The San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement with the NFL to play two upcoming home games at the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium after new COVID-19 directives implemented by local health authorities ruled out events at Levi’s Stadium.

The 49ers’ games against the Buffalo Bills on December 7 and Washington Football Team on December 13 will both be held at State Farm Stadium after a deal was struck with the NFL and the Cardinals.

In a statement, the 49ers said that the Cardinals, State Farm Stadium and NFL officials had been supportive and accommodating as the team worked through the “many logistical issues” involved in relocating games.

The 49ers had been seeking a base for its upcoming home games after new rules imposed by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department placed a temporary ban on recreational activities that “involve physical contact or close proximity to persons outside one’s household, including all contact sports.”

The directives, which were introduced following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the region, began November 30 and will be in place until at least December 21. The 49ers are also due to host the Seattle Seahawks on January 3, with a decision on the location for this game to be made later.

The 49ers have been without their fans at Levi’s Stadium this season and in October the team decided to continue this policy despite the State of California permitting spectators in outdoor venues for professional sporting events in counties with low COVID-19 infection rates.

The 49ers will play three games at State Farm Stadium this month, with its away game against the Cardinals scheduled for December 26.

Sarah Kraynik is currently the Director of Marketing at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee Florida. Previously, she was the Marketing Manager at the XL Center in Hartford Connecticut.  Sarah graduated from Temple University in 2014 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Recreation Management and then with her Master’s Degree in Communications Management in 2016.  sHer favorite part of her job is being able to express her creativity while creating lasting memories for fans of all ages! 

Join your Foundation in congratulating Sarah on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

By Christine Susa

Pasadena Center Operating Company, Centerplate, city officials, and volunteers prepared up to 250 turkeys at the Pasadena Convention to feed two thousand families for the Union Station Homeless Services Thanksgiving Dinner.

The annual Union Station Homeless Services Thanksgiving Dinner event traditionally feeds over two thousand people in a large celebratory gathering thanks to the help of volunteers and generous key partners. This year strict adherence to COVID-19 public health orders were observed. Some dinners and dinner kits with all the fixings were handed out in advance, while smaller, private dinners were held the day before Thanksgiving at multiple centers serving homeless individuals.

“It has been an honor for the Pasadena Convention Center and Centerplate to donate resources in order to help make Union Station Homeless Services Dinner in the Park a success,” said Michael Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company. “We are grateful for the services and meals they offer and are pleased to participate, for the seventh time, in such a giving cause especially during this difficult time.”

Christine Susa is Director of Marketing & Communications for the Pasadena Convention Center.

Photo caption: Pasadena Mayor-Elect Victor Gordo; Pasadena Center Operating Company CEO Michael Ross; Centerplate Chef Jon Dubrick; Pasadena Convention Center Executive Director Naz Sabripour; Centerplate District Manager Doug Finney; Union Station Homeless Services CEO Anne Miskey; Union Station Homeless Services Food Services Assistant Jimmy Lawson; Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jeanne Goldschmidt, Centerplate District Manager Chris Morgan; and Pasadena Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton.

From WWE.com

WWE will bring its world-class viewing experience, WWE ThunderDome, to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay as it begins a new residency starting with SmackDown on Friday, Dec. 11 at 8/7 C on FOX.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are excited to welcome WWE to Tropicana Field for this residency and shine a spotlight on the Tampa Bay area for WWE fans around the world,” said Matt Silverman, Tampa Bay Rays President. “The ballpark will be transformed to host the spectacle of WWE ThunderDome, allowing fans to enjoy this wildly popular experience virtually.”

The move to Tampa Bay marks the next iteration for WWE ThunderDome, which launched to critical acclaim in August as part of WWE’s first-ever residency at Amway Center in Orlando. Featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras, WWE ThunderDome provides an immersive viewing atmosphere and virtually brings thousands of fans into the arena via live video, in conjunction with The Famous Group and its proprietary technology, for every Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and WWE pay-per-view event. WWE ThunderDome recently received top honors at this year’s Sportel Awards for Best Virtual Fan Experience.

“We are proud to have reimagined the in-arena atmosphere and provide an interactive experience like nothing else in sports and entertainment with the launch of WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Production. “Our fans’ response and industry-wide recognition are both humbling and further validation of the innovative spirit and passion that exist across the entire WWE organization.”

Fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming WWE shows via www.WWEThunderDome.com or at WWE’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

“Hollywood celebrities, WWE Legends and millions of fans from around the world have all enjoyed what the world-class WWE ThunderDome has to offer,” said Brian Flinn, WWE Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “This new residency will enable us to continue offering an unmatched live spectacle and would not have been possible without the strong support from the Tampa Bay Rays organization. We remain grateful for the hospitality provided by the Amway Center over the past four months.”

Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view programming will be produced at Tropicana Field on closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance. WWE will continue to administer its health and safety protocols for talent, crew and employees in conjunction with each production, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks.

The move comes in advance of the NBA beginning its season on December 22 and Amway Center primary tenant Orlando Magic playing games at the venue that had hosted WWE ThunderDome.

From Stadium Business

Italian Serie A football team Napoli is considering naming its stadium after club legend Diego Maradona, who died Wednesday, November 25, at the age of 60.

That night, the lights remained on at Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo in tribute to Maradona as Naples mourned the man that delivered the club two Serie A titles during a memorable seven-year spell from 1984 to 1991.

Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris tweeted yesterday that the San Paolo should be renamed after Maradona, who also led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in 1986. The move would require an exemption to a law that states a street or building can only be renamed after someone after 10 years have passed since their death.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentis has said that the renaming of the stadium will be considered. Posting on her Facebook page yesterday, Laura Bismuto, president of the Toponomy Commission of the Naples City Council, said that steps are being taken to carry out the name change.

Bismuto said: “As president of the Toponymy Commission, I have the pleasure and honour to announce to the city that, in consultation with the mayor and the councillor for Toponymy Alessandra Clemente, having heard the case for the derogation from the 10-year rule, we decided to name the stadium of the city of Naples after Diego Armando Maradona.”

Bismuto added that a commission will be called on Monday to formalise the proposal.

Stadio San Paolo opened in 1959 and has a current capacity of 54,000. The stadium was one of the host venues during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and staged the semi-final between the host nation and Maradona’s Argentina.

Maradona died following a heart attack, having undergone brain surgery earlier this month. Although the surgery was successful, Maradona was reportedly suffering due to withdrawal from his alcohol addiction.

Argentina President Alberto Fernández has declared three days of national mourning following Maradona’s passing, while wreaths and candles were placed outside the San Paolo yesterday as fans paid tribute.