ANTA Sports Products has posted an 11.6 percent decrease in turnover to for the first six months of 2012 according to its interim unaudited company results.

The company said via a statement that it is facing common difficulties that exist in the Chinese sportswear market and that it will implement a well-defined brand management strategy to achieve marketing success.

The company has recently announced a new partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association and the Chinese University Basketball Association and has also launched a competition called the Outdoor Street Basketball League that will involve over 10,000 players.

For the first six months of the year, profit from operations also decreased by 17.9 percent during a time when it further integrated its endorsement and sponsorship resources with its interactive promotions and featured products to enhance brand and product recognition.

ANTA is optimistic its involvement in basketball, women’s sports and running sports in China will help strengthen its position after the marketing benefits of a Chinese Olympic Committee sponsorship failed to help the company overcome economic conditions.

Popular singer, Jane Zhang was used in a television and online campaign to help promote the Outdoor Street Basketball League. {jcomments on}

 

The increasing costs to the Australian taxpayer has again placed the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix. The Victoria state government announced the 2011 edition cost Melbourne taxpayers $US54 million.

The current contract for the Australian race runs until 2015 and Victoria Tourism Minister Louise Asher said the state government could only guarantee its support of the Australian GP that time.

The minister said “This is a very, very large taxpayer subsidy about which I am not comfortable,” Asher told reporters.

Asher said the fee paid to Ecclestone by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for the right to host the race, reportedly to be at least $US27 million which is one of the largest single financial demands on the event paid to Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One.

Figures released on Friday revealed an almost nine-fold increase in the taxpayer contribution to the Grand Prix since 2001 under the contract negotiated by the previous state Labor government.

Figures also show that Melbourne’s 16 Grand Prixs have been propped up by a total of more than $US 325 million in public funds. Previously it was round was ran in Adelaide

Against the $US54 million taxpayer-funded shortfall is an annual return to the Victorian state’s economy of between $US34 million and $US 42 million, according to an economic impact study.

 

National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Sacramento Kings will stay in the city for one more year, giving Mayor Kevin Johnson a final opportunity to fulfil his pledge to deliver a new arena for the team, according to the team’s co-owner Joe Maloof

A long-considered relocation of the team to Anaheim in California had looked likely after several failed efforts to build a new venue in Sacramento, and a number of new names linked to Anaheim were reportedly registered by the franchise owners.

However, Maloof told the Associated Press yesterday, May 2, that the team would give Mayor Johnson more time to finalise plans for an arena, stating: “The Mayor of Sacramento has told the NBA relocation committee that he will have a plan for a new arena within a year. If not, the team will be relocated to another city.”

The Kings were given a deadline of Monday to inform the NBA of any intention to move ahead of next season and Johnson has generated US$10m in sponsorship pledges from the corporate community in a bid to retain the team. A feasibility study for a new arena in Sacramento is scheduled to be completed later this month.

Maloof added: “We spent 13 years and millions of dollars to try to get an arena built. We don’t have the answer. The Mayor has the answers and we’re willing and able to listen. He’s got to have a plan. We never want to be untruthful to the fans of Sacramento. There is a sense of urgency, and that’s up to Mayor Johnson and his political team.”

Maloof said he appreciated the support and encouragement from Anaheim officials, with the city’s council having already issued the bonds needed to encourage the Kings to move, and said: “I am sure that Anaheim will have a team some day.”

However, he stated: “I think it’s the fair thing to do. We’ve always said we think Sacramento has the best NBA fans in the world. Their overwhelming show of support was incredible. But now they realise that we’re giving them another opportunity and we’re anxious to play basketball.”

According to a Brand Finance India report the value of Brand Indian Premier League (IPL) has decreased from US$4.13bn last year to $3.67bn this, representing an erosion of $460m of its long-term value.

While the value of the IPL itself has dropped due to last year’s controversies, the value of individual franchises have gone up in the most part with the Mumbai Indians pipping last year’s champions the Chennai Super Kings as the most valued franchise.

The IPL franchises have been valued based on three pillars cricketing excellence, marketing excellence and corporate governance.

The brand value of Mumbai Indians is $57.13m, an increase of over $17m from last year, followed by Chennai Super Kings with $55.37m after an increase of $9m from 2010.

Vijay Mallya-owned franchise Royal Chalengers Bangalore is at third position with a brand value of $47.58m after an increase of almost $6m. The Deccan Chargers are the remaining club to have increased their value significantly over the last year, rising from 8th to 6th in this years valuations after an increase of over $4m.

The Kolkatta Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils, 4th and 5th of the 8 teams from last year, have seen very little movement in their brand value while the teams two least valued clubs seen decreases.

The Kings XI Punjab (7th) has seen its valuation drop just under $500,000 while the Rajasthan Royals have dropped rapidly from the 4th highest valued to the least after a decrease in value of over $11m sees them worth $33.78m.

These bottom two clubs valuation demise may well be down, in some part, to the fact that both the franchises till last year embroiled in a legal battle with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after their franchise agreement’s were terminated last year.

Both the franchises were also under investigation by the central agencies on alleged foreign exchange violation and lack of transparency in ownership pattern.

Brand Finance India Managing Director M. Unni Krishnan stated: “The IPL juggernaut has hit a speed breaker with an erosion of $460 million of its long-term value. IPL’s sustainability will largely depend on infusing governance policies to align all the stakeholders towards win–win relationships and thereby preserving the value in the long run. As costs like players’ wages rise, the early commercial success of IPL will be tested and the honeymoon is well and truly over.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Atlanta likely will have to build a new stadium if it wants to host its third Super Bowl.

Goodell was in the city Thursday night to attend the Falcons’ game against the Baltimore Ravens at the 18-year-old Georgia Dome.

The 72,000-seat stadium hosted the championship game in 1994 and 2000, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank has since been rebuffed twice in efforts to land another Super Bowl.

“The bar has been raised because you’re getting great facilities around the country in great communities,” Goodell said during a reception before the game, held on a rooftop overlooking Centennial Olympic Park. “These games are a tremendous value to the communities, so there’s a lot of competition for it. So I think a new stadium with this great community would be beneficial to bringing another Super Bowl to this community.”

Goodell said contentious talks with the players toward a labor agreement are linked to the owners’ desire to keep a greater share from revenue-sharing, funding that could be used to help finance new stadiums. Minnesota, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego also are looking to replace aging facilities.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re focused on restructuring the collective bargaining agreement, to make sure that we have the kind of structure that will allow us to make those kind of investments in the game and the communities which allow the game to continue to grow,” Goodell said. “That is good for the players, good for the teams, good for the communities. That’s something we want to continue to focus on.”

The contract with the players runs out in March. If a new agreement can’t be reached, the 2011 season could be in jeopardy.

Goodell said the labor talks and steps to protect the players from serious injury are his primary concerns. The league already has cracked down on helmet-to-helmet hits with hefty fines.

“I am relentless on this point,” the commissioner said. “It’s important we do everything we can to make our game safe. That goes to our rules and our leadership. We’re promoting safety for our players and other people who play our game. We all know that what happens in the NFL moves on down” to colleges, high schools and youth leagues.

Source: Associated Press

Just days after the British Grand Prix, Silverstone chairman Neil England has quit his high-profile role after recent changes by the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC).

The BRDC has dissolved the board of Silverstone Holdings Limited, of which England had been chairman for the last six years, as part of a new restructuring process. 

These changes were made in the wake of the investment deal struck last September with commercial property company MEPC, who acquired a long lease on the existing Silverstone Industrial Estate and development land around the outside of the circuit. 

England was instrumental in recent investments in the circuit, most notably the £27m ‘Wing’ pit and paddock complex, but with MEPC in place, England has decided the time was right for him to move on. 

BRDC chairman John Grant commented: “The BRDC board wishes to thank Neil for his hard work, tenacity and commitment to Silverstone during his six years as chairman of SHL. 

“He should be proud of everything he has achieved during that time and the significant contribution he has made to Silverstone. 

“Off the back of a very successful Formula One British Grand Prix, he leaves the business and the circuit well positioned and the BRDC Board wishes him well.”

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced details of the tender process for hosting the flagship Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 and IRB Sevens World Series rounds from 2015/16.

With interest expected to be unprecedented as Sevens continues to break into new markets and attract record attendance and viewing figures, ailment member unions have been given until February 28, 2014 to formally express an interest to tender.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “These are exciting times for a sport that continues to enjoy strong growth in participation, profile, commercial and broadcast appeal around the world and Rugby Sevens has been an integral part of this.”

“Since the IOC voted to include Rugby Sevens on the Olympic Games programme we have experienced unprecedented interest from unions and cities across all continents wishing to host one of our major men’s and women’s properties.”

“International Rugby Sevens is truly competitive, showcasing great skill and speed to full, vibrant stadia and strong and ever growing global broadcast audiences and that is why we believe that Rugby Sevens will be a great fit for the Olympic Games and the Olympic Games will be great for Rugby.”

The deadline for tender submissions for Unions interested in hosting Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 is December 5, 2014 with the IRB Council selecting the winning bid at its May 2015 meeting. The deadline for formal tender submissions for hosting a Sevens World Series tournament is set for June 27, 2014 and the 2015/16 Series hosts will be selected by the IRB EXCO in October 2014.

Digital marketing agency Purple, ailment has agreed a partnership with the British Paralympic Association (BPA) to develop high-quality digital output in the build up to the Sochi and Rio Paralympic Games.

The appointment of a digital agency reflects the BPA’s ambition to build on the successes of London 2012, denture which was described by the International Paralympic Committee as the first ever ‘digital Games’. During 2012, asthma the BPA’s website saw an increase in traffic of 570%, social media following rose by 2,726% and on Twitter #Paralympics was the most popular sporting hashtag of the year in the UK, beating both #Olympics and several high profile football hashtags.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, said: “I’d like to welcome the Purple Agency on board with the BPA. London showed the power of the Paralympic Games to engage and inspire a large audience, and our digital strategy is a vital part of enabling us to do this going forward and to continue to maximise the profile of Paralympic sport.”

Jane Jones, Marketing and Communications Director at the BPA added: “We are delighted to be working alongside the Purple Agency over the next few years. Between Beijing and London, it became evident that we are operating in an increasingly digital world and that our methods of communication are constantly evolving. Who knows how we will be consuming media by 2016, and with this in mind, we are confident that the Purple Agency can help us navigate the changing landscape to best engage with our supporters and stakeholders.”

Says Steve Shaw, managing director, the Purple Agency, said: “As an agency team we’ve been totally committed to winning this account, and we are all extremely proud, to have been selected – against some tough competition – to work with such an inspirational organisation as the BPA. It’s a fantastic achievement for all of us at the Purple Agency and we are very excited about working with the BPA to deliver our shared ambitions for the brand over the next 4 years running up to Rio 2016.”

The relationship between the BPA and the Purple Agency will begin with the redevelopment of the Deloitte Parasport website, the ‘yellow pages’ for disability sport, which is run by the BPA in collaboration with professional services firm Deloitte.

Purple have a wide-ranging agency services portfolio supporting over 14 sports clients, including organisations such as UK Sport and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). They have also consistently performed well on the Recommended Agency Register (RAR), which scores agencies on the basis of positive feedback received from their clients.