Phizzle, Inc., the fan-centric marketing automation technology company, today announced a strategic partnership with Learfield Sports, a premier company in administering the multimedia rights for a host of colleges and universities.

Phizzle joins Learfield Sports as a Preferred Solutions Provider (PSP), an exclusive collection of select technology partners endorsed by Learfield’s content group. The partnership leverages digital and enterprise software technologies to maximize sponsorship revenues and drive fan engagement, through mobile marketing.

The collaboration provides the more than 50 collegiate and entertainment properties which Learfield Sports represents the opportunity to utilize Phizzle’s new marketing automation platform. Phizzle will provide Learfield’s properties with a self-service, highly scalable, cloud-based mobile marketing solution to create, manage and analyze mobile marketing initiatives including a broad spectrum of text messaging campaigns and in-venue video board presentations.

The partnership with Phizzle enables Learfield Sports’ properties to deliver automated SMS campaigns for sweepstakes, data collection, in-stadium security and personalized scoring alerts. 

“We have been looking to provide a digital marketing platform solution for our properties as we develop compelling sponsorship and promotional programs that drive fan engagement. Phizzle has an incredible track record with innovative sports and entertainment technology in this space and is our newest Preferred Solutions Provider (PSP),” said Joe Ferreira, Learfield Sports’ Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer. “Ben Davis and his team have done a tremendous job developing the Phizzle Platform that delivers outstanding digital marketing tools designed to enhance the fan experience for teams and brands, and we’re looking forward to maximizing those opportunities in the collegiate arena to provide yet another key digital asset to our properties and school partners.”

“In as much as being chosen as a Learfield PSP significantly validates Phizzle as a leading technology provider for collegiate sports, it is also a reflection of Learfield’s dedication and commitment to providing its’ partners with the next generation of digital marketing tools specifically designed to deliver real business value,” stated Ben Davis, Phizzle’s CEO. “One-to-one personalization is driving fan engagement today and by taking advantage of our solutions designed to capture statistical data and business intelligence not only enhances the fan experience, yet also provides additional revenue opportunities for sponsors in the collegiate sports industry.”

Plymouth Argyle FC’s Home Park stadium is set to be revamped after Plymouth City Council approved planning permission which will include a new grandstand, a 10-screen cinema and a hotel.

The Council granted the ideas which also include plans for 1,636 square metres of A1 retail space, 3,486 square metres of A3 restaurant space and an ice arena on the 4.6-hectare site. 

The plans, submitted by developer Akkeron Leisure, would see the Sky Bet League 2 team’s existing South Stand demolished and replaced with a new 4,800-seat grandstand.

According to a planning report, 211 representations were received by the council objecting to the plans while 177 were made in support. Objections focused on the design of the scheme, size of buildings, impact on neighbouring parkland and traffic impact. Support focused on the scheme’s potential positive economic impact on the city.

The report said that as the site is out of centre, the issue of the potential impact the retail element of the scheme could have on the city centre was an “important consideration”. But it said that the A1 retail floor space at the site would not represent “a significant adverse impact on the city centre … nor will they unacceptable adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre”. However, it recommended that restrictions be put the retail units limiting them to the sale of sports and leisure goods.

On the design of the scheme, the report said that it was “considered that the proposed development will deliver a significant and impressive composition of high quality buildings that contribute positively to the character and appearance of the area and local visual amenity”.

Recommending the plans for approval, the report said that the development would have “significant physical, social and economic benefits that would have both a local and city wide impact. The proposed development will help contribute towards the regeneration of Central Park and includes improvements and enhancements to the wider park”.

The Chinese Touring Car Championship (CTCC) have appointed high-performance engine company, capsule Swindon Engines as their official engine supplier for the next four years.

Their engineers have spent the past six months developing the unit, order which can be fitted into any touring car entered in the CTCC from this year onwards.

Swindon Engines Managing Director, view Raphaël Caillé, said: “In January of this year, we announced our development of commercial opportunities in Asia and the next phase in our growth strategy. We are overwhelmed by our rapid success in this new venture and excited by the potential still to be achieved in the Asian market.” 

The CTCC Series is about to start on May 12th at the Zhuhai International Circuit before heading to the Shanghai International Circuit two weeks later, with races at the Tian Ma circuit near Shanghai and at Ordos in June.

The 2013 BMW PGA Championship has announced it will have a record prize fund of €4.75million ($6.1m), sale an increase of €250, erectile 000 ($323, arthritis 000) which is set to take place at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, from May 23-26.

This year’s champion will receive €791,660 ($1million), which is over €40,000 ($51,811) more than England’s Luke Donald collected for his second consecutive BMW PGA Championship success in 2012 when he finished four strokes clear of joint runners-up Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Donald’s compatriot, Justin Rose.

The total prize fund has grown by €750,000 ($971,420) – and the first prize by just over €125,000 ($161,903) – in the eight years since BMW became a Partner in the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in 2005, when then US Open Champion Angel Cabrera picked up the first prize of €666,000 ($862,621) after claiming a two shot victory over 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The BMW PGA Championship is our Tour’s flagship event and it is important that the prize fund reflects that status. This increase to €4.75 million, offering a cheque of just under €800,000 to the 2013 champion, underlines the importance of the Championship as a key component in the season-long Race to Dubai.”

Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW UK, said: “We value our long-term partnership with The European Tour and Wentworth Club in helping to develop the BMW PGA Championship as one of the most prestigious events in world golf. The increase in the prize fund to €4.75 million reflects this status and we look forward to another successful edition of the Championship in May.”

