Los Angeles is set to have a new NFL stadium after a City Council committee today approved construction of a $1.1 billion stadium and an estimated $315 million convention center hall, despite some concerns over the pending sale of development company AEG.

The green light for the 76,000-seat stadium and convention center upgrade, however, is dependent on AEG’s ability to secure a football team to move to Los Angeles.  

The full City Council is expected to approve the plan and environmental impact report Friday. That approval will trigger a 175-day period for opponents to challenge the project in court. A state bill last year gave the project special legal protection, including the truncated period for legal challenges.

AEG President Tim Leiweke described the vote as the culmination of two years of work that puts the region the “closest we’ve ever been to returning the NFL to L.A.” since 1994. That’s when the Los Angeles Raiders moved to Oakland and the Los Angeles Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis.

The project’s fate came into question last week with the announcement that billionaire investor Philip Anschutz was putting AEG up for sale, a decision Leiweke said was finalized during a company retreat several weeks ago. 

During the committee meeting, Leiweke apologized to the city for “the disturbance and disruption” the announcement caused. 

“That is my fault. I’ll take full blame for that,” he told the committee.

Leiweke argued that the ownership change was inevitable, saying Anschutz  would be 128 years old by the end of AEG’s ground lease with the city for the  new stadium.

“We were going to go through a sale inevitably,” he said, adding that new owners would provide “long-term predictability, not just for the city but for the NFL when we make this project a reality.”

City Councilwoman Jan Perry and other members of the committee charged with vetting the stadium proposal sought assurance from Leiweke and city negotiators that AEG’s new owner would honor the company’s financial commitments, including to fully fund the new convention hall and stadium, which would be called Farmers Field. 

“To be very clear, anybody that steps into this agreement, this  project, is going to have live by all of the agreements that we have  negotiated, or the city will not close,” Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry  Miller told the committee. “At the end of the day the city is not at risk in any way. In the worst case, we are left where we are today, and we need to rethink how to go forward with our convention center.”

The agreement includes a community benefits package that requires AEG to provide money for job training and streetscape improvements. It also has a local-hire component intended to offer jobs to workers in communities adjacent to the stadium that suffer from high unemployment rates.

Bradford Bulls have rolled into further turmoil after they were deducted six points for going into administration. 

The Rugby Football League’s board of directors imposed the punishment after the ailing Super League club breached the game’s insolvency regulations.

A statement said: “The RFL board of directors has today ruled that Bradford Bulls will be deducted six points – the equivalent of three competition wins – as a penalty for entering into administration during the 2012 Stobart Super League season.”

The deduction takes immediate effect and drops the Bulls out of the play-off positions, from seventh to ninth, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Warrington, with Huddersfield and Hull KR moving above them in the table.

Deduction of points are not a first in the league as both Wakefield and Crusaders were docked four points when they entered administration on the eve of the 2011 season after the RFL directors took into account the new owners’ willingness to pay off some of the debts to creditors.

iSportconnect, the world’s leading sports business networking platform is pleased to announce that the Euro 2012 Networking Tool is now live.

iSportconnect members attending the event in Poland and Ukraine will be able to log in to dev.isportconnect.com/euro2012 and see who else is attending the event and arrange meetings with them. Members will also be able to keep up to date with all the latest business news and discussions.

Former Global Partnerships Director at Glasgow Rangers Misha Sher said: “As someone attending the Euro’s for business and pleasure, this is such a great and unique tool. iSportconnect has come up with an impressive platform that is exclusive for everyone in the sports business industry. It will be very useful for someone like myself to find out who I can make potential business with”

If you are lucky enough to be attending this year’s UEFA European Championship’s then why not log in to your iSportconnect account and join the Euro 2012 Networking Tool.

If you are not yet on iSportconnect, get on board for around the clock news, discussions, job listings, business events listings and of course fantastic networking. dev.isportconnect.com

Duracell, buy sale a Procter & Gamble (P&G) brand, anabolics announced the launch of its “Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold” program, headlined by six-time NBA All-Star and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Dwight Howard.

It also featured Olympians Hunter Kemper (triathlon), siblings Mark and Diana Lopez (taekwondo), and Olympic Gold Medalist Summer Sanders, “Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold” gives consumers a portal to provide encouragement for the athletes through videos, pictures and texts as they train and compete for the Games in London.

Just as athletes rely on the power of their devices when training, they also rely on the power of fan support. Duracell’s online Virtual Stadium will offer consumers the unique opportunity to experience the road to the Games through the eyes of these world class athletes, and in turn, send them the power of encouragement and inspiration through video, text and photo messages. Additionally, by submitting motivational messages to the Duracell Virtual Stadium, consumers have the chance to win a trip to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games or a $500 Visa gift card.

“Whether in training or using battery power in their everyday lives, athletes trust in Duracell to make sure they are always prepared for what life has to offer,” said Volker Kuhn, General Manager for Duracell North America. “Duracell is committed to powering Team USA, and it’s our privilege to provide consumers with a tangible and meaningful way to help athletes achieve their Olympic Games dreams.”

by Ismail Uddin

It has been announced that the 2018 US Open will be held in Shinnecock Hills by the United States Golf Association (USGA), 14 years after the Long Island club last hosted the event in 2004.

Shinnecock hosted the second ever US Open in 1896 and will be the site of the 118th edition of the tournament having also hosted the event in 1986, 1995 and most recently, 2004.

USGA president Jim Hyler told ESPN: “We are thrilled that our national championship will return to one of our country’s most-storied venues. We are confident that Shinnecock Hills will provide a true challenge for the world’s premier players, as it has for more than a century.”

Pebble Beach has already been awarded the 2019 edition of the tournament, while next year’s US Open will take place at Olympic Club in San Francisco followed by Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia in 2013 and Pinehurst in North Carolina in 2014.

However, the BRDC has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to attract investment for a series of new projects including hotels, a hall of fame, young driver academies and an international-standard kart track in plans to “realise the full potential of Silverstone and its 760-acre estate”.

BRDC chairman Stuart Rolt stated: “We are seeking external investment to help us realise the full potential of Silverstone more quickly. We have asked Robert Brooks, previous chairman, to lead the process. If we cannot find a suitable investor, or are unable to agree satisfactory terms on a deal, we will continue with the development ourselves, albeit at a slower pace.”

He added: “The commercial potential of Silverstone and the estate is significant. With the new circuit, new pit and paddock complex and other existing key motor sport developments all funded, the time is right for the BRDC to consider potential investment from third parties who share our vision and can help us realise the full potential of Silverstone more rapidly.”

Verizon are looking to expand their mobile video opportunities particularly in sports, remedy chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam has revealed.

The company previously live streamed on smartphones and tablets for the first time the Super Bowl via an NFL app in a deal with CBS Sports. At a UBS investor conference, ampoule he was asked if there could be more such deals. McAdam said that Verizon could partner with other sports networks, pills leagues or video app providers for similar opportunities in the future.

And he said that Verizon was in general looking to make more content available on mobile devices outside the home, especially sports. He said that such industry leaders as CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves, who will speak at the conference later, and he have discussed “how to bring more content out of the house.”

Asked what sports offers Verizon was interested in offering via mobile devices, he said sports leagues have an interest in making out-of-market games available to a broader audience. TV rights holders are “careful about (not) cannibalizing day of broadcast” audiences, and “there are a lot of content rights that need to be worked through,” McAdam emphasized. But he said that games could be offered with a delay of 3-4 days or even two weeks and still offer “a real win-win” for Verizon and content firms.

“The market has demonstrated that it wants it,” he argued before predicting: “Within the next two years, you will see some dramatic change in viewership.”

Asked if there was revenue for Verizon to be made from sports, McAdam said that the NFL app is free, but attractive content boosts mobile usage, plus the app offers premium services on top of the free usage, which brings in additional revenue. “That is our formula going forward,” McAdam said about the mix of free and premium offers.

The United States will play host to the 2013 CanAmMex Regatta, unhealthy which takes place July 7-14 at the Oklahoma City High Performance Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The event brings together junior competitors from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“The regatta serves two purposes,” said USRowing Director of Development Steve Hargis. “It brings together each country’s developmental junior athletes, coxswains and coaches for friendly, yet high-level competition. Secondly, this regatta provides a life opportunity for its participants and serves as a cultural experience. For many, CanAmMex will be an important step in development toward potential future U.S. Junior National Team, Under 23 and Senior National Team opportunities.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to train and race at a recognized world-class venue,” said Hargis. “I look forward to seeing the athletes in action with the great spirit and sportsmanship that defines CanAmMex.”

“We’re pleased once again to welcome this prestigious international event to the Boathouse District and Oklahoma City National High Performance Center,” said OKC Boathouse Foundation Executive Director Mike Knopp. “As the site for the 2008 event, we’ve seen the positive impact this regatta has on the athletes who participate and look forward to seeing the top youth in North America race on the Oklahoma River.”

Racing will be contested in twelve events including the men’s and women’s single sculls, double sculls, pair, quadruple sculls, four with coxswain and eight.

Catalyst Public Relations, apoplectic the award winning U.S. based communications firm that specializes in developing consumer-facing integrated marketing has been acquired by IMG Worldwide, viagra the global sports, fashion and media company.

Catalyst will remain itself for the time being and will become a part of IMG’s Consulting business, headed by David Abrutyn, senior vice president and Global Managing Director of IMG Consulting.  

“The acquisition of Catalyst is a perfect fit for IMG’s client-oriented businesses,” said Mike Dolan, Chairman and Chief Executive of IMG. “They have a long history of success in working across all the major U.S. Sports Properties as well as global properties such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup and boast a strong base of corporate clients. Their expertise in Public Relations, Content Development & Digital and Social media services will significantly enhance our ability to fully service the sports and entertainment agency needs of our clients here in the U.S. and in all of our key international markets,” Dolan concluded.

“This acquisition is part of an ongoing plan to further expand our portfolio of key marketing services we can provide our Consulting clients around the world,” added George Pyne, President of IMG’s Sports and Entertainment Group.  “We plan to integrate their capabilities into our global Consulting practice that includes our fast growing PR services in the UK and expand these Communications services into key markets in Europe, Middle East, South America and Asia.  They will also be able to work with other IMG Divisions where these types of corporate partner communication services are needed,” Pyne said.

With the acquisition, Catalyst’s current management team of Bret Werner, Bill Holtz and Ted Fragulis will all join IMG, as will their staff of full time employees in their New York, Charlotte and Los Angeles offices.  Werner will continue in his role as Managing Partner for the business and will report to David Abrutyn.  Holtz and Fragulis will continue to work with Werner in managing the business.

“We’ve enjoyed a strong and productive working relationship with IMG for many years,” said Bret Werner, Managing Partner, Catalyst. “The ability to join IMG Consulting and continue with our current client service model as well as expand our traditional PR and digital expertise globally provides us with the opportunity to evolve and grow well into the future.”

Catalyst Public Relations was named “Small Agency of the Year” for 2012 by PRWeek, which marked the third time that Catalyst has earned agency of the year honours, including “Boutique Agency of the Year” by PRWeek in 2010 and “New Consultancy of the Year” by The Holmes Report in 2009. These prestigious industry accolades recognized the agency’s financial and client growth, client retention and exceptional creativity and innovation.