Sports & Outdoor

North Bethesda, Md. – October 06, 2026 -- JOOLA and DJ Steve Aoki have released a limited-edition collection of pickleball paddles and table tennis rackets inspired by Aoki's HiROQUEST storytelling universe, dropping exclusively at JOOLA.com.

Four products carry price tags up to $349.95

The JOOLA x Aoki HiROQUEST Collection includes two JOOLA x STEVE AOKI Perseus Pro V 16mm pickleball paddles, priced at $349.95 each, and two JOOLA x STEVE AOKI Infinity Carbon table tennis rackets, priced at $199.95 each. Each item features artwork based on HiROQUEST characters Hiro, the protagonist, and Hyro, the antagonist, giving buyers a choice between two colorways.

Every purchase includes a randomized collectible card

Each paddle or racket comes with a JOOLA x HiROQUEST trading card, which can be a base version or a numbered collectible, adding an element of chance to the merchandise drop.

Auburn Hills – October 06, 2026 -- Jeep has been named the Official 4x4 of Moab, Utah, under a new two-year agreement approved by the Moab City Council that ties the brand directly to trail maintenance, local events, and conservation funding in the off-road destination.

The deal formalizes decades of trail history between Jeep and Moab

Jeep vehicles have been tested on Moab's trails for generations, and the city hosts the annual Easter Jeep Safari, run by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, which draws thousands of off-road enthusiasts each year. Branden Coté, Jeep CEO, said Moab's trails, landscapes, and community have helped define off-road adventure for generations of owners.

Chicago – October 06, 2026 -- Off-price retailer Burlington is rolling out free giveaways and fan events across Chicago this month as part of a new partnership with the Chicago Bulls and a sponsorship of the Chicago Ultimate Women's Expo.

Burlington becomes the Bulls' preseason presenting partner

As Preseason Presenting Partner, Burlington will be at the United Center for the team's first two preseason home games on Oct. 7 and 9, offering fans a custom photo experience. The first 2,000 fans at all three home preseason games -- Oct. 7, 9 and 16 -- will receive a free Burlington x Chicago Bulls belt bag.

Burlington is also the Presenting Partner of the Chicago Luvabulls dance team, with branding featured throughout the arena during games.

Bulls forward Caleb Wilson said the partnership felt like "becoming part of a family" as he joins the city's basketball history.

Olathe, Kan. – October 06, 2026 -- Garmin has launched the Approach S72, a new flagship golf smartwatch priced starting at $799.99, combining swing analytics with everyday health tracking.

The watch reads greens and tracks swing mechanics

Available in 43mm and 47mm sizes with AMOLED displays, the Approach S72 adds on-wrist swing metrics including hand speed, backswing length and wrist rotation, letting golfers adjust technique based on data rather than feel. With an active Garmin Golf Membership, the watch also offers green reading on select courses, showing putt break direction and average slope percentage to help golfers find their aim point.

Real-time heart rate ties biometrics to scoring

The device records real-time heart rate during rounds, allowing players to review afterward how their heart rate may have influenced their score. Garmin notes this feature is not intended for medical diagnosis or monitoring.

Frisco, Texas – – October 05, 2026 -- Life Time brought its hybrid fitness competition to Texas for the first time, hosting the inaugural LT Games Dallas on Oct. 2-3 at Life Time Frisco, with more than 110 athletes competing across 17 high-intensity strength and conditioning stations.

Lauren Weeks and Noah Ohlsen take the top prizes

Lauren Weeks won first place among women and first overall with a time of 36:19, while Noah Ohlsen claimed the men's title in 42:12. Both athletes also won the inaugural Minneapolis LT Games in 2025. Dakotah Bryant (40:45) and Mackinly Kifer (43:47) rounded out the women's podium, while Arturo Torres (44:41) and Cory Hay (49:48) finished behind Ohlsen in the men's division.

Cedar City, Utah – October 05, 2026 -- Parents weighing whether to enroll a child in recreational or competitive dance and cheer now have a new set of guidelines to consider, courtesy of a HelloNation feature drawing on insights from Jeanine Nielson, Dance Studio Expert at The Point Dance Studio & Elite Cheer Athletics & Tumbling in Cedar City, Utah.

Recreational programs offer a low-pressure entry point for young athletes.

Doetinchem – – October 05, 2026 -- Dutch sim-racing company Playseat is preparing to launch the Evolution 2, a next-generation racing cockpit the company calls the most adaptable all-round racing chair on the market today.

The Evolution 2 builds on the cockpit that started the category

The new chair is a direct successor to the original Playseat Evolution, the simulator credited with creating the home racing cockpit category in the mid-1990s. Playseat says the Evolution 2 carries that design expertise forward while adding greater versatility, expandability, and value for sim racers.

Dallas – October 05, 2026 -- Urban Air Adventure Park is giving every family a free unlimited play pass worth up to $49 through its KidHub app, timed to National Adventure Day on Oct. 9.

Families must download the free KidHub app to claim a pass

Starting now, anyone who downloads and registers for KidHub, Unleashed Brands' free family activity app, by 11:59 p.m. local time on Oct. 9 will receive one unlimited play pass to a participating Urban Air park. Existing KidHub users also qualify automatically. The passes are limited to one per account, and anyone planning to visit on Oct. 9 itself is advised to download the app at least an hour in advance so the ticket has time to process.

Purchase, N.Y. – October 05, 2026 -- Pepsi is marking the New York Knicks' championship season with limited-edition cans and bottles that give fans a shot at winning game tickets. The "Champions Deserve Pepsi" campaign launched October 5, ahead of the Knicks' 2026–27 season tip-off at Madison Square Garden.

Limited-edition 16 oz Pepsi x Knicks Championship cans, along with 20 oz Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar x Knicks bottles, are now on shelves at participating retailers across the Tri-State region. Shoppers can scan a QR code at point of sale for a chance to win tickets to a Knicks game inside The Garden.

Chicago – October 05, 2026 -- McDonald's is giving away free bottles of its pickle brine to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, betting on a long-rumored cramp remedy to win over endurance athletes.

Free samples hit the Lakefront Trail before race day

On Friday, Oct. 9, McDonald's will set up a "Pickle Boost Preview" station at 2401 N Lake Shore Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT, timed to catch runners during popular pre-race shakeout runs along the Lakefront Trail.

Five Chicago locations offer bottles on race morning

On Sunday, Oct. 11, the chain will distribute two bottles per person, free of charge, at five McDonald's restaurants across the city from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT while supplies last. The locations are 2635 N Clark St, 1563 N Wells St, 600 N Clark St, 203 N LaSalle St, and 207 E 35th St.