#15 May 2023 Trip to / from Washington DC

[fenrislorsrai]

since a bunch of people are now leaving notes the article is paywalled, here's the whole text. (check your browser plugins, you should be able to evade get around that easily)

Under Amtrak’s new fare structure, introduced Wednesday [October 25th 2023], you can now travel from Philadelphia to New York City for as low as $19. While Amtrak used to offer three different kinds of ticket options for a seat — the Saver, Value, and Flexible— it will offer two going forward. The new fare model includes: the Flex option which is fully refundable and gives travelers the flexibility to change their travel without fees, and a Value option that offers less flexibility, but is cheaper and travelers can get a 75% refund if canceled. “This streamlined fare structure with more affordable and flexible fares is part of Amtrak’s continued commitment to upgrading the customer experience at every step along their journey,” said Roger Harris, Amtrak president, in a statement. The changes apply to both coach tickets and Acela business class. Acela first-class tickets and non-Acela business-class tickets will not be affected by the new model as they were already fully refundable and flexible. The change comes in light of customer research Amtrak has been conducting. It was confusing for customers to have two distinct discount options — Value and Saver — with slightly different cancellation and change conditions, said W. Kyle Anderson, a representative for Amtrak. The difference in price between a low-cost ticket and a flexible ticket was also a lot larger, customers said, so fewer purchased that option. With the new structure, customers traveling from Philadelphia to New York can buy tickets starting at $19 if they choose the low-cost Value option or $21 if they want more flexibility. Previously a flexible ticket for the same trip would cost at least $128. A ticket to Boston from Philadelphia in coach could cost customers as low as $35 with the new flexible option, whereas it used to cost $223. The new model ensures that all canceled tickets are refunded to the original form of payment. In the past, an eVoucher was issued for the low-cost Saver tickets. Tickets purchased prior to the new structure being implemented will still abide by previous conditions.

also I went to snag additional info off Amtrak's press release which had some other recent changes in it:

Introducing ultra-low “Night Owl” fares, which are as low as $5 – $20 on select Northeast Corridor (NEC) routes;

Enabling Amtrak Guest Rewards members to redeem tickets with points on more fare types;

Updating the children’s discount so that all children (2-12 years old) can travel for 50% off with an accompanying adult (previously limited to 1 child discount per adult fare)[4];

Expanding passenger discounts – such as senior and military – to apply to all fares, including sales; and

Improving Share Fares, which allow groups of 3-8 people traveling together to receive discounts ranging from 17% to 60%.

The Night Owl Fares chart (travel between 7PM and 7AM)

Philadelphia to Baltimore/BWI $5

New York, NY to Newark/Newark Liberty $5

Boston to Providence $5

New York, NY to Philadelphia $10

Philadelphia to Washington, DC $10

Washington, DC to Wilmington $10

New Haven to Boston $15

New York, NY to Baltimore/BWI $15

Boston to New York $20

New York, NY to Washington, DC $20

(and yes, the discounts for specific travels apply to Night Owl as well. so if you are STUDENT age 17-24, you can take 15% off on top of that)

BE FLEXIBLE on your travel times for best pricing! You may be able to combine two discounted short runs into a longer run if you have a stopover somewhere... which is generally about an hour.

also they have wifi, power outlets, you can carry any beverage you want on and can carry on three bags. and no being groped by TSA!

With the new structure, customers traveling from Philadelphia to New York can buy tickets starting at $19 if they choose the low-cost Value option or $21 if they want more flexibility. Previously a flexible ticket for the same trip would cost at least $128.A ticket to Boston from Philadelphia in coach could cost customers as low as $35 with thenew flexible option, whereas it used to cost $223.

FUCK YEAH TRAINS

TRAINS

TRAINS

[xtruss]

Photos: From ‘Innocent Prince’ to ‘Adulterer & Killer King,’ The Filthy Life of Charles III

As King Charles settles into his new role, Al Jazeera takes a look at his life through photos.

— In Pictures | Gallery | 01 May, 2023 | Al-Jazeera

Back when he was still Prince of Wales, Charles opened parliament for the first time on May 10, 2022, and reads the Queen's Speech on behalf of his ailing mother. File: Alastair Grant/WPA pool/Getty Images

Britain’s 74-year-old King Charles III, who will be crowned on Saturday, was the oldest sovereign to take the throne in a lineage that dates back 1,000 years when he succeeded his popular mother, Queen Elizabeth II, after her death in September. She had reigned for 70 years.

Charles does not enjoy the same support as his widely admired mother, but his public approval ratings are generally positive. An opinion poll last week showed many more people hold favourable views of him than negative although there is also a wide segment expressing indifference.

Republican sentiment – which was almost entirely absent publicly during Elizabeth’s reign – has become visible with eggs thrown at the king and his wife, Camilla, on one trip and small groups of protesters voicing opposition at others.

Buckingham Palace has supported research into the monarchy’s links to slavery as calls grow for apologies and reparations, not least from some of the 14 Commonwealth realms, where Charles is also king.

The Guardian newspaper has run a series of articles raising questions about the opaque nature of the wealth and finances of the institution and the royal family, an issue that resonates at a time when Britons are facing a cost of living crisis.

