKETING 1. SUPER BOWL ADS: FEWER HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ADVERTISING FILMS 2. SUPER BOWL ADS: AUTOMAKERS EMPHASIZE PRACTICALITY OVER VANITY 3. SUPER BOWL ADS: TEBOW SPOT NOT LIKELY TO STEAL THUNDER ON SUNDAY 4. WORK ZONE: COKE ZERO INTRODUCES "DEPARTMENT OF FANNOVATION" 5. MICHAEL STRAHAN SHOOTS TV SPOT FOR EASTON/THE SPORTS AUTHORITY 6. NAMES & FACES: LIKELY TOP PICK NDAMUKONG SUH SIGNS WITH NIKE 7. MARKETPLACE ROUNDUP SPORTS MEDIA 8. GAMES ON: NETWORKS UNVEIL BROADCAST PLANS AGAINST OLYMPICS 9. STATS SIGNS DEAL TO BECOME MLB'S REAL-TIME DATA LICENSOR
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10. MEDIA NOTES LEAGUES & GOVERNING BODIES 11. NFLPA EXEC DIR DEMAURICE SMITH CLAIMS OWNERS EYEING LOCKOUT 12. NFLPA CLAIMS LEAGUE INSISTING PLAYERS TAKE 20% PAY CUT IN NEW CBA 13. MLS RELEASES '10 SCHEDULE, SIMILAR TO EUROPEAN LEAGUE'S PATTERN 14. MLB TEAMS CANNOT REQUIRE PLAYERS TO DONATE TO CLUB CHARITIES FRANCHISES 15. SAINTS' SUCCESS HELPING TEAM EARN FANS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA 16. SOURCE SAYS SALE OF BOBCATS COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH 17. HITTING THE RIGHT TUNE: JAZZ MAY BRING BACK MUSIC NOTE LOGO 18. EPL FRANCHISE NOTES: PORTSMOUTH CONFIRMS LATEST TAKEOVER 19. FRANCHISE NOTES FACILITIES & VENUES 20. PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PGE PARK RENOVATION FOR MLS TEAM 21. MINNESOTA GOV. SAYS LOTTERY COULD HELP FINANCE VIKINGS STADIUM 22. NEW JERSEY GOV. NOT READY TO RULE ON NETS MOVE TO NEWARK 23. LEIWEKE DISCUSSES AEG'S GROWING INFLUENCE IN CONCERT BUSINESS 24. FACILITY NOTES
EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS 25. PARTY IN THE MIA: SOUTH FLORIDA SUPER BOWL FESTIVITIES CONTINUE OLYMPICS 26. LINDSEY VONN POISED TO ENTER LIMELIGHT WITH STRONG OLYMPICS 27. VANOC TAKING EXTREME PRECAUTIONS OVER POSSIBLE TERROR THREATS 28. OLYMPIC NOTES: POLO CRITICIZED FOR CONSUMERISM ON TEAM USA GEAR SPORTS INDUSTRIALISTS 29. WHAT I LIKE.... WITH PRO FOOTBALL HOFER LAWRENCE TAYLOR 30. EXECUTIVE TRANSACTIONS 31. NAMES IN THE NEWS THE BACK OF THE BOOK 32. SCARBOROUGH EXAMINES SUPER BOWL VIEWER PURCHASING HABITS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 33. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 34. SBJ IN-DEPTH: FANTASY SPORTS
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1. SUPER BOWL ADS: FEWER HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ADVERTISING FILMS Only three major film studios -- Paramount, Disney and Universal -- will run ads during CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XLIV, "down from five studios last year," according to Marc Graser of DAILY VARIETY. Hollywood studios have "promoted nine movies during the last two Super Bowls," but that figure is "expected to drop to seven" this year. Paramount is buying ads to promote "Shutter Island" and "The Last Airbender," deciding "not to run an ad" for Marvel's "Iron Man 2." Disney and Universal are "being tight- lipped about their Super Bowl plans," but Disney's plans are "often predictable, with the studio buying an ad to promote an animated film and a live action tentpole each year." This year "isn't expected to be any different," as the studio's "Toy Story 3" and "Alice in Wonderland" are "likely to get the big push." Universal "will likely promote" "The Wolfman" and "Robin Hood." Meanwhile, other studios are "also buying ads during the pre-game show," including Sony, which will promote "Bounty Hunter." Overture's "The Crazies" is "set to be plugged during the post-game wrap up" (DAILY VARIETY, 2/4). BABY TALK: ETrade once again has one ad airing during the Super Bowl, and Adweek's Barbara Lippert said the "technology on the mouth- moving" for the babies in the ads "gets a little better every year." Lippert: "There's just nothing funnier than a baby saying, 'Dude, I can't micromanage your finances for you.'" She added, "When you think about
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ETrade 10 years ago, they had a Watch Outtakes From ETrade's "Baby" Spot commercial that had a monkey jumping on a chair saying, 'Well, we just wasted $2(M).' With the economy now, you really have to break down your resistance to talking about your finances and the stock market, and there's nothing better than babies." CBS' Harry Smith said the ETrade ads "really work too, because every time they come on I pay attention." Lippert noted that "during the Super Bowl, the babies will be Tweeting if you want to follow them on Twitter" ("The Early Show," CBS, 2/3). THE PUNKY QB BACK IN ACTION: Former NFLer Jim McMahon and other members of the ’85 Bears will appear in Boost Mobile’s Super Bowl ad, and McMahon said, “It’s going to be pretty funny. I didn’t get to see the finished product, but they had us doing some very interesting things, and it’s going to be great to see how it all comes out.” While most of the players reprise their “Super Bowl Shuffle” roles -- dancing included -- McMahon said, “I come out on a Rascal, so I didn’t have to do whatever they were doing.” McMahon: “After 12 knee surgeries, I told them, ‘I can’t be doing any dancing.’ … When they said, ‘You get to ride in a Rascal,’ I said, “Alright, I’ll do it.’” However, he did offer this warning about the team, “After 25 years, the rhythm hasn’t gotten any better” (“The Jim Rome Show,” 2/3). BACK IN THE GAME: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Courtney Dentch noted Denny's has three Super Bowl ads that will promote its free Grand Slam Breakfast giveaway next Tuesday and its year-round free birthday breakfast promo. Denny's CEO Nelson Marchioli: "We had a nice first quarter last year from the Super Bowl offer, but we lost some of that stickiness with Watch Denny's Teaser For Its Super Bowl Spot customers as the year went on. This is an opportunity to extend that throughout the year." Denny's ad during Super Bowl XLIII last year "drove its only quarter of comparable-sales growth in the past two years." Marchioli "agreed in July to purchase one Super Bowl spot" for this year's game, and he "bought two more in the past two weeks." Marchioli: "We wanted to be even more top-of-mind with our consumers, and be the conversation in the second half of the game" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2/3). FIRST IMPRESSION: In N.Y., Stuart Elliott reported the debut Pizza Hut ad from the Martin Agency, Richmond, is "getting a big stage: the pre-game hours on CBS on Sunday" ahead of the Super Bowl. Pizza Hut "has for years run commercials during the Super Bowl pre-game shows rather than during the game itself," and Pizza Hut Senior Manager for PR & Emerging Media Christopher Fuller said the reason is that "everyone's placed their order" for pizzas by the time the game has started. Elliott noted Pizza Hut competitor Papa John's has a 30-second in-game spot "scheduled to appear near the two-minute warning of the first half" (NYTIMES.com, 2/3). LOCAL DRIVE TIME: In Richmond, Louis Llovio reports CarMax for the first time has bought “ad time in the 48 media markets where it has stores” for Sunday’s Super Bowl. CarMax “will have one commercial running during the game and one in the time slot right after the game ends.” It also bought local ad time "in the hours before the game starts and for the late-night news broadcasts.” The company has “four different commercials running,” two of which “will be an extension of the ‘Smart/Not Smart’ campaign launched last year.” CarMax Creative Dir for Broadcast Advertising Michael
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Reeder said that the other two ads are “part of a new campaign based on ‘viral Internet sensation.’” CarMax ran the “Smart/Not Smart” ads during last year’s Super Bowl in a “limited number of markets.” The company “wanted to expand its reach and the campaign this year.” CarMax “would not say how much it paid for the airtime but said it was about half what it would have paid if the chain had bought time during the national broadcast” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/4). CONSUMER REACTION: USA TODAY's Yang & Ward report a National Retail Federation survey of 9,578 adults 18 and older indicated that 76% of respondents believe Super Bowl ads are "just entertainment." Eighteen percent of respondents said that the ads are "making me aware of advertiser brands," while just 7% said that the ads are "influencing me to buy products." Meanwhile, 19% said that the spots are "using money advertisers should save and pass the savings on to us," while 10% said that they are "making the game last too long" (USA TODAY, 2/4).
2. SUPER BOWL ADS: AUTOMAKERS EMPHASIZE PRACTICALITY OVER VANITY There are six automakers airing ads during Super Bowl XLIV, and the majority of the spots "aimed at recession-weary buyers accelerate practicality and put the breaks on vanity," according to Chris Woodyard of USA TODAY. The majority of the brands advertising during the game are "decidedly mainstream," with Audi being the only "upscale brand" taking part. However, even they "will feature a less-fancy product this year." Auto Watch Audi's "Green Police" Teaser marketing consultant Gordon Wangers: "It ain't business as usual, and a cute ad won't work." Wangers added the challenge is for advertisers to "make a meaningful message and not be boring." Woodyard reports Audi is using "humor to underscore the fuel-saving virtues of its compact A3 TDI diesel sedan," while an animated ad from Honda "humorously demonstrates the new Accord Crossover hatch-back's roominess." Chrysler Senior VP/Communications Gualberto Ranieri said that the company's Dodge brand will "showcase the Dodge Charger R/T to show it has 'real driving vehicles with muscle car power and sports car handling.'" Honda, Kia and Volkswagen also are set to air ads. Woodyard notes Toyota, which is "currently under fire over safety recalls," said that it did not buy any Super Bowl ad time "because it is between product introductions" (USA TODAY, 2/4). FOCUSING OFF THE ROAD: MARKETING DAILY's Karl Greenberg notes Audi's ad, via Venables Bell & Partners, "doesn't give away the fact that the spot is a car ad until the very end, when a guy driving the car is allowed through a Green Police highway checkpoint because he's driving an A3 clean-diesel car." Audi of America CMO Scott Keogh said that "not giving away that it's a car ad until the end is important in a Super Bowl buy." Keogh: "We think that's crucial because in the Super Bowl, the instant consumers read that it's a car ad, the mind turns off and it's into the nachos. This draws them in." Keogh added that a "more humorous approach also makes sense" during the Super Bowl. Keogh: "You need to bring humor into the mix, and we hadn't done that before. But we thought this was the perfect environment and opportunity" (MARKETING DAILY, 2/4 issue).
