Super League side Hull FC have agree a srtategic partnership with a lower league club York City Knights. 

As part of the partnership, up to five Hull players will be able to turn out for the Knights each week, with their selection set to be overseen by head coaches Peter Gentle and Gary Thornton.

Champions Leeds Rhinos partnered with Hunslet Hawks in August while St Helens recently announced they would be working with Rochdale and Whitehaven.

Players will also be exchanged on a loan dual-registration basis from 2013 while the top-flight club will also share their player development and marketing knowledge.

“We are delighted to secure this partnership with the Knights and we look forward to working with coach Gary Thornton, his staff and their players next year and beyond,” the club’s director of rugby Shaun McRae told their official website.

“Linking up with York was a natural step given the strong relations between the two clubs and I’m sure both parties will soon see the benefits this exciting partnership will provide.

“With the proposed changes to the academy structure next year, this will provide a great opportunity for some of our younger players to develop in a more competitive environment with a club that boasts one of the strongest traditions in the game.” 

Promising half-back Danny Nicklas has joined the Knights on a season-long loan for 2013, although he will remain full-time with the East Yorkshire club.

York City Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: “We are delighted to enter into this exciting partnership with Hull FC. We already have strong links with the Hull area in terms of our playing roster and we believe that the partnership will only enhance this.

“It is important to re-iterate that the partnership goes way beyond player movement and has been carefully structured to include support around many other areas including coach development, medical support, strength and conditioning, facilities, performance analysis, commercial and hospitality, media and marketing, and community work.

“In addition to the benefits identified above, the partnership is also financially beneficial to York City Knights, and Hull FC have committed to sponsoring a number of matches and other items.

“Utilising the resources that Hull FC have available to them will be extremely beneficial for the club and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.”

This follows similar partnership deals by champions Leeds Rhinos who partnered with Hunslet Hawks in August while St Helens recently announced they would be working with Rochdale and Whitehaven.

Coca-Cola, asthma the longest continuous supporter of the Olympic Movement, is giving fans a closer look of Team USA ahead of London 2012 with a number of marketing initiatives. 

This new work combined with the “Move To The Beat” global music collaboration, is the largest Olympic-themed marketing effort for The Coca-Cola Company, which has sponsored the Games since 1928.

The new program spans advertising, limited-edition packaging, experiential marketing, online and mobile engagement and public relations; and includes eight new commercials spotlighting the inspirational stories of the Coca-Cola 8-Pack of Olympic and Paralympic Athletes: David Boudia (Diving), Henry Cejudo (Wrestling), Marlen Esparza (Boxing), John Isner (Tennis), Shawn Johnson (Gymnastics), Jessica Long (Paralympic Swimming), Alex Morgan (Soccer), David Oliver (Track & Field).

“The new work captures the individual stories of support of our athletes on their Olympic journeys,” said Katie Bayne, President and General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America. “Just like Coke, the energetic stories are all about patriotic optimism.”

Limited-Edition Packaging

New limited-edition packaging can currently be found on store shelves nationwide. Multiple limited edition packaging phases and materials will rotate into the market now through the end of the Games in August, encouraging people to collect, get active, and support some of their favorite athletes and sports. Specially designed cans and fridge packs showcase action-shot silhouettes of Coca-Cola 8-Pack of Athletes.

Advertising

Eight new ads highlighting the stories of athletes in the Coca-Cola 8-Pack will air across the networks of NBCUniversal, as well as in cinemas in heavy rotation throughout the Games. All of the spots urge audiences to support their athletes by purchasing Coca-Cola Olympic Games Collector Series cans.

1.) Olympian David Oliver tells us the importance of support from his family, coaches and his friends, and how now he always remembers to give back.

2.) Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson remembers the importance of the support of her whole community in helping her excel.

3.) Marlen Esparza, who will compete in women’s boxing in London, the Olympic debut for the sport, shares how her father is her constant support in becoming the ground breaking athlete she is today. This spot will be featured in Spanish on Telemundo.

4.) Jessica Long, a Paralympic swimmer and seven-time Paralympic Games Gold Medalist, shows us her global support network that has been such a big part of her life. Coca-Cola is also a long-time partner of the Paralympic Games.