Left: Then-Princess Elizabeth is pictured with her first son, Prince Charles, at Buckingham Palace after his christening in London on December 15, 1948. File: AP Right: In this July 27, 1958, photo, Prince Charles wears his school uniform. He became the first heir apparent to the British throne to attend school rather than have a private tutor. File: AP

Top: A 7-year-old Charles sits with his mother and younger sister, Princess Anne, as they watch the final match of the Smith's lawn polo cup in Windsor, England, on June 23, 1956. File: AP Bottom: Prince Charles arrives at London Airport from Glasgow on April 2, 1964, at a time when he was a student at Gordonstoun School in northeast Scotland, which his father, Prince Philip, also attended. File: AP

Top: An 18-year-old Prince Charles leaves Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth in a state coach on October 31, 1967, for the opening of parliament. It was the first time the prince took part in the ceremony. File: AP Bottom: Prince Charles and Tricia Nixon, daughter of US President Richard Nixon, discuss baseball at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, on July 18, 1970, during a trip the prince made to the US capital with his sister, Princess Anne, after they had visited Canada with their parents. File: AP

Top: Prince Charles walks with Imelda Marcos, first lady of the Philippines, in Katmandu on February 24, 1975, at the coronation ceremony for Nepal’s King Birendra. File: AP Bottom: Prince Charles drinks from a freshly cut green coconut at Haripur village, which he visited during a one-day trip to Bhubaneswar, India, on December 4, 1980. The prince is wearing a marigold garland, which was given to him by villagers. File: Santosh Basak/AP

Top: Queen Elizabeth II crowns her son the Prince of Wales during his investiture ceremony on July 1, 1969, at Caernarfon Castle in Wales. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is seated at the right, and British Home Secretary James Callaghan stands next to the prince. File: AP Bottom: Prince Charles wed Diana, Princess of Wales, on July 29, 1981. The couple appeared with his parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their marriage at St Paul's Cathedral. File: AP

Top: Charles and Diana take home their firstborn son, Prince William, from St Mary's Hospital in London on June 22, 1982, the day after his birth. File: John Redman/AP Bottom: Charles and Diana made their second trip to Australia together in 1985 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the state of Victoria, named after Charles's great-great-great-grandmother. File: AP

Top: Charles greets models wearing clothing from a local designer during a tour of Soweto, South Africa, on November 3, 2011. File: Kim Lubbrook/pool/AP Bottom: Charles speaks after a performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra at St James Palace in central London on December 12, 2011. File: Lefteris Pitarakis/pool/AP

After preparing for the crown his entire life, Charles was king on April 28, 2023, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police presented him with a horse named Noble as he accepted the role of commissioner-in-chief of the police force at Windsor Castle. At the age of 73, he had become the oldest person to ever assume the British throne when Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022. File: Andrew Matthews/pool/AP

[bigyack-com]

1.5 Billion Int. Tourist Arrivals in 2019; UNWTO Forecasts 4% Increase in 2020

The UNWTO has reported that in 2019 there were 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals globally, the tenth consecutive year of growth. The total equates to a 4% increase on 2018, which is also the forecast increase for this year. All regions saw a rise in international arrivals in 2019. However, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the collapse of Thomas Cook, geopolitical and social tensions and the global economic slowdown all contributed to a slower growth in 2019, when compared to the exceptional rates of 2017 and 2018. This slowdown affected mainly advanced economies and particularly Europe and Asia and the Pacific.

Looking ahead, growth of 3% to 4% is predicted for 2020, an outlook reflected in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index which shows a cautious optimism: 47% of participants believe tourism will perform better and 43% at the same level of 2019. Major sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, and cultural events such as Expo 2020 Dubai are expected to have a positive impact on the sector. Presenting the results, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “in these times of uncertainty and volatility, tourism remains a reliable economic sector.” Against the backdrop of recently downgraded global economic perspectives, international trade tensions, social unrest and geopolitical uncertainty, “our sector keeps outpacing the world economy and calling upon us to not only grow but to grow better,” he added. Given tourism’s position as a top export sector and creator of employment, UNWTO advocates the need for responsible growth. Tourism has, therefore, a place at the heart of global development policies, and the opportunity to gain further political recognition and make a real impact as the Decade of Action gets underway, leaving just ten years to fulfill the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Growth The Middle East has emerged as the fastest-growing region for international tourism arrivals in 2019, growing at almost double the global average (+8%). Growth in Asia and the Pacific slowed down but still showed above-average growth, with international arrivals up 5%. Europe, where growth was also slower than in previous years (+4%), continues to lead in terms of international arrivals numbers, welcoming 743 million international tourists last year (51% of the global market). The Americas (+2%) showed a mixed picture as many island destinations in the Caribbean consolidated their recovery after the 2017 hurricanes while arrivals fell in South America due partly to ongoing social and political turmoil.

