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The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network: Terry Miller, Wife of Former MLBPA Exec. Dir. Marvin Miller, Passes Away at 90
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network: Santa Clara Co. Council Vote Allows for Exemption for Competitve Bidding on 49ers Stadium
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network: Caps, Flyers Game Pushes VERSUS Ratings to Highest Point Since '05
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#nba Timberwolves Unveil Two New Seating Areas At Target Center: The Timberwolves start the 2008-10 seaso.. http://bit.ly/bdc0O 10/28/2009 |
Terry Miller, Wife of Former MLBPA Exec. Dir. Marvin Miller, Passes Away at 90
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
At a Dodger party: (from left) Marvin Miller, Dick Moss, Walter O'Malley and Marvin's wife, Terry. Ms. Miller passed away today at the age of 90.
Members and staff of the Major League Baseball Players Association were saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Miller, the wife of founding Executive Director Marvin ...
Santa Clara Co. Council Vote Allows for Exemption for Competitve Bidding on 49ers Stadium
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
Less than two weeks after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill approving the building of a new football stadium in the city of Los Angeles, another new California stadium’s rise used the legal system to avoid road blocks, this time in the city of Santa Clara. The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night approving the use of a newly passed state exemption that allows the bypassing of city competitive bidding rules.
Unlike the Los Angeles stadium, the Santa Clara stadium has a host team, the San Francisco 49ers. The reason for the vote was the team’s claim that the project might be in jeopardy if its desired contractor did not get the job. If the council had voted against the exemption, the project would have gone ...
Game 1 of World Series Sees Massive Ratings Jump of 34%
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Proving the Yankees continue to resonate nationally, last night’s Game 1 of the World Series in which the Phillies beat the Yankees 6-1 was a ratings win for FOX posting a 13.8 overnight rating, up 33.9 percent from last year’s Game 1 between the Phillies and Rays which drew a 13.8. The rating figure is the second highest in the last decade ranking behind only Game 1 of the 2004 World Series between the Red Sox and Cardinals. According to the SportsBusiness Daily, “The game earned a 44.5 in Philadelphia and a 29.7 in N.Y. Game One also gave Fox the highest-rated Wednesday night on any net since the ‘American Idol’ finale in May.”
According to MediaWeek, the game drew 9.31 million viewers and 57 percent among adults 18-49.
It should ...
Caps, Flyers Game Pushes VERSUS Ratings to Highest Point Since '05
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network —
VERSUS announced the Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers game Tuesday night drew its highest ratings since the NHL joined the network in 2005. The 0.6 edged the previous high which was opening night of this season when the Capitals vs. Boston Bruins got a 0.5. VERSUS says ratings are up 33 percent from last season. The high ratings come despite DirecTV no longer carrying VERSUS due to a contract dispute.
VERSUS deal includes 54 or more NHL games each season as well as coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff games. The network will carry games 2 and 3 of the Stanley Cup this season. In January of 2008, the NHL and VERSUS reached an extension of their contract to keep the NHL on VERSUS at least through 2011. This season, the network paid ...
Game 1 of World Series Second Most Viewed Since '99
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Game 1 of the World Series was already a ratings hit, and now it can be reported that it was viewed by a large number of fans in the US.
The 6-1 victory by the Phillies at the new Yankee Stadium was viewed by 19.5 million viewers, a 33 percent increase from Game 1 last year between the Phillies and Rays.
The game was the second highest viewed Game 1 since the 1999 WS between the Yankees and Braves, coming behind only the start of the 2004 World Series between the Red Sox and Cardinals,
The 33 percent increase in viewership also marks the second highest year-to-year increase in Game 1 viewership since data first began being collected in 1968, with only the 1976-77 (56 percent increase) being higher. ...
MLB.com Releases "At Bat 2009" Beta for Android Devices
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Take me to your leader. MLB.com releases At Bat 2009 for Android
For those that have a iPhone, iPod Touch, Palm Pre, or Blackberry, have been able to enjoy MLB.com’s At Bat 2009 application for their mobile device.
Starting today, it’s available in a beta version for Android devices for the rest of the postseason… for ...
