Front Row Marketing Services has extended their partnership with The Breeders’ Cup to market and sell commercial rights and sponsorship opportunities for the  Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

“After a thorough review, we chose Front Row because they have established a stellar reputation and a proven track record of success with world class properties like Formula 1 Grand Prix and America’s Cup in sponsorship acquisition and integrated event services and strategies that increase the value and dynamic presence of those enterprises,” Drew Sheinman, Breeders’ Cup senior vice president and chief revenue officer, said in a statement.

“The Breeders’ Cup is a multifaceted event that cuts across a number of marketing platforms, including broadcast, digital, and social media, along with a number of special events and high-end hospitality at Santa Anita. We look to Front Row to develop these initiatives and bring brand marketers to the Breeders’ Cup.”

“There are few annual sports properties that are more global in scope than the Breeders’ Cup, and we are looking forward to joining Drew and his team to help increase awareness and create new brand partnerships,” said Chris Lencheski, CEO of Front Row Marketing Services.

“The sport of horse racing is in the midst of an industry-wide repositioning in the new landscape we are in, and there is no better leading property to take advantage of that repositioning that this elite, lucrative, season-ending event. It has tremendous upside and unlimited potential.”

Front Row Marketing Services, a division of Comcast-Spectacor, is a sports industry leader in building commercial rights programs for professional teams in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and NCAA Division 1 college teams, and the operation and management of more than 100 stadium authorities and entertainment companies.

Barclays have tried to appeal to their asian consumers by revealing that perimeter advertising at Premier League stadiums will display the Barclays messaging in Chinese, site viewable worldwide during April.

In a bid to communicate with Chinese audiences in Asia directly through their local language it’s hoped the move will further strengthen the association between Barclays and the Barclays Premier League and helps to support the brand in Asia.

The Chinese translation will convey the message ‘Barclays Bank sponsors of the Barclays Premier League’.

Robert Morrice, ailment Chairman and Chief Executive, Barclays Asia, said: “Interest from the Chinese communities across Asia in the Barclays Premier League has seen a considerable growth in recent years, and the launch of the Chinese language perimeter boards mean that Chinese fans in Asia can instantly identify with the Barclays brand while watching the games.

“The Chinese language boards are an important step for Barclays that mirrors the firm’s global footprint and allows China to stay connected to the Barclays Premier League, the worlds most popular and exciting domestic football league.”

KemperSports, sale a golf course management company, drug has been selected by Grupo Shahani to manage the golf course and beach club at Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort in San Carlos, Panama.

In addition to managing resort amenities, KemperSports will also assist with the development of a future clubhouse, as well as other planned amenities including a spa and fitness center.

Developed by Grupo Shahani, one of the largest construction and real estate development companies in Panama, Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort is an exclusive beach and residential community located approximately one hour from Panama City on more than 700 acres along the Pacific Coast of Panama. The central feature of the resort is an 18-hole, par-72 golf course designed by renowned golf course architect J. Michael Poellot. The golf course features expansive Paspalum fairways with strategically placed bunkers, undulating putting greens and multiple teeing areas to offer ample risk and reward shot-making opportunities for both skilled and novice golfers. The golf course at Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resortoffers an ocean view from every hole, as well as majestic views of the mountains located to the North.

“KemperSports has proven expertise in managing and developing resort properties similar to Vista Mar,” said Rolando Shahani, co-owner of Grupo Shahani. “We are eager to leverage this expertise to achieve our vision of welcoming guests from around the world to Panama.”

In addition to golf, Vista Mar provides a variety of amenities and activities for its members and guests. The resort features a private beach club with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, tennis courts, a meditation garden and an oceanfront restaurant Terrazas Del Mar, which features the Haute Cuisine of renowned Chef Pascal Finet. The resort also includes two helicopter landing pads to accommodate air travel.

“Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort has great potential to be a very special resort,” said Steve Skinner, chief executive officer of KemperSports. “Panama is one of the fastest growing countries in Latin America, and we look forward to working with Grupo Shahani to elevate the guest and member experience.”

Ford has revealed today that it will withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the end of this season, bringing an end to its work programme.

The company said it made the decision as part of a ‘review of its European business in the current difficult economic environment’.

“Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “At this time, however we determined that it was better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our commitment to the WRC and deploy our resources in other areas.”

Ford’s long-term rallying partner, UK-based M-Sport, meanwhile plans to continue competing in WRC with the Fiesta. Ford is in discussions with M-Sport to provide ‘continued vehicle and engineering support’, including for the recently announced Fiesta R5 for the new-for-2013 WRC-2 series, and the Fiesta R2 for grass-roots national and regional driver programmes.

“We have great respect for M-Sport and Malcolm Wilson, who have run the Ford WRC team since 1997, and there is no organisation with more expertise and commitment to winning,” de Waard added. “Working together, we have reached a point where the Ford Fiesta has become the car of choice in rallying, and we want to see this continue in the future.”

Malcolm Wilson, managing director of M-Sport, added: “I would like to thank Ford of Europe for their enthusiastic support and the faith shown in the team over the past 16 seasons. We understand that tough decisions have had to be made and look forward to continuing our strong technical partnership into the future.