Limited data available for Africa (+4%) points to continued strong results in North Africa (+9%) while arrivals in Sub-Saharan Africa grew slower in 2019 (+1.5%). Tourism Spending Against a backdrop of global economic slowdown, tourism spending continued to grow, most notably among the world’s top ten spenders. France reported the strongest increase in international tourism expenditure among the world’s top ten outbound markets (+11%), while the United States (+6%) led growth in absolute terms, aided by a strong dollar. However, some large emerging markets such as Brazil and Saudi Arabia reported declines in tourism spending. China, the world’s top source market saw outbound trips increase by 14% in the first half of 2019, though expenditure fell 4%. “The number of destinations earning US$1 billion or more from international tourism has almost doubled since 1998,” said Mr Pololikashvili. “The challenge we face is to make sure the benefits are shared as widely as possible and that nobody is left behind. In 2020, UNWTO celebrates the Year of Tourism and Rural Development, and we hope to see our sector lead positive change in rural communities, creating jobs and opportunities, driving economic growth and preserving culture.” See also: Did Strength of Thai Baht Affect Number of Visitor Arrivals from UK in 2019? FHD Video and Podcast Interview with Tourism Authority of Thailand. See latest Travel News, Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: UNWTO, Arrivals, Thailand Travel Mart, TTM+, Phuket, Roi-Et, Ubon, Khon Kaen, Sisaket. Headlines: Pictures from Ascot United vs Hanworth Villa  SHOW DC Hall to Give Bangkok's MICE Industry a Significant Boost  IHG Signs First voco Hotel in New Zealand  OYO Signs Global Distribution Agreement with Sabre  Hong Kong Cancels Chinese New Year Carnival  NAC Orders 20 Airbus A220 Aircraft  IHG to Launch Customer Insights Portal for Large Enterprises  Cathay Pacific Reports December 2019 Traffic  Duetto Appoints David Woolenberg as CEO  Phuket to Host Thailand Travel Mart (TTM+) 2020 in June  Sabre and Accor to Create Unified Technology Platform for Hospitality Industry  Groupe Couleur to Manage RWC 2023 Official Travel Agent Selection Process  Two Senior Global Marketing Appointments at IHG  ANA Begins Autonomous Electric Bus Trial at Haneda Airport  China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines Cancel Flights to Wuhan, China  Rosa Wong Joins Hotel Alexandra HK as Director of Event Management  Four Seasons Madrid Now Accepting Reservations  UK Military Flight Training System Orders 4 More H145 Helicopters  Sabre Forges 10-Year Partnership with Google  Accor Expands Pullman Brand to Rotorua, New Zealand  Korean Air Reveals More Details of New SkyPass FFP  Airbus to Produce A321 Aircraft in Toulouse, France  Cornelia Mitlmeier Joins Four Seasons Dubai as Resort Manager  Hotel Alexandra Appoints Daniel Chan as Executive Chef  SITAOnAir Acquires GTD Air Services  Boeing Hoping for 737 MAX Ungrounding in Mid-2020  1.5 Billion Int. Tourist Arrivals in 2019; UNWTO Forecasts 4% Increase in 2020  Hong Kong Airport Handled 71.5 Million Passengers in 2019  Ascott Opens First Citadines in Osaka, Japan  Thai Airways Appoints New Chairman  Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit to Take Place 9-10 Feb  PATA Forecasts Over 971 Million Int. Visitor Arrivals into Asia Pacific by 2024  Green Light for Garmin G5000 Avionics Upgrade on Learjet Aircraft  Four Seasons Silicon Valley Installs High-Tech AI Gym in Select Rooms  Assistance Requests for Airline Pax with Intellectual Disabilities up 762%  Accor Opens Mercure Resort in Vung Tau, Vietnam  Vietjet Launches Flights Between Dalat and Seoul  FlyArystan Reports First Year Load Factor of 94%  Amadeus Looks at How Technology Will Shape Airports of the Future  CALC Signs Purchase Agreement for 40 A321neo Aircraft  Daniele Polito Joins Four Seasons Seoul as Boccalino's Chef de Cuisine  Charlotte Svensson to Join SAS as EVP and CIO  Airbus Helicopters Appoints Head of External Communications  Ascot: Pictures from Matchbook Clarence House Chase and Raceday 2020  Mövenpick Resort Opens in Cam Ranh, Vietnam  Sky Bridge Delivered to Final Position at HKIA  Airbus Performs First Fully Automatic Vision-Based Take-Off  Manchester Signs Tourism Collaboration Agreement with New York City  CWT Appoints Scott Hace as Vice President - Enterprise Strategy  United to Launch CRJ550 Shuttle Service Between Washington and New York  Perth Airport to Upgrade T1's Aerobridges  Thomas Krooswijk Appointed GM of Four Seasons Marrakech  American Appoints Brian Znotins as VP of Network and Schedule Planning  Pools - World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Chile 15-16 February  British Airways to Refresh First and Club Lounges at Chicago O'Hare Airport  Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways Expand Codeshare  Onyx Signs Second Amari Hotel in China  Air Canada's First Airbus A220-300 Enters Commercial Service  Hyatt Signs Regency Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Bangkok to Host 30th Global Summit of Women in April  One Championship Appoints Jonathan Anastas as CMO  IHG Signs Deal for 1,200+ Rooms in Thailand; First Hotel in Chiang Mai  HK's Airport Authority Appoints Ricky Leung as Executive Director  Trenchard Makes Donation to Aerobility - The British Flying Charity  Chu Yuet Hung Joins Four Seasons Hangzhou as Director of F&B  Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Down 14.2% in 2019  Hotel Ritz Madrid to be Rebranded by Mandarin Oriental  Sabre Appoints Karl Peterson as Chairman  Muralilal Armugum Joins Aloft KL Sentral as Director of F&B  Traxof to Automate Talent Acquisition of Airbus' IM Organisations  Vie Hotel Bangkok Selects Organika Products for Renovated Spa  Europ Assistance Opens Office in Bangkok, Thailand  Gulf Air Partners Etihad Guest  Team GB Selects British Airways as Official Airline for Tokyo 2020  Emirates Targets Chinese Travellers with Trip.com MOU  Thailand: Did Strength of Thai Baht Affect Number of Arrivals from UK in 2019?  