SPORTS TALK
Industry
ESPN Deportes Debuts Outdoors Series
BRISTOL, Conn.—ESPN Outdoors’ Hispanic network, ESPN Deportes, will debut its first outdoors-related program beginning in 2009. The “ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series,” featuring six different 30-minute episodes, will air in Spanish on ESPN Deportes beginning April 4, 2009, at 6 a.m. EST. Jose Wejebe, longtime host of “Spanish Fly” on ESPN2, will host the series.
The television series will highlight six events of the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series, featuring professional anglers, guides and sports celebrities. The featured sportfish of the series will include redfish, tarpon, bonefish, sailfish, sea trout and permit.
Andrews Institute Appoints Medical Director
GULF BREEZE, Fla.—Dr. James R. Andrews, founder of the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Fla., has selected Dr. Lonnie Paulos as medical director of the Andrews-Paulos Research Education Institute. Paulos has worked with amateur and professional athletic organizations including teams in the National Football League (NFL); holds more than 20 U.S. patents; and has developed numerous surgical procedures and related devices. He most recently served as the medical director of the American Sports Medicine Alliance and was professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
Nautique Announces New Alliance
ORLANDO, Fla.—Nautique Boats by Correct Craft Inc. has entered into a three-year strategic alliance with water skiing legend Andy Mapple, winner of more than 50 events and holder of 11 world records. Mapple, who has represented Nautique as a professional water skier for more than 25 years, will assist Nautique in product development, sales, marketing and customer service.
New Sports Destination Marketing Firm Launches
DENTON, Texas—Jason Piter, a 15-year sports marketing veteran, has launched The Sports Marketing Destination Firm to assist cities, chambers of commerce, sports and recreation organizations, and corporate clients with the organization, promotion and sponsorship of sporting events. The firm specializes in helping cities identify their community strengths for event bids and in developing bid presentations, as well as providing event marketing and activation services including signage and interactive features.
Richmond Sports Backers Adds Sponsorship Manager
RICHMOND, Va.—Tiffany Sy has been hired as sponsorship development manager for the Richmond Sports Backers. Sy is a master’s candidate at the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Tourism Administration and is expected to graduate in December. She attended the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games as part of her master’s program and received a bachelor’s of science degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Youth
Winter Soccer Showcase Set For California
CHICAGO—U.S. Soccer will hold the second-annual Development Academy Winter Showcase Dec. 5-8 at the Lancaster National Soccer Center in Lancaster, Calif. The showcase will feature 148 teams from 74 Development Academy clubs. In addition, the showcase will include the Nike International Friendlies, featuring the U.S., Australian and Brazilian U17 men’s national teams.
Under Armour Signs On As AYF Sponsor
BALTIMORE—Under Armour, maker of performance footwear and apparel, has partnered with American Youth Football (AYF) as its new presenting sponsor. The sponsorship agreement establishes Under Armour as the exclusive performance footwear and apparel supplier to AYF and its member programs.
Under Armour will serve as the title sponsor of the American Youth Football and Cheer National Championships (Dec. 6-13 at Austin Tindal Park and Amway Arena in Orlando, Fla.) and will support an AYF “Giving Back” program by donating Under Armour products to underserved youth. Additionally, future AYF National All-Star Games will be played in conjunction with the Under Armour High School All-America Football Game.
New Youth Bowl From Producers Of U.S. Army All-American Bowl
WHARTON, N.J.—SportsLink, which produces the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Football University, has created the new Football University Youth All-American Bowl for the nation’s top seventh- and eighth-grade football players. The all-star-format Football University Youth All-American Bowl will be held Jan. 4, 2009, in San Antonio—the same week and location as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl—and broadcast live at www.footballuniversity.org.
Separate championship games will be played for the top 40 seventh-graders and the top 40 eighth-graders, along with skills competitions and break-out sessions with current and past NFL players, legendary high school football coach Herman Boone and others. In addition, the Youth All-American Bowl players will have VIP access to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will be honored during the game.
Events
Irvine To Host ASA Champions Cup
IRVINE, Calif.—The sixth-annual Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Champions Cup will return to Irvine, Calif., in July 2009. The exact date had not been announced at press time.
Nearly 100 ASA teams featuring female high-school-aged players from the United States and Canada will compete in the four-day tournament. More than 150 collegiate scouts and close to 5,000 spectators are expected to attend the event.
Grand Prix Series Will Award $20,000
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—USA Swimming’s 2008-2009 Grand Prix Series will award $20,000 to the swimmer who earns the most points from the six events. The Grand Prix Series started Nov. 14 with the Minnesota Grand Prix in Minneapolis and continues with stops in Long Beach, Calif.; Columbia, Mo.; Austin, Texas; and Charlotte, N.C. The final race of the series, the Santa Clara International Grand Prix, will be June 11-14, 2009, in Santa Clara, Calif.
Swimmers will receive five points for a gold-medal performance, three for silver and one for bronze at each race. The standings will integrate male and female finishes, and the swimmer with the most cumulative points will win the $20,000 prize. In the event of a tie, the swimmer with the highest single-race FINA power point ranking will be deemed the winner. Olympian Michael Phelps won the 2007-2008 Grand Prix Series.
Marshal Program Added To Bassmaster Elite Series
CELEBRATION, Fla.—In an effort to provide opportunities for members of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) to learn from the best, BASS has incorporated a Marshal program to the Bassmaster Elite Series—giving BASS members the chance to ride along with BASS pros during the 11-event competition, beginning in March and ending in August 2009.
BASS Marshals will be expected to follow BASS tournament rules and attend a registration briefing before each event. They will have the opportunity to use technological devices while on the water, wear official Bassmaster Marshal apparel, receive BASS sponsor products and attend exclusive functions with the Elite pros.
Marshals can participate only in the first three days of Elite Series competition, and they will be paired randomly with Elite pros on a first-come, first-served basis (an alternate list will be kept for additional Marshal spots). Registration for the Marshal program is $100.
Winter Trails Returns In January
MINNEAPOLIS—The 14th-annual Winter Trails events, providing free opportunities for children and adults to try snow sports, will be offered at numerous ski resorts and parks across the country on Jan. 10, 2009. The 2009 events will include four new venues: Ft. Snelling in St. Paul, Minn.; Tenney Mountain in Plymouth, N.H.; Windham Resort in Windham, N.Y.; and Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. Winter Trails is now part of the snow sport industry’s “Learn a Snow Sport Month.” In 2008, more than 11,000 children and adults participated in a Winter Trails event.
USA Wrestling Picks Site For 2009, 2010 National Junior Duals
OKLAHOMA CITY—The 2009 and 2010 USA Wrestling National Junior Dual Meet Championships will be held in Oklahoma City. The championships will return to Oklahoma City, which hosted the event the past three years, for the 2009 event on June 23-28. Oklahoma has hosted the event 13 times since its inception in 1991.
USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Set For April
ARLINGTON, Texas—The 2009 U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships, sponsored by Pepsi and Storm Bowling Products, will be held April 15-18 at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill. The Cherry Bowl hosted the event in 2005 and 2006.
The nation’s top 16 women’s and top 16 men’s college teams will compete first to establish seeds, then begin five rounds of double-elimination, best-of-seven play. The four teams remaining after round five will advance to the semi-finals. The semi-final winners will compete in the championship round, a best-of-three, winner-take-all format that will be taped for broadcast on CBS College Sports Television.
US Lacrosse To Hold Inaugural U15 National Championship In 2009
BALTIMORE—US Lacrosse will host its first U15 National Championship July 6-10, 2009, at Cedar Lane Sports Park near Baltimore. Sixty-four teams (32 boys’ and 32 girls’ teams) will compete through pool and bracket play.
The U15 National Championship was developed under the collective guidance of the US Lacrosse Youth Council and a committee of national youth lacrosse leaders. Registration will begin Dec. 10 at www.uslacrosse.org/events/u15nc.
Springfield Selected For 2010 U.S. Tumbling And Trampoline Association Nationals
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—The U.S. Tumbling And Trampoline Association has selected Springfield, Ill., as the location for its 2010 national championship. The event will be held June 14-20, 2010, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.
Approximately 2,000 competitors ages 3-28 are expected, resulting in approximately 2,200 room nights and an estimated $1 million economic impact.
Venues
New Ice Rink To Open In September 2009
FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The city of Fort Wayne, Ind., and developers have announced plans for a 108,000-square-foot ice complex with three rinks, locker rooms, and other amenities to open by September 2009. The city has agreed to shut down its McMillen Park rink in the spring of 2009 to avoid competing with the new facility, while the complex’s management company will absorb most employees from the closed municipal rink.
Sports Complex Redevelopment Under Way
GORHAM, Maine—Phase one of the Gorham Sports Complex redevelopment project has begun to improve insulation and heating. Additional phases would add a multipurpose field, an ice skating rink, basketball courts and walking trails outdoors, as well as an indoor workout facility.
PGE Park To Be Upgraded
PORTLAND, Ore.—Upgrades to the stadium at PGE Park in Portland, Ore., have been proposed to accommodate a possible Major League Soccer franchise. The stadium would be reconfigured with additional amenities, including permanent seats on the east side, widened concourses, a restaurant and concessions, along with upgraded press rooms and player facilities. The owners of the park also announced plans to construct a new stadium with 8,000 to 9,000 seats as the home field for the Portland Beavers Triple A team.
New Community Center Breaks Ground
SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Groundbreaking for a new 27,000-square-foot C.C. Woodson Community Center in Spartanburg, S.C., was held in September. The new facility is expected to open in the fall of 2009 with a regulation-size football field, a pool, a health and wellness room and a large gymnasium.