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A BUNCH OF CHARACTERS: MARKETING DAILY's Greenberg reports Kia, which has "taken a more humorous approach to advertising than its corporate sibling" Hyundai, has "backseat passengers fantasizing about a joy ride in which they have control of the vehicle" in its ad. However, the passengers are "little character toys ... owned by a child who keeps them in the Watch Honda's Animated Super Bowl Spot back seat for company." In the ad, the characters' adventure "starts in a bowling alley, ... moves on to jet-skiing, riding a mechanical bull in a bar, sitting in a jacuzzi with a beautiful blond, going to Vegas and dancing with other girls." It is "set to a James Brown-like soundtrack by a group called 'The Heavy.'" Meanwhile, Honda's ad is set to Kool & the Gang's "Funky Stuff" and features a "squirrel trying to fit an assortment of large items." He opts for the Honda Accord Crossover "rather than his tree." Honda will "run the ad in an MSN home-page takeover this weekend and in a Fox Sports home-page roadblock on Sunday," and will have "pole position on YouTube's masthead on Monday" (MARKETING DAILY, 2/4 issue). GOING REGIONAL? Toyota Motor Sales National Manager for Business & Field Communications Celeste Migliore said that while the company is "too late for a national Super Bowl ad buy" due to CBS selling out its inventory earlier this week, there are "discussions by Toyota's regional dealerships about buying local Super Bowl spots to target customers having problems." A TV ad buyer said that while no company "wants to be seen to be taking advantage of" Toyota's current well-documented troubles, the company that can "act quickly to take advantage of a changed marketplace would win out" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 2/3).
3. SUPER BOWL ADS: TEBOW SPOT NOT LIKELY TO STEAL THUNDER ON SUNDAY While Focus on the Family's Super Bowl spot starring former Univ. of Florida QB Tim Tebow has received much of the pregame buzz, ad execs believe that by Sunday the "playing field will have pretty much leveled out," according to David Hinckley of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. When the companies advertising during the game "roll out their showcase work in one high-visibility venue, you get an all-star game, not a narrow showcase." Juma Entertainment President Bob Horowitz said the Tebow spot has "gotten a lot of attention, which is part of what Focus on the Family was hoping for." But he added, "Does it draw attention away from everyone else's ads? Not at all." Horowitz: "The talk about Focus on the Family spot gave them good promotion for their investment. But I don't think the Super Bowl will become a forum for advocacy guys. That's not what it's about" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 2/3). In Boston, Donna Goodison notes while the "most memorable ads of Super Bowls past were singled out for their creativity, zaniness and pure entertainment value," the Focus on the Family ad "has been generating the most pre-game hype and controversy this year." Ad agency Mullen spokesperson David Swaebe said, "When you try to insinuate politics into something that’s supposed to be purely entertainment, it’s bound to cause a polarizing reaction" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/4).
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SUPER BOWL WORTHY? In Philadelphia, Ashley Fox writes, "While I personally strongly disagree with his stance on the issue, I do support Tebow's right to free speech. He's entitled to his opinion. So often, athletes are afraid to take a stance on politics or social causes." But Fox added, "I'm not sure this Tebow commercial is Super Bowl material. It's our national sports holiday. Can't they just keep the commercials light and funny?" The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER's John Gonzalez adds, "Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone has the guts to express it." But he notes, "During the Super Bowl, I'd rather laugh than focus on something heavy" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). The Washington Post's Gene Wang: "Honestly, as a football fan, ... I just wish this would go away. If you don't like the ad, get up during the commercial, go get a beer, get some nachos, wait until it's over, then come back" ("Washington Post Live," Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, 2/3). GETTING POLITICAL: Author Tom Krattenmaker "scoffs at the suggestion the ad is not political." He said, "Even if Tim and Pam Tebow do not intend to make a political statement, there's no avoiding the inherently political nature of this message" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/4). In Florida, Peter Kerasotis: "People are saying this will be the most controversial commercial in Super Bowl history. Tim Tebow is no longer pushing the ball up the field. He's pushing the envelope" (FLORIDA TODAY, 2/4). GIVING THEIR RESPONSE: SPORTINGNEWS.com's Dan Levy noted the Focus on The Family spot is the "most widely discussed and debated ad in the history of the Super Bowl," and "everyone with an opinion is giving one." That includes Planned Parenthood, who issued a response video "to the ad we've yet to see." The Planned Parenthood spot "doesn't preach Pro Choice, per se, it just asks people to trust the decisions of women." Levy: "In essence, the ad features male athletes preaching to think twice before following the preachings of another male athlete this weekend" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 2/3). EYE IS THE BEHOLDER: CBS rejected an ad from gay dating site ManCrunch.com, and ADWEEK's Tim Arnold wrote the network apparently is "invoking some kind of arbitrary 'right' to refuse to air commercials on its programs for reasons variously described as 'controversial,' or 'not up to CBS broadcast standards.'" Arnold: "Don't you wonder if any of this has anything to do with the impact other major advertisers can have on the commercial content of the company they keep?" CBS knows "what kind of issues garner big-bucks support, and it's sending a clear signal it's ready for this kind of money, now" (ADWEEK.com, 2/3). Comcast SportsNet's Ivan Carter said of the Focus on the Family ad, "If you're going to show that ad, then you shouldn't pull the ad that was kind of a humorous one about a gay dating site. … I wonder if CBS is, just by taking this ad, opening up a can of worms here. Are they being consistent?" ("Washington Post Live," CSN Mid-Atlantic, 2/3).
4. WORK ZONE: COKE ZERO INTRODUCES "DEPARTMENT OF FANNOVATION" Coca-Cola has launched a "Department of Fannovation" section on the Coke Zero Web site where people "can submit creative ideas through March 14" that are designed to enhance fan experience, according to Tanya Irwin of MARKETING DAILY. Once the NCAA men's basketball tournament arrives in March, Coke Zero "will announce the
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64 most original submissions to compete head to head in the first-ever 'Brain Bracket.'" Fan voting "will then determine which ideas advance to the ensuing rounds." The final 16 submissions "will earn $1,000 each for their creators, while the top four finalists will also earn a trip for two" to the '11 Final Four in Houston. The winner of the contest will be announced April 6, the day of the NCAA championship, and that person "will be crowned the 'Brain Bracket' champion and will receive a check for $10,000." Coke Zero has partnered with CBS Sports college basketball analyst Seth Davis to "help promote the Department of Fannovation." Davis "will be featured on the Web site and will make appearances at colleges and universities to inspire students to submit their own ideas." The campaign will be supported with ads on CBS during the tournament, including one spot that promotes "Mascot Cam." That is a "new form of coverage developed with CBSSports.com [that] allows fans to see the game through the eyes of the mascot" (MARKETING DAILY, 2/3 issue).
5. MICHAEL STRAHAN SHOOTS TV SPOT FOR EASTON/THE SPORTS AUTHORITY By Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large During a week when the emphasis in the world of American sports is squarely on football, Fox NFL analyst and former Giants DE Michael Strahan shot an ad in which he will be hitting baseballs. A co-op ad effort from Easton with the 468-store The Sports Authority (TSA) will show Strahan swatting baseballs with an Easton Stealth composite bat. The spot was shot early this week at an indoor sports complex in Rochester, New York, and should air later this month via regional buys in markets including N.Y., Chicago and Boston before moving into a national rotation. Outtakes will be released on the web virally. New TSA CMO Jeff Schumacher said Strahan was chosen because of his broad cross-generational appeal. He said the ad is Strahan Chosen To Do Spot For His Cross-Generational Appeal some of the first evidence of what will be a repositioning for the chain that will emphasize both value and expertise, leveraging "the authority" on whatever sport, as part of the campaign. “We’ve been a little dormant, but now we are re-energizing the brand across media platforms and we’ll have a bigger and more national voice,” said Schumacher. Maury Gostfrand’s Vision Sports Group, N.Y., represents Strahan, whose other TV advertising credits include his ongoing role with Subway and some recent Vaseline Men creative. At the Super Bowl this week, Strahan is making the corporate rounds, with appearances for brands including DirecTV, Motorola, Sprint and Subway.
6. NAMES & FACES: LIKELY TOP PICK NDAMUKONG SUH SIGNS WITH NIKE Nike announced it has signed projected No. 1 NFL draft pick DT Ndamukong Suh to an endorsement deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Suh will join other Nike football endorsers tomorrow in a Webcast to kick off the '10 Nike High School Combine Tour. Players will be available to the media during the Webcast, with more press materials to follow. The combines are open to high school players across the country free of charge. Suh is represented by The Agency Sports Management for off-the-field marketing work (THE DAILY). POCKET PRESENCE: In Detroit, Nicholas Cotsonika reports Lions QB Matthew
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Stafford is in Miami this week promoting several products, and he is as "marketable as a budding star." He will appear today at a Visa event, "talking football" with ESPN's Ron Jaworski and other players, and he will "participate in a performance testing event for Gatorade." Stafford tomorrow will be the "guest of honor and work the red carpet at a party at LIV nightclub, which Axe Hair is taking over for the weekend." Marketers "love how he casually embraces the spotlight, cracking jokes as he pitches their products." Stafford: "It's laid-back. It's not like I'm pitching something super serious. I have fun with it." Cotsonika notes Axe Hair "flew him to Los Angeles in January to shoot video clips of women giving him 'hair action,'" and the clips are posted on the company's Facebook page (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/4). TIGER, PART DEUX: In Manchester, Owen Gibson reported Umbro "refused to comment" on the status of its US$6.3M endorsement deal with EPL club Chelsea and England D John Terry after Terry has been accused of having an extramarital affair with a teammate's ex-girlfriend. Meanwhile England national team sponsor Nationwide "has made it clear it sponsors the team rather than individuals." Branding experts expect Nationwide and Samsung, which has the shirt sponsorship for Chelsea, to "quietly drop Terry's image from campaigns while they gauge public opinion." Gibson noted Terry "has surprisingly few personal endorsement deals," as he has "failed to make much commercial capital" from his role as England captain. Aside from a deal with male grooming brand King of Shaves that ended April '08, his "only other personal endorsements have been with Umbro and the computer game Pro Evolution Soccer" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 2/3). SISTER ACT: Tennis players Venus and Serena Williams appeared on Fox Business last night to discuss Serena winning the Australian Open women's singles title and both of them winning the doubles crown. Fox Business' David Asman said, "When you win, of course endorsements follow. Companies line-up to have these superstars sell their products." Serena talked about their latest deal with Nabisco and the company's low-calorie product line. Nabisco is sponsoring a contest called "Diet Like A Diva," where the winner will earn a photo shoot with the sisters that will appear "in all kinds of magazines" ("America's Nightly Scoreboard," Fox Business, 2/3). NOTES: In Salt Lake City, Ross Siler reports Jazz G Deron Williams, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas, "will be introduced next Thursday as one of three new faces of the 'got milk' ad campaign" along with MLB Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols and U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/4)....Thunder F Kevin Durant "shot a commercial last week that Gatorade will use as a promotion in conjunction with the H-O-R-S-E competition All-Star weekend." The script "had Durant frantically looking for his trophy he won at last year's All-Star Game" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 2/2).