“M-Sport is extremely proud of our history with Ford since 1997; 208 podiumfinishes, scoring points on 156 consecutive events and 52 wins from 225 starts in the WRC along with two world titles underlines the dedication and commitment of the whole team in Cumbria.”

Valerie Fourneyron, order the newly appointed France sports minister has questioned the French Grand Prix possibly returning to the country in 2013.

Under the previous government a deal was close to being signed which would have seen the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France alternate hosting the race with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

However, the Socialist party was voted into government earlier this month and it is thought they favour the race returning to Magny-Cours – if at all.

“There was a remarkable acceleration on a potential race return,” Fourneyron told French radio station RMC.

“We need to have transparency on the issue, on the financial costs and on the seeming lack of concern by the F1 boss (Bernie Ecclestone) for the environment.

“There are major accessibility problems to the Castellet circuit (Paul Ricard) and all this deserves more than 10 minutes of debate.

“We are not opposed to the race, but are not sure we will see a race in France next year.”

The Green Bay Packers, reigning Superbowl champions and the NFL’s only publicly owned team, are heading towards a new stock sale by the end of the year to raise money that would help pay for $130 million in renovations at the historic Lambeau Field.

Each share likely would cost about $200 and include voting rights, though the value wouldn’t appreciate and there would be no dividends. Stockholders would be able to attend annual meetings at Lambeau, and they’d enjoy such perks as tours of the playing field and locker rooms and will be officially recognised as NFL owners.

An owners’ vote will not be needed because the proposal meets the same conditions established in 1997, the last time Green Bay sold stock, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. He said the league allows the Packers to sell stock as long as the money is used only for capital costs such as stadium improvements.

The Packers plan to add thousands of seats and other stadium amenities in time for the 2013 season. While other teams often ask taxpayers to help pay for building upgrades, the Packers will foot the entire bill themselves through the stock sale and private financing.

The stock sale would be the fifth in Packers’ history. There are currently 112,205 shareholders who own a total of 4.75 million shares.

Just as businesses have to enter a quiet period before going public, the Packers say they can’t reveal much until regulatory issues are resolved.

Jason Wied, the team’s vice president of administration/general counsel, said: “We intend to keep our fans informed of further developments to the greatest extent possible.”

If the team gets final approval, the stock sale could begin within weeks. However, shares of stock can’t be resold, and transfer of shares is generally limited to immediate relatives and heirs.

The Packers have been a publicly owned nonprofit corporation since 1923. The team held its first stock sale that year, followed by sales in 1935 and 1950 that helped keep the franchise afloat while other small-markets teams were going under.

The team’s only other stock offering was in 1997. The team president at the time, Bob Harlan, was looking for ways to cover stadium renovation costs. He recalled that other owners balked, worried that the Packers would use the money to compensate their coaches or improve their roster in a way other teams couldn’t.

It only was after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney joined commissioner Paul Tagliabue in supporting the idea that the proposal passed. Rooney argued that the Packers deserved unanimous support because they were a vital part of NFL history. The subsequent vote was unanimous.

Some 400,000 shares went on sale for $200 apiece. About 120,000 shares were sold, raising $24 million.

“We tried to come up with a figure that would be affordable to everyone,” Harlan said. “We never got one complaint about them being too expensive.”

While the Packers organization couldn’t say much about a new stock sale, Aiello, the NFL spokesman, said the team plans to sell the shares left over from 1997. The new price hasn’t been released but it’s expected to be in the similar $200 price range.

Amos Adamu, one of the disgraced former FIFA Exco members banned from the body for three years for seeking bribes during the 2018/2022 World Cup bid campaign, has appealed to sport’s highest appeal body to overturn the sanction.

The Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) confirmed yesterday, May 5, that the Nigerian will appeal against his three year ban from all soccer-related activity. 

Adamu was caught in the midst of last year’s World Cup bid race by Sunday Times journalists posing as lobbyists for the USA bid asking for an US$800,000 bribe in return for his support on the December 2 vote.

Along with Oceania’s representative, Reynald Temarii, Adamu was suspended just two weeks prior to the voting process. Four other senior football administrators – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite,Ismail Bhamjee and Ahongalu Fusimalohi – also received bans of up to four years after being caught out by the reporters.

Fusimalohi is also appealing against a two year ban given after he was caught on camera claiming that Morocco sought to bribe officials when bidding for the 2010 World Cup. He also discussed receiving $100,000 from the covert reporters. 

The CAS released a statement, saying: “In both cases, the appellants request that they be found not guilty and the sanctions against them be annulled.

“The cases will be handled in accordance with the procedural rules set out in the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.”

English Championship side Crystal Palace is set to come out of administration after no appeal was lodged from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) objecting to the move.

Palace went into administration in January and only avoided going out of business last month thanks to a consortium stepping in.

And the news now means that the CPFC 2010 consortium, led by Steve Parish, can now apply for a transfer of Palace’s Football League share and take full control of the club.

Club administrator Brendan Guilfoyle said: “This is now the beginning of the end of the rescue of Crystal Palace.

“I would like to say a special thank you to Steve Parish. Without his determination and tenacity, it would not have been possible to resolve the many difficulties that arose during such complex and lengthy negotiations.”