The 2013 BMW PGA Championship will boast one of the strongest fields on The European Tour International Schedule, with many of the world’s best players in action over the famous West Course at Wentworth Club. All four days will be broadcast live on Sky Sports with highlights on BBC.

The Championship is set to deliver an enhanced spectator experience this year as Europe’s Ryder Cup Team, triumphant from the ‘Miracle in Medinah’, regroup for the first time competitively on British soil at Wentworth Club.

Manulife Insurance Company (Manulife Japan), has become title sponsor for the 2012 Pacific Basketball League (PBL) Climax Series.

Pacific League Marketing President and Representative Director, Hiroaki Nishina, said: “We extend our deep gratitude to Manulife Japan for their third year of sponsorship of the Series. With Manulife Japan’s support, I look forward to seeing the teams go all out as they compete, providing the fans with a moving and memorable experience. I welcome everyone to cheer on the teams at the 2012 Manulife Climax Series.”

Manulife Japan has been a sponsor of the PBL regular season and the title sponsor of the PBL Climax Series since 2010.

Manulife Japan President & CE,O Hitoshi Morita, said “In June this year, the Manulife Group celebrated its 125th global anniversary. Our first operations in Japan opened more than 100 years ago. As a trustworthy and professional company, Manulife Japan continues to build on the Manulife Group’s long heritage as a strong partner of communities, actively supporting initiatives that benefit society.

Manulife Japan identifies strongly with the PBL, which from Hokkaido to Kyushu carries on the long tradition of Japan’s national pastime, and is growing baseball’s fan base with great success through providing support to regional areas and attracting new fans through unique promotions.

We are pleased to continue our sponsorship of the PBL Climax Series in 2012. Through our sponsorship activities we look forward to promoting the PBL, professional baseball, and the dreams and hopes they inspire.”{jcomments on}

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided it will give one-year contracts to 120 cricketers from January next year.

Fifteen players from each of the eight designated region – Barisal, ambulance Khulna, physician Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur, Dhaka and Dhaka Metropolis – to make Bangladeshi cricket less Dhaka.

BCB president Mustafa Kamal annouced the radical initiative an emergency board meeting. “We have decided to bring 120 cricketers under our umbrella by giving them contracts, which will include the national team players,” he said. “The aim is for grassroots development so there will be 15 cricketers from each of the eight regions. It will be effective from January next year, and we will also cover their insurance premium.”

Kamal said the board will spend Bangladeshi taka 35 million (approx. US $425,000) annually on the contracts. The payment scale will depend on experience and selection will be based on performance.

The board will appoint eight former cricketers as cricket operations managers. “They will be salaried by the BCB but under one condition, they have to be former players from the region,” Kamal said. “For example, someone from Rajshahi will be the operations manager for that region, not that of Sylhet, so that he can coordinate with everyone in that region.”

{jcomments on}

Spain’s top soccer league ‘La Liga’ has become the latest major European league causing a stir. The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) has issued a warning over a wage guarantee fund.

This news follows in a week where ex-Roma and current Italian Players’ Association president Damiano Tommasi claimed the Italian Football League had yet to sign a new collective agreement, and now his Spanish counterpart Luis Manuel Rubiales has suggested the possibility that his members could delay the start of the new Spanish season.

Mr Rubiales is looking for the fund to protect players when clubs come under financial troubles and can not pay their employees.

La Liga club Racing Santander last month joined Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Granada to seek protection from creditors.

“La Liga has to start when the problems are truly resolved with a will that we don’t see from the LFP at the moment,” Rubiales told Radio Marca. “We are very disappointed. We do not see how a league that is growing in income by eight to 10% each year has a fund that has more restrictions on it than in earlier agreements.”

Plans inaugural Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 15 October have been announced.  

Hopes are high that the day will be a sell-out crowd of 30,000, which is Ascot’s capacity for an autumn raceday without the provision of substantial temporary facilities.

Entries for the five Group Races on Qipco British Champions Day are set to close on August 2.

Rod Street, chief executive of British Champions Series, said: “We see a sell-out crowd of 30,000, which is around double the number of people that enjoyed the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in 2010, as a very appropriate first year target for what will be by far the richest raceday ever staged in this country.

“Most of our hospitality facilities, including the entire Ascot pavilion which can accommodate over 1,000 people for lunch, have already been sold which is fantastic news and we expect ticket sales to start moving swiftly once our database marketing campaign starts later this month.

“Our message is that if you want to be part of this exciting new event and see some of the stars of the season chasing the £3m in prize money on QIPCO British Champions Day, then book your tickets in advance because there must be a strong chance that we’ll sell out before the day.”

Tickets are priced at US$72.50 (£45) for Premier admission and US$42 (£26) for Grandstand admission, with a 10% advance booking discount available and greater reductions for group bookings of 10 or more people. Under 18’s will be admitted free.

Although only two of the Qipco British Champions Day races are officially Group 1 races, all five have Group 1 conditions in that there are no weight penalties to be carried in the two Group 2 races and one Group 3 contest, whilst all have a Group 1 level of prize money.  

Street added: “Our message to owners and trainers with Group 1 middle distance fillies and mares, stayers and sprinters is that these are Group 1 races in all but name.

“They have Group 1 prize money and conditions, which we hope will attract top class fields, enabling us to achieve Group 1 ratings and have them elevated to Group 1 status as soon as possible.