Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Houston Astros has been sold by owner Drayton McLane to a consortium of local businessmen led by Jim Crane.

Financial details have not been disclosed for the agreement, announced yesterday, May 16, but reports have suggested the deal is worth in the region of US$680m.

McLane has now relinquished his ownership of the Astros after 19 years to Crane, who initially tried to buy the team three years ago. Though an agreement has been reached by the two parties, Crane will only seize control of the club pending approval from the League. Crane has been in the market for a baseball franchise for quite some time having unsuccessfully tried to buy MLB’s Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers following his first Astros setback.

McLane, who bought the team in November 1992 for $117m, put the franchise up for sale in November with a significant selling point being the team’s share in a new deal with the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets to create a regional sports network. The new network will begin airing Rockets games in 2012 before Astros broadcasts start in 2013.

The Houston Chronicle reported that former Rockets president George Postolos will take over as chief executive officer of the Astros when the sale is complete.

Crane said: “We worked long and hard to get a baseball team, and will work even harder to win a World Series for our hometown. Thank you to Drayton and my partners for making this day possible.”

Eurosport has further increased its portfolio of international cricket with the acquisition of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament which begins early in the New Year.

The Caribbean T20 2011 will feature Barbados, ask Guyana, drugs Jamaica, nurse Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Windward Islands, Combined Campuses & Colleges and Canada plus Friends Provident t20 champions Hampshire Royals and runners-up Somerset.

The tournament will be played from January 10-23.

The Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds in Antigua will be the venue for the first round of Caribbean T20 matches with the final stages played at the Kensington Oval ground in Barbados. The inaugural tournament took place in July and was won by Guyana, who beat Barbados by one wicket.

The tournament features two matches each day which will begin at approximately 8pm and midnight UK time.

Eurosport will show at least 15 games exclusively live with including all of the Hampshire and Somerset matches plus the semis and final live.

Hampshire begin their campaign on January 11 against Canada with Somerset facing Guyana the following day.

Matches will also be streamed online via the Eurosport Player.

The acquisition of the Caribbean T20 2011 follows Eurosport’s foray into Test cricket this winter which has featured live coverage of both the Sri Lanka-West Indies series in November and Pakistan-South Africa series.

Fans pressure group Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) says it wants to build partnerships with brands looking to “connect directly with fans” after Sharp agreed to sponsor the latest alternative team shirt.

The group, cough which wants to force a change of ownership of the club, check wants Sharp to be part of a portfolio of alternative partners keen to align themselves with fans rather than the club’s owner, online the Glazer family.

Manchester-based consumer and professional electronics maker Sharp, which sponsored Manchester United from 1982 to 2000, will lend its name to a new alternative green and gold team shirt. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Must hopes that the shirt and other alternative merchandise will take revenue away from the club’s current owner. MUST is angry at the £700m debt the US family has saddled the club with.

As well as signing alternative backers, the group will continue to lobby official sponsors such as Aon and Nike.

A spokesman for the group says: “In effect we’re asking them [existing sponsors] and potential sponsors to choose between the fans or the Glazers.”

The Sharp partnership follows a recent agreement with another former Manchester United sponsor Betfred.

The green and gold top is the second alternative team shirt to be released. Proceeds from the first went to the British Heart Foundation.

NBA player Lou Williams has hired Theory Communications to act as his liason between local and national media.

Williams has made a stamp in the NBA with his impressive 9 year career beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers, for sale and now playing for the Atlanta Hawks.

Apart from his athletic efforts, physician he has established several brands including his lifestyle brand LouWillville, shop and non-profit organization – the Lou Williams Foundation. 

As part of the deal, Theory Communications will extend their strong media relationships in efforts to continue to raise the profile and brand awareness of Lou Williams the NBA player, as well as lifestyle brand LouWillville and non-profit organization the Lou Williams Foundation.

“Over the years I have pushed to establish a name for myself in the sport of basketball. I am now excited to see the great opportunities Theory Communications and I can create for my brand(s) as we continue to grow our partnership,” said Williams.

The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in British horseracing, have today revealed they have selected leading constructor, Kier, as the main contractor to deliver its £45m grandstand development at its flagship Cheltenham Racecourse in time for The Festival 2016.

Work will start on the development, which was subject to financing, immediately following the end of next week’s Cheltenham Festival after The Jockey Club also today announced it has secured all £45m funding required for what amounts to its largest-ever single capital investment project. Around 235,000 people are expected to attend on the Home of Jump racing between Tuesday 11^th and Friday 14^th March 2014.

The funding package includes nearly £25m successfully raised through The Jockey Club Racecourse Bond – the first retail bond in British sport. The remaining £20m has been secured through a combination of bank financing via The Jockey Club’s syndicate banks – HSBC, AIB and RBS, a Levy Board capital fund loan, commercial deals and the Group’s available cashflow from trading.

