Oakland fans at NFL Draft learn Raiders’ selection: Las Vegas
By Alex Valentine Oakland Raiders fans in Chicago for the NFL Draft had more to ponder than whether safety Karl Joseph was the right first-round pick. They learned the team wants to relocate to Las Vegas. “I don’t want them to move,” Juan Romero, a Raiders fan from Chicago, said Saturday on the final day […]
Notre Dame finds success in NFL Draft — and from Draft Town
By Alex Valentine Jeremy and Brittany Kitchen thumbed through “Play Like A Champion Today” shirts Friday, trying to find Jeremy’s size. When that failed, they diverted their attention to drink holders adorned with the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot. The couple, in town from Fort Worth, Texas, for the NFL Draft, was surprised […]
NFL Draft making an impact on downtown Chicago businesses again
By Alex Valentine Sonia Agueyo sees the difference the NFL Draft is making. The front desk agent at the Travelodge in downtown Chicago said room bookings for Thursday’s first day of the draft are more than double what the hotel would see on its busiest weeknight. “We’ve had more than 120 arrivals, and we’re pretty […]
Could 2016 NFL Draft Produce Next Endorsement Star?
By Alex Valentine The 2016 NFL Draft initially looked devoid of high picks who would be immediate marketing stars. With offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil projected to go first overall and no compelling prospect who attracted mainstream America’s attention in college, buzz was minimal. But with the Los Angeles Rams trading up to No. 1 two weeks ago […]
Disney investors unmoved by ESPN subscriber loss
By Alex Valentine Investors in Walt Disney Co. seem to be shrugging off concerns about the growing number of Americans cutting the cord on ESPN and ditching their cable subscriptions. Shares of Disney plummeted in August when the company acknowledged on a conference call that ESPN had lost 7 million subscribers in the last two […]
Bookends and Beginnings thrives in resurgent bookstore niche
By Alex Valentine Tucked neatly into an alleyway between Sherman and Benson Avenue sits Bookends and Beginnings, Evanston’s only independent bookstore. With a narrow brick exterior and a deceptively large interior, it would fit nicely in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Evanston bookworms mourned when the building’s former resident, Bookman’s Alley, closed in October 2013, after […]
Dick’s stock falls after earnings miss expectations
By Alex Valentine Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. dropped 10 percent Tuesday after the company posted earnings that missed analysts’ expectations and lowered its outlook for the final quarter of the year. Morningstar downgraded its outlook for Dick’s shares because of “slow-moving cold weather gear,” according to Paul Swinand, equity research analyst.
Macy’s stock plummets after profit and sales falter
By Alex Valentine Shares of Macy’s plummeted Wednesday after the company posted a 46 percent decline in quarterly earnings and lowered its profit outlook for the rest of the year. Shares fell 15 percent to $40.44, the lowest price for Macy’s in over two years. The Cincinnati-based retailer’s profit fell to $117 million, or 36 […]
Personal spending up but consumer confidence wavers
By Alex Valentine Consumer spending held up in September but confidence measures released last week showed U.S. consumers are growing wary about the economy. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped 5 percentage points to 97 in October, from a downwardly revised 102.6 in September. Analysts predicted consumer confidence would increase to 102.9 in October.
Alibaba shrugs off shaky Chinese economy with strong earnings
By Alex Valentine Alibaba shrugged off a shaky Chinese economy and posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings and a jump in the number of mobile users. Excluding certain one-time items, profit rose 34 percent from a year ago to $1.46 billion or 57 cents per share, beating the analysts’ estimate of 53 cents. Since the earnings release […]