7. MARKETPLACE ROUNDUP TNT has rejected Electronic Arts' ad for the forthcoming "Dante's Inferno" videogame using the tagline "Go to Hell" for use during the NBA All-Star Game on February 14. CBS similarly rejected the spot for Sunday's Super Bowl XLIV. The videogame publisher for both events will instead run an ad for the game using the modified tagline "Hell awaits" (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). RENEWING ITS PROTECTION PLAN: Under Armour will return for the second year as the presenting sponsor of the '10 NFL Scouting Combine. All participants in the combine, set for February 24-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium, will be outfitted in Under Armour performance apparel and footwear designed specifically for the event. Under Armour will have extensive branding throughout the stadium (Under Armour). GOING DIGITAL: MEDIAWEEK's Katy Bachman reported TurboTax is "taking
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over the home pages of Yahoo, AOL and MSN" this weekend. Initiative Exec VP & Managing Dir of Digital Michael Hayes, whose agency handled TurboTax's campaign, said the company wanted to be associated with the Super Bowl "without the in-game ad cost." Bachman noted the focus of the campaign is the TurboTron, a new "media creative unit that resembles a big scoreboard and does everything except fill out the tax form." Initiative has partnered with Brand Affinity Technologies for the "digital rights" to ESPN's Chris Berman. The TurboTron is "expected to generate 500-600 million impressions" throughout Super Bowl weekend (MEDIAWEEK.com, 2/2). ROUNDUP: EPL club Arsenal has hired Helios Partners to provide marketing expertise and consulting services as the team aims to expand its presence and fan base in China (Arsenal)....adidas has "launched a restructuring of its North American headquarters in Portland that will ultimately increase employment by 60." But adidas said that the restructuring also will require them to "eliminate an unspecified number of positions" (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/4).
8. GAMES ON: NETWORKS UNVEIL BROADCAST PLANS AGAINST OLYMPICS The Vancouver Games "fall squarely into the February sweeps period," and networks feel "pressure to air strong counterprogramming" during the 17 nights NBC has the Olympics, according to Gary Levin of USA TODAY. Fox' "American Idol" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "Grey's Anatomy" outdrew NBC's primetime coverage of the '06 Turin Games when going head-to-head, but Horizon Media Senior VP and Corporate Research Dir Brad Adgate predicts Vancouver's proximity to the U.S. means the Olympics are "going to do better this year." However, other observers have said that NBC's "prime-time woes, declining ratings for non-U.S. Olympics and fewer breakout athletes will hurt." Levin notes reality series are "Olympics Teflon" and have "held up best in past years." CBS' "Survivor," "The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss," as well as "Idol" and ABC's "The Bachelor," all "will stay on the air" during the Games. Fox will air repeats of several dramas such as "House" and "Bones," and "some Sunday animated series." However, "much of its lineup, including 'Human Target' and '24,' will remain intact." ABC "will pre-empt 'Castle,' its Wednesday family comedies and single episodes of 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Grey's' that face figure skating." CBS' sitcoms and dramas "will take a breather." CBS Primetime Senior Exec VP Kelly Kahl: "Running them against the Olympics doesn't give us the biggest bang for the buck" (USA TODAY, 2/4). OVERLY AMBITIOUS? SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted NBC is "guaranteeing Madison Avenue an average primetime household rating of 14 for the 16 nights of the Vancouver Games." Deitsch wrote, "That feels overly optimistic, but we shall see." The Vancouver Games lack a "marquee U.S. star as well as no American women likely to be a factor in the Ladies' Figure Skating competition." NBC "ramped up its Vancouver Games ads" with U.S. speedskater Apolo Ohno and skier Lindsey Vonn, but "neither athlete is close to having the kind of pre-Games Q-rating" that U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps had ahead of the Beijing Games. Vancouver also "does not hold the same kind of curiosity as Beijing" (SI.com, 2/1). MORNING GLORY: The AP's David Bauder reported NBC's "Today" starting Tuesday is "transporting itself West for nearly three weeks of broadcasts" from the Vancouver
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Games, and the show "looms as an ever-more important promotional showcase for NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, given the network's dwindling audience in prime-time and late-night hours." The Olympics are "another showcase for television's most NBC's "Today" Will Begin Airing popular morning news show," which From Vancouver On Tuesday will start at 4:00am PT each weekday. That means athletes "who want to show off their medals must travel 20 minutes out of the city and take a tram ride to a mountainside set in the middle of the night." But "Today" Exec Producer Jim Bell said that athletes "will still wake up early for the chance to be seen on national television." U.S. Gold Medalists Picabo Street and Kristi Yamaguchi will serve as "special correspondents during the Olympics, offering commentary and analysis of the action" for "Today." Vancouver marks the seventh Olympics venue from which "Today" will broadcast on location (AP, 2/3). Meanwhile, Universal Sports is offering cable operators a "24/7 'freeview' of its programming" during the Olympics. The net's event coverage "will include 5 hours of live daily news through 5 newly-created studio shows, plus continuous studio news updates every 30min and a live, up-to-date Olympic results ticker" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 2/4). DOWN TO THE WIRE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Susan Krashinsky noted reports have suggested that Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium "hasn't yet pulled in enough ad revenue to break even on its investment," which sources estimated to be about C$200M including production and marketing costs, compared to the US$820M that NBC paid for U.S. rights to broadcast the Vancouver Games. But CTV officials said that they will "keep selling." CTVglobemedia Inc. President & CEO Ivan Fecan: "If the recession hadn't been there, we'd be talking about how much money we're making, profit, during these Games" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/2).
9. STATS SIGNS DEAL TO BECOME MLB'S REAL-TIME DATA LICENSOR By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal Stats LLC has struck a multiyear deal with MLBAM to become baseball's official real-time data licensor. Building on similar pacts Stats holds with the NFL, NBA and other major properties, Stats will distribute real-time and post-game data to its media clients around the world, and the deal also covers the affiliated minor leagues, Arizona Fall League, World Baseball Classic, Caribbean World Series and other events where MLBAM collects data. Stats' involvement essentially replaces a somewhat similar pact MLBAM held with SportsTicker prior to Stats' acquisition of its one-time rival last year. Financial terms were not disclosed. However, the deal is a fairly traditional data licensing and distribution deal and does not include anything from Stats' ongoing motion tracking work with its SportVu unit. Nor does the agreement allow for the licensing of any location and trajectory-based data developed by MLBAM in partnership with Sportvision. "The motion tracking and thinking about incorporating the kinds of things we're doing there is a conversation we're still going to want to have with them," said Stats Exec VP Steve
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Byrd. "But this is a huge deal for us. It was the biggest property out there we didn't have, and we have tons of opportunity particularly in places like Japan and Taiwan where we have a strong presence and there's big demand for this data. This sets us up exactly where we want to be." Stats will still cover every MLB game on its own, as it has in the past, to create a backup data feed instead of just relying on MLBAM's feed.
10. MEDIA NOTES In Philadelphia, Bob Fernandez reports Comcast will "re-brand its TV, Internet, and telephone services as Xfinity on Feb. 12 to signal to customers that this isn't the same old company." Comcast "will remain as the corporate name, but the company will emphasize Xfinity in advertisements and on 24,000 service trucks and thousands of employee uniforms." The new brand name "will first appear in Comcast Re-Branding Its TV, Internet, Comcast ads, around the time of the Telephone Services As Xfinity Winter Olympics, in Philadelphia and 10 other markets and will then appear in Comcast's cable-franchise areas in other parts of the country" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). CHIEF PRIORITY: The Chiefs yesterday announced a multi-year extension of their radio partnership with KCFX-FM, which next season will serve as the flagship station for the 21st consecutive season. KCFX will broadcast all Chiefs preseason, regular-season and postseason games to affiliates throughout a seven-state region. Announcer Mitch Holthus and analyst Len Dawson will call the action together for the 17th straight season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs also announced a new radio partnership with WHB-AM, which has secured exclusive rights to other Chiefs programming, including the second hour of the official Chiefs postgame show, live press conferences and more. WHB will own exclusive live radio broadcast rights to the Chiefs' weekly in-season press conferences with coach Todd Haley and the team's starting QB (Chiefs). LET'S GO STREAMING: THE NATIONAL's Keach Hagey reports EPL games "will be broadcast over broadband internet in the Middle East and North Africa from the start of next season." Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) "won a three-year contract for exclusive regional rights to broadcast the EPL last year, but until now had not revealed how it planned to broadcast matches." It was "widely assumed within the industry that ADMC would resell its rights to a pay-TV broadcaster, or sublicence them to terrestrial television in certain markets." But ADMC CEO Edward Borgerding "rejected this model last night" (THE NATIONAL, 2/4). NUMBERS GAME: In Chicago, Rick Telander writes N.Y. Times sports reporter Alan Schwarz' "dogged, smart, mathematically-grounded pursuit of the rising brain trauma and dementia issues in the NFL has put him at the journalistic forefront of the hottest ethical topic in the football world." Schwarz has now written "over the course of three years some 30 articles for the Times on the connection between brain damage and football -- and, he insists, it is no longer a connection, but a fact." Schwarz, who "graduated cum laude in mathematics" from the Univ. of Pennsylvania, said, "I love numbers as numbers. I see personality in numbers. Numbers to me are a language that tell stories about people" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/4).
