Andretti Sports Marketing Hires Industry Veteran Tim Ramsberger as VP & General Manager

Andretti Sports Marketing has appointed veteran event management executive Tim Ramsberger as their Vice President and General Manager of it’s growing sports, entertainment and experiential marketing business.

Ramsberger brings a depth of experience to his new role including World Cup, Olympic, Disney and IndyCar event management tenure. Ramsberger most recently served as President of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. His focus will be to further advance the sports, entertainment and experiential event marketing initiatives of Andretti Sports Marketing and it’s clients.

“We are thrilled to announce that Tim (Ramsberger) is joining our strong events team. Tim is a leader in the events business and we have worked with Tim over the years while admiring his promotions. He did a fantastic job at building the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and he brings world-class capabilities to our operations,” stated John Lopes, President of Andretti Sports Marketing.

“It’s a special opportunity to work with my long time friends at Andretti Sports Marketing. I am truly excited to be joining such a strong, professional and fast growing sports marketing, entertainment and experiential marketing business with great clients on both a national and international scale,” said Ramsberger. “What Michael (Andretti), John (Lopes) and Starke (Taylor) are developing is tremendous.”

Ramsberger’s focus will include furthering Andretti Sports Marketing’s Red Bull Global Rallycross event operations business as well as leading emerging event projects both in and out of sports.

FA Pulls Out of Bidding Race to Host 2019 Women’s World Cup

The Football Association has exited the running to host the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

The FA had originally registered an expression of interest with FIFA but has now dropped its bid.

Other than England, four other countries had shown an interest in hosting the competition including France, Korea Republic, New Zealand and South Africa.

A statement from English football’s governing body said: “The FA can confirm that it will not be progressing its initial interest in hosting either the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, or the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2018.

“Expressions of interest were lodged to gain a wider understanding of the bidding process, the benefits associated to the tournament and the competition to host the tournaments.

“Having assessed all of these factors The FA will not be furthering its interest in these competitions at this time.

“The FA remains committed to growing women’s football and continues to invest in the game domestically both at the elite and grassroots level.”

Other than England, four other countries had shown an interest in hosting the competition including France, Korea Republic, New Zealand and South Africa.

These member associations will have to submit their definitive bids including all signed bidding and hosting documents by 1 October 2014. The host will be appointed by the Executive Committee at its meeting in December 2014.

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RISCO to Provide Security Solutions for World Cup Stadium Arena Pantanal

RISCO Group, therapy a leading provider of integrated security solutions, ed has been selected to provide security management and additional security solutions for the new Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba for the upcoming 2014 World Cup games in Brazil.

RISCO Group will provide their Command and Control solution in addition to access control and a customized ticketing and validation system. The Command and Control solution will enable to control other systems such as: hundreds of security IP cameras deployed in the stadium and its surroundings, lighting systems, gates, and PA system.

Michael Isakov, Managing Director RISCO Security Management Solutions BU, said: “We are honored to have been selected to provide the security solutions for the Arena Pantanal for the 2014 World Cup and thereafter. Our professional teams have been working together with the System Integrator, to ensure that all integrated systems work together seamlessly and efficiently to assure a successful and safe mega event.” 

The Arena Pantanal is one of 12 stadiums constructed or remodeled in Brazil for the upcoming 2014 World Cup, and will host several matches. The Arena itself has a capacity for 44,000 spectators, and was constructed with a total investment of US$537.7 million.

IOC Pleased with Preparations for PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are pleased with the progress being made by PyeongChang ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

The PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee provided a five-hour venue tour Tuesday for the IOC on there three day visit, stopping at several venues and venue sites in the PyeongChang Mountain Cluster which included the sliding centre, IBC-MPC, Yongpyong resort and the Mountain Olympic Village; and the Gangneung Coastal Cluster where the Coastal Olympic Village, Media Village, Gangneung Sports Complex and accommodations will be located.

Following the tour IOC Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg said: “Following a very detailed briefing yesterday on the status of the different venues and with only four years to go until the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games begin, it was important for the Commission to be able to survey the progress being made on the different venues.

“We are pleased to see that work on key sites like the sliding centre and coastal Olympic Village has begun. The information provided to us on site reassures us about the development of the venues that have not yet been started.

“Also, the participation of the winter International Federations and National Federations this week in our meeting shows the strong spirit of cooperation between the different stakeholders, which will undoubtedly allow PyeongChang 2018 to deliver the best venues possible for the athletes.”

The IOC’s three-day visit ends Thursday.

FIFA Extends El Salvador Match-Fixing Sanctions

El Salvador yet again was thrusted into the limelight for unwanted reasons it was announced today. 

FIFA extended its sanction on the team and banned yet another El Salvador player due to an on-going match fixing Investigation. 

The sanction imposed by FIFA on a player relating to match-manipulation follows a worldwide ban on three other El Salvador players which occurred last October. 

So far a total of 21 El Salvador players have been punished. 

The three players who were not named will suffer a ban from all football-related activities lasting six months, price 12 months and five years by their federation. 

In a statement FIFA said: “Following the worldwide extension of sanctions imposed on 21 El Salvador players in October and November 2013, the deputy chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the sanction of life ban from all football-related activity imposed on one additional El Salvador player.” 

FIFA hopes to tackle this problem by working closely with its member associations and the confederations to tackle match manipulation. 

They hope to do this by offering initiatives which include the signing of an integrity declaration by officials, the monitoring of the betting market via FIFA’s subsidiary Early Warning System (EWS) and the setting up of an e-learning ethics tool, an integrity hotline and e-mail address and a confidential reporting system.

AFL’s Collingwood Reveal Net Profit & Record Membership

Australian Football League team Collingwood have revealed a net operating profit of more than AUS$5.2 million on the back of record membership.

The Magpies announced a net profit of almost $16.4 million for the financial year ending October 31, which included development funding of $11.15 million.

Collingwood raised their year-on-year revenue by $2.6 million and lifted overall turnover above $75 million, with record membership exceeding 80,000 – a new club and AFL record.

“As per our promise to supporters, the profits will continue to be invested back into the club’s two key stakeholders, being the playing group and fans,” Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert said.

“This year, we invested an extra $600,000 into our membership services and an extra $1.3 million into our football department.

“The rest of the club profits are earmarked to help fund the new community facilities bordering our Westpac Centre training ground, which will require extra club funding of $15 million over the next three years.

“It has never been more important in Australian sport to be financially sustainable, to be able to determine our own future, retain our identity and protect our brand.”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire praised the profit and said it was great work by the entire team.

“This is a great result for the club built on the outstanding support of our members and corporate partners, strong board level leadership and the efforts of a first-class administration,” McGuire said.

“The club’s strong financial position has allowed us to create the ultimate Collingwood vision of Australian sport’s best training and administrative complex, a facility that can hold its own against the best sports clubs around the world.

“We know that to provide our players, coaches and staff with the best facilities and opportunities to succeed in an increasingly difficult environment that we must remain financially healthy and independent.”

Mark Blundell Partners with Theo Paphitis to Launch New Sports Marketing Agency MB Partners

Former F1 driver Mark Blundell is joining forces with Theo Paphitis and Ian Childs to launch a new athlete management & sports marketing agency, herbal MB Partners.

Theo Paphitis (centre), viagra 40mg one of the UK’s most high profile businessmen, therapy best known for his appearances on Dragons’ Den, joins the company as Chairman. Paphitis, a familiar face in the business world, was previously involved in sports marketing having co-founded Movie & Media Sports and Octagon Movie & Media with Childs. Formerly the Chairman of Millwall FC, Paphitis has also served on the Football League Board and on the FA Council.

Paphitis commented: “This is a fabulous opportunity to re-enter the commercial world of sport and with Mark and Ian as partners I am very excited about the potential of MB Partners. It didn’t take me long to say ‘I’m in’!”

Ian Childs (pictured left), Managing Director of MB Partners, will focus on the operating side of the business with Blundell. From co-founding Movie & Media Sports and Octagon Movie & Media, Childs later consulted for Sportseen Ltd culminating in its sale to Essentially Group. Childs has spent most of his working life in and around sports marketing from his early days at Surrey Cricket Club and Sports & Outdoor Media to managing Octagon’s Far East and Australasian operations.

After a professional sporting career that reached its pinnacle in the shape of Formula One and competing in 61 Grand Prixs, Blundell (pictured right), who has also won the prestigious Le Mans 24 hours and races in IndyCar, decided it was time to focus on a new chapter of his life that encompasses his sports background and media experience. As a pundit for ITV he was an integral part of the multi BAFTA award winning F1 presenting team and felt the timing was right to achieve his next goal and build a business around his core values in sport.

CEO and Founder of MB Partners, Blundell said: “I have monitored the athlete management and marketing sector for a while now and the time is right for a new player to enter this space. To have the likes of Theo as Chairman and Ian alongside me provides great depth within the company. That, combined with my passion, gives MB Partners an offering that most can’t match.”

MB Partners brings together a dynamic team of people that will set new standards in this sector. Providing a turnkey service for elite sportsmen and women as well as rights holders focusing on Management, Marketing, Branding, PR and Sponsorship.

Blundell added: “The ethos of MB Partners is built on transparency and trust, with a commitment to perform for each and every client to the highest level.”

Norwich City Appoint Front Row Marketing to Expand Brand

English Premier League club, drugs Norwich City announced a three-year partnership with US global brand management experts Front Row Marketing Services.

As well as attracting top acts to Carrow Road, denture Front Row will help the Canaries to find new ways to expand their brand globally, seek identify new sponsorship opportunities for the club and implement a series of friendlies for the club around the world.

