Latest news with #TheBigEasy
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big men headed to 'Big Easy': Lukasz Brzeski vs. Ryan Spann set for UFC 318 in New Orleans
The UFC's return to "The Big Easy" continues to build with a little lagniappe at heavyweight. A bout between big men Lukasz Brzeski (9-6-1 MMA, 1-5 UFC) and Ryan Spann (22-11 MMA, 8-6 UFC) has been added to UFC 318 next month. A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the fight to MMA Junkie, but asked to remain anonymous because the UFC has not yet made a formal announcement of the fight. UFC 318 takes place July 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The card features a trilogy bout between the retiring local Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway for the BMF title. Spann will try to bounce back from a second-round TKO loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta in March. That setback was his fourth in five fights, but also his first at heavyweight after years at 205 pounds. His final bout at light heavyweight, though, was a bonus-winning submission of Ovince St. Preux at UFC 307. Brzeski has a recent TKO loss to Cortes-Acosta on his resume, too. But after that 2023 setback, he bounced back with a win over Valter Walker – which stands as his only win in the UFC. The 33-year-old Polish fighter got into the UFC through a DWCS win that was flipped to a no contest for a failed drug test, and once in, he's struggled with losses in five of six fights. With the addition, the UFC 318 lineup now includes:
New York Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Rush of trades shakes up 2025 NBA Draft first round
The NBA draft doesn't just see top prospects get welcomed to their new teams — it's also a time when clubs get the ball rolling with offseason trades. Many expected a draft-night trade from a team trading up to select Ace Bailey, who went No. 5 to the Jazz, but no deal was made. Still, some major moves were made while commissioner Adam Silver made his way through announcing each pick. Advertisement 3 Walter Clayton Jr. made a major name for himself after helping lead Florida to a national championship this year. NBAE via Getty Images Spurs trade second-rounder to Pacers The first deal of the night was a fairly minor one, as San Antonio dealt the No. 38 pick to Indiana for a future second-round pick and cash. Hornets trade Mark Williams to the Suns for two first-rounders After Charlotte's attempt to trade Williams to the Lakers at the deadline this past season failed, the Hornets offloaded him for real this time. Advertisement Williams is headed to Phoenix in exchange for the No. 29 pick and a 2029 first-round pick, the least favorable of Cleveland, Utah and Minnesota's selections and top-five protected, per ESPN. 3 Mark Williams will join Khaman Maluach as a new center tandem in Phoenix. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Williams is the second center the Suns landed Wednesday. They moved Kevin Durant to the Rockets on Sunday in a deal that brought Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick, which Phoenix used to select Duke center Khaman Maluach. Advertisement In addition to the draft compensation, Charlotte is acquiring Vasilije Micic. Cedric Coward to Memphis, Yang Hansen to Portland Washington State's Cedric Coward was selected at No. 11, a pick that originally belonged to Portland, which Memphis acquired by sending a 2028 first-rounder via Orlando and two second-round picks. The Blazers moved down to No. 16 and made the controversial choice to draft Yang Hansen from China. 3 Derik Queen is headed to New Orleans after a draft-night trade. NBAE via Getty Images Derik Queen heads to New Orleans Advertisement The Hawks traded the 13th pick to the Pelicans in exchange for the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, which will be the most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee's selections. New Orleans chose Maryland's Derik Queen, and he will join No. 7 pick Jeremiah Fears in The Big Easy. Atlanta selected Georgia's Asa Newell with the 23rd pick. Follow The Post's coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft Walter Clayton Jr. joins Ace Bailey in Utah The Wizards elected to trade the No. 18 pick to the Jazz in exchange for the No. 21 pick, the No. 43 pick and second-rounders in 2031 and 2032. Clayton, a national champion with Florida this April, joins Bailey in Utah, while the Wizards landed Illinois wing Will Riley via the No. 21 pick. More trades could certainly be on the way.
