India GP Could be Pushed Back to Accommodate Bahrain Reschedule

The Indian Grand Prix at the JPSI promoted Buddh International Circuit could be handed a welcome timeline extension to be ready for its Formula One launch this year with reports suggesting that as discussions continue between Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and Bahrain officials about the Sakhir race returning to the schedule, the dates for the India Grand Prix could be pushed back.  

India’s inaugural F1 encounter is currently scheduled for October 30, to be followed by the Abu Dhabi GP on November 13 and the season finale being the Brazil GP on November 27. However, in order to accommodate the Bahrain GP if it were to return to the calendar after cancelling its slated season opener earlier in the year, it is believed that the India GP would be pushed back to December 4, making it the last race of the 2011 F1 season.

The proposal is likely to get ready acceptance from the JPSI, keeping in mind the fact that work schedules at the Buddh International Circuit have been thrown out of gear due to the ongoing agitation by farmers in the Greater Noida area under which the track falls.

Farmers claim that the Utter Pradesh state government forced them to sell their land for the Yamuna Expressway – a six-lane highway being constructed between Noida and Agra. However, they say that much of the land surrounding the highway is being sold at astronomical rates to real estate developers who are planning malls and industrial as well as residential projects there. Farmers claim that while the government and the developers will make a significant profit, they have been shortchanged.

IPL Season Schedule Announced, Kochi Unveil New Identity

The Board of Control for Cricket in India Wednesday released the schedule for IPL Season 4, which will see last year’s winner Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 8 April.

IPL season 4 will have ten teams playing a total of 74 matches at 13 venues over 51 days, which will run till 22 May, when the grand finale will be held.

As reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings have the right to host the Opening match of the season, and to provide the venue for the Final.

In other news, the newly-formed IPL franchise known as Team Kochi have unveiled their new identity as the Indi Commandos, revealing their new team logo in the process.

That was the title the franchise first uploaded on its official Facebook page. The name the franchise had initially posted had neither state nor city moorings.

A second posting was the released which read: “The full name of the Kochi IPL page is “INDI COMMANDOS KERALA!” The earlier mentioned name was just for your immediate information! “

The franchise explained the thought behind the naming, stating: “‘INDI’ stands for an independent Indian cricket team that will go ahead to win a billion hearts. ‘COMMANDOS’ stands for an elite fighting squad, renown for attacking with speed, stealth and deadly power.”

Business India Forum confirms speakers

The Business India Forum, partnered by iSportConnect, has confirmed its speakers for the conference which is to be held on 22 July at Christie’s in London.

A host of world-renowned industry professional will speak at the event, including Ishant Saxena, Chairman of QPR Football Club, as well as Tushar Das Ghose, Strategic Partner Consultant at Microsoft. Arunava Chaudhuri, CEO of IndianFootball.com will also be speaking.

The Business India Forum, which brings together people from key areas with a focus on the fast rising sectors of sports, lifestyle and luxury, is taking advantage of the growing economy in India, which is set to become one of the four biggest in the world.

Other speakers at the event include: Amin Jaffer (Director, Indian Art, Christie’s), Subodh Agrawal (Founder, Euro Max Capital), Fiona Sanderson (Managing Director, The Luxury Channel), Patricia Hewitt (CEO, UK India Business Council), Ashis Ray (journalist and author), Farid Haque (Global Markets, Accenture), Som Mandal (Partner Fox, Mandal Little) and Sangeeta Datta (film producer).

The half-day conference will be followed by a cocktail networking reception.

Arlington International Racecourse Selects Tickets.com’s ProVenue Platform

Tickets.com, provider of state-of-the-art technology solutions has announced a ticketing services partnership with Arlington International Racecourse.

The Arlington Heights racing and entertainment complex will introduce the ProVenue platform to their fans in support of sales for the 2014 race season.

Arlington International Racecourse selected the Tickets.com platform after an extensive evaluation of ProVenue at two area Major League Baseball facilities: Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Milwaukee’s Miller Park.

Tony Petrillo, Arlington International General Manager noted, “From the automated kiosks, to the digital ticket delivery methods, and to the online purchase experience, we see the ProVenue installation as a major technology upgrade for our facility and will provide a most user friendly on-line experince. ProVenue will let us broaden the types of bundling and promotions we offer and give us more actionable data to help us more effectively plan for the future.”