AirAsia to Launch Flights Between Penang and Chengdu, China  Marriott Appoints Bart Buiring as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer APAC  Airbus' BelugaXL Enters Service  Vietjet Launches Flights from Can Tho to Taipei and Seoul  Air New Zealand's Chief People Officer Resigns  Whitbread Installs Defibrillators in 800 Premier Inn Hotels  Air France Invites Customers to Vote for Preferred Carbon Offsetting Project  Calhoun Becomes President and CEO of Boeing  Accor to Take Over 581-Room Hotel in Rayong, Thailand  Travelport Appoints John Elieson as COO  Full Roll-Out of myCWT China to Commence in Q2 2020  Terry Kavieris Returns to Bali as RM of InterContinental Bali  Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong Earns EarthCheck Gold Status  Mandarin Oriental Launches Tea Roasting Experience in Taipei  Chubb Partners Grab to Launch In-App Travel Insurance in Singapore  Steady Growth Forecast for Mainland China Hotel Markets in 2020  Artyzen Hospitality Signs Habitat Hotel in Yubei, China  Pictures from Ascot United vs Colliers Wood United on 11 January  What Does TAT Have Planned for Thailand Travel Mart (TTM+) 2020? Exclusive Interview  Aviation: Stable Passenger Demand Growth in November  CWT Appoints Dale Eastlund as VP Supply Chain Partners  Dassault Falcon to Hold M&O Seminars in 8 Cities Around the World  Expat in Phuket Donates Two SV14 Dinghies to Disabled Sailing Thailand  Bangkok to Host Asia Destination Film Forum on 30 January  Wizz Air Becomes First in Europe to Deploy SITAOnAir's ACARS Over IP Service  Airbus to Increase Aircraft Production in USA  Sanlorenzo Appoints Simpson Marine as Distributor for Bluegame Yachts in Asia  Global Air Freight Demand Down 1.1% in November 2019; APAC Down 3.7%  IHG Expands Thailand Portfolio with Holiday Inn and Suites Siracha Laemchabang  Asia Pacific Airlines Flew 30.3 Million Int. Passengers in November 2019  SilkAir to Cease Flights to Kolkata, India  Biman Bangladesh Airlines Launches Flights to Manchester, England  EmbraerX and Elroy Air to Collaborate on Unmanned Air Cargo  FCM Strengthens Innovation Programme with Shep Investment  Artotel Appoints Yulia Maria as Group Director of Marketing Communications  Japan, Singapore, S. Korea and Germany Have World's Most Powerful Passports  Yangon Int. Airport Implements SITA's Airport Management Solution  Air France to Launch Twice-Daily Flights Between Paris-Orly and Munich, Germany  ANA to Enhance Service at Airports in Japan with Portable Translators  Yvette Thomas-Henry Appointed GM of Four Seasons Resort Nevis  Hahn Air Enters 2020 with 40 New Partner Airlines  CWTSatoTravel Partners US Military's Spouse Employment Programme  My Emirates Pass Gives Passengers Special Discounts in UAE  Visitors to Singapore Must Now Register Unmanned Aircraft  India's Vistara Airline Appoints APG as Online GSA in France  BOC Aviation Orders 20 Airbus A320neos  China Airlines to Launch Direct Flights to Chiang Mai, Thailand  Green Light for Vietnam Airlines to Expand Codeshare Agreement with Delta  All Hi Fly Flights Now Single-Use Plastic Free  Air India Renews Distribution Agreement with Amadeus  Mandy Goh Joins St. Regis Langkawi as Executive Chef  Spirit Airlines Signs Purchase Agreement for 100 Airbus A320neo Aircraft  Hamad Int. Airport Served Record 38,786,422 Pax in 2019  British Airways Starts Offsetting Carbon Emissions on All Flights Within UK  Marriott Opens Second JW on Hainan Island, China  Airbus Partners Aston Martin for Special Edition Helicopter  Dassault Aviation Appoints Charles Wemaëre as VP Worldwide Spares  Boeing Appoints Niel Golightly as SVP of Communications  Jayson Goldstein Joins Four Seasons Boston as F&B Director  Vietjet Takes Delivery of Two More Airbus Aircraft  Two Executive Appointments at Bombardier Aviation  Air India No Longer Available on Sabre GDS  Thailand Targets Tourism Revenue of 3.18 Trillion Baht in 2020  Pictures from Ascot United vs Banstead Athletic on 4 Jan 2020  Gen Z - Airbnb's Fastest Growing Market for Experiences in Asia Pacific  Air Canada Takes Delivery of First Airbus A220-300  AirAsia Launches Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Dalat, Vietnam  Cebu Pacific Orders 15 Airbus Aircraft, Including Up To 10 A321XLRs  American Airlines and Royal Air Maroc to Codeshare  New Immigration Requirements to Help Solomon Islands Fight Measles  Vietjet Launches Danang - Singapore Flights  American Express GBT Forecasts Stable Air Prices in 2020  Etihad and Kuwait Airways to Codeshare  PAG and Inmark Purchase Grand Hyatt Seoul  British Airways and Iberia Achieve IATA NDC @Scale Certification  Seaplanes in Thailand? Interview with Dennis Keller, CBO of Siam Seaplane  Seven HD Videos from IATA Airline Industry Retailing Symposium 2019 in Bangkok  Vietnam Airlines Signs EngineWise Service Agreement with Pratt & Whitney  Future of Airline Distribution and NDC - Interview with Yanik Hoyles, IATA  Cambodia Airways Interview with Lucian Hsing, Commercial Director  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  Travel Trade Shows in 2019, 2020 and 2021  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News  Read the full article