The Age
25-06-2025
- The Age
Doughnuts and jazz? This award-winning airport bursts with personality
Check-in Despite the terminal servicing both international and domestic passengers, it's alarmingly well-organised and calm at the American Airlines' self-check-in area. No one is shouting directions at me, how can this be? Staff are friendly and helpful, and assist us in receiving boarding passes for both our flight to Miami and onward flight to Quito. We each pay for a checked bag at the kiosk, as is, rather nonsensically, how they do things in the US. Security It's the trifecta: shoes are off, laptops are out of the bag and so is the camera. Even so, it's very swift and organised, and no TSA staff members are losing their temper, although the woman performing the body scan machine has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. As is commonplace at airports in the US, staff check your passport and boarding pass before you reach the scanners. Food + drink This is where the airport shines. Café du Monde starts serving up its world-famous beignets from its small takeaway airport outpost at 4am on the dot (the icing sugar evidence is soon all over my pants), while Starbucks was serving coffee from 3.55am when I visited. If you're flying a little later or feeling festive so early in the morning, you can sink back a cocktail or two at Bar Sazerac or tuck into Vietnamese eats at Mopho. Most of the bars and restaurants are operating by 5am. Retail therapy Some quality souvenirs here, most of them edible. New Orleans Marketplace sells 'The Big Easy' T-shirts, Mardi Gras memorabilia, cute coasters and hoodies, pecan pralines and Café du Monde's famous beignet mix. It's worth perusing the CNBC store to pick-up some quirky local buys such as Creole praline. Passing time Whether it's eating, drinking or shopping, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself entertained here. If you simply feel like sitting, the gate chairs are conveniently equipped with both cup holders and power points to charge your phone. The verdict You had me at beignet. This airport is efficient, and as quirky as its world-famous city. Spending time here is done so without even an inkling of resentment, even if it is 4am.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Doughnuts and jazz? This award-winning airport bursts with personality
Check-in Despite the terminal servicing both international and domestic passengers, it's alarmingly well-organised and calm at the American Airlines' self-check-in area. No one is shouting directions at me, how can this be? Staff are friendly and helpful, and assist us in receiving boarding passes for both our flight to Miami and onward flight to Quito. We each pay for a checked bag at the kiosk, as is, rather nonsensically, how they do things in the US. Security It's the trifecta: shoes are off, laptops are out of the bag and so is the camera. Even so, it's very swift and organised, and no TSA staff members are losing their temper, although the woman performing the body scan machine has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. As is commonplace at airports in the US, staff check your passport and boarding pass before you reach the scanners. Food + drink This is where the airport shines. Café du Monde starts serving up its world-famous beignets from its small takeaway airport outpost at 4am on the dot (the icing sugar evidence is soon all over my pants), while Starbucks was serving coffee from 3.55am when I visited. If you're flying a little later or feeling festive so early in the morning, you can sink back a cocktail or two at Bar Sazerac or tuck into Vietnamese eats at Mopho. Most of the bars and restaurants are operating by 5am. Retail therapy Some quality souvenirs here, most of them edible. New Orleans Marketplace sells 'The Big Easy' T-shirts, Mardi Gras memorabilia, cute coasters and hoodies, pecan pralines and Café du Monde's famous beignet mix. It's worth perusing the CNBC store to pick-up some quirky local buys such as Creole praline. Passing time Whether it's eating, drinking or shopping, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself entertained here. If you simply feel like sitting, the gate chairs are conveniently equipped with both cup holders and power points to charge your phone. The verdict You had me at beignet. This airport is efficient, and as quirky as its world-famous city. Spending time here is done so without even an inkling of resentment, even if it is 4am.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DIN Q1 Earnings Call: Menu Innovation and Value Programs Shape Outlook Amid Margin Pressure
Casual restaurant chain Dine Brands (NYSE:DIN) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 4.1% year on year to $214.8 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.03 per share was 16.7% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy DIN? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $214.8 million vs analyst estimates of $215.1 million (4.1% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $1.03 vs analyst expectations of $1.24 (16.7% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $54.73 million vs analyst estimates of $57.31 million (25.5% margin, 4.5% miss) EBITDA guidance for the full year is $240 million at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $235.4 million Operating Margin: 18.1%, down from 21.9% in the same quarter last year Locations: 3,408 at quarter end, down from 3,445 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 2.4% year on year, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $411.9 million Dine Brands' first quarter results were shaped by consumer caution and strategic adjustments across its key brands. CEO John Peyton cited increased value mix at Applebee's and IHOP, noting, 'Guests remain cautious with their spending, particularly lower income guests, and we continue to see check management and trade down to lower priced items.' Menu innovation, such as Applebee's Big Easy promotion and off-premise sales initiatives, contributed to improving sales and traffic late in the quarter. At IHOP, the House Faves value menu and a focus on core breakfast items helped drive positive trends in traffic, even as overall same-store sales declined. Operational improvements, including updates to ordering technology and training protocols, also played a role in enhancing guest experience and supporting performance in a challenging environment. Looking ahead, Dine Brands' management emphasized ongoing investments in value platforms, menu enhancements, and operational streamlining as central to its outlook for the remainder of the year. Peyton pointed to planned expansion of dual-branded locations and the evolution of loyalty programs as key growth drivers. CFO Vance Chang highlighted stable labor costs but flagged commodity inflation, especially in eggs, as a risk to margins. Management maintained its full-year guidance, supported by recent momentum in sales and traffic at both Applebee's and IHOP, with Peyton stating, 'We're going to continue to elevate the guest experience, enhance our menus and value programs, and focus on operations—particularly at IHOP.' The company is also closely monitoring the impact of tariffs and supply chain costs, with efforts underway to mitigate potential headwinds. Management credited menu innovation, value-focused guest offerings, and operational changes as the main factors influencing quarterly performance and guiding ongoing strategy. Menu innovation at Applebee's: The Big Easy menu, featuring Bourbon Street-inspired dishes, was introduced as a limited-time promotion. Management stated that these new items drove both traffic and sales, particularly in March and into April, by leveraging the existing popularity of the Bourbon Street segment and offering compelling price points. Off-premise and digital growth: Applebee's continued to expand its off-premise business through targeted promotions like the $0.50 Boneless Wings campaign during NCAA Basketball, and menu offerings designed for takeout. These efforts resulted in a 3.7% increase in off-premise sales, with management describing this as validation of their strategy to include nationally advertised, to-go only promotions. Value platform progress at IHOP: The House Faves value menu, launched late last year, remained a core traffic driver. Management noted its role in attracting guests despite headwinds in family dining, emphasizing that IHOP's traffic outperformed the broader segment for the quarter. Testing is underway to expand House Faves from weekday-only to everyday availability. Operational simplification and technology: At IHOP, process improvements included optimizing server tablets, streamlining kitchen workflows, and introducing video training tools. Management reported these changes have improved speed of service and table turnover, with franchisees engaged in the operational task force to further simplify procedures. Dual-brand and franchise development: The company highlighted the success of dual-brand concepts—Applebee's and IHOP combined in a single location—both domestically and internationally. The first domestic dual-brand restaurant in Texas outperformed previous standalone results, leading to expanded commitments from franchisees. Management views this as a sign of strong franchisee confidence and a potential catalyst for further development. Management expects menu innovation, loyalty program expansion, and operational efficiencies to drive growth, but notes margin headwinds from commodity inflation and tariffs. Expansion of loyalty programs: Applebee's is making its loyalty program, Club Applebee's, a central pillar of brand engagement. Management aims to leverage data for more personalized marketing and exclusive offers, with recent promotions leading to over 175,000 new signups. IHOP continues to use its points-based program to attract and retain guests, with digital and off-premise channels as growth areas. Dual-brand and remodel initiatives: The rollout of dual-branded restaurants and the Applebee's Looking Good remodel program are expected to support traffic and sales. Early results from remodeled locations and dual-brand conversions have exceeded expectations, and management plans to accelerate these initiatives, supported by franchisee incentives and cost reductions in new builds. Commodity and tariff risk management: CFO Vance Chang flagged rising commodity costs, especially eggs, and potential tariff impacts as ongoing risks. The company's supply chain co-op is focused on cost-saving projects and operational improvements to support franchisee profitability, but management cautioned that commodity cost forecasts do not yet factor in potential tariff effects. In the months ahead, our analysts will watch (1) the effectiveness of menu innovation and value offerings in sustaining traffic growth, (2) the pace and financial impact of dual-brand conversions and restaurant remodels, and (3) management's ability to offset rising commodity costs and potential tariff pressures. Progress in loyalty program engagement and digital ordering will also be key indicators of execution. Dine Brands currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 5.1×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
