Mar 2021 staff moves and sports business industry news in one spot — updated as they happen, so make sure you check back throughout the month.
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Mar 1, 2021
The Chicago Red Stars announce 14 new additions to the team’s ownership group who join majority owner Arnim Whisler and founding members Dean Egerter and Steve Ritchie:
- Jessie Becker
- Julie Haddon
- Israel Idonije
- Jordan Levin
- Abel Lezcano
- Colleen Mares
- Michael Raimondi
- Kendall Coyne Schofield
- Michael Schofield
- Sarah Spain
- Marie Tillman
- Brian Walsh
- Kevin Willer
- David Zapata
Introducing the newest caretakers of this team – they are owners, fans, community members, dreamers, builders, movers, growers, and more broad shoulders to stand upon. It’s a Chicago thing.
Welcome home.#MKOT #WhyIBelieve
🔗: https://t.co/mBVEdqr40p pic.twitter.com/DRljVElDQw
— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) March 1, 2021
Baltimore Orioles tab Katie Krause as their new Director, Public Relations. Previously, Krause was Sr Manager, Corporate Communications with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kansas City Chiefs
announce Rob Alberino will rejoin the team as VP, Content & Production. Alberino previously was VP, Media & Marketing for Chiefs from 2010-13. Most recently, he was VP/Exec Producer, with the San Francisco 49ers…In addition, Chiefs President Mark Donovan announces that the team has opened a search for CMO, a newly created role.
Mar 2, 2021
Canada Goose and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announce a multiyear partnership that makes Canada Goose a Proud Outerwear Partner of NBA All-Star. In support of the partnership and timed to the NBA’s annual All-Star celebration, Canada Goose will develop an exclusive design collaboration each year for players and fans alike. The 2021 design partner is Los Angeles-based brand, RHUDE, known for balancing luxury techniques with streetwear elements.
Mar 4, 2021
The Pittsburgh Pirates and PNC Bank announce they have agreed to a 10-year extension for the naming rights to PNC Park. This extends the original 20-year deal that began when the park opened in 2001.
Mar 5, 2021
The Clorox Company and the NBA announce a multiyear agreement that makes Clorox the Official Cleaning Partner of the NBA and WNBA. The multiyear agreement allows for ongoing collaboration with Clorox in promoting health and safety during NBA and WNBA games and events, including the 2021 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, where the cleaning brand will supply disinfecting products.
Mar 8, 2021
Petco Health & Wellness Company, Inc. and the San Diego Padres agree to a two-year extension of their Petco Park naming rights partnership. The Petco brand will now remain in the ballpark’s name through the 2027 Major League Baseball season.
Mar 9, 2021
Pirates announce Stephen Perkins as the team’s new EVP, Marketing & Fan Engagement, from VP, Marketing, at Washington Football Team.
Mar 10, 2021
Mondelēz International, Inc., the National Basketball Association (NBA) and USA Basketball announce a multiyear partnership that makes the leading snacking company an Official Partner of the NBA, USA Basketball, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA G League, NBA 2K League. As part of the partnership, Mondelēz International will create a variety of products and consumer promotions with the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball featuring brands from the Mondelēz International portfolio such as Oreo Cookies, Chips Ahoy!, Nutter Butter, belVita, Ritz Crackers, Trident and Sour Patch Kids.
Mar 12, 2021
Oakland A’s announce that all 162 regular season games will be broadcast over-the-air in Oakland on Bloomberg 960 AM (and KOSF-HD2 FM 103.7) during the 2021 season. In addition, Spanish-language broadcasts will be available for 60 A’s home games on KIQI-AM 1010 (San Francisco) and KATD-AM 990 (Pittsburg, Calif.).
Mar 16, 2021
Major League Rugby launches its new, free streaming and digital content network, The Rugby Network, in advance of the 2021 MLR season, which begins Mar 20, 2021.
Mar 17, 2021
Miami Marlins announce that AutoNation has elevated its partnership level with the club, becoming the team’s third “Pillar Partner.” The company continues as the Official Auto Retailer of the Marlins with branding including on the MarlinsVision scoreboard and entitlement of the Marlins Radio Network driven by AutoNation as well as the return of the AutoNation Alley in center field.