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11. NFLPA EXEC DIR DEMAURICE SMITH CLAIMS OWNERS EYEING LOCKOUT NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith yesterday said that NFL team owners are "not only girding for a 2011 lockout but intimated they are also intent on breaking the players' resolve," according to Jim Corbett of USA TODAY. Smith said, "The simple fact is they have engaged in a concerted course of conduct where anybody looking at it will see that they have done more to prepare themselves to not play football than to play football." When asked if the "intent of the owners' strategy is designed to break the union," Smith cited the league hiring outside labor counsel Bob Batterman, who advised the NHL during its lockout. Smith: "The first data point, you hire the guy who orchestrated the hockey lockout. ... In 2008, 2009, you negotiate television contracts that pay the teams even if the games aren't played. You negotiate coaches' contracts envisioning a lockout. And you are arguing in front of the Supreme Court that the antitrust laws should no longer apply to you. What does that sound like?" (USA TODAY, 2/4). TAKING DOLLARS & SENSE: Smith yesterday said players see “monumental growth” on the business side, and they have “seen no evidence that anybody is losing money” under the current CBA. Smith: "Nobody is off 1% of their profits. Look, it's an easy job if someone comes to me and says, 'De, we're off profits, 5%, 6%, 7%, 18%.' It's very difficult to sell to a player in a locker room, 'You have to take a $340,000 pay cut. The owners want a $1(B) raise.'" He added, "So I think the closer we can get to the players understanding whether there is a decrease or a squeeze on the profit side, that makes sense." Smith reiterated he would prefer to have a new CBA in place before the '10 season becomes uncapped in March. Smith: "That has been what has been driving me into the ground to try to get this done." However, he conceded it is "going to be tough" to reach a new CBA in time to avoid a lockout in '11. Smith: "I'm going to make every effort to get this deal done. This game has to continue. It's too important to our fans, too important for the people in our community and too important to the families who rely on football for their jobs" ("Mike & Mike in the Morning," ESPN2, 2/3). But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "It will work out. Eventually we will have an agreement. It's just a question of when. I look at it as an opportunity. This is a chance for us to structure an agreement that works for the players, works for the owners, and allows the game to continue to grow" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/4). UNION MAINTAINS IT IS STRONG: Smith and Titans C and NFLPA President Kevin Mawae appeared on Showtime's "Inside The NFL" last night and discussed the labor situation. Showtime's Cris Collinsworth said, ""This thing is probably headed for a lockout ... but if I were an owner and I have the television money locked in and I know I'm going to have a revenue stream that the players won't have, I'm also thinking there's no way in heck these players are going to hold on. They are going to cave." Mawae: "You underestimate the players of today. The players are not going to be broke." He added, "We're looking at other steps to be able to work through a lockout problem. The owners are not going to want to take this into a lockout." Smith earlier in the show mentioned the league wants players to take a 18% pay cut, and Showtime's Michael Lombardi said, "I think you're being really general." Lombardi: "Nobody's going to ask Peyton Manning when his contract comes up to take a 18% decrease, and I think you're unilaterally making that statement. And I'm not sure that's quite where the owners' position is" ("Inside The NFL," Showtime, 2/3). TEAMS LOSING MONEY? Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti yesterday warned that
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the NFL and union "could be headed for a 2011 lockout." Bisciotti said the current CBA is a "bad deal for the league." He believes that "increases the odds of a lockout with what he claims are so many cash-strapped teams." Bisciotti: "There's no cash flow. If we don't get this thing back to the point that teams have enough cash flow ... then there's a long-term problem for the league." More Bisciotti: "I've got partners out there right now whose teams are making less than their linebackers. I think we've got an acute problem here with the general profitability of the teams" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/4). Bisciotti insisted that "many of the 32 NFL teams are struggling" to make a profit. Ravens President Dick Cass said the club is "doing well compared to other teams around the league." But he added, "Just because we're still doing well in revenues, that doesn't mean we're generating a lot of profit" (AP, 2/3). DOCUMENT SHOWS OWNERS' CASH DROP: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Aaron Kuriloff notes a document prepared by the league for NFLPA officials shows that NFL players received about $2.6B in "salary and benefits from incremental revenue growth under the current labor contract, while owners' cash flow declined" by about $220M. The document claims that the "owners' share of new revenue since" '05 totaled about $1B, while their costs rose to $1.2B. NFL CFO Anthony Noto said that while the league's total revenue rose 8% from '06 to '09 to about $8B, player costs are up 9% and "cash flow is down" about 8%. Noto: "The clubs are being squeezed. I think they will be forced to continue to reduce their investment to try to get to a cash-flow number and a return that they need" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2/4). A PLAYER’S VIEWPOINT: Colts K Matt Stover, who previously was the long-time player rep for the Ravens, weighed in on the CBA negotiations and said, “My concern is the ownership and what they're going to do to each other.” Stover: “They're not together on what's going on right now with regard to upcoming negotiations. I think there are several of them that don't want to share these revenues, and, as a player group, we're going, 'C'mon, guys, don't ruin this good thing. … Let's not get greedy or selfish or however you want to look at it.'” More Stover: “At the same time, I'd put the thumb on certain organizations, too, to make sure that they're responding to the model that they have. I'm hoping as a player … that they do create unification with the ownership first. I think that has to be done so that we can negotiate in good faith, because at this point we can't. We don't know. We're in the dark right now with their books, and we need to know what their issues are." Stover said he believes Smith is “doing a good job” and thinks the union “can work something out.” But he noted, “I believe ownership sees there's value in a lockout, maybe not in a short term but in a long term, if they can get it. We're just going to be smart with how we go about it" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/3). RETIRED PLAYERS UPSET: In DC, Mark Maske reported tensions between retired players and the NFLPA "were renewed" yesterday, as NFL Alumni Association Exec Dir George Martin said that he has "made repeated attempts to schedule a meeting with Smith but the two are yet to meet." Martin said that Smith has been "receptive in e-mail exchanges to the possibility of scheduling a face-to-face meeting, but nothing has been arranged." He added, "If an individual as important as the commissioner of the NFL can make the time to sit down and listen to the concerns of retired players, I feel Mr. Smith should as well. ... After such time as 3-1/2 months, it's time for us to sit down and not procrastinate on this issue." He added Goodell has been "more responsive to the concerns expressed by Martin." Smith said of Martin's comments, "He works for the league. I know where George draws his paycheck" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/3).
12. NFLPA CLAIMS LEAGUE INSISTING PLAYERS TAKE 20% PAY CUT IN NEW CBA By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
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The NFLPA has made a proposal to the NFL that would cut league costs, including a three-year maximum length on rookie deals that would save $200M, but the NFL is insisting that players take a more than 20% pay cut without offering financial reasons to back it up, said Titans C and NFLPA President Kevin Mawae. "We have offered solutions. We are the ones that offered the rookie (3-year maximum length), saving $200M," Mawae said, referring to the NFLPA's proposal which would reduce compensation committed in multi-year contracts to rookies each year by $200M. He added, "We introduced ideas to get (costs out of) the revenue stream. But it keeps coming back, 'Unless you take a 20% player cost cut, we can't do a deal.'" NFL officials were not available for comment. However, when the league was asked if it was true that it told the NFLPA that it could not do a deal unless the players agreed to a 20% cut, it said, "No." The NFLPA is set to hold its annual Super Bowl press conference today, and although union officials would not reveal details, it is expected that the union will tell its financial story to the press corps. That story, according to Mawae and other sources, is that the NFL is essentially asking the players to shoulder more costs, including normal operating costs, without providing any financial data regarding if clubs are losing money because of their costs. SHOW US SOME PROOF: Mawae said, "This has always been our point: You want 20% player cost cutbacks, show us the information and the data that would justify you asking to cut costs. And they haven’t done that. They have asked for an 18% rollback from players, plus the 5% that is already cut out before you figure out the total football revenue (which determines the salary cap)." Mawae is referring to the little-known fact that 5% is taken off the top for a number of expenses including "team operating and day-of-game expenses," according to the current NFL CBA. "We found that after cost deductions and the 5% deductions, it's almost a billion dollars that is not in the total football revenue," he added. It has been widely reported that NFL players appear to receive the highest percentage of revenues -- at just under 60% -- compared to players in the other team sports. Late NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw said publicly that the players were receiving 59-60%. But in a recent letter to NFLPA player reps, NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith wrote, "Last year, the NFL Players received 51.3% of Real Revenue." UNION CHANGING ITS TUNE? Although the NFL would not comment, a league source questioned whether the NFLPA was now changing its tune with bargaining for a new CBA going on. “They have been telling their players and others for years that they are getting 60%," said the source. "Now they are changing the definition of total revenue to make the percentage look smaller. They know the real dollar numbers and how the players have gotten a huge windfall in the current CBA.” Many labor and sports business experts have said it is nearly impossible to make an apples-to-apples comparison because of how revenues are calculated and what costs are taken out before determining revenues. For example, in the NFL, costs such as the cost of making a T-shirt are deducted before calculating the revenue the T-shirt brings in. The NFL CBA also provides that the union give the league credits for stadium construction, above and beyond the 5% for other costs including general operating costs. That amount is about $1B, according to Mawae and Smith's letter, and the 51.3% in the letter refers to actual dollars.
13. MLS RELEASES '10 SCHEDULE, SIMILAR TO EUROPEAN LEAGUE'S PATTERN MLS yesterday released its '10 regular-season schedule and "for the first time in the league's 15-year history, it conforms to the pattern set by Europe's leading leagues," according to Grahame Jones of the L.A. TIMES. Each of MLS' 16 teams "will play the other 15 teams once at home and once on the road" in a 30-game schedule. That follows the patterns "long established in Europe and should lead to an increase in MLS
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attendance because fans will have only one opportunity of seeing each visiting team and its stars during the regular season." All of the league's 240 games "will be televised regionally or nationally, with one third live on national television." In addition, 85% of games "will be played on weekends," including 75% on Saturdays. The MLS All-Star Game "will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston in late July or early August," and MLS Cup '10 "will be played Nov. 21 at a venue to be announced" (L.A. TIMES, 2/4). FANHOUSE.com's Brian Straus wrote of the schedule, "Each game is a one-off event, the only matchup of those given clubs in that stadium this year. It should add an element of interest and intrigue to each fixture that MLS has not been able to produce consistently" (FANHOUSE.com, 2/3). STATE OF THE UNION: In Philadelphia, Marc Narducci notes the expansion Union will play their first game in the new PPL Park in Chester on June 27 against Sounders FC. Union President Tom Veit: "The league really worked with us because we wanted to have as many home games as possible in our stadium. I think this is the best possible situation." Veit said that the team has "sold nearly 9,500 season tickets at its new stadium," with a cut-off point of around 12,000. Until the new facility is complete, the club will play at Lincoln Financial Field (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). STAR ATTRACTION: In Seattle, Jose Miguel Romero writes Sounders FC's "presence continues to grow," as the club again has the "first match of the season in the entire league" on March 25 against the Union at Qwest Field. The game is "one of seven Sounders FC appearances on ESPN2 this year," and "no other MLS team appears on an ESPN network more often." The team has 10 total games on national television, and Sounders Senior VP/Business Operations Gary Wright said, "I know the networks like doing games from Qwest Field, and that is a real tribute to the fans and the atmosphere they have created in the stadium" (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/4). NO BULL: In N.Y., Michael Lewis reports the Red Bulls, who will debut their new Red Bull Arena next month, are "interested in hosting the MLS Cup this year." Red Bulls Managing Dir Erik Stover: "We're seriously considering it. We will put in an application." An MLS source said that the team is "under consideration along with several other cities" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/4).