Buccaneers Fire Back After Report That Team May Be Up For Sale
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
Early Thursday morning, word arrived via Noah Pransky of WTSP (10 Connects), the CBS affiliate in the Tampa Bay area, that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be up for sale, it came as a bit of shocker. Pransky cited Dan Sileo of WDAE saying that due to Joel Glazer losing as much as $400 million in the Bernie Madoff scandal, the team was headed for a new owner.
"Massive losses due to investments with Bernie Madoff have forced the owners of the Buccaneers to run the team on a minimal budget, according to WDAE-AM's Dan Sileo, and may lead to the team's sale," reported Pransky.
After making some calls, the best I could come up with was a possibility that a minority stake might be put up for sale, ...
Special "Stand-Up to Cancer" Ad to Run During Game 3 of World Series
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Major League Baseball , MasterCard Worldwide and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together for an historic live event to occur during Game Three of the 2009 World Series on Saturday, October 31, incorporating the live crowd inside Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia into a “Priceless” public awareness spot produced by Stand Up To Cancer Founding Member Laura Ziskin. The spot will air between the start of the second and end of the third innings and will be broadcast live on FOX as well as inside the stadium. Near the conclusion of the 30-second spot – which celebrates the powerful emotions baseball creates – the action will turn live to the ballpark, where actors Terrence Howard ...
Viewership for Game 2 of World Series Up 48% From 2008
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
The 2009 WORLD SERIES is dominating prime time and posting significant gains over last year. Game 2 between the Phillies and Yankees averaged 11.7/19 household rating/share and 18.9 million viewers last night on FOX according to “fast national” ratings issued by Nielsen Media Research. The 11.7 rating represents a huge +44% gain over last year’s 8.1/13 for Game 2 of Phillies-Rays, while the 18.9 million viewers is a +48% increase over Game 2 ’08. Both percentage increases are the biggest year-to-year gains for any World Series game in 19 years (Game 4 of the 1990 Reds-A’s World Series -- +46% rating, +52% audience -- over Game 4 ‘89).
Last night’s contest ...
NBCU & VERSUS: An Alternative to ESPN?
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network —
Sink the Mothership? VERSUS could be going after market share at some point
Is the VERSUS Network about to become a worthy competitor to ESPN? Would sports fans, leagues, cable and sat providers benefit from a merger of NBCU and Comcast? The most recent speculation surrounding the sale of NBCU revolves around comments by Vivendi ...
Taco Bell Offers Free Black Jack Tacos on Halloween as Part of World Series Promotion
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Game Three of the 2009 World Series falls on Halloween this year, so in celebration of both events, Taco Bell, announces a free giveaway. Baseball fans, taco fans and Halloween fans alike can get one free Black Jack Taco by visiting participating Taco Bell restaurants across America between 6 p.m. and midnight (local time) on October 31, 2009.
Taco Bell has a long history of "Think Outside the Bun" promotions with Major League Baseball. In addition to last year’s "Steal A Base, Steal A Taco" World Series promotion, the company has also placed its famous "Free Taco" target at multiple World Series games. Taco Bell is currently in its sixth year as an Official Sponsor of Major League Baseball. ...
Dodgers' Andre Ethier Named "2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year"
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been named the recipient of the “2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Presented by Pepsi”, it was announced today. Ethier is the winner of the officially-sanctioned Major League Baseball award, as voted by the fans, which recognizes the player who performed his best when the game was on the line.
The winner was revealed during a one-hour special, produced by Major League Baseball Productions, that aired on ESPN. Hosted by “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who is no stranger to clutch hits, The 2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Show Presented by Pepsi celebrated the six nominees who consistently delivered clutch performances over ...
Cast Members from "Glee" to Sing World Series Game 3 National Anthem
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
This certainly goes well with FOX’s sense of self-promoting its programming...
Cast members from the FOX show “Glee” will perform the National Anthem prior to Game 3 of the World Series from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Saturday. The pregame performance is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Glee cast members Lea Michele (who plays Rachel Berry), Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones), Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang), Mark Salling (Noah “Puck” Puckerman), Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray) and (no, not the former Boston Celtic) Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) will perform.