President of Front Row Marketing Services Chris Lencheski said: “We are very excited to work with Norwich City as they grow their business opportunities not just domestically, but around the world.

“There are few global properties hotter these days than Barclays Premier League football clubs, and we think the Canaries are uniquely primed to take advantage of that platform. In Delia Smith, the UK’s bestselling cookery writer and television presenter, having sold over 21 million copies of her books worldwide, the club has a majority owner who is a genuine fan, and it’s great to be working with a successful woman in a male dominated environment. She is more than simply another owner – the fans can identify with her as a fellow supporter and if she believes in a partner, that’s a major positive because she is so authentic and that resonates with consumers.”

Norwich City’s chief executive David McNally said: “I’m delighted to confirm this exciting new partnership with Front Row Marketing Services. Their depth of experience and expertise in the field of sports brand development and marketing on a global scale will continue to help us to meet our objectives of significantly expanding Norwich City’s global footprint. We very much look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

2015 Solheim Cup Awarded to Germany & Gets Two New Sponsors

The Ladies European Tour has announced the appointment of Golf Course St. Leon-Rot in Germany as the venue for The 2015 Solheim Cup.

Golf Course St. Leon-Rot is located near Heidelberg and only an hour’s drive away from Frankfurt. The club has hosted many leading professional and amateur events including the Deutsche Bank SAP Open with triple champion Tiger Woods, viagra buy as well as one of Europe’s leading youth tournaments, sale the Allianz German Boys & Girls Open.

In addition to boasting 36 holes of championship golf, the venue has built some of the most spectacular practice facilities in the world with the aim of developing the most talented junior golfers in Germany.

Also the event has picked up Allianz as the event’s insurance partner and SAP as global technology partner of the 2015 Solheim Cup as the final two Global Partners for the event who will join PING and Rolex to complete a strong family of global brands in 2015. Allianz and SAP are both German brands with international business which have been instrumental in bringing the event to Germany in 2015 and will work with the Ladies European Tour, Deutsche Golf Federation and Golf Club St. Leon-Rot to ensure the event is a great success both domestically and internationally.

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: “We are delighted to be taking The 2015 Solheim Cup to Germany and to Golf Club St. Leon-Rot who have such a strong international reputation for both hosting major international tournaments but also for developing the most talented juniors in Germany. The Ladies European Tour looks forward to working with all parties involved in the project to make the event a great success including the Deutsche Golf Federation and welcoming global brands Allianz and SAP to the family of international partners which is a great endorsement of the profile of the event.”

“The Solheim family is thrilled with the selection of the Golf Club St. Leon-Rot as the site for the 2015 Solheim Cup,” said John A. Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING. “It is a wonderful golf facility that will provide a difficult test for the professionals and juniors. I know the team at the Club will provide everyone with an exceptional experience. It is very special to welcome two new partners in Allianz and SAP for the event. Their worldwide reputations certainly add a great deal to the Solheim Cup.”

Dietmar Hopp, President of the Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, commented: “Our vision is to see the golfers we support taking their place at the top of the world game, demonstrating just what can be achieved. For this, young golfers need sporting role models to inspire them and drive them on in their everyday training, examples from whom they can take a lead. At the Solheim Cup our athletes will get to see the world’s best professional women golfers live, providing them with a unique and valuable experience for their career.”

German player Sandra Gal, a member of the victorious 2011 European Solheim Cup Team, stated: “I can’t wait for Germany to host the 2015 Solheim Cup. It will be a fantastic experience for our golf in Germany and its upcoming talents to witness the excitement of such a prestigious event like the Solheim Cup. I am sure my home country will be a great host.”

Wissing (FDP) zum Nürburgring: „Wirtschaftsministerin Lemke ordnungspolitischer Totalausfall“

Der rheinland-pfälzische FDP-Vorsitzende Volker Wissing kritisiert im PHOENIX-Interview scharf die rot-grüne Landesregierung nach der Nürburgring-Pleite. “Ich glaube, ampoule dass die rot-grüne Landesregierung nicht die Kraft hat zur Sanierung. Die grüne Wirtschaftsministerin ist ein ordnungspolitischer Totalausfall.” Weiterhin hält er Ministerpräsident Kurt Beck für “schwer angeschlagen” und bewertete dessen Rolle bei der Verwendung von Steuergeldern für den Nürburgring als “Trauerspiel”. Dies würde dem Steuerzahler teuer zu stehen kommen, there so der FDP-Politiker gegenüber PHOENIX. Wissing forderte Beck zur Niederlegung seines Amtes auf: “Wenn ein Ministerpräsident in Zeiten einer Schuldenkrise mehrere hundert Millionen Euro Steuergelder sinnlos aus dem Fenster wirft, dann ist sein Rücktritt eine Selbstverständlichkeit.”