News

International Development Management (IDM) and CSST Smart Cities International (CSST), with the support of their Chinese banking partners, announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding providing for the full financing and construction of the 750,000-square-foot, 17,500-seat, $650 million state-of-the-art Silver State Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Grand Prix Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment company, have announced the appointment of Alan Rothenberg (pictured), the man credited with the currrent growth of soccer in the United States, as chairman of the Board of directors of their newly sports division.

Alan Rothenberg, the ’94 FIFA World Cup Chair, today was named Chair for Grand Prix Sports, an L.A.-based sports agency that owns the exclusive rights to Rugby Sevens in the U.S. Rothenberg’s agency, Premier Partnerships, which he founded with Randy Bernstein, will handle Grand Prix’s sponsorship sales for future rugby ventures.

Eight years later, it’s a whole new ballgame. Back in late 2003 when the Los Angeles Dodgers were last up for sale, few local businessmen expressed interest in buying the team, leaving the way clear for Boston parking lot operator Frank McCourt. Now, as this week’s initial bidding deadline arrives, at least 11 local businessmen – five of them billionaires on the Business Journal’s Wealthiest Angelenos List – have either expressed their intent to bid or are rumored to be in the bidding for the storied baseball franchise.

The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the acceptance of a $1 million donation to Animal Care Services from pet specialty retailer Petco. The donation will support animal rescue and welfare efforts and collaboration between ACS and two high-volume pet partners.

The 49ers’ playoff run has coincided with the start of season ticket sales for the Santa Clara stadium, perhaps the single biggest funding source for the project. Niners fever also comes as the city auctions off a naming-rights deal rumored to reach up to a record $20 million a year for the stadium, and just two weeks before the NFL votes on whether to commit up to $200 million for the project.

For most, 2011 was The Big Sigh: a year of relief after some recessionary years when clients pared budgets instead of building marketing programs. This year, coming into a Summer Olympics year and out of a dark economy, nearly every agency reported generous growth for 2011, as clients returned from the sidelines. So in many cases, there’s an unfamiliar feeling of optimism.

Join Premier in their support of Coloredge’s drive to increase awareness for the Coaches Vs. Cancer – Suits & Sneakers event. Follow the event on Facebook and Twitter to make a difference in this nationwide event.

Every New Year is welcomed in by the Rose Parade and subsequent Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA. This year Coloredge played a large part in that celebration, providing all new graphics for the PrimeSports VIP Hospitality Village at the Rose Bowl.

Erik Spanberg, Correspondent With so much focus on return on investment, the idea of companies wasting luxury suites haunts CEOs and sales managers alike. After all, prime seats and suites often count as major bargaining points when a company negotiates a sports sponsorship. With investments typically starting at $100,000 just for a suite, not to… Read More »

You’ve seen Manny Pacquiao on TV, but pretty soon you’ll start seeing the Filipino boxing champ on billboards, in your wallet– and even in the produce aisle. The world’s most popular active boxer is expanding his endorsement portfolio and a good part of that is happening in Los Angeles. “L.A. is the mecca of Manny business in North America,” said Lucia McKelvey, executive vice president of Las Vegas boxing promoter Top Rank Inc. and the agent in charge of Pacquiao’s endorsements.

Qualcomm, which in 1997 signed a 20-year naming rights deal for the San Diego stadium that the NFL Chargers and San Diego State football teams call home, is temporarily replacing its corporate moniker at the venue with the name of one of its chip brands. Starting Sunday, for an 11-day period, the stadium will be known as Snapdragon Stadium.

The former Lakers star and businessman is partnering with Mark Walter, CEO of financial firm Guggenheim Partners, and former Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten on an effort to acquire the storied baseball franchise from Frank McCourt 9:37 AM PST 12/2/2011 by Daniel Miller, Matthew Belloni Magic Johnson, businessman Mark Walter and former baseball executive Stan… Read More »

The Jesus-loving Denver Broncos quarterback is boosting ratings and racking up endorsements despite polarizing NFL fans. This story appeared in the Dec. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has become a genuine media star since being named a starter in October and leading the slumping Denver Broncos to five wins… Read More »

Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Durant and Baron Davis are some NBA players with time on their hands due to the league’s ongoing labor dispute, and are finding that showbiz offers an opportunity to fill their schedules 10/23/2011 by Daniel Miller NBA players with time on their hands due to the league’s ongoing labor dispute are finding… Read More »

Written by Alan Sayre NEW ORLEANS — Turning the Louisiana Superdome into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome — a choice that surprised many — wasn’t a matter of getting a company executive to agree to fork over a huge amount of money in one fell swoop, as many might believe. Nor should it be a surprise, says… Read More »

I’m often asked what type of characteristics one should look for in a brand that could be a prospect to invest in a long-term naming-rights agreement. Here’s my take: Look to find C-level executives who have the vision, passion and authority to reallocate naming-rights dollars from multiple budgets, which may include out-of-home, traditional media; online/social media; community relations; hospitality; human resources; and, the most underappreciated, reinvestment of direct business dollars.