5.) “Support Montage” highlights the athlete’s core elements – speed, strength, toughness and happiness – revealing the common thread that runs throughout: their need for support in their path to the Olympic Games.

6.) “Ceremony III” celebrates Coca-Cola’s long-standing support of the entire Olympic Movement. Coca-Cola has produced the third iteration of its Ceremony TV commercial, originally released in 2008 and updated in 2010. This year’s spot features Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics athletes receiving their medals in scenes from competitions over the last several decades. New this year are some members of the Coca-Cola 8-pack of Athletes.

7. and 8.) Two 15-second animated commercials bring the collector cans to life through animated silhouettes in the style of the new can designs. One spot features hurdling (Oliver), gymnastics (Johnson) and diving (Boudia); another focuses on soccer (Morgan) and tennis (Isner).

All spots, created by Ogilvy & Mather, Wieden + Kennedy and Leo Burnett, are part of Coca-Cola’s Open Happiness campaign.

Online Engagement & Promotion

MyCokeRewards.com/theOlympics will serve as the digital hub designed to bring families closer to the Coca-Cola 8-Pack of Athletes. Activation on the site features the Coca-Cola 8-Pack of Athletes during a 10-week program that includes interactive athlete quizzes, instant-win prize opportunities and enter-to-win sweepstakes. Consumers can win customized prize packs designed to encourage healthy, active activities through items inspired by the athletes’ sports.

Coca-Cola also is encouraging teens to move to the beat of the 2012 London Olympic Games when they visit coca-cola.com/theOlympics. There, they can access special content that allows them to create a custom music beat, explore information on members of the Coca-Cola 8-Pack and sign up for SMS alerts during the Games.

In addition, Coca-Cola kicks off “On the Go with D.O.,” a My Coke Rewards promotion offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for moms to bring 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver (also known as “D.O.”) to their children’s school for an exciting “field day” of athletic activities. In the true spirit of the Olympics, “On the Go with D.O.” is designed to inspire consumers to get physically active with their families and rally the community together to cheer on Team USA as they compete in London for the gold.

The program also will come to life at retail. For the first time ever, Coca-Cola will execute unique programs with 127 individual customer accounts.

Public Relations

Coca-Cola offered fans a unique opportunity to see themselves in lights – larger than life – in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. By visiting Coke.com/Cheers, fans were able to upload a personal photo and brief message supporting Team USA hopefuls and athletes. If selected, their images and accompanying notes will appear on the giant, six-story Coca-Cola Times Square billboard on July 18. Participants will receive a composite photo illustrating how they appeared on the big screen, which can be shared through social media and printed as a keepsake.

The Company also has partnered with 22 Olympic Torchbearers through traditional and social media outreach.

Experiential Marketing

The Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper is a mobile marketing unit that will be present at more than 80 events throughout the summer. Expected to host approximately 400,000 consumers, its interior reflects the look and theme of the 2012 London Olympic Games and features blasts of frosty air to provide refreshing relief to visitors in the summer heat. 

The Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper also features a recording studio and photo station, providing consumers with a memento that captures the experience.

The European Tour has reminded players that they face disciplinary action for breaching social media rules after James Morrison of England recently criticized the Wales Open in an online post.

The European Tour says sanctions will apply for any “offensive, threatening, disparaging, hurtful or otherwise” comments, and stuck a memorandum on a notice board at the BMW International Open in Germany on Thursday to remind players of their responsibilities.

Morrison wrote on Twitter to describe the Celtic Manor course as a “dump” and say “one more round and then can’t get over that bridge quick enough!”

The 27-year-old Englishman apologized for his comments during the May 30-June 3 Wales Open but will still be fined by the Tour.

The Tour also warns that players could face civil action from “`any other parties who legal rights are affected by such comments.”

It is not known how many players have been the subject of disciplinary action.

Marcus Fraser of Australia, who holds the first-round clubhouse lead at the BMW International Open after shooting a 64, is believed to have been fined heavily for online comments made during the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles last August.

Fraser had played the opening two rounds alongside Rafa Echenique of Argentina, who was seen using his mobile phone on the course to rearrange a flight. Fraser went on Facebook to allegedly express his disapproval at Echenique’s actions.

An agreement has been reached between MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports S.L and the Mugello circuit on a new five-year deal, meaning the Italian Grand Prix will continue to be held at the Tuscan circuit until at least 2016.

The circuit has held a Grand Prix event continually since 1991 having initially first staged a race in 1976, and has become one of the landmark features on the MotoGP schedule.

Having hosted a GP event every year since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP formula in 2002, Mugello will also play host to the new 1000cc capacity prototypes which will make up the MotoGP grid in 2012.

Speaking about the new deal, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said: “It’s fantastic news to be able to announce this contract renewal with Mugello, which will see the circuit host the Gran Premio d’Italia for a further five years. This is an amazing facility which will have a place on the MotoGP World Championship schedule until at least 2016.

“The organisation of this race is very professional and the improvements we’ve found this year have done nothing but raise the circuit’s already extremely high standards. The new grandstand on the start/finish straight, the relaying of the asphalt which all riders from each of the three categories have praised, and the environment at Mugello make it a very special race which, fortunately, continues to be a mainstay in MotoGP.”

Paolo Poli, Chief Executive of the Mugello Circuit, added: “We’re very pleased to announce the renewal of the agreement which confirms Mugello will continue to be a MotoGP venue. This also ensures that the Italian Grand Prix will remain the most important event of our sporting calendar in years to come. In addition we will also continue our positive relationship with Dorna, whose professionalism has allowed motorcycle racing to be more successful and popular than ever.”

According to a report published yesterday, June 2, in partnership with CNC Communications named ‘Formula Money’, annual revenue from the sport’s commercial rights is set to double in the next five years to more than US$3bn.

The report predicted that much of this is going to come from inflated hosting fees, predicting that annual revenues for the Formula One Group would rise at a rate of 12.7 per cent to reach $3.253bn by 2016, compared to an estimated $1.587 billion in 2010.

The report claimed: “Revenues are expected to hit $1,789m this year before passing the $2 billion mark for the first time in 2012. “One of the key areas of expansion is expected to be race hosting fees, which brought in an estimated $568m in 2010,” said the report, after CNC Communications have worked with teams, sponsors and car manufacturers.

It continued: “Most race contracts include an annual escalator and upcoming races in new markets such as Russia and India are expected to pay above the average rate.”

The report went on to claim that the highest race hosting fee would rise to more than $100 million by the end of the decade and continued to say that the increased revenue would also be a boost for the teams, who receive half of the sport’s underlying profits as prize money.

Prize money could also overtake sponsorship as the teams’ biggest source of cash, with the report adding: “Formula Money predicts that in 2016 the total prize fund will come to $1,575m, with the winner of the constructors’ championship taking home a $222m reward.

“This amount is bigger than the entire annual budget of seven of the current 12 teams and compares to the $87m that Red Bull Racing received for winning the championship in 2010.”

The report calculated that total team sponsorship and supplier deals fell to $802m in 2010 but had shown strong growth in 2011 and had already reached $887 million by the start of the season in March.

The report, a statistical review of Formula One’s finances, uses data from various sources in a sport where official figures are hard to obtain and sponsorship details are kept secret.

The Chairman and CEO of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Colin Graves has revealed it will not bid to host an Ashes Test in 2013 or 2015 at their Headingley home because it would represent too great a financial risk.

After confirming losses of £2m (US$3.2m) for 2010, the club are not prepared to take the risk following poor attendances for the Pakistan v Australia Test at Headingley last summer.

Yorkshire has a staging agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board that guarantees it one Test and a one-day international each year between 2012 and 2019, but counties have to bid for the right to host Ashes matches.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Graves stated: “There’s no chance at all of us hosting an Ashes Test. For 2013 and 2015 we are not allocated an Ashes Test, we won’t be allocated one, and we are not going to bid for one to put ourselves at risk again.

“The figure is not fixed but it could cost anything between £1m ($1.6m) and £2m ($3.2m) to make a bid. I’m not putting between £1m and £2m at risk because it’s not worth it. I’d rather stick with what we’ve got.”