Cast members will wear ”Stand Up to Cancer” shirts in support of the organization ...
Ian Penny Steps Down as Interim Exec. Director of NHLPA
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network —
Ian Penny resignes as Interim Exec. Dir. of the NHLPA
Ian Penny, the former general counsel for the NHLPA, and the man installed as interim Executive Director of the union for the NHL players after Paul Kelly’s firing, has resigned from the NHLPA, leaving a host of questions surrounding the leadership structure of the union. ...
Panel Installs Mike Ouellet As Acting Executive Director of NHLPA
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network —
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS....
With the NHLPA seeing Interim Exec. Director Ian Penny resign Friday saying that he had been constructively dismissed and "can no longer work under the present circumstances," Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal reported late Friday via Twitter that a four member committee led by Chris Chelios has named Union Counsel Mike Ouellet acting Executive Director, and that Roland Lee has been named General Counsel to replace Ouellet.
But, the installing of Ouellet raises questions as to whether the move breaks with the NHLPA’s constitution; does the four member panel comprised of Chelios, Rob Blake, Nicholas Lidstrom, and Mark Recchi have the ...
DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell to Testify Regarding "Star Caps" Case
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
The Associated Press reported Friday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and head of the NFL Players Union DeMaurice Smith will be in federal court next week to testify about the case of two NFL players, Minnesota Vikings Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, who violated the league’s anti-doping policy but succeeded in having their suspensions were blocked by courts in what is being called the “Star Caps” case. Goodell and Smith will be witnesses before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee next Tuesday.
After the NFL attempted to suspend the two players, they sued the league in state court, arguing the NFL’s testing policy violated workplace laws. The case was first moved to federal court where a judge dismissed the union’s lawsuit and ...
Inside the World Series Multi-Year Contracts
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are organizations built for sustained, long-term winning. Both teams demonstrate the art of success via the long-term contract. Not just signing big names, but wrapping up big names and young talent for years.
Examine closely the two teams left in October and you will notice that neither have “the one that got away.” We’ll start with the Phillies. Ryan Howard won $15 million in arbitration over the off-season, Chase Utley is under contract for over $11 million until 2013 and Jimmy Rollins makes 8 million until at least 2010 with a club option for 2011. Not a bad 3-4-5 to build around through at least 2011.
Only the New York Yankees would have signed Jorge Posada to a four-year, $52 million ...
World Series Viewership Remains Strong, Up 57% From '08
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Viewership for the World Series remains strong following Yankees' 8-5 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 on Saturday night.
The game, which saw a 1 hour and 20 min rain delay, was going up against the USC, Oregon game on ABC, and didn't see first pitch until 9:17 p.m. ET still managed to be the second highest watched game of this year's Word Series, and more importantly, pulled in strong numbers: 15.4 million viewers, up 57 percent from last year's Game 3 World Series between the Rays and Phillies.
The 57 percent increase year-to-year marks the largest ever in compariable World Series games in primetime (it should be noted that the 2008 World Series was the lowest rated World Series on record since Nielsen ...
Game 4 of World Series Seen by 22.8 Million Viewers
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
Game Four of the 2009 World Series on FOX last night, which was won by Yankees 7-4 to take a 3-1 series lead, was seen by 22.8 million viewers, a +47% increase over last year’s Game Four and the most-watched World Series game since the series-clinching Game Four of the 2004 World Series (28.8 million viewers), and the most-viewed non-clinching Game 4 since 2001, based on fast national data from Nielsen Media Research.
Through four games, the 2009 World Series is averaging 19.1 million viewers, also a +47% increase over the first four games of the 2008 World Series and the highest four-game World Series average since 2004.
Based on preliminary primetime averages, last ...
BANKRUPTCY JUDGE APPROVES SALE OF COYOTES TO NHL
The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network —
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS....
Bill Daly, Deputy Commissioner of the National Hockey League, released the following statement today regarding the U. S. Bankruptcy Court Order approving the purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes by the NHL:
"We are pleased and very encouraged by today's developments in court. Now that approval of ...