[rickhorrow]

15+5+5 To Watch : 91619

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16

with Jacob Aere

NFL ad prices rebounding after steep 2018 declines. NFL ad pricing has rebounded after last year’s drop, as purchasers report that the average unit cost of a 30-second in-game spot purchased in the 2019-2020 upfront was up between 5% and 10% compared to the marketplace a year ago. According to Cynopsis Sports, dollar volume also has improved, with NFL advertisers pinning more of their budgets to media’s most reliable reach vehicle. Despite the higher cost of reaching NFL fans, media partners CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN are holding back inventory for what is expected to be a powerhouse scatter market. All told, the four networks nailed down more than $2 billion in regular-season upfront commitments, thanks in large part to the NFL’s chokehold over the rest of the TV space and a 2018 ratings rebound that went a long way toward calming many advertisers’ nerves after two consecutive years of declines. On television, there’s the NFL…and then there’s everything else. 

After a 14-year absence, American Express returns as a PGA Tour tournament title sponsor beginning next year as The Desert Classic becomes The American Express. American Express has teed off a multiyear title sponsorship deal that returns it to the PGA Tour entitlement roster and provides the event that was played as The Desert Classic this year with a new name. According to a news release, the 2020 pro-am event is scheduled for January 13-19 in La Quinta, California and will operate as The American Express going forward. “American Express’ new multi-year partnership with this historic event on the PGA Tour is a perfect match,” said Stephen Squeri, American Express Chairman and CEO. “Golf consistently ranks as one of the top passions of our Card Members, and the Tour provides some of the most exciting experiences at some of the best venues the game offers. We’re looking forward to making The American Express a ‘must-see’ event.” The deal comes in the nick of time for the tournament, which was in danger of losing its place on the PGA Tour schedule without a title sponsor and cash injection.

A California bill that would allow college athletes to accept endorsement money moved one step closer to becoming law when it cleared the state senate by a vote of 39-0. Once the details are ironed out, the proposed law — known as the Fair Pay to Play Act — heads to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has 30 days to sign it. If it becomes law, it will go into effect in January, 2023. This bill would allow all college athletes in California to profit from their name, image and likeness. Similar bills are in their infancy in Washington state and Colorado, and North Carolina representative Mark Walker introduced a federal bill in March that would have the same effect, making the Fair Pay to Play Act a "catalyst rather than an end unto itself," as the New York Times noted. The bill's high-profile backers include LeBron James and Draymond Green, both of whom tweeted their support. Naturally, the NCAA has come out in strong opposition of the bill. The association last week claimed the Fair Pay to Play Act is harmful, unconstitutional, and would "upend the balance" of national competition in college sports. Stay tuned.

SportsBusiness Journal lauds corporate social responsibility. Amidst a recent roundup of sports CSR initiatives, SportsBusiness Journal noted that the first project on which educational platform developer EverFi collaborated with a sports property was “a financial literacy program that regional bank BBVA offered for use by elementary school students in a handful of NBA markets, including Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix.” When Houston hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2013, league sponsor BBVA arranged for Rockets star James Harden to appear at a participating school. “While it’s cool to have a BBVA banker come into the classroom, it’s even cooler if James Harden shows up,” said Jon Chapman, co-founder and president of global partnerships for EverFi, which has developed online educational modules on topics ranging from financial literacy to STEM to anti-bullying, branded for presentation by teams, leagues, and sponsors. After Houston, EverFi developed educational modules for the NHL and NHLPA around science, technology, engineering and math; for the NFL and the United Way around character development and African American history; for MLB focusing on learning loss during summer vacation; and with MLS around anti-bullying. We look forward to celebrating a Sport Business Handbook event with EverFi at their Washington, DC headquarters on October 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched their seventh straight NL West pennant. In the divisional era, since 1969, only the Braves (1991–2005) and the Yankees (1998–2006) have strung together more consecutive division titles. Parity has ruled baseball to a much greater degree than it has other pro sports. Over the last 40 years, MLB has had 23 different champions, while the NHL has had 18, the NFL has had 17, and the more top-heavy NBA has had 12. Yet only two MLB teams have repeated as World Series champions, and they both hail from the AL East – the Yankees, and the Blue Jays. Elsewhere in baseball, Evan Williams Bourbon is giving fans a chance to swing at a trip to the 2019 World Series. Through a sweepstakes offering, the grand prize winner will secure four tickets to one of the upcoming Fall Classic contests, plus air travel and overnight accommodations, four $100 online gift certificates to MLBshop.com and a $350 prepaid Mastercard. The first- and second-prize winners connect with a $500 online gift certificate and $100 online gift certificate to MLBshop.com, respectively.

In a bid to boost fan engagement during the regular season and into the hunt for October, MLB has launched a new licensed lottery draw game called Baseball Bucks that will feature the official brand marks of MLB and its 30 franchises. According to Hashtag Sports, the game involves players buying a $5 quick-pick ticket featuring ten games from that day’s MLB regular-season schedule. The partnership could also see both parties collaborate on other lottery games based on live baseball, including designs that offer winnings similar to national lottery draws including Powerball and Mega Millions. The deal adds to EquiLottery Games’ growing sports portfolio, having also announced a partnership with Speedway Motorsports to develop a game based on live auto racing which has been tentatively called Race Car Cash.