14. MLB TEAMS CANNOT REQUIRE PLAYERS TO DONATE TO CLUB CHARITIES MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's office and the MLBPA have agreed that teams "cannot mandate that a player donate to club charities as part of his contract," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner said that the agreement "does not restrict players from making donations but ensures the choice is theirs." Weiner: "The goal here never has been to interfere with players making charitable contributions, which guys have a long history of doing." Shaikin notes as part of Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez' $45M contract he signed in March, he "agreed to donate $1[M] to the Dodgers' charitable foundation." Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt followed that up by saying that he "would implement the 'Ramirez Provision,' asking players to make a donation in an amount of their choosing as part of all future Dodgers contracts." The MLBPA filed a grievance alleging that teams "had improperly mandated donations to club charities in the contracts of at least 109 players." A source said that under the settlement agreement, clubs can "demand such donations from players signing as free agents or signing long-term contracts that buy out one or more years of free agency." The source said that players "not yet eligible for free agency cannot be compelled to donate" (L.A. TIMES, 2/4).
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15. SAINTS' SUCCESS HELPING TEAM EARN FANS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA The Saints' success this season has "accomplished what the team's marketing gurus could not: Turn the Saints from a team that had belonged almost exclusively to the New Orleans region into a statewide and regional draw," according to Jan Moller of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The surge in interest is "notable in large part because of the apathy that preceded it." In '05, the Saints, displaced from the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, "struggled through a 3-13 nightmare of a season while playing their home games in front of 50,000 empty seats at LSU's Tiger Stadium." At that time, the "prospects of the Saints being embraced by Baton Rouge, much less the rest of Louisiana, seemed remote." But Saints VP/Marketing & Business Development Ben Hales said that about 30% of the team's season-ticket holders now "hail from outside the New Orleans region." Former Lake Charles American Press editor Jim Beam "pegs the team's resurgence in southwest Louisiana to the 2006 season, and the shared experience of loss and rejuvenation that binds that region to New Orleans." But Moller notes there is "also a more practical reason for the team's popularity in Lake Charles: television." Until a few years ago, the Fox affiliate in Lake Charles, KVHP, "often showed Cowboys games on Sundays, largely because the station also served areas of east Texas." But that "changed earlier this decade, when a new Fox station popped up in southeast Texas." Meanwhile, Shreveport's KMSS-Fox GM Paula Hayward said that the Cowboys "drew slightly higher ratings than the Saints in November, the most recent ratings period." KMSS twice this year "asked its viewers to vote on" whether the station should show the Cowboys or Saints when there was a direct conflict. The first vote was "won by the Saints," but the Cowboys "won by a narrow margin" the second time (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/4). CATCHING THE FEVER: In Louisiana, Jeff Matthews noted business "has been brisk in several sectors -- including food and beverage, advertising and apparel -- in connection with the Saints' best season in their long-suffering history." Susan Broussard, Store Dir for an Albertson's location in Alexandria, Louisiana, said, "It's like the perfect storm. We're not even sure how to prepare for this. Louisiana has never experienced anything like having our team in the Super Bowl. It's new to us." Matthews noted Albertson's will have employees "working around the clock as the weekend gets closer to meet expected demand," while the Academy Sports & Outdoors in Alexandria is planning a "late-night opening if the Saints win" (Alexandria TOWN TALK, 2/3).
16. SOURCE SAYS SALE OF BOBCATS COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH Ongoing negotiations between Bobcats Owner Bob Johnson and The Postolos Group Owner George Postolos "could result in a sale of the NBA team during March or April," according to a source cited by Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. NBA sources said that Johnson "acknowledged to fellow owners that the Bobcats would lose tens of millions during the next few seasons." The team is "still heavily in debt, well in excess of $100[M], and Johnson's minority partners haven't generally participated in cash calls to cover the losses." While the Bobcats "have improved, with a winning record and a strong chance at their first playoff appearance, that hasn't made much impact on ticket sales." The Bobcats are 22nd out of the 30 NBA teams in home attendance, averaging 15,017 per game at Time Warner Cable Arena. One question "concerning a potential sale is whether" Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael
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Jordan, who reportedly owns the right of first refusal, is "serious about buying controlling interest" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/4). ESPN.com's J.A. Adande cites an NBA source as saying that Jordan is "not inclined to make a bid for the franchise that matches the number" Johnson has in mind. It is "believed that a group led by" Postolos has "made a higher offer." One source interpreted Johnson's "backing away from the sale to Postolos last summer and the continued extension of the process as a desire to give Jordan another opportunity to put together a strong offer." But with NBA owners "already skittish about the perceived low-price sale" of the Nets by Bruce Ratner to Mikhail Prokhorov "dragging down franchise values there will be pressure on Johnson to go for the higher bid and not let his relationship with Jordan outweigh the prospect of more cash" (ESPN.com, 2/4). WOULD JORDAN MAKE A GOOD OWNER? ESPN's Marcellus Wiley said, "Being a great player does not necessarily mean it translates into being a great owner. … Michael Jordan as the president of the Wizards won less than 40% of his ballgames, and he's the guy who drafted Kwame Brown with the first pick in 2001." But ESPN's Michelle Beadle said, “He has learned from his mistakes when he was with the Wizards because with the Bobcats, he's actually making them relevant" ("SportsNation," ESPN2, 2/3).
17. HITTING THE RIGHT TUNE: JAZZ MAY BRING BACK MUSIC NOTE LOGO The Jazz are considering bringing back their old music note logo "on a full-time basis," according to Ross Siler of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Jazz President Randy Rigby confirmed that the team has "talked to the NBA about the possibility." Rigby: "We're looking at that. We've kept that mark so that we can look at maybe
doing a redesign." The Jazz used the music note logo "from the team's founding in New Orleans in 1974 through the 1995-96 season, before switching to the current logo." The Jazz "returned to the music note as a secondary logo two years ago and are wearing green and yellow throwback jerseys from the 1979-80 season featuring the logo this season." The NBA "typically requires teams seek approval of logo changes at least two years in advance." Rigby said the Jazz are "just still looking at it." However, Jazz G Deron Williams said that he has "already seen designs of the new jerseys the Jazz could wear next season." Instead of the original "Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and yellow," the Jazz are expected to sport the updated music note logo with blue, green and gold. Rigby noted that the green and yellow throwbacks "have been well received." He added that late Jazz Owner Larry Miller was a "fan of the music note from a tradition standpoint." Williams said, "As long as we don't go back to the ones with the mountains, I'm cool, the one that Jeff Hornacek has up in the rafters" (SLTRIB.com, 2/3).
18. EPL FRANCHISE NOTES: PORTSMOUTH CONFIRMS LATEST TAKEOVER In London, Ben Smith reports EPL club Portsmouth confirmed that a company owned by Hong Kong-based businessman Balram Chainrai has "seized control of the troubled club from" current Owner Ali al-Faraj. Chainrai is "believed to have taken over al-Faraj's 90[%] shareholding after becoming frustrated that the club had missed deadlines to repay money he was due for substantial loans he gave to them earlier this season." If Chainrai "passes the Premier League's fit and proper persons test, he will become the fourth owner" of the club this season. However, Portsmouth "stressed Chainrai's takeover is a short-term solution to their ongoing financial problems, with his main aim being to prevent the club going into liquidation while new owners are found" (LONDON TIMES,
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2/4). SLOW START: In London, Alistair Dawber reports investors in Manchester United's "much-hyped" US$800M bond issue launched last month have "lost money on the deal after weaker markets and a perception that the club is a poor creditor led to a drop in its value last week." The bond was "initially priced at a discount to attract investors and has since fallen even further," and bold holders "wishing to sell now would make a five percentage point loss." The bond's low value is "exacerbated by the tepid interest shown in the deal from traditional investment houses, which would normally underpin a deal, leaving wealthy individuals in Asia to pick up the surplus" (London INDEPENDENT, 2/4). TIME FOR A CAP? In Manchester, Dave Middleton reports West Ham United co-Owner David Sullivan has "reignited the debate over a salary cap in the Premier League, saying it may be the only solution to the 'madness' of current top-flight wages." Sullivan said that high salaries "were 'bad for football' and hit out at the imbalance created by the spending power of the billionaire owners of Manchester City and Chelsea." Sullivan: "I've always been against it but I'm starting to swing towards it, as they have in American football. Other than that I just don't see an end to it -- of wages out of all proportion to the turnover of the clubs. Somehow there should be some sort of control" (Manchester GUARDIAN, 2/4).
19. FRANCHISE NOTES In St. Louis, Howard Balzer reports ComPsych Corp. Chair & CEO Dr. Richard Chaifetz "did not deny Wednesday that he is involved in a group trying to purchase" the Rams. While "not directly admitting his involvement, Chaifetz spent 10 minutes on the phone asking questions about what was being said in St. Louis about the sale of the Rams." NFL sources said that while Chaifetz "might not be the lead investor of the group, he 'is among those in the running'" (GLOBE-DEMOCRAT.com, 2/4). Meanwhile, PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a league source as saying that the "word on the street -- as in, literally, Wall Street -- is that" SCP Worldwide Chair Dave Checketts "doesn't have the money to buy" the Rams. The source indicated that Checketts "has not been able to line up enough investors to buy the team" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/3). Chaifetz May Be Involved NOT OVER YET: SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote it is In Group Bidding For Rams believed that the Astros bid group led by former IBAF President Harvey Schiller and Mark Isaacson, the lead negotiator for N.Y.-based investment firm Great Court Capital, "will still have a chance to meet the asking price that is said to be at least" $600M. Astros Owner Drayton McLane's intention "appears to be to act like he has little interest in selling," but this is the "second foray in recent years into a possible sale, and this one seems serious." Meanwhile, there are "rumors of trouble in the Rangers' deal to sell the team to the group led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan," but sources close to Greenberg said that he "remains unworried" (SI.com, 2/3). MAKING PROGRESS: The D'Backs' contract commitments for the '10 season are "near their $75[M] budget," and Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick said, "We had started out with a roughly mid-70s number that we wanted to work with, but recognized that the economy would probably put stress on the market. And if there was a significant
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piece or significant opportunity that would come along in an area where we had a need, that [GM Josh Byrnes] could feel free, and come back and let us know." MLB.com's Steve Gilbert noted the team's "final payroll number will not be known until the club reaches an agreement" with P Edwin Jackson. The team "has not had a player go to an arbitration hearing under Byrnes, and Kendrick said the team is open to the possibility of avoiding the process in the future by signing key players to multiyear deals" (MLB.com, 2/3). SALE IN LIMBO? In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich reports CFL BOG members yesterday at their meetings in West Palm Beach were told that the Argonauts' ownership issue was "being taken off the day's agenda." There are "no guarantees a deal will be done this week" for Argonauts co-Owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski to sell the team to B.C. Lions Owner David Braley. A source said that the two sides are "still talking but Braley is reassessing his offer after getting a closer look at the Argos' books." Cynamon and Sokolowski "have little wiggle room as they haven't been able to find another suitor or partner, even with league commissioner Mark Cohon working behind the scenes to help them" (TORONTO STAR, 2/4).
20. PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PGE PARK RENOVATION FOR MLS TEAM The Portland City Council yesterday approved a $31M agreement with Merritt Paulson to renovate PGE Park for his new MLS team, "clearing the way for Portland to become a two-major-league-sports city in 2011," according to James Mayer of the Portland OREGONIAN. The council "voted for the deal only after a majority of council members were assured that no taxpayer money was at risk." In a "provision that eased their worries, Portland City Council Has Approved A $31M Paulson promises that if his company, Renovation Of PGE Park For New MLS Team Peregrine LLC, cannot complete the city-owned ballpark's reconstruction for any reason, he and his father, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, will pay to finish it." Paulson will pay $8M in cash "upfront and an additional" $11.1M into the city's Spectator Facilities Fund as "prepaid rent to serve as a construction loan." The city will borrow $11.9M, "with repayment coming primarily from ticket taxes at PGE Park and Trail Blazers games." Paulson "agreed to cover all construction cost overruns and has committed to keeping the MLS team in Portland for the life of the contract, which runs through 2035." City Commissioner Amanda Fritz "cast the only no vote, saying she believes the agreement is the best possible deal for the city but still could put taxpayers at risk." The council last night also "approved a permit allowing Peregrine to enter the stadium to begin construction." Portland Timbers VP/Communications Chris Metz said that preliminary work is "being done now that will be halted before the start" of the season for the Triple-A PCL Beavers, the venue's current tenant. The reconstruction work "will resume in the fall and be completed in time for the 2011 MLS season" (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/4). READY FOR KICK OFF: The Timbers announced that they are "accepting season ticket deposits" for their inaugural MLS season. The ticket plan "will give priority access
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to 2010 Timbers full-season ticket holders." Fans who are "not purchasing 2010 season tickets can pay a $50 seat deposit and receive priority over other purchasers" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/3).
21. MINNESOTA GOV. SAYS LOTTERY COULD HELP FINANCE VIKINGS STADIUM Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty yesterday moved closer to "becoming a pivotal player" in the Vikings stadium debate, "suggesting that state lottery money and other means could help publicly finance the controversial project," according to Kaszuba & Stassen- Berger of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Pawlenty in a radio interview said that Minnesota "could use proceeds Pawlenty Says Lottery Funds Could Generate from a new state lottery game to generate Estimated $12M Annually For New Stadium an estimated" $12M annually for a new stadium. Pawlenty said that he is "not specifically proposing such a funding plan," but added that lottery funds "could be part of a public subsidy package that would generate the [$29-42M] annually that team officials say would be needed for a stadium." Kaszuba & Stassen-Berger note a "novel element that Pawlenty offered" in his comments involved a "pumped up version of tax increment financing, a complex financing tool that typically has allowed developers to divert their property taxes to develop their properties." Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said team officials "applaud the governor" for his comments. Bagley added that the team has "explored the tax benefits of creating a stadium development district to capture the rise in 'all of the economic activity' surrounding a new facility." Meanwhile, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) Chair Roy Terwilliger, whose organization owns the Metrodome, said that "using lottery proceeds for a stadium has been discussed, as has a proposal to divert income taxes paid by players and coaches." Terwilliger noted there is "ongoing dialogue" between the MSFC and the governor's office (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/4). FOUR SCORE: The AP's John Krawczynski wrote Vikings QB Brett Favre's presence this season was a "boost to everything from the team's box office and merchandise sales to sponsorship deals and its pursuit of a new stadium." Favre's jersey "was the No. 1 seller throughout the league, the ticket office was deluged with requests in the days following his signing in August and the team locked down some lucrative sponsorship deals that were sorely needed to offset the lack of revenue generated by the Metrodome." Vikings CMO and VP/Sales & Marketing Steve LaCroix: "Certainly, he had an impact. It's hard to quantify it exactly, but there's no doubt he helped." Meanwhile, Davie Brown Talent Group Account Dir Matt Delzell said Favre's decision to return to the Vikings or retire has "a lot of far-reaching implications." Delzell: "Not just on the field, but financially it's a huge hit to the Vikings if he decides to retire" (AP, 2/2).
22. NEW JERSEY GOV. NOT READY TO RULE ON NETS MOVE TO NEWARK New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie yesterday "refused to say whether he will allow" the Nets to move to Prudential Center for the next two NBA seasons, or waive the $7.5M penalty the Nets face for "breaking their lease" at
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Izod Center, according to Claire Heininger of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. While the Nets and Devils, the Prudential Center's lead tenant, hope to "send Christie a lease arrangement this week," Christie suggested that a "decision is not imminent." Christie said that he will make a decision "after receiving input on the broader impact of a deal from a newly formed advisory commission on New Jersey's struggling sports, gaming and entertainment industries." Heininger noted the $7.5M fee is "seen as key to the discussions that would bring the Nets to Newark before their planned move to Brooklyn in 2012." While former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was "willing to waive the fee, the sports and gaming committee of Christie's transition team suggested the penalty should be upheld." Christie yesterday said that the newly formed advisory panel will "examine the viability" of the NJSEA, as well as the state's "money-losing racetracks, the stalled Xanadu project" and the relationship between Izod Center and the Prudential Center. The seven-member commission will be led by former NJSEA Chair Jon Hanson, and also includes former Rutgers AD Bob Mulcahy, YES Network Founder Finn Wentworth and YES announcer Al Leiter (NJ.com, 2/3). TIME TO GET TO WORK: The panel will "follow on the work of a larger group that outlined the problems for Christie in a transition report last month." Christie asked the commission to "report back to him by June 30, but said it will advise him on more pressing issues on an 'ongoing, real-time' basis." He stressed that the issues are "interrelated and cannot be tackled individually -- nor should the stakeholders see it that way." The STAR-LEDGER outlines the "big problems that need to be addressed" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/4). A STAR-LEDGER editorial states New Jersey's state department "needs an objective, hard look" at the NJSEA's "sky-high debt; its decaying and underutilized arena; an ugly and abandoned indoor ski slope; a stadium deal that will cost taxpayers millions; a dying horse-racing industry; and ridiculous NJSEA salaries." But naming Hanson as the Chair of the panel is a "flat-out whiff" by Christie. As a former Chair of the NJSEA, Hanson is "an alumnus of Mismanagement University." He helped "create the problem" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/4).
23. LEIWEKE DISCUSSES AEG'S GROWING INFLUENCE IN CONCERT BUSINESS AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke "had his hand in the Justice Department's recent deal to approve" the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger, and his "involvement in those delicate negotiations yielded big bonuses for his company," according to Alex Pham of the L.A. TIMES. Under a proposed settlement with antitrust regulators, AEG "would get access to Ticketmaster's technology to build a rival ticketing service." Asked if AEG Leiweke Notes AEG's Remarkable can compete against the merged Progress In Music-Ticketing Market Ticketmaster-Live Nation, Leiweke said, "Ticketmaster owns 85% of the music-ticketing business. So there are existing contracts we will all have to deal with. And Live Nation is twice as large as AEG Live, plus some." But he noted, "Ten years ago, we were zero percent of the market. Now we have $1[B] in revenue on the live concert side. It will be hard now to dismiss us as irrelevant." Meanwhile, Leiweke said AEG is "close to hitting our numbers on retail" at L.A. Live. Leiweke: "Foot traffic is on track to hit 20 million this year. Advertising revenue is above
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projection. The events we have created are above projections. Even our suites and premier seats are above projection. We're doing well considering the recession." However, Leiweke, referring to the new 54-story hotel at L.A. Live, said, "If you were to choose to open a hotel, it would not be right now. We're on time and close to on budget. But it may take us a year longer than we thought to get to the point where this hotel will be a good investment." Leiweke also discussed the state of the AEG-owned NHL Kings, saying, "Five years ago, we made a decision to build from within. It was a painful five years. People hated me. But the result is that we now have a solid nucleus. ... Not only are we going to have a kick at the cup this year, but we'll have it for the next five years as well. This is the most fun I've had in years" (L.A. TIMES, 2/4).
24. FACILITY NOTES The Rays and The Mosaic Company have agreed to terms on a 15-year naming-rights deal for the team's Spring Training venue, which will be called Mosaic Field at Charlotte Sports Park. The ballpark will be branded with interior and exterior signage, including the main scoreboard, all entry points, the marquee located at the park's main entrance, the top of the dugouts and at the press box level behind home plate. Mosaic also will sponsor a number of community events each year, including a series of baseball clinics with Rays staff. The Rays later this month will submit the naming-rights partnership to the Charlotte County (FL) Board of County Commissioners for final approval (Rays). WANTING TO STAY PUT: In Sacramento, Tony Bizjak reports the Natomas Chamber of Commerce's "Keep The Arena in Natomas" Committee has "pitched an ambitious plan to reinvent" the 180-acre Arco Arena site. Under the plan, a new arena, "slightly north of Arco, would be surrounded by stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, a hotel and a "Keep The Arena In Natomas" Committee cinema." Committee Chair Marni Pitches Plan To Reinvent Arco Arena Site Leger: "It's a location that has been tried, tested and proven to work." However, Bizjak writes the committee "faces an uphill battle." Five of the seven arena proposals submitted "would put a new arena downtown," and NBA officials and Kings Owners the Maloofs have "thrown their weight behind one of those plans." And while Sacramento officials "haven't taken a position on the proposals yet, they've talked for years about the possibility of kick-starting redevelopment of the vacant downtown railyard expanse by locating an arena there" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/4). PERKS OF THE JOB: A FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM editorial notes the City of Arlington has a "free suite" at Cowboys Stadium. Each City Council member "gets two free seats in the suite for Cowboys games and other big-time entertainment events." And while Council members said that the suite is "used to promote Arlington and to entertain and entice economic development prospects," the editorial notes Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is "either getting something from it or is greasing the skids for when he wants something from the city" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/4).
25. PARTY IN THE MIA: SOUTH FLORIDA SUPER BOWL FESTIVITIES CONTINUE
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South Beach is heating up as celebrities and athletes alike make the rounds to parties ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl XLIV. THE DAILY offers you the inside scoop for upcoming events and previews the slate of celebrity bashes on tap this weekend. PARTY FOR A CAUSE: In Miami, Audra Burch notes organizers of parties around Sunday's Super Bowl are "hoping to harness and leverage the power of fame to raise funds for the relief and recovery efforts" in Haiti. The Giving Back Fund Founder Marc Pollick said Super Bowl parties are the "perfect combustible combination." He said, "The celebrities can bring attention to a very important cause and the media will cover it. In terms of raising funds, you couldn't have picked a more perfect place for a Super Bowl." NFL players and celebs are "hosting a string of events that will benefit Haiti, including a ball at Jungle Island, a fashion show at Grass Restaurant and Lounge, and an evening of sports and art at the Haitian Heritage Museum." BET Friday will present SOS -- Saving Ourselves -- a benefit concert and Event At Grass In Miami Will telethon at AmericanAirlines Arena that will air live Raise Funds For Haiti on BET, MTV, VH1, CENTRIC and BET Int'l. BET President of Programming Music & Specials Stephen Hill: "We knew there was going to be a lot of talent already in Miami for the Super Bowl, so it made sense to do it there." The event will be hosted by Queen Latifah, Diddy and Pharrell, with performances by Justin Bieber, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Wyclef Jean and Akon (MIAMI HERALD, 2/4). PUMP UP THE JAM: The four-day "Eats Beats Cleats Gridiron Festival" kicks off today in South Beach and Pro Football HOFers Barry Sanders, Michael Irvin, Gale Sayers, Roger Staubach and Dick Butkus are expected to attend. Tonight, Pro Football HOFer Joe Montana, Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and ESPN's Kenny Mayne and Steve Young will attend the "Jerry Rice Celebrity Gala." Meanwhile, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and singer Nick Lachey will host their "Super Skins Kick-Off Party" from 9:00pm-2:00am at Hotel 944 at the Eden Roc in Miami Beach. Rapper Snoop Dogg will perform (HERALD.com, 1/27)....Singers Rihanna, Timbaland and Justin Bieber will perform tonight at the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam (NFL)....ESPN's Ron Jaworski tonight will host his Celebrity South Beach Cigar Party at the Victor Hotel from 7:00-10:00pm. ESPN's Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Suzy Kolber, Mike Ditka, Merril Hoge and Desmond Howard are scheduled to attend. The event will benefit the United Way Jaws Youth Fund and United Way of Miami-Dade County (THE DAILY).
26. LINDSEY VONN POISED TO ENTER LIMELIGHT WITH STRONG OLYMPICS Skier Lindsey Vonn is the "boldest name on a short list of U.S. Olympians with the potential to leave Canada famous beyond the narrow confines" of the Vancouver Games, according to Tim Layden in a cover story for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. Vonn will "ski in all five Alpine racing disciplines and is the gold medal favorite in three." Vonn's races "stretch across a Phelpsian 13 days, giving NBC and its many media platforms the opportunity to transform her into a one-woman miniseries." Vonn's agents, IMG's Sue
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Dorf and Mark Ervin, have "locked down lucrative sponsorship deals with 10 companies" -- Alka-Seltzer Plus, Oroweat, Procter & Gamble, Red Bull, Rolex, Sega, Under Armour, Vail Resorts, Uvex and Head. Vonn and her reps took a "huge risk in an Olympic year" last summer by "declining to accept the 50% pay cut that ski manufacturer Rossignol imposed on all its sponsored athletes and instead switching to Head equipment." Layden writes Vonn is "a medal or two away from lasting greatness," and she has an "eternally alluring image, vitally important to a niche endeavor like ski racing." Vonn can "sell not only energy drinks but also herself and her sport, and she can do it effortlessly." Dorf said Vonn is the "girl everybody wants to take to the prom," while Vonn's friend Vanessa Larsen said she is a "total Midwestern, sweet, normal girl." Layden writes it is "perilous in 2010 to shill too passionately for any athlete's goodness, but Vonn seems a long shot to embarrass herself except perhaps through more oddball injuries" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 2/8 issue). GREAT EXPECTATIONS: ESPN.com's Howard Bryant wrote Vonn is the Vancouver Games' "equivalent of the helium balloon, filled with expectations and leaving little middle ground." She either "will soar or burst." NBC has "her face smattered all over its promotional campaigns: television ads, billboards, interviews." In terms of "star power, she is alone" among U.S. Olympians this year. The familiar "mining camp for Olympic stardom -- figure skating -- lost its signature face" when Sasha Cohen did not qualify for the Games, while skier Bode Miller "isn't the powerhouse he was once forecast" to be before the '06 Turin Games. Vonn said, "I don't know why I'm the center of the NBC campaign. ... It's good to be in Europe and not the U.S. because I don't know what's going on" (ESPN.com, 1/29). BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS: Vail Resorts has launched a new Web site, LindseyisEpic.com, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at Vonn's endeavors this ski season. The site includes more than 20 video clips of Vonn chronicling her ski career and season on the World Cup circuit (Vail Resorts).
27. VANOC TAKING EXTREME PRECAUTIONS OVER POSSIBLE TERROR THREATS The Vancouver Games, in order to combat against a possible terrorist attack, are seeing an almost $1B "security blanket being put in place, with more Canadian military and police forces deployed here than at any time since World War II," according to NBC News’ Jim Maceda. Security officials said that there “is no specific threat targeting these Winter Games" to date. In order to guard against a threat, there will be “metal detectors and x-ray machines, as well as dozens of sniffer dogs trained to find explosives” used at all competition venues. However, the Games “will be spread over 4,000-square miles." NBC News terrorism analyst Roger Cressey: "The real problem is not the Olympic facilities, it's potential soft targets -- transportation, hotels, any area where large numbers of people are going to gather." Maceda noted Canadian officials “say security here will be serious, but as low-profile as possible.” Maceda: “The challenge … is making these Games safe without suffocating them in that security blanket." Meanwhile, NBC News’ Brian Williams reported the security issue “was the subject of a cabinet-level meeting in the White House Situation Room” ("Nightly News," NBC, 2/3). Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to lead the official U.S. delegation at the Opening Ceremony (THE DAILY). SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX: Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit Head Bud Mercer yesterday said that the Games' C$900M security budget "won't be enough if the threat of a terrorist attack rises above 'medium.'" Mercer: "Obviously, if the threat level changed, we'd have to regroup and put Plan B in place. And if that were to happen, the costs would go up. Based on today's environment, unless there's a change either
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domestically or internationally, I would suggest we are able to stay within the $900[M]." He did not comment on "how much the bill could rise, but said that there are about 1,000 police officers on standby across the country" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 2/4).
28. OLYMPIC NOTES: POLO CRITICIZED FOR CONSUMERISM ON TEAM USA GEAR In Boston, Alyssa Giacobbe notes Polo Ralph Lauren's Team USA outfits for the '08 Beijing Olympics were criticized for "what many bloggers called consumerism at its worst," and the brand for the Vancouver Games has "returned with an even more obviously logoed collection." The Polo pony that "decorates everything from sweaters to fleece jackets is even more prominent, larger, in fact, than the Olympic rings" on Team USA gear. The Olympics have "long moved away from pure spectacle of athletic ability to become an event influenced by, and representative of, politics, branding, and, yes, consumerism" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/4). OVER-PROTECTIVE? In Phoenix, Mark Faller Polo Criticized For Its noted while the USOC insists that non-Olympic "Obviously Logoed Collection" sponsors are infringing on "copyrighted Olympics images and terminology," things are "really getting out of hand." U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps "might owe his fame to his Olympics performance, and Subway is clever to tap into that name-association" with its new TV spot, but for the USOC to "raise a stink over this is just plain childish" (AZCENTRAL.com, 2/3). VANCOUVER'S UGLY DUCKLING: In Vancouver, Kent Spencer reports "opinion is growing" that the Canada pavilion in downtown Vancouver is an "embarrassment" to the country. The pavilion, a "white canvas tent-like structure," already has been "panned by professional architects." The structure was built by Chicago-based Giltspur Exhibits, which won the bid last November. Vancouver resident Alastair Campbell said, "It looks like a temporary tent" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 2/4).
29. WHAT I LIKE.... WITH PRO FOOTBALL HOFER LAWRENCE TAYLOR In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports personalities for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today, Pro Football HOFer LAWRENCE TAYLOR.
What I like in an insight: I take life a lot slower at 50 than I did at 30 and I'm a better person for it.
An influential person in my career: My high school coach MELVIN JONES and the late Giants Owner WELLINGTON MARA.
An out-of-the-box idea: Golf balls with GPS and a floater.
A timeless idea: A range finder on the golf course.
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A business deal: My relationship with Nutrisystem has changed my life.
A sports facility: I haven't been inside yet but I've seen the outside of the new Meadowlands Stadium (it will always be Giants Stadium) and it looks amazing. Move over, Dallas.
A sports event: Nothing bigger than the Super Bowl.
A strategy: The one our coaches implemented against the Bills in Super Bowl XXV.
A hire: The Giants hiring GEORGE YOUNG in 1979 to be GM.
A brand: Just For Men hair coloring.
A trend: People more conscious about health and living smarter.
An innovation: Sports medicine. The ability for athletes to recover from injury now is amazing.
A pro league or team business initiative: The USFL. DONALD TRUMP almost had me before they folded up the tents.
A story that bears watching: PRESIDENT OBAMA's health care plan.
An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Protective material to guard against concussions.
A fantasy job: Talent coordinator at a Gentlemen's Club.
What I like about my job: Freedom of not going to practice every day.
Sports: Camraderie and competition.
Sports business: As a player it's simple ... the better you perform the more you get paid. I never had a problem with being paid on performance.
Sports media: Do I really need to answer? It's easy for the guys with notepads to throw darts.
Sports technology: Takes the guessing out of the officials' hands.
Competing: The adrenaline can never be matched, whether it is on the football field or even the golf course.
The future (or direction) of sports business: Owners always making a lot of money.
Sports fans: Blind loyalty. They support you through good and bad, and Giants fans do bleed Giant blue.
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What I would like to change: Speed limits.
Change in what I do: I'm actually content with my life.
See: All my kids and grandkids lead happy, healthy successful lives.
See more of in sports: In football, let the quarterbacks get hit again.
See less of in sports: Divas.
See less of in sports business: Guys collecting money not based on performance.
Eliminate: My bills.
What I don't like in general: Loud people.
Pet peeve: Wearing shoes. I only wear sandals.
In sports: Officials affecting the outcome of games.
In business: Losing money.
About sports fans: Being rude and uninformed.
What I like in people: I love kids, it's adults I worry about.
That would surprise those who know me: That I'm a very good driver.
Above all else: Watching "Family Guy."
About myself: I've come a long way and have overcome some tremendous obstacles.
Heroes: My dad, BILL PARCELLS, Captain Picard.
Players: HARRY CARSON, GEORGE MARTIN and all my teammates throughout the years.
Teams: 1986 and 1990 Giants.
City: New York, no doubt.
Possession: My Super Bowl rings and my golf clubs.
Memento: My MVP trophy from '86.
Time of year (because): Summer, I love the heat.
Music: Old-time hip-hop and R&B.
Books: "The Da Vinci Code." I also love comic books.
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Author: DAN BROWN.
Magazines: GQ, Golf Digest.
Gadgets: I'm a simple guy, give me an old rotary phone.
Chores: Taking my son MALI to school.
Hobbies: Golf, people watching.
Trips: Anywhere warm where I can play golf.
Movies: "Untouchables," "Gladiator," "2012."
TV: "Family Guy," "Star Trek."
Concerts: Earth, Wind & Fire.
Food: Nutrisystem chicken and dumplings.
Dessert: Peach cobbler.
Drink: Chivas.
Scent: Of a woman.
Vacation spots: Hawaii, Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles.
Cars: Escalade, especially one without dents.
Singer: LUTHER VANDROSS.
Quote: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" -- VINCE LOMBARDI.
Miscellaneous: I am very happy with my life and a little surprised I made it to 50.
30. EXECUTIVE TRANSACTIONS Under Armour Senior VP/Apparel SUZANNE KARKUS has resigned "to pursue other interests." Senior VP/Sales for North America MATTHEW MIRCHIN was named interim head of Under Armour's North America wholesale apparel division while the company searches for a replacement. Karkus joined Under Armour in November '07 after serving as Izod Women's Wear President (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/3)….Live Nation Entertainment announced the opening of a new Dallas office and named DANNY EATON Senior VP. Most recently, Eaton was Senior VP at AEG Live (Live Nation). SOCCER: MLS/SUM announced the following promotions: BILL ORDOWER to Senior VP & General Counsel; LINO DICUOLLO to VP/Player Competition & Relations; JOHN SULLIVAN to VP/Information Technology; ORLANDO CONGUTA to Senior Dir of SUM Int'l; JENNIFER DUBERSTEIN to Senior Counsel; JEN MAURILLO to Senior Dir of Special Events; RUSSELL SARGEANT to Senior
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Dir of Partnership Marketing; JAN GREENBERG to Dir of Community Relations; BRETT LASHBROOK to Legal Counsel; JOSH NEIER to Financial Dir; DUSTIN SMITH to Finance Manager; and LINA STAROPOLI to Account Exec of Partnership Marketing. ALISON MARRA was named Coordinator for Partnership Marketing (MLS/SUM). EXECS: DENNIS CULLOTON is launching Culloton Strategies LLC, a media communications strategy firm advising execs in sports, transportation and real estate. The firm named LISSA CHRISTMAN Chief Creative Office. Culloton was previously Exec VP of the Chicago-based public affairs firm Res Publica Group (Culloton Strategies)....CHUCK MCKEAN was named Dir of PR & Business Development for Alliance Productions in Little Rock, Arkansas (Alliance Productions)….Sills Cummis & Gross corporate attorney ANTHONY CARUSO has been named to the adjunct faculty at New York Univ. (Sills Cummis & Gross). Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to [email protected].
31. NAMES IN THE NEWS Boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. yesterday finalized a deal to fight SHANE MOSLEY on May 1 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. The two agreed to participate in "Olympic-style drug testing for their fight, saying they hope to set a new standard for safety in boxing" (AP, 2/3). ESPN.com's Dan Rafael noted "getting the contract signed this week was pivotal" because Golden Boy Promotions CEO RICHARD SCHAEFER planned for the fighters to "go to Miami this weekend to kick off the promotion with a variety of media appearances at the Super Bowl" (ESPN.com, 2/3). WEEKEND AT JERRY'S: In Dallas, Cheryl Hall profiled NBA Senior VP/Events & Attractions GAIL HUNTER, the "woman behind the All-Star Game" next weekend at Cowboys Stadium. Hunter is responsible for "bringing together innumerable logistical details to create a five-day celebration of singular impact." Hunter for the past 18 months has "been the liaison between" the NBA, Mavericks, Cowboys, "various convention and visitor bureaus and a slew of government entities" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/3). Meanwhile, Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN headlines the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on February 12. The celebrities will be "outfitted in retro 1986 NBA All-Star uniforms paying homage" to that year's Hunter Is The Woman Behind All-Star weekend at Dallas' Reunion Arena Next Week's NBA All-Star Game (ESPNDALLAS.com, 2/2). STAYING IN THE DAWG HOUSE: The Univ. of Georgia Athletic Association BOD yesterday voted to give AD DAMON EVANS a "new five-year contract with a big boost in pay." Evans' annual base salary will jump from $440,000 to $550,000, and calls for him to "receive additional $20,000 raises in each subsequent year." He also will receive a $250,000 "longevity bonus if he remains in the job when the contract expires on July 1, 2015" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/4). NAMES: San Diego State Univ. paid $12,769 to consultant DAN KELLEY, retained by the school to "find a way to part ways with fired head football coach CHUCK LONG." Long was fired in November '08, but remained under contract through 2010 (SAN
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DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/2)....76ers C SAMUEL DALEMBERT said that he has "been granted a parcel of land" in his native Haiti by the country's government. He "intends to build a center for children that will include recreation facilities, classrooms, a computer center and a cafeteria." Dalembert is hoping to "raise additional funds to build more," and plans to visit Haiti during NBA All-Star Weekend (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/4)....CAA Sports Senior Advisor BOB KAIN last night received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Awards at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. ESPN’s KIRK HERBSTREIT served as emcee (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/4)....The Boxing Writers Association of America awarded ESPN's JOE TESSITORE with the Sam Taub Award for Broadcasting Excellence (ESPN)....Red Sox President & CEO LARRY LUCCHINO, Celtics President RICH GOTHAM, Managing Partner STEVE PAGLIUCA and President of Basketball Operations DANNY AINGE were among those "feting" Celtics CEO & Managing Partner WYC GROUSBECK at Scampo in Boston after he was named Chair of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary (BOSTON HERALD, 2/4)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and his wife, MYRA, were among 600 guests at the Westin Copley Place in Boston last night to celebrate the raising of $1.3M for the local Boys & Girls Clubs (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/4)....Actress MO'NIQUE has signed on to emcee Cavaliers C SHAQUILLE O'NEAL's "All-Star Comedy Jam" in Dallas on February 13 (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 2/4).
32. SCARBOROUGH EXAMINES SUPER BOWL VIEWER PURCHASING HABITS With advertisers set to unveil new creative during Sunday's Super Bowl, Scarborough Sports Marketing data tracked the purchasing habits of viewers of the Big Game. Sixty-two percent of respondents who conducted online investing or online stock trading planned to view the Super Bowl. Additionally, 7% of those who viewed the most recent Super Bowl said they plan to use online investing or online stock trading. Below are select demographics for Super Bowl viewers, reflecting financial services used by households during a 12-month period, as well as items and services households planned to purchase during the subsequent 12-month period. Data was gathered from February '08 through March '09 (Scarborough Sports Marketing). SUPER BOWL VIEWER PURCHASING DEMOGRAPHICS % of Users/Buyers of Products/Services % of Super
Who Planned to View the Super Bowl Bowl Viewers FINANCIAL SERVICES USED BY HOUSEHOLD DURING LAST 12 MONTHS Accountant 57% 18% Financial planner 59% 16% Discount stockbroker 63% 3% Full-service stockbroker 59% 11% Online investing/ 62% 7% stock trading Any stockbroker 59% 13% ITEMS/SERVICES HOUSEHOLD PLANNED TO BUY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS
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Computer 53% 9% Digital camera 53% 7% Digital Video Recorder 61% 3% (TiVo, etc.) DVD player 53% 3% HD Television 57% 14% MP3 player 52% 4% (iPod, Zune, etc.) PDA (BlackBerry, 58% 2% Smartphone, Treo, etc.) Satellite radio (Sirius, 56% 2% XM) Satellite TV subscription 51% 2% Video game system 59% 5% VoIP (Voice over 46% 1% Internet Protocol) ATV (all-terrain vehicle) 63% 2% Furniture 54% 18% Major appliance 52% 13%
33. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
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Increase your company's exposure in the sport business marketplace and get your message in front of the industry's top executives. For more information on placing a classified in SportsBusiness Daily, please contact Heather Taylor at 704-973-1525 or
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34. SBJ IN-DEPTH: FANTASY SPORTS As the popularity of fantasy sports continues to expand, we’ll call upon our team of fantasy experts to find out which segments of the business are growing the fastest. We’ll introduce you to the key players in this space and outline some of the products that have gained the most traction with consumers. Our report also will look at the various game plans that brands are using to reach consumers through fantasy sports. Publishing Date: March 1 Close: Feb. 15 Materials Close: Feb. 17. For information on advertising contact National Ad Director, Julie Tuttle at 212 500 0711 or [email protected].
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