UFL Failing to Dazzle at the Turnstiles
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
The UFL’s tag-line is “Where Future Stars Come to Play!” Interesting considering that four out of the top five passers in the four team league are NFLers of the past. But, despite quarterbacks Brooks Bollinger, JP Losman, Quinn Gray and Mike McMahon’s NFL names, the UFL is failing to sell seats. The average attendance for a UFL game this year is just under 12,000 per game. The California Redwoods, playing at San Francisco’s AT&T Park drew just 6,341 for their Oct. 17 game.
Florida Tuskers coach, former New Orleans Saints head coach, Jim Haslett says the league didn’t market well enough. Owners say they are trying, even booking pre-game concerts by top-notch artists, but so far, it’s not working. Commissioner Michael Huyhgue said ...
Browns Fire GM George Kokinis After 1-7 Start
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
Lasting less than a year, the George Kokinis era is already over in Cleveland. The Browns released a statement acknowledging his firing:
Cleveland Browns General Manager George Kokinis is no longer actively involved with the organization. In response to rumors and reports that Kokinis was escorted out of the building today, the Browns deny those reports. In the interest of protecting the parties involved we will withhold further comment.
The firing of Kokinis comes less than 24 hours after Browns owner Randy Lerner said the organization would add a new "credible, serious leader" to football operations.
The firing of Kokinis begs the question, will Eric Mangini be fired? As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, there ...
Report: Corporate Ticket Sales for Sports Venues Up Over 30% from '08
The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network —
While the economy had dwindled, at least one source sees corporate ticket sales as solid, compared to 2008. According to on-demand sports and event ticket management software and services company TicketOS, utilization of corporate-owned ticket inventory across all North American sports venues was 69% for October, which is down from 71% in September, but up 31% from October 2008. Club and stadium seating use averaged 73% while suite seats averaged 67% for October. The NFL leads all major leagues with the highest corporate ticket utilization.
As the first table shows, MLB’s playoffs remain a popular use of corporate ticket dollars as evidence by Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park , and Citizens Bank Park showing up in the top 8 ...
Does the NFL Salary Cap Still Work?
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
Much of the recent history of labour relations in North American professional sports has revolved around the issue of the salary cap. MLB forewent a World Series in a futile attempt to implement a salary cap. The NHL owners shut down their league for an entire season in order to implement a salary cap. The NFL owners reticently agreed to the current CBA in large part to preserve a salary cap. Management has traditionally favoured the salary cap because it provides cost certainty (which investors and banks like), curbs the reckless spending of the more competitive and ego driven owners, limits player compensation and contributes to competitive balance/parity.
Proponents of the salary cap frequently cite the success of the ...
Boise St. Engages PR Firm in Attempt to Gain BCS Game
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
On the surface, something seems precarious about Boise State University hiring public relations firm Scott Peyron & Associates to help increase their chances at a BCS bid. Alumni, students and parents would be expected to react with something like: “They’re using our tuition and tax money for WHAT!!?!?!”
Though that type of reaction is understandable, Boise State’s decision to hire a PR firm is long-term sensible. Put it this way: the winner of the 2008 BCS Championship earned $17 million. Boise State won’t make that much, but they are in need of BCS money. The athletic department projected almost $30 million profit in the college’s budget plan. A great deal of pressure is put on their most nationally known program, football, to be a ...
Larry Johnson's Troubled Timeline
The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network —
The Kansas City Chiefs released troubled running back Larry Johnson Monday, ending his tenure of controversy and unfulfilled expectations. The move will cost the Cheifs $2.14 million if Johnson clears waivers. Johnson had three years left on the five-year contract he signed in 2007. If he stayed, Johnson would have earned $22.5 million over those three seasons.
Here is a timeline of Johnson’s career and events leading up to his release:
2003: Larry Johnson drafted by 27th overall by the Chiefs after finishing third in Heisman voting.
2003: Johnson arrested on felony aggravated assault charges for waving a gun at his girlfriend and was sentenced to probation
2004: Johnson has conflict with head coach ...