A generous community benefits package is tied to the Clippers' arena proposal. According to the Orange County Register, the Clippers and city of Inglewood are negotiating an estimated $100 million "community development plan associated with the proposed new 18,500-seat arena that the team wants to open" in 2024. Among the items that Inglewood would like to see included in the agreement are “employment targets during and after construction, with a goal of half of 35% of the permanent jobs in event operations going to Inglewood residents.” Inglewood is also requesting $12.8 million in "grant support, targeted at city youth via after-school programs and scholarships." The city also wants development plans to include $6 million worth of "improvements to the public library and community center and $500,000 for parks." There also is another request that the Clippers dedicate $5.5 million to "cover a first-time home-buyer program and emergency support for renters for families facing eviction." The Clippers in an email "indicated that they’re receptive to the city’s proposal, which they view as being in line with their philanthropic efforts." 

The NFL just announced the NFL Helmet Challenge — a contest to see who can create the safest possible helmet. Engineers, manufacturers and others will compete for $3 million ($1 million prize, $2 million grant to build a prototype), according to a league announcement. The NFL will offer up to a $1 million award in a contest intended to spur the development of safer football helmets. As the next step in the $60 million, five-year effort announced in 2017 to stimulate better football player protection, the NFL Helmet Challenge’s goal is to find a design that outperforms all current helmets in laboratory testing. NFL Executive Vice President of Health and Safety Innovation Jeff Miller said the contest is “an unprecedented combination of financing, research, data and engineering expertise.” The contest will kick off with a symposium in Youngstown, Ohio November 13-15, where experts from different industries will gather to collaborate on new helmet concepts. America Makes, a manufacturing research institute, will host the conference. The final testing will occur in May 2021. Along with the prize money, the league will make another $2 million available to support prototype development. 

Oklahoma State mega booster Boone Pickens dies at 91. Oil tycoon and influential Oklahoma State athletic booster T. Boone Pickens has died at 91 after his health "had been an issue" since December 2016, according to the Tulsa World. Pickens' total lifetime benevolence "amounts to slightly more" than $1 billion and "roughly half of that money,” over $500 million, went to his alma mater. Pickens' gifts to OSU were split between academics and athletics, but the "most famous single donation" was the $165 million he gave to the athletic department in 2006 – a gift that is among the largest to any university's sports program in collegiate history. Since 2003, OSU has played home games at Boone Pickens Stadium. CNBC's Jim Cramer said if "every school had a backer like Boone, we would have such a great educational system in this country.” With his contributions to Oklahoma State, Pickens changed the landscape of the athletics department and launched the school to the next level in terms of competitiveness on the field and off it for top athletes and students alike.

New L.A. stadium designed to attract – and hold – the attention of fickle fans. The $5 billion Inglewood stadium is the "most expensive in the U.S., and perhaps the world," and "every dollar spent here has gone toward tackling one of the toughest problems in American sports: making professional football work" in Los Angeles, according to the Wall Street Journal. Rams Owner Stan Kroenke is "spending lavishly to create a building" that he and the team "felt could only exist" in L.A. The complex is "far larger than just a stadium," and the approximately $5 billion "spent on the stadium may wind up being less than half the total cost" of the development. Outside of the stadium, there are "vast and largely empty plots of land," but they are "perhaps more important than the stadium itself." The Rams and the NFL "knew for this project to make any sort of financial sense, it had to be operational year round and not just on Sundays." Sources said that when the property is fully developed, the total expenditure could exceed $10 billion.

Fresh on the heels of donating $1 million to Bahamas hurricane relief, Michael Jordan has "agreed to sell a large piece" of the Hornets to two New York-based investors. The Charlotte Observer reported that Jordan "controls about" 97% of Hornets equity. The sale is "expected to close in the next few weeks." Jordan is reportedly "bringing in" Melvin Capital Founder and Chief Information Officer Gabe Plotkin and D1 Capital Founder Daniel Sundheim. The percentages Plotkin and Sundheim are buying "have not been revealed, nor has the price they are paying." Both prospective owners "must be approved by the NBA, but that process is already underway and the sale is expected to close quickly." A source with knowledge of the deal said that it "does not involve" Jordan "giving up majority ownership" of the team. Jordan reportedly "plans to remain the Hornets’ primary owner 'for a long time.'"  Last February, Forbes "estimated the Hornets were worth" about $1.3 billion.

The National Lacrosse League announces details for the 2019-2020 season, which include divisional realignment, playoff format and schedule type after the addition of two expansion teams and new market Halifax. The league will feature 13 teams in the upcoming season after fielding 11 last year. To accommodate the addition of expansion teams, the New York Riptide, Rochester Knighthawks, and new market Halifax Thunderbirds, as well as maintaining an eye towards continued expansion, the NLL will shift to a three-division format in 2019-2020. “The league has had unprecedented expansion over the last three years. With two more teams coming in this year along with a new market in Halifax, we felt the need to reexamine conference alignments, schedule and playoff formats to prepare for future expansion. We also wanted to create exciting rivalries for the fans, the best travel scenarios for teams and players and competitive match-ups for our 13 franchises," said NLL Commissioner and Sport Business Handbook contributor Nick Sakiewicz. Along with unprecedented expansion, the NLL is clearly looking at unprecedented success.

