July 10, 2017: Inside Wimbledon's Subtle Technology Enhancements and Sponsor Ads, Essence Festival to Return to South Africa, I.O.C. Won't Help Rio Olympics Organizers With $40 Million Debt

1. INSIDE WIMBLEDON'S SUBTLE TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS AND SPONSOR ADS: Keeping in line with Wimbledon's "tennis in an English garden atmosphere," sponsors and partners of the tennis tournament are preparing understated ads, while organizers are working to keep technology enhancements as subtle as possible. The New York Times: "Sam Seddon, the IBM client executive for Wimbledon, said such considerations were at the foundation of all the company’s work at the tournament, where it has been the technology partner since 1990. 'The aesthetic environment here is not an afterthought: It’s right at the start of the design process,' Mr. Seddon said. 'That is a sort of an ongoing challenge with many, many things: How do you have tennis in an English garden when you need all this technology around it? How do you go about hiding it all?' Alexandra Willis, the head of communications, content and digital for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said even some decisions that affect the competition have been made with aesthetic considerations in mind. Only six of the tournament’s 19 courts are equipped with Hawk-Eye review systems for players to challenge line calls, in large part to make sure the mounted cameras needed wouldn’t obstruct pristine sightlines and ruin the garden ambience. Methods of concealment vary. The Hawk-Eye cameras that are on the courts are cloaked in green. Other electronic equipment, including microphones, is also dark green whenever possible. ... Advertising by Wimbledon’s various commercial partners must be similarly unobtrusive. Compared with that of the United States Open, where the names of several brands can quickly be identified in almost any frame of a television broadcast, Wimbledon’s approach is almost clandestine. Slazenger, the British sporting goods manufacturer that has provided the balls for Wimbledon since 1902, has its logo visible on the balls as well as the backdrops of the courts. On most courts, the logos are black, and barely visible against the dark green background. In the two largest stadiums, Centre Court and No. 1 Court, the logos are white, but smaller." http://nyti.ms/2t4U0IP

2. ESSENCE FESTIVAL TO RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: The New Orleans-based Essence Festival is slated to return to Durban, South Africa, this fall. Associated Press: "Essence on Thursday said the festival's Durban, South Africa, edition will take place Sept. 26-Oct. 1, featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes, a talk-show host, entrepreneur and best-selling author based in Dallas. Essence magazine's editor-in-chief, Vanessa De Luca, says they'll release the rest of the lineup later. Just like the New Orleans festival, Essence Festival Durban will bring together international performers and speakers to entertain and inspire, as well as a host of local artists and experts. The event is comprised of nightly music concerts and a daily Empowerment Experience, offering workshops and seminars across various sectors, including development of women and youth in business. De Luca said they are thrilled to be returning to South Africa for the second time. ... Last year's inaugural Durban Festival drew more than 10,000 attendees and featured appearances by Steve Harvey, Phaedra Parks and singers Estelle, Kelly Price, NE-YO, Wizkid, Black Coffee and more. New Orleans' 23rd annual event drew more than 470,000 attendees." http://bit.ly/2uIcfG2

3. I.O.C. WON'T HELP RIO OLYMPICS ORGANIZERS WITH $40 MILLION DEBT: The International Olympic Committee has announced they won't help organizers of the Rio Olympics with their estimated $35-$40 million debt from last year's games. USA Today: "The executive board of the International Olympic Committee, meeting Sunday in Lausanne, Switzerland, said it had already contributed a "record" $1.53 billion to last year's Olympics, and questioned giving more after meeting with organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman. In a statement, the IOC said 'more detailed information' was needed and said it 'deferred any further consideration at this stage.' It added that it 'has closed all its obligations with the organizing committee.' Contractually, host cities and countries are obligated to pay Olympic debts. In Rio's case, if governments step in to help pay creditors, it is sure to anger police, teachers, and other public employees who are getting paid late — caught up in Brazil's deepest recession in decades. The IOC, trying to move on to future games including the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in seven months, said in addition to record help for Rio, there had been 'an exceptional effort to significant cost savings and additional financial undertakings by all the Olympic stakeholders, which amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.' The Rio Olympics opened just under a year ago and were plagued by organizational problems, spotty attendance, corruption scandals, and Brazil's worst recession in decades. At the last minute, organizers needed millions in a government bailout to hold the Paralympic Games." https://usat.ly/2u13DfN

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  Independent trade show organizer Corcoran Expositions has announced five new hires: Leesa Engelmann as sponsorship manager, Gavin McAuliffe and Tyson Harrison as part of the exhibit sales team, Jennifer Kattalia as exhibit coordinator, and Nicol Corcoran as contract administrator.

LOS ANGELES:  The fourth annual Kids' Choice Sports Awards will take place July 13 at the Pauley Pavilion. The event will be broadcast on Nickelodeon July 16. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

NEW YORK:  Time Out's Battle of the Burger will take place August 10 at Pier 26. Twenty restaurants will compete in the event, which is presented by Budweiser. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Farmer’s Table is hosting a new comedy series, Lettuce Laugh, on July 14. Local comedian Jen Hellman is hosting the event with a lineup for the first installment that features headliner and Boca Raton native Mike Vecchione, who has been on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Last Comic Standing. Special guests also include Chris Silio and Devon Fox. Attendees can enjoy cocktails and healthy bar bites including Not Your Typical Cheesesteak and Not-Yo Nachos. 

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Harry Potter fan site MuggleNet.com will host MuggleNet Live! 2017: Nineteen Years Later at Universal Orlando Resort on September 1. 

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND:  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver the keynote address at this year's U.S. Summer Meeting of the National Governors Association, taking place July 14.

TORONTO:  The ninth annual Unity Festival will take place July 13-15 at Geary Lane, Underpass Park, and David Pecaut Square. The festival showcases visual art, breakdancing, spoken word, and beatboxing from international artists and local youth. 

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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