By Michael Sasso Every so often, a professional sports team will get more than it bargained for with a stadium naming rights deal. Think of the Houston Astros and their previous stadium sponsor: Enron. Historically, the PR blunder ends when the scandalized corporation drops its sponsorship. But the tables may be turned in the case… Read More »

The $50,000 study should limit premature sports chases. Express-News Editorial Board When it comes to professional sports, San Antonio is not Houston or Dallas. The San Antonio Spurs have been remarkably successful. But the Alamo City lacks the economic strength to support more than one major sports franchise and won’t develop that vitality anytime soon.… Read More »

Study says arena football, lower-level soccer, Triple-A baseball more realistic here. By Richard Oliver / roliver@express-news.net San Antonio is ready to tackle the Arena Football League, lower-division soccer and perhaps even Triple-A baseball. But city sports fans will have little to cheer about regarding the National Football League or Major League Baseball, at least for… Read More »

4/21/2011 by Daniel Miller The Hollywood Reporter  See the deep-pocketed showbiz insiders who are said to be in the running for a prospective purchase (including a few who tell THR they have no interest). While the Los Angeles Dodgers might not attract the Hollywood stars that regularly pack Staples Center for Los Angeles Lakers games,… Read More »

No one disputes that Morgan’s Wonderland, a 25-acre recreational park designed for individuals with special needs, is a worthy project and a valuable asset for San Antonio. No one disputes the philanthropic motives of the park’s driving force, Gordon Hartman. There are, however, serious questions about how to make the operation of Morgan’s Wonderland financially… Read More »

Oddsmakers in Vegas see it as a pretty safe bet. They’re predicting Jerry Jones’ $1.2 billion stadium will have a new corporate name come Super Bowl kickoff. That’s based more on sports logic than conversations with Jones, who so far has been silent on the topic. By KAREN ROBINSON‐JACOBS / The Dallas Morning News krobinson@dallasnews.com… Read More »

December 6, 2010 By Alfred Lee / LA Business Journal Santa Monica’s Premier Partnerships is moving beyond the world of sports with sponsorship deals involving governments and other clients. For the past several months, one of the country’s best‐regarded sports marketing boutiques has been looking for corporate sponsorships for an unlikely client – the Los… Read More »

by Terry Lefton October 25, 2010 As the new NBA season starts this week, the sponsorship scoreboard reads like this: one new corporate partner, five renewals and one partner that didn’t renew. On the whole, not a bad shooting percentage for league marketers. BBVA was brought in as the league’s first official partner in the… Read More »

By Rob Miech Las Vegas Sun August 20, 2009 The USA Bid Committee eliminated Las Vegas as a potential World Cup site, in 2018 or 2022, in an official cut-down release Thursday morning. However, Jeff Marks, the chief operating officer for the Los Angeles-based public relations firm Premier Partnerships, said Las Vegas should not be… Read More »

Sports Business Journal The evolving sports sponsorship marketplace, coupled with a sluggish economic recovery, challenge the way properties structure partnerships and how they demonstrate value from those deals. To get a view from the trenches, SportsBusiness Journal sent questions to marketers at the brand, agency and property levels, asking them about the state of the… Read More »

The evolving sports sponsorship marketplace, coupled with a sluggish economic recovery, challenge the way properties structure partnerships and how they demonstrate value from those deals. To get a view from the trenches, SportsBusiness Journal sent questions to marketers at the brand, agency and property levels, asking them about the state of the industry, the ways… Read More »

BY HELEN KENNEDY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Tuesday, July 20, 2010 No. 2 in your program is No. 1 in the eyes of advertisers. Yankees All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter is once again the most marketable player in baseball – by a mile. Jeter topped a survey by SportsBusiness Daily of 49 of baseball’s business movers… Read More »

February 26, 2010 By Steve Davis / Special to MLSnet.com What’s hot in the MLS preseason with less than a month to go before opening kickoff: The benefit of early arrival: That swell new stadium on the Chester waterfront now has a name. Philadelphia Union’s 18,500-seat facility, set to open in June, will be known… Read More »