Four Americans are among the 41 Paralympians from 20 countries to get sponsorship deals from Citi heading into the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. According to Cynopsis Sports, Citi is rolling out its activation plans for its two-year deal with the International Paralympic Committee and 18 national teams it signed last December. All of the athletes will appear with Citi at a range of in-market activations, philanthropic, and community-building events. “It’s a 365-day-a-year partnership, there’s always something going in a market with this partnership,” said Citi Managing Director of Corporate Sponsorship and Marketing Tina Davis. The team includes 22 women, 19 men, and ranges from 17 to 50 in age. Last year, Citi signed a brief two-year deal with the IPC, returning it to the Olympic-Paralympic world after its five years as a USOPC sponsor. The international deal gives Citi rights to the Tokyo Games and rights in 18 countries where it has a significant workforce, but not in the U.S., because the U.S. does not generally sell Paralympic rights separately.

The $3.85 million check Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu received for winning the U.S. Open is "only the beginning of million-dollar payouts from future sponsorship deals." According to the Canadian Press, being the first Canadian Grand Slam singles champion -- at age 19, no less -- is "notable." But Ontario-based Cosmos Sports Marketing President Cary Kaplan said that the "real story is Andreescu's meteoric rise." With her U.S. Open victory in hand, Andreescu's financial situation "allows her to take her time and determine what brands the young star wants to associate herself with." Her contract with Montreal-based vegan restaurant chain Copper Branch ends in early '20, but the eatery "hopes to extend it or sign a new one." Until it runs out, Copper Branch "plans to continue using her image on menu boards and its website, but also wants to ramp up the connection between Andreescu and the chain." The National Post notes Tennis Canada Director of Marketing and Digital Innovation Ben Makarenko is "excited about the potential for Andreescu's success to increase interest in the sport, especially among girls." As always, success on the field of play trumps marketing dollars spent.

As it seeks to step up its marketing efforts in an increasingly competitive business, online sneaker marketplace StockX struck an advertising deal with Bleacher Report that will include paid ads and custom videos. The contract will also include sponsored articles on Bleacher Report, and a physical space at Bleacher Report’s annual sneaker-focused event, The Drop Up, in December. StockX is paying Bleacher Report an undisclosed fee and will share revenue from any sales to visitors who arrive via a B/R link. StockX, whose revenue has doubled over the past year, makes money by collecting a 3% processing fee, plus transaction fees that range from 9.5% for sneakers and streetwear to 14.5% for handbags. Bleacher Report’s sneaker franchise, Kicks, has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, with celebrity followers including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Justin Timberlake. Sneaker resale is becoming a fiercely contested market (often appealing to young shoppers), and StockX is making headway – this deal is its first effort to lure users with content from a media partner. The partnership can also help StockX expand beyond hard-core sneakerheads and reach more casual fans.

Top Five Tech

Spotify to expand into sports podcasting. According to the Hollywood Reporter, former Facebook executive Amy Hudson and former CBS News Chief David Rhodes have been called in to help start the new sports podcasting program. Spotify, built as a subscription-based music streaming service, has been moving aggressively into the podcasting space as it seeks to expand from music to the broader audio market. The company's early slate of original podcasts has focused on entertainment programming, including the in-development “I'm Gonna Be Kevin Bacon,” the talk show “Unbothered” with host Jemele Hill, and “The Joe Budden Podcast.” The platform has also inked an expansive deal with Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions for a slate of original podcasts. While Rhodes will help Spotify provide an upper hand for Spotify’s news content on podcasts, Hudson will focus on pushing sports, as she most recently led North American sports media partnerships for Facebook as well as previously working at Turner Sports.

GQ launches new sports-focused YouTube channel.  GQ Sports will have no stats, no highlights, and no announcers but they will be delving into the personal lives of players off the court. Some names and topics they have secured include James Harden and his jaw-dropping watch collection, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his “Essentials” as well as NBA breakout Terry Rozier and UFC fighter T. J. Dillashaw to share the personal stories behind their ink in “​Tattoo Tour.​” Their first big move on the new platform is “One-on-One,” a series that puts athletes in conversation with famous super fans, musicians, directors, designers, and others. Episode 1 of the “One-on-One” series is now released and features ex-NBA all-star Dwayne Wade and Miami rapper Rick Ross as they talk lessons they learned from watching each other while they make an unexpected business plan together. On top of the face-to-face chats between sports stars and celebrities, GQ will also feature “The Walk-In” that will take a look inside their closets, while “The Assist” and “All Access” will give a look at the tech side of sports. 

Twitch partners with the Las Vegas Raiders and the brand new Allegiant Stadium for 2020. According to Shack News, the partnership will include a Twitch-branded lounge in the lower level of the stadium, with features including streamer stations, Twitch viewing screens, and esports competitions. Twitch's live-streaming capabilities will be available in a variety of entertainment at Allegiant Stadium, including sporting events, concerts, and esports competitions. The Raiders are moving from Oakland after this season and their new 65,000-seat stadium will also be the home of UNLV football, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Pac-12 title game. The big overall news is that esports competitions will be coming to Allegiant Stadium and sponsored by Twitch, integrating the NFL and esports under one roof.

