Author: Tim Newcomb

University Venues — On Deck: Next Gen Ballparks

University Venues — On Deck: Next Gen Ballparks

Posted by | Jan 31, 2020 |

DUDY’S A DOOZY: Outfield lounges continue a tradition at Mississippi State’s $68 million Dudy Noble Field. (Courtesy Populous) Latest designs on campus offer high-tech training, more amenities for fans Recruiting college baseball players presents a twofold challenge: attracting the best players to your school and luring them away from the draw of professional contracts. That’s why college ballparks and the complexes around them are making great leaps to provide unique experiences for fans and offer a one-stop shop for all the high-tech needs of the players.  From Dudy Noble Field, which opened in 2019 at Mississippi State, to the soon-to-open O’Brate Stadium at Oklahoma State and the ballpark at the University of Florida that will be ready for the 2021 season, the latest in baseball venues enhance the athlete experience while giving fans additional comfort and major league-style amenities.  “Between Mississippi State, Florida and Oklahoma State, people are going to… Continue Reading University Venues — On Deck: Next Gen Ballparks

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Pier Won: Spectra Retooling Chicago Attraction’s Marketing

Pier Won: Spectra Retooling Chicago Attraction’s Marketing

Posted by | Jan 28, 2020 |

LAKESIDE VIBE: Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom features an 80-foot dome ceiling. (Courtesy Spectra) Venue manager will work to drive new events to Navy Pier Spectra plans to bring a renewed sales and marketing diligence to drive new events to Chicago’s Navy Pier facilities as the company kicks off a 10-year agreement Feb. 3 to manage the 170,000-square-foot space. “We want to take a brand-new approach to how we sell and market the pier,” said Pete Zingoni, vice president of business development for Philadelphia-based Spectra, an approach that includes tying into larger events as a destination space and making connections between the pier’s attractions, which include the Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and an IMAX theater as well as outdoor attractions and exhibition space.  Spectra will lead the venue management, partnering with Chicago-based Levy to handle the concessions. The transition from ASM Global running Navy Pier with local concessionaire… Continue Reading Pier Won: Spectra Retooling Chicago Attraction’s Marketing

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Pistons Use Practice Facility as Contact Point

Pistons Use Practice Facility as Contact Point

Posted by | Jan 8, 2020 | , ,

The Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center opened in October. (Courtesy Detroit Pistons) $90 million performance center built to have a ‘meaningful connection’ with Detroit As NBA teams across the country roll out new training and performance centers, the Detroit Pistons took the approach of embracing the community.  “Most practice facilities in professional sports are cordoned off from the public, private for the players,” said Arn Tellem, Pistons vice chairman. “I wanted to create a facility that would be connected. I wanted to create something that would contribute to Detroit and make a statement to the city that we were all in on Detroit and wanted to be part of the community.” The Pistons opened their $90 million Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center in the New Center area downtown in October and in December unveiled Plum Market at the site, a popular Detroit-area food market that will not only… Continue Reading Pistons Use Practice Facility as Contact Point

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Spectra Puts Texas Spin on Winter Classic

Spectra Puts Texas Spin on Winter Classic

Posted by | Jan 8, 2020 | , ,

Fans attend the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL Pregame before the Winter Classic in Dallas on New Year’s Day. (Getty Images) Event on state fair midway gives crowds more food options, relieves crowding in Cotton Bowl If there were any doubts about whether Texas could pull off the annual outdoor Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, those concerns dissipated on New Year’s Day when the Cotton Bowl hosted 85,630 to watch the Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators, the second-largest crowd in the event’s 12-year history.  While every Winter Classic brings with it a unique perspective, the Cotton Bowl provided an opportunity for the NHL to play up both the venue’s location in the heart of 277-acre Fair Park, home of the State Fair of Texas, and the event’s first foray into Texas.  The puck dropped just after 1 p.m. local time, but gates to the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame in… Continue Reading Spectra Puts Texas Spin on Winter Classic

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Real Madrid Signs IMG for Virtual Ad Sales

Real Madrid Signs IMG for Virtual Ad Sales

Posted by | Jan 8, 2020 | , ,

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium before Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund in December 2017. (Getty Images) Marketer will sell digital overlay ads for stadium videoboards, pursue regional sponsors IMG will manage Real Madrid’s digital overlay advertising on perimeter videoboards at the club’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium under an agreement announced Wednesday. The deal also gives IMG the role of developing regional partnerships for the club, a soccer powerhouse in Spain’s La Liga, in North America and Asia. The digital overlay strategy allows Real Madrid, using technology from AIM Sport, to customize the LED boards’ advertising for individual broadcast regions, opening up the potential for brands to tailor messages to different geographic audiences.  “You are creating this virtual advertising for a specific market,” said Adolfo Bara, senior vice president and managing director of football events at IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company. “You need… Continue Reading Real Madrid Signs IMG for Virtual Ad Sales

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