Mar 18, 2021
Tepper Sports & Entertainment names Jake Burns Chief Revenue Officer. Burns will lead sales, marketing, digital media and broadcasting for TSE’s Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, Bank of America Stadium and the Panthers’ Rock Hill Development. He joins TSE effective April 19 after five seasons with the MLB Washington Nationals, most recently as the team’s EVP, Business Operations.
Mar 24, 2021
Cumulus and the Baltimore Orioles announce that Washington, DC-based WSBN/ESPN 630 AM will carry the Orioles Radio Network starting with the 2021 MLB season.
Mar 26, 2021
LAFC and Flex Power Tools announce a multi-year partnership with Flex serving as LAFC’s “Official Jersey Sponsor,” “Official Power Tool Partner of LAFC” and “Official Construction Tools.” Flex branding will be included on all club, community and specialty jerseys. The agreement with Flex, a brand division of global power tool manufacturer Chervon, will include exclusive content pieces, media, signage and a co-branded retail promotion. This marks Chervon N.A.’s first sports organization partnership. LAFC partnered with Legends Global Partnerships, who previously advised LAFC on both its inaugural jersey deal with YouTube TV and stadium naming rights deal with Banc of California.
Mar 29, 2021
National Women’s Soccer League announces the addition of Nationwide Insurance as a new official NWSL partner. The deal makes Nationwide the league’s first exclusive insurance partner. In addition, Nationwide and the NWSL will work together to highlight and expand the NWSL’s community initiatives, including those of its players and fans.
Chicago Cubs name Horizon Therapeutics the team’s newest “Legacy Partner.” The long-term partnership includes naming rights to Wrigley Field’s left field gate located on Waveland Avenue, various in-ballpark signage elements at Wrigley and Sloan Park, including the left field sign behind Wrigley’s Budweiser Bleachers and static signage behind home plate. In addition, the team announces a new Cubs STEAM Program presented by Horizon, created in partnership with Science of Sport, in an effort to inspire more Chicagoland-area middle and high school students to explore opportunities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math).
M
ar 30, 2021
DraftKings Inc. announces it has agreed to acquire multi-platform broadcast and content company Vegas Sports Information Network (VSiN), to enhance DraftKings’ content capabilities. Per the announcement press release, “DraftKings’ vision is for Brian Musburger and his leadership team to continue to manage day-to-day operations while maintaining editorial independence. DraftKings intends to fully integrate VSiN’s current employee base located in Las Vegas, including its on-air talent, into its 2,600 person global workforce.”
The Orioles and MedStar Health enter into a “multi-year” extension, with MedStar continuing as the Official Medical Team of the Orioles as well as presenting sponsor of the O’s Baby Birds program first launched in 2019.
The PGA Tour and Score Media & Gaming announce a content and marketing relationship designating theScore Bet as an Official Betting Operator of the PGA Tour across the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., theScore Bet will become the Tour’s fifth Official Betting Operator (OBO), and in Canada it will become the Tour’s first OBO. Additionally, as part of this 2021 OBO relationship, the PGA Tour will begin to incorporate daily odds updates from theScore Bet within live audio play-by-play distributed via SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and PGA Tour Digital platforms. In addition to this new integration, theScore Bet will have rights to advertise with the PGA Tour and its media partners and video content rights to enhance its golf offerings and coverage on theScore and theScore Bet apps.
Digital financial-services company Ally Financial becomes the NWSL’s first Official Banking Partner. The relationship includes league-wide jersey sleeve activation as well as a Player Impact Focus Program that will deliver a portion of Ally’s sponsorship fees directly to NWSL players.
Jennifer Davis is named new CMO at Learfield IMG College. Most recently, Davis served as Amazon Web Services‘ head of product marketing management for training and certification. Prior to that, she was the CMO for Honeywell‘s smart buildings and homes business.
Mar 31, 2021
Marlins announce LoanDepot as the exclusive naming rights partner for their home ballpark, with Marlins Park immediately renamed LoanDepot Park. The multi-year naming relationship is the venue’s first. LoanDepot, recently announced as the Official Mortgage Provider of Major League Baseball and Presenting Sponsor of the MLB American and National League Championship Series, also become the Official Mortgage Provider of the Marlins.
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Updated: Apr 2, 2021