The Philadelphia Eagles create their own in-house Netflix with Eagles Entertainment. According to InsideHook, the Super Bowl LII champions have added to their six team podcasts with in-house produced comedies, cooking shows, human interest documentaries about fans, and plenty of content about Eagles players. The idea is to make Eagles content relevant 365 days a year rather than just during the NFL season. The new content will appear on the team’s website and social media channels. The team just finished shooting an eight-part web series with Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor and celebrity chef Robert Irvine of the Food Network. Premiering this season, the reformatted “Bites with the Birds” will show the duo cooking players’ favorite dishes, and they even have backing form Coca-, which is sponsoring and co-producing the series. With advertising money from Coca-Cola to back their productions it seems the Eagles have a business model for small scale, team media in professional American sports.

German soccer squad Bayern Munich will upgrade to a 5G stadium by the spring of 2020. The team’s Allianz Arena will upgrade the tech and fan experience and allow for faster streaming and AR and VR capabilities. According to SportsPro, the Bundesliga club isn’t the first of Europe’s soccer clubs to integrate 5G into their infrastructure as Spanish champions FC Barcelona confirmed their own plans earlier this year to install the technology at the club’s stadium, Nou Camp. Bayern is also working on ways the technology can be used to allow fans to “participate in goal celebrations,” while they also cite virtual competitions as a possibility. As American cities have just begun to roll out 5G, Bayern Munich is looking to get a step ahead in tech to provide the best fan experience possible.

Power of Sports Five

Florida sports icons including Dan Marino, Tiger Woods, and Kelly Slater deliver relief funds for Hurricane Dorian. According to the Orlando Sentinel, former NFL MVP Marino is sending a fleet of recreational vehicles to the Bahamas to aid with the influx of food and water being sent over to the devastated islands. To help put a roof over people’s heads, Marino partnered up with Gigi Stetler, CEO of RV Sales of Broward County, to send 10 travel trailers stocked full of supplies to the Bahamas. Five-time Masters champion and Jupiter, Florida resident Woods is working alongside Justin Timberlake to establish the ONE Bahamas Fund, which is seeking to raise $6 million dollars for hurricane relief. Woods and Timberlake alongside NEXUS Luxury Collection, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and ALBANY members are hoping to have donors match their contribution for a combined goal of $12 million. Professional surfer and Cocoa Beach native Slater also took to social media trying to generate relief for the Bahamas through charitable shirt sales. Earlier this week, Slater posted on his Instagram page a picture of a shirt with the logo “It’s better in the Bahamas,” along with a link to purchase the shirt with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund. These sports stars have all taken different approaches to deliver much-needed aid in the Bahamas even as another tropical storm is affecting those without shelter on the north side of the islands.

UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to host a $50 million charity fight in Africa. After beating Dustin Poirier on September 7 to retain his light heavyweight title and take his professional record to 28-0, Nurmagomedov has hinted that the charity fight in Africa could be a rematch against Connor Morgan. Khabib is no stranger to empathizing with those who need an upper hand after growing up impoverished in the war-torn western region of Russia called Dagestan. Immediately after winning his last fight, Nurmagomedov said that he wanted to make his next fight a charity event in Africa to help raise money for people who cannot even get proper drinking water though he acknowledged that he would need the UFC's backing to make it happen. According to Business Insider, UFC President Dana White has indicated his intent take UFC to Africa, and while he hasn't commented on Nurmagomedov's proposition, White is enthusiastic for a rematch between Khabib and MacGregor. Last time the two fought they shattered the UFC pay-per-view record for sales with 2.4 million; this could be a great opportunity for delivering money to a cause in need.

Cal Ripken, Jr.’s celebrity golf tournament draws in legendary athletes across major U.S. sports leagues. According to the Patriot News, the event, featuring such legends as Julius Erving, Lawrence Taylor, Ozzie Smith, and Jim McMahon, was held to benefit the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. The inaugural golf outing was held in 2011, and since then, the event has raised several million dollars for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. The principal goals of the foundation are to utilize baseball- and softball-themed programs in an effort to build character and teach life lessons to underprivileged children. Founded in 2001, the Foundation has served kids in all 50 states and in other countries such as Canada and Nicaragua. With over 20 Hall of Famers across the NFL and MLB, the event has an impressive amount of star power to help draw attention to giving back to those less privileged through baseball and softball.

WWE’s John “Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) uses charity to open a sports facility in Malawi. JBL and Gareth Nokes, who worked with Bradshaw on Beyond Rugby Bermuda, are teaming with not-for-profit charity Bhubesi Pride Foundation to open a rugby and sports facility in East Africa. According to the WWE website, the complex in the country of Malawi will include classrooms and accommodations to use sports and the classroom as a vehicle to educate. The facility will be built on a seven-acre plot of land in the capital city of Lilongwe to help a poverty-stricken region provide opportunities in athletics. WWE has a long history of global charity and has stretched a helping hand to Malawi to give those who are just as driven and intelligent a fair chance at making a successful career in sports and in their business professions.

Esports icon SonicFox comes out as non-binary and has donated thousands to LGBTQ charity. According to Instinct Magazine, Dominique “SonicFox” McLean is an esports champ who won the title of Best Esports Player last year. He accepted the award and stated that he is, “black, gay, and a fury.” He is more than just talk as two weeks ago, SonicFox held a charity stream in which he raised over $22,000 for the Trevor Project, which supports suicide prevention in LGBTQ youth. Over 72 hours, the video game player played games and campaigned to get fans to support the charity organization. To celebrate the charity and streaming achievement, SonicFox bared his chest, which featured “Trans Rights” written on it on top of shaving his iconic and beloved mustache. As one of very few sports stars to identify as non-binary, look for SonicFox to bring more awareness to the LGBTQ community through streaming and charity.