Author: Tim Newcomb

Despite Delay, William Hill Making Progress in D.C.

Bookmaker William Hill still plans to make the biggest — and first — sportsbook splash in a Washington, D.C., stadium or arena when conditions allow for the construction and opening of a new 365-day-a-year sportsbook inside Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Wizards and the NHL’s Capitals.

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Ohio School Starts From the Top on Arena

A rendering shows the rebuilt Branch Rickey Arena, set to open at the end of October. (Courtesy Ohio Wesleyan University) Wood roof stays in complete rebuild at Ohio Wesleyan University By the time Ohio Wesleyan University cuts the ribbon on a completely revamped Branch Rickey Arena, only the wood roof structure will remain.  The $4 million re-creation of the arena — the home of the school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, volleyball team and wrestling team — is underway with plans for an end-of-October opening. The project will give the 44-year-old arena new flooring, bleachers, scoreboards, lights, sound, locker rooms and gathering areas. It will also add air conditioning. “This has been a long time coming,” said Doug Zipp, athletic director at the university in Delaware, Ohio, about 25 miles north of Columbus. “This has been in the works for several years, and we have been spending the last two… Continue Reading Ohio School Starts From the Top on Arena

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U.S. Open Deal Just Scratches Surface for Sport Group

COURT IS IN SESSION: The Miami Open has been been using Advanced Polymer Technology’s Laykold courts since 1985. (Courtesy Advanced Polymer Technology) New role as court provider opening doors, Laykold brand says The company named the first new hard-court provider for the U.S. Open tennis tournament in 42 years sees the new exposure as an opportunity to grow. “We have been waiting for an opportunity to showcase our quality at the world’s biggest tennis tournament,” said Jim Sacco, chief operating officer of Advanced Polymer Technology, a subsidiary of sport surface specialist Sport Group that will manufacture the Laykold courts for the Open. “We are delighted to have been chosen. We are grand slam ready.”  Laykold has been around since 1956 and has been the official surface of the Miami Open since 1985, but having the opportunity to move to the U.S. Open gives Laykold and parent Sport Group the footing… Continue Reading U.S. Open Deal Just Scratches Surface for Sport Group

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Minor League Team Delivers Ballpark Favorites Curbside

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ website advertises their curbside concessions delivery. (Courtesy BlueWahoos.com) Blue Wahoos keep link to community and workers on the job The orders for curbside pickup of concession items from Minor League Baseball’s Pensacola Blue Wahoos started rolling in two hours before delivery even started Monday. And the orders kept coming, whether through the phone ordering system set up by the team or simply with walk-up orders at the downtown waterfront Blue Wahoos Stadium.  As concerns over COVID-19 shut down stadiums big and small around the world, it’s the story of a Florida baseball team finding a way to maintain a link with its community. Also, “for us, this is about how do we keep our people employed and keep the economy going within our staff,” said team President Jonathan Griffith. “We have a chef, we have top-notch food that has won awards, we pride ourselves” on the… Continue Reading Minor League Team Delivers Ballpark Favorites Curbside

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Venue Concessionaires Donate Tons of Food

Delaware North knows of at least 13,000 pounds of goods donated to food pantries and food banks. (Courtesy Delaware North) ‘We were stocked up. … We had the ability to respond quickly.’ Over 3 tons of vegetables, fruits and dairy products went from the Delaware North Sportservice kitchens of Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena into the donation stream of the local community. Just a little less than that left Portland’s Moda Center, while more than 3 tons was spread across Los Angeles from Levy kitchens at Staples Center and a whopping 6 tons from State Farm Arena in Atlanta. As venues shuttered in response to changes forced by COVID-19, many chefs and concessions companies were left with stockpiles of food brought in to handle planned events.  “We were stocked up and ready for the spring opener for baseball to hockey, basketball and other events,” said Deb Friedel, director of sustainability for… Continue Reading Venue Concessionaires Donate Tons of Food

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