Kier’s appointment follows a highly competitive tender process involving several leading construction firms. Kier has delivered several major projects at Cheltenham Racecourse, including the £17m construction of The Centaur building, one of the largest events spaces in the South West of England. Kier’s Cheltenham office will lead the development, meaning an immediate positive economic impact for the local area, with many of those who will work on the development living locally.

The development will create a state-of-the-art new grandstand alongside Cheltenham’s existing main grandstand. It will include new annual members’ facilities, general public viewing areas, private boxes, a Super Club and the Royal Box. 

Nicholas Wrigley, Senior Steward (equivalent to Chairman) of The Jockey Club, said: “We have raised the £45 million required for our major development at the home of Jump racing ahead of schedule. This exciting project will add much to the customer experience at Cheltenham.

“In the last thirty years, more than £80 million has been spent on Cheltenham’s facilities. It is fitting our Group’s largest ever single investment coincides with the 50^th anniversary of Racecourse Holdings Trust, which was formed in 1964 to acquire and protect Cheltenham Racecourse, then later became Jockey Club Racecourses.

“I should like to congratulate The Jockey Club executive, our Cheltenham development funding group and the racecourse team for swiftly and efficiently securing the financing package for this important next step in Cheltenham’s future.”

Ian Renton, Cheltenham and South West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “I’m delighted the full funding required for our new grandstand has been secured and welcome Kier to the project as our main contractor following their highly impressive tender. We will work closely together to ensure the development is delivered on time and within budget.

“The new grandstand has been designed to provide improved facilities for all racegoers as well as racehorse owners, trainers, boxholders and those joining our new Super Club. The building work will begin in earnest after The Festival next month and we have an exciting 22 months ahead until it is ready in time for The Festival in 2016.”

Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas, will host the 2014 and 2015 Junior PGA Championships, it has been announced.

One of the America’s premier events in junior golf, the Junior PGA Championship has been a stepping stone to both collegiate and professional careers for many of golf’s past and current performers.

Miramont Country Club, which opened in 2005, becomes the first facility in Texas to host the Junior PGA Championship. The par-72 layout, which is currently ranked No. 13 in Texas by Golf Digest’s “Best in State Rankings,” will provide a challenging test for participants in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

The 2014 Championship will be conducted from July 29 – Aug. 1, and the 2015 Championship, Aug. 3-6. The 2014 Championship will also serve as the final qualifying event to make the 2014 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which will be contested Sept. 22-23, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, Scotland.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that the Junior PGA Championship has evolved into one of the most prestigious in all of junior golf, and has helped produce some of the most accomplished players in our game today,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. “The PGA of America is also looking forward to bringing this Championship to a wonderful facility like Miramont Country Club over the next two years.”

Brad Lardon, PGA director of golf at Miramont Country Club, said he is eager to host the Junior PGA Championship.

“We have always wanted to support amateur and junior golf,” said Lardon. “Everyone associated with Miramont Country Club is thrilled to host the Junior PGA Championship over the next two years.”

Begun in 1976, the Junior PGA Championship has been a popular stop on the national junior circuit for many of today’s PGA and LPGA touring professionals.

Past competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Cristie Kerr, Phil Mickelson, Inbee Park, Dottie Pepper, Jordan Spieth, David Toms, Alexis Thompson and Tiger Woods.

Mallory Park, a Leicestershire motor racing circuit which has hosted British Superbikes, has new operators. 

Stuart Hicken and Eddie Roberts have formed a jointly-owned company – Real Motorsport Limited – to run the circuit on a day-to-day basis. 

They commented: “This is a great day for us both. We have grown up with Mallory Park, firstly as spectators, then as competitors and now running businesses associated with the sport”. 

Eddie owns Complog, a leading worldwide retailer of motorcycle tyres which also supplies the British Superbike Series. He enjoyed a 20-year racing career, which saw him compete in many events, including Grands Prix and the Isle of Man TT. 

Stuart is owner of the Buildbase BMW Motorrad UK British Superbike Team. He started racing in the late 1960s, then managed successful racing teams for others, before setting up his own Hawk Racing squad. Stuart’s career also included several years at Mallory Park. 

The previous operating company went into administration, after a series of problems associated with the contravening of agreed noise regulations. 

Both men commented: “We realise that there is a lot of bridge building to be done with the local community, but Mallory Park has been here for a long time and we are hopeful that – with understanding all round – it will have a long and successful future. We would like to thank circuit owner Chris Meek for giving us the opportunity of re-establishing Mallory Park and also Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council for advice regarding noise issues and the community”. 

The pair will now start a programme of works to get the circuit into shape for the forthcoming season and plan to stage their first race meeting in the spring, together with a programme of practice and track hire days.