Tickets.com’s Dan Archabal, Vice President of Business Development, added: “We see traditional racing & gaming facilities like Arlington International and Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots (Tickets.com’s other Churchill Downs Incorporated managed facility) continuing to broaden the types of live entertainment they offer fans,” said Archabal. “ProVenue gives our clients a flexible platform as their business expands beyond racing with immediate benefits occurring in a reduction to labor expense with more self-service options and a streamlined sales process all focusing on elevated customer service.”

Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Stadium to be Downsized

The Japan Sports Council (JSC) have announced that they will be reducing the size of the 2020 Olympic stadium by one-quarter to just 220,000 square meters.

The stadium that was designed by London-based Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid had been receiving a barrage of complaints from architects, environmentalists and residents for it to be scaled down.

The announcement that the stadium will be reduced will also cut on the construction costs by 180 billion yen ($1.8 billion), a far cry from the original 300 billion yen for the bigger venue, estimated by the Japanese media.

There has been no official word yet on how much will be the revised cost estimate. The JSC official however emphasized that they will still be using the Hadid design and that the height estimate, which is currently at 70 meters. The JSC also said that the reduced size will still meet the requirements of the International Olympic Committee, which includes seating for 80,000 people, a retractable roof and movable seats that can be adjusted to different sporting events.

“While we are still using Zaha Hadid’s design, we now plan to downsize it,” a JSC official told an expert panel which approved the new blueprint.

“We made this plan after taking into consideration opinions” expressed by architect Fumihiko Maki and other high-profile critics, JSC president Ichiro Kono told reporters.

Maki is an award-winning architect responsible for one of the new towers for the World Trade Center complex in New York. He also renovated a building near the site of the new stadium.

The yet-to-be-built complex will replace the existing 54,000-seat stadium that was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Ireland Considers 2023 Rugby World Cup Bid

The 2023 Rugby Union World Cup may be heading to Ireland after their sports minister revealed interest in hosting the prestigious competition.

Ireland has been considering a potential bid for over a year, looking to replicate the success of the tournament in New Zealand – which has a similarly-sized population – in 2011.

Irish sports minister Leo Varadkar said he will seek approval from cabinet colleagues on Tuesday.

“I think Ireland is very well placed to host the Rugby World Cup,” Varadkar said at an International Rugby Board conference.

“The next step for me is to go to cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday) and to seek authorisation with a view to putting together the bid.

“It’s probably the biggest event a country like Ireland could do, we’re too small for the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup and for that reason it would engender enormous national pride.

“The second thing is that even during the very difficult times of the Troubles, rugby in Ireland was a unifying sport. For us in Ireland, it would just be a symbol of how far we’ve come from the bad times to the better times now.”

The next World Cup will be hosted by England in 2013 and the 2019 competition will take place in Japan.

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Manchester to Host 2018 Lacrosse Men’s World Championships

The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) has announced the Men’s World Championships will return to Manchester, England for 2018.

The games, which were held in Manchester in 2010 and will be played in Denver in 2014, will use the same facilities as in 2010 at the University of Manchester. England was previously named the host nation for the 2017 Women’s World Cup.

The 2010 games saw Team USA defeat Canada, 12-10, for the gold medal. That game was played in front of nearly 5,000 fans.

“The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is proud to announce that the English Lacrosse Association has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship. We are extremely confident that English Lacrosse, having successfully hosted the 2010 Championship, will again run an event that FIL and the International lacrosse community will be proud of,” FIL president Stan Cockerton said in a news release.

Cockerton said there were multiple bids for the games but did not disclose which countries were in the running. England has resources to accommodate up to 48 countries — 29 participated in 2010 — and is “more than willing to be inclusive with our growth.”

“We are absolutely delighted that with the decision of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) to give England Lacrosse hosting rights for the 2018 Men’s Field World Championship and the opportunity to serve the international community.  We hosted the 2010 Championship and will be using the same facilities at the Armitage Centre and accommodation at Manchester University which is within walking distance of fields where the games will be played,” David Marsden, co-president of England Lacrosse, said in a news release. “Following on from the success of the 2010 Championship we are certain that this will give a fantastic boost not only to English Lacrosse but more importantly to the international game.”

The games have been held every four years since 1974, with USA winning all but two gold medals. Canada won gold in 1978 and 2006. England has hosted the games three times (’78, ