Same place, new name. According to WKRN in Nashville, The Nashville Predators, who currently stand in seventh place in the Western Conference, have reached an agreement with Bridgestone Americas, Inc. for naming rights to the Predators’ current home.
The arena originally opened in 1996 under the name “Nashville Arena,” naming rights were sold to Gaylord Entertainment in 1999. The arena remained under the name “Gaylord Entertainment Center” until 2007, when it became the Sommet Center.
Last fall, the Predators sued the Sommet Group, claiming it wasn’t making its payments. The Group argued the franchise was not fulfilling its part of the agreement by purchasing products and services from competitors. Since the dispute could not be worked out, the rights were sold to Bridgestone.
In Nov. 2009, as the announcement of the lawsuit came down, bizjournals.com reported that president of business operations said, “For months, Sommet Group has not met its payment obligations under our naming rights agreement. We repeatedly reached out to Sommet Group and sought its compliance with these obligations. Unfortunately, Sommet Group did not do so, or give us any indication that it would. We regret that Sommet Group left us no alternative but to terminate the agreement and seek legal redress.”
Predators’ management said they had no idea why Sommet Group stopped paying. T-shirts. They probably wouldn’t have guessed T-shirts. But, as managing partner Brian Whitfield said, the T-shirts were the straw (or cotton?) that broke the camel’s back. Whitfield said, “The reason we have withheld payments is because our supposed partner in naming rights is not acting like one,"Whitfield said. "We entered into the agreement with the understanding that in partial exchange for our payments, our business units would be the preferred provider of certain products and services.
"The most recent straw that broke the camel’s back was their order of thousands of T-shirts from out of state instead of from Sommet’s BrandCentrik business unit. That in our view is not being a good partner as was promised.”
The Bridgestone Arena will be officially announced as the new arena name on Tuesday.
In other Predator news, the team has extended its affiliation with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League through the 2011-’12 season. The teams have a mutual option for the 2012-’13 season.
OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
MLB Makes Tickets to 2010 All-Star FanFest Other Activities Available Feb. 23
Upscale Private Club at Miller Park Renamed “NYCE Stadium Club”
Today on Yahoo! Sports: Salary Arbitration Winners and Losers
Local Legislature Decision to Fund New Cubs Spring Training May be Challanged
LWIB: Ticketing Gets Creative in MLB, Portland Beavers Update, MiLB Might Face Tough Year, Plus Tidbits
Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
The RBC Center in Raliegh, NC, home to the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL) and North Carolina State University men’s basketball program, recently installed a unique centerhung display provided by Daktronics Inc. (Nasdaq-DAKT). The new display boasts Daktronics LED (light emitting diode) technology.
“We are looking forward to the quality that we didn’t have with our old board,” said Dave Olsen, Vice President and General Manager RBC Center. “This upgrade will significantly enhance fan’s experiences at the arena by taking advantage of the advances in video technology since the building opened in 1999.”
The new centerhung display is highlighted by four 10-foot high by 17-foot wide LED video screens utilizing 10 millimeter resolution. Providing further entertainment and information, the centerhung will also feature eight additional video screens located above. All of the video boards can operate as independent displays showing single large images or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animations and live and recorded video.
Separating the two tiers of video displays is a three foot high digital LED ring display measuring approximately 84 feet in circumference. Another ring display is located below the main video screens. These displays provide fans with in-game information, out-of-town scores, promotional messages and crowd prompts that create an interactive experience. Sponsors of the RBC Center will also have creative opportunities to get their messages across through motion graphics and other eye-catching content.
“This business is all about relationships. Daktronics has provided the support and equipment necessary for the RBC Center to stay competitive with other facilities within our market,” said Olsen. “I have done business with Daktronics for over fifteen years and have never been disappointed. They find the solutions to meet your needs and follow the project through from start to finish.”
“All of us at Daktronics are proud to continue our relationship with the RBC Center,” said Brent Stevens,Daktronics Regional Sales Manager. “We have been a partner with them since the facility opened and look forward to continued success in the years to come.”
OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
(THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)
Will In-Market Streaming Model Be How MLB Extra Innings Blackouts Are Addressed?
MLB, ESPN Move Start Time of Game to Not Conflict with Yom Kippur
TBS, MLB Network to Air Additional "Pennant Race" Games
Longtime Mariners Executive Pelekoudas Resigns
Dodgers Deal for Veterans Jim Thome and Jon Garland
VIDEO: Dave Howard, Exec. VP of Business Ops for Mets Grills Book Author on Team Sale
Tribune Bankruptcy Judge to Hear Requests in Cubs Sale
Kazmir, Mulder Reconnect With Rick Peterson to Get Pitching Delivery Back in Form
With Fenway Park Renovations Nearly Complete, Everything Coming Up Roses for Janet Marie-Smith
Complete NBA D-League Expansion Draft Results Released
Hornets Owner Shinn Isn't Concerned About Team's Status
D-League Sets Expansion Draft, Complete List of Players
The Biz of Basketball Adds Complete Summary of Current NBA CBA
Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).
The story that leaked in May will become official on Wednesday: the Boston Bruins will play in the next NHL Outdoor Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1.
The scheduled 2PM ET press conference, where the announcement will be made, will be simulcast on NHL Network and NHL.com.
While it has not been announced, the Washington Capitals or Philadelphia Flyers are expected to be the Bruins' opponent for the game.
Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs said in May that the official announcement of the Bruins game at Fenway would be made in July.
MORE NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
(THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)
Fenway Puck: Official Announcement on Bruins in Outdoor Winter Classic on Weds.
Complete Listing of 2009 MLB All-Star Game Bonuses
MLB All-Star Game to be Broadcast in 230 Countries and Territories Around the Globe
Poll Shows Vast Majority of MLB Fans Most Concerned About Ticket Prices
Oakland Athletics to Retire Rickey Henderson's No. 24 Jersey
Shane Victorino and Brandon Inge Selected by Fans for Final Two All-Star Game Slots
The Biz of Baseball Enters Content Partnership with 3P Sports
WADA President Urges MLB to Make Changes to Drug Testing Policy
Minor League Attendance Nearly Flat Compared to Last Year
MLBPA Executive Board Makes Preliminary Decision to Name Michael Weiner Executive Director
With Interest, Final Cost of Marlins Stadium Expected to be $2.4 billion
Sizing Up the Final Stages of the Cubs Sale
U.S. Presidents to Make Special Video Appearance Before MLB All-Star Game
(THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL)
NBA Lowers Salary Cap to $57.7 Million
NBA Round Up: The Latest on Marion, McDyess, & Wallace
Lakers Land Artest, Ariza Headed to Houston
Taco Bell Named as NBA's Official Quick Service Restaurant
Round Up: The Latest on Gordon, Randolph, and Kidd
FIA Formula One Teeters on the Edge as FOTA Walks Out of Meeting
A Broad Ranging Conversation on Sports Business with Maury Brown and Tim Lemke
Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.
Showing that plans to purchase and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton, Ontario Canada co-CEO of Research in Motion, Jim Balsillie unveiled plans to renovate Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum to current NHL standards.
The new Copps Coliseum would feature a soaring atrium-style entrance lobby, a range of luxury boxes, new lounges and restaurants, food and bar amenities throughout and capacity for more than 18,000 spectators. The design also fully addresses requirements the NHL has previously communicated for Copps Coliseum.
The design is by BBB Architects and its subsidiary group, Stadium Consultants International (SCI), which is also currently working on renovations at Madison Square Garden in New York (home of the New York Rangers) and Nassau County Coliseum (home of the New York Islanders). The design for Copps Coliseum is aimed at improving the fan experience, from proximity to players, to viewing positions and entertainment options. Full details will be posted at www.makeitseven.ca.
“A new team for the best new hockey market deserves spectacular new home ice, and that’s exactly what the upgraded Copps Coliseum would offer,” said Balsillie. “This facility will deliver unparalleled excitement and bring fans closer than ever to the action.”
The revitalized Copps Coliseum would also offer a year-round state-of-the-art venue for concerts, conferences, and trade shows, adding to Hamilton’s already impressive conference hosting capabilities through its Hamilton Place facilities.
The estimated cost for the long-term renovation of Copps Coliseum is $150 million in 2007 dollars (the year the last detailed construction estimate was calculated). The estimate could vary significantly based on timelines, approvals and access to the facility for construction purposes.
Highlights include:
New atrium-style lobby with major ticketing area and new street-level retail
New main concourse with new finishes throughout and direct access to lower seating bowl
New Club Lounge and Club Seating Section
50 Mid-Level Private Suites, 20 new “Bunker Suites” with prime seats in first six rows “between the blue lines”
4 Group Suites at mid-level plus Group Sales/Party Deck in upper seating bowl
New Home & Visitor Hockey Club Locker Rooms
All new rink surface, ice plant and climate control systems
“When completed, the BBB Renovation Plan will transform Copps Coliseum into a first class professional sports and entertainment facility, which will in turn promote a first class experience for visitors through the redesign and transformation of the building,” said Chris O’Reilly, Principal with BBB Architects.
“This would be a jaw-dropper of an attraction for Hamilton,” said the City’s mayor, Fred Eisenberger. “What I’ve seen would make the new Copps Coliseum a magnet for sports fans and concert-goers across Ontario and North America. It would be a tremendous new asset for our city, and a major part of the revitalization of downtown Hamilton.”
Click on the images below to see details of the renovation in high-resolution:
Existing Exterior - Copps Coliseum
Renovated Exterior
Interior View of Club Lounge
Interior View of Seating Bowl
Interior View of Main Lobby Atrium
Interior View of Party Deck
Interior View of Main Lobby Atrium
Source: BBB Architects
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Long-Time White Sox Exec, David Schaffe Retires - The Biz of Baseball
MLB on Blackout Policy: “There’s still more work to be done” - The Biz of Baseball
Former MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth Given Lifetime Achievement Award by SportsBusiness Journal - The Biz of Baseball
Tom Hicks Up to Putting Majority of Texas Rangers Up for Sale - The Biz of Baseball
LEAVE A CAPTION: Maury Brown, David Brooks, David Axelrod, and Robert Gibbs - The Biz of Baseball
An Interview with David Kahn, President of Basketball Operations, Minnesota Timberwolves - The Biz of Basketball
With Portion of Cavs Being Sold to Chinese Investors. LeBron Should Remain in Cleveland - The Biz of Basketball
BREAKING: David Kahn Selected as President Basketball Ops of Timberwolves - The Biz of Basketball
Smack Down! WWE Takes on the Denver Nuggets - The Biz of Basketball
Record Audience for ESPN’s Lakers/Rockets Game 3 Telecast - The Biz of Basketball
Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.
Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network
Harrah’s has dropped out of a partnership with AEG to build a new 20,000-seat arena in Las Vegas designed to lure an NHL expansion franchise. The void left by Harrah’s has been filled by a consortium comprised of Hollywood film producer Jerry Bruckheimer, MGM Studios CEO Harry Sloan and Wall Street financier David Bonderman to allow the new partnership to assume the $500 million risk needed to build the arena. As reported by Muret and Mickle of the Sports Business Journal:
When the joint venture was announced in August 2007, Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman said the arena was part of the casino’s master plan in Vegas. The site, one block east of the Strip outside the city limits, is key because it’s within walking distance of 200,000 hotel rooms, Leiweke said.
One year later, Harrah’s is out as arena developer in part because NHL executives believe it needs to be a stand-alone project, one source said. If one casino operator is exclusively involved, it would be difficult to sell arena inventory to its gaming competitors, knowing that Harrah’s would keep part of that revenue.
AEG has set 2010 as the targeted opening date for the facility to open, but as Daren Libonati, general manager at Thomas and Mack Center who has been involved in talks with AEG about the project said, “It’s been a rough scenario,” in reference to getting through dissecting Harrah’s and Bonderman’s group, adding,“Nobody’s in a hurry to fail.”
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
MASN to Launch Full-Time Hi-Def Channel - The Biz of Baseball
Red Sox and Theo Epstein Close to Extension - The Biz of Baseball
Astros to Get All Ticket Revenues From Miller Park Games - The Biz of Baseball
John McCain on PEDs: "There's somebody in a lab right now that's trying to be one step ahead.” - The Biz of Baseball
Rumor: Ricketts Will Land Chicago Cubs - The Biz of Baseball
Twins Reach 25-Year Naming Rights Deal. New Ballpark to Be Named "Target Field" - The Biz of Baseball
Thanks From The Biz of Baseball on Our Two-Year Anniversary - The Biz of Baseball
The Nationals Need to Break the Status Woe - The Biz of Baseball
Snapple Offers Knicks Reporter Jill Martin New Career for the Off-Season - The Biz of Basketball
Oklahoma City Thunder Sell Out All Season Tickets in Five Days - The Biz of Basketball
Great Julius Erving Stories - The Biz of Basketball
Cheeks to Return as Sixers Coach - The Biz of Basketball
The Bottom Line: NCAA Final Four Generated $47 Million for Host San Antonio - The Biz of Basketball
Thunder Struck. OKC NBA Team Unveils Name, Logo - The Biz of Basketball
NBA Development League Affiliations for 2008/09 Season Announced - The Biz of Basketball
Howard Schultz Drops Lawsuit Against Sonics Owner Bennett - The Biz of Basketball
Today marks the beginning of the end for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mellon Arena, and the beginning of a new age for hockey as groundbreaking for the new $290 million arena along Centre Avenue is scheduled for today. The arena is slated to open for the 2010-2011 season.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, selling off parts of Mellon Arena could fetch handsome prices:
The biggest item could be the Mellon Arena's iconic stainless steel roof -- 170,000 square feet in eight retractable leaves. With a street value of 70 cents a pound, the stainless steel could bring more than $400,000 after it's cut into 5-foot-by-2-foot sections and recycled, according to some estimates.
A Mellon Arena estate sale surely wouldn't stop there, however.
Before Three Rivers Stadium was imploded in 2001, the Stadium Authority made $1.17 million by auctioning off everything from the Sony JumboTron (part of a lot that went for $519,000) to the bullpen home plate ($3,100) to a U.S. flag that flew at the stadium ($650).
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Owners Meetings: Instant Replay, Back in Black, Neukom - The Biz of Baseball
MLB Owners Meetings: Neukom Approval. Blackout Policy - The Biz of Baseball
MLB Investigation Reveals Scout Gambling - The Biz of Baseball
MLB, Minor Leagues Pass 200 Total Drug Suspensions - The Biz of Baseball
MLB.com Releases Free "At Bat" Update for iPhone - The Biz of Baseball
Malek, Taveres Join Henry Aaron, Jack Kemp on Cubs Bid - The Biz of Baseball
Owners Expected to Approve William Neukom for Giants - The Biz of Baseball
"Sometimes, they come in bunches" - The Biz of Baseball
Minor Leagues Pull Major $$$$ - The Biz of Baseball
Cuban is Saying All the Right Things About the Cubs - The Biz of Baseball
Ranking the Top 10 Markets for Relocation or Expansion - The Biz of Baseball
Comcast SportsNet reported last night that the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks will play this coming January at Wrigley Field in a continuation of the NHL’s outdoor Winter Classic.
According the report, the announcement could come as early as this week. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times:
Hawks president John McDonough has been pushing for an outdoor game after the success of this season's Winter Classic on New Year's Day at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium. A league-record 71,217 fans saw the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Sabres 2-1 in a shootout.
Yankee Stadium had been seen as a likely location for the next Winter Classic, but Gary Bettman saw the site as an unlikely location.
Last year saw 71,217 fans attend the Winter Classic in Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Angels Get 2010 All-Star Game. See Facts and Figures - The Biz of Baseball
MLB Pledges $10 Million For Cancer Research - The Biz of Baseball
Rangers Name Rob Matwick Exec. VP, Ballpark Operations - The Biz of Baseball
Chase Utley Leads NL All-Star Voting by 100,000 Votes - The Biz of Baseball
Upper Deck: Obama Over Clinton. Papelbon and Varitek Reenactment - The Biz of Baseball
Clemens Adds Emotional Distress to Defamation Lawsuit - The Biz of Baseball
Dodgers Name Vettor-Gray As VP of Consumer Development - The Biz of Baseball
The Pittsburgh Technology Council and the Pittsburgh Penguins have announced a partnership wherein the Council is assisting the Penguins in a search for southwestern Pennsylvania's most innovative materials, technologies and services to be used in the development of a new Pittsburgh arena. To that end, the Council and the Penguins have established a dialogue with the Council's member companies to assess their innovations and technologies that would "future-proof" the new facility.
The Penguins and the Council jointly will explore technologies and advancements that include but are not limited to:
on-demand televised replays and touch-screen food menus in luxury suites at the new arena.
video technology throughout the arena
video gaming stations
electronic ticketing
computerized and integrated lighting and sound systems
On April 17, a live remote video stream was webcast from the Council's offices over the Penguins' Web site and currently remains archived there for further reference. (Visit http://www.pittsburghpenguins.com/techcouncil for details)
Pittsburgh Technology Council President Audrey Russo hosted Penguins' Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dave Soltesz during the interview format video, and they discussed the types of innovations the Penguins desire to incorporate into the new arena. Beside the Penguin's games, emphasis also was placed on the fact that the new facility also will be a venue for in excess of 150 shows and events each year, like concerts, ice shows, circuses and other entertainment. Council member companies were invited to view the video, and more than 400 unique visitors viewed the live and archived webcast.
Each participating Council member company thereafter was invited to submit a 200-word description detailing ways their company could provide innovative technology solutions that the Penguins could embed into the design, construction and operation of the new arena. By the May 1 deadline, the Council had received 60 submissions, which the Penguins staff is reviewing prior to one-on-one meetings that are scheduled to take place during the second and third weeks of May.
"We are looking for the latest and best advancements in technology to incorporate into the new arena and our overall business plan," said Dave Soltesz, the team's vice president of sales and marketing. "We are excited about the chance to work with the Tech Council and benefit from the knowledge of some of the most creative minds in the country right here in Pittsburgh."
Source: The Pittsburgh Technology Counci
OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
YES Network Sale? Not Anytime Soon - The Biz of Baseball
Caray and Darling Comments (Yankees/Tigers Rainout) - The Biz of Baseball
"[Your Business] At Wrigley Field" Still Being Considered - The Biz of Baseball
Lawsuit Challenging Marlins Stadium Set For July - The Biz of Baseball
Robin Ventura to Sub For Steve Stone this Weekend - The Biz of Baseball
Kenney Outlines Funding for Wrigley Field, Renovation - The Biz of Baseball
McNameeÂ’'s Lawyers Sending PIs to Investigate Clemens - The Biz of Baseball
Alliance Tickets carries an extensive inventory of all NHL Tickets, including Colorado Avalanche Tickets, and we also carry tons of Colorado Rockies Tickets
