Stadia

MSNBCSports.com, the internet home of NBC Sports, has formed an alliance with eFANshop, an e-commerce OEM portal which provides licensed sports merchandise and apparel.

LOS ANGELES: Andrew Gellatly, SportBusiness.com new media editor, reports from the Interactive Sports 2000 conference.

Dr. Richard Luker, founder of the ESPN Sports Poll presented new research at the Interactive Sports 2000 conference in Los Angeles that suggests the internet sports market is "a market place still waiting for people to come through its doors".

First Entertainment, a leading Multimedia Internet Entertainment Company, will stream live video of the PGA Compaq Classic of New Orleans on the company's F2 Sports Network. The live streaming will take place between May 1 - 7 from the English Tern Golf and Country Club in New Orleans.

The Commissioners of the four major US sports have met in New York to discuss the role of new technology in sports? future. David Stern of the National Basketball Association, Paul Tagliabue of the National Football League, Gary Bettman of the National Hockey League, and Bud Selig, head of Major League Baseball discussed the need for additional online sports content, web video, and a significant increase in internet interactivity with fans. In addition, the commissioners expanded on the revenue stream potential of the internet.

SportBusiness.com new media editor Andrew Gellatly reports from the Interactive Sports 2000 conference in Los Angeles.

Sportal chief executive Rob Hersov has confirmed yesterday?s Sportbusiness.com report denying claims that Canal Plus has made a buy-out offer for the sports internet company. "Our company sits very well in partnership with the big sports media companies, but there is no offer on the table from Canal Plus," said Hersov.

Sportvision, a leader in sports media technology, has named Larry Novenstern as Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. Mr. Novenstern joins Sportvision from BBDO Worldwide, the third largest global advertising agency network, where he served as Senior Vice President and Director of Sports Marketing Services.

A scientist at Sydney's top Olympic training centre, the New South Wales Academy of Sport, has been suspended after being charged with illegally importing steroids ordered over the Internet.

David Kenin, Former President of CBS Sports has joined SportsPrize.com as Chairman and CEO of SportsPrize Entertainment Inc.

Sportal Ltd., the U.K.-based online sports information company, has denied reports that it will be acquired by Canal Plus? internet unit Numedia. The speculation arose from a report in Saturday's edition of French newspaper Le Figaro, which said that Canal Plus was close to buying Sportal for between $300 million and $400 million.

Major League Soccer and Capital One have signed a partnership that makes Capital One the exclusive credit card issuer of MLS and its 12 member teams. The card will be available to MLS fans this summer.

An early flotation of shares in Melbourne?s troubled Colonial Stadium looks less likely according to reports which say revenues are lower than expected while costs are up.

Teamtalk.com, the online club-by-club football news service, is to extend its sports offering into UK rugby union and rugby league.

The Wall Street Journal has added fuel to speculation raised during Sport Business 2000 that stadium naming rights deals are coming to Europe. The newspaper reported: ?At least a dozen European premier division soccer-club owners over the past year have been privately huddling with U.S. fund managers about following the American model of raising corporate sponsorship cash to underwrite the construction of new grounds.?

The Australian Football League (AFL) could face a 40-year problem if fans reject the new Colonial Stadium in Melbourne according to AFL official, Colin Carter.