In Boston, Curt Woodward notes DraftKings and FanDuel are "offering thousands of players a shot at $900,000 in total prize money in several tournaments based on March Madness games," despite the NCAA recently trying to "get fantasy sports companies to stop offering contests based on college games." Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is "expected within weeks to enact new rules governing fantasy games that also includes a ban on collegiate athletics" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/17).
BUILDING BUZZ: The Hornets said that they have "seen high demand for corporate sponsorships" around next year's NBA All-Star Game at Time Warner Cable Arena. In Charlotte, Katherine Peralta notes the team "worked with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to sign on 15 sponsors -- mostly local companies" -- to fill the approximately $1.5M private-sector funding gap that "existed when Charlotte was awarded the All-Star game last June." Sponsors "get to be part of a six-month marketing campaign that consists of print, digital and TV ads, as well as access to tickets to the weekend’s events" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/17).
PLAY ON, PLAYERS: Fanatics is teaming up with The Players Championship to "sell merchandise-branded apparel for the first time." The PGA Tour event's partnership with Fanatics "coincides with the launch of a new website" for the tourney. The new site "will not only allow attendees to buy tickets and plan their visit, but learn more about the background of the tournament and get a better understanding of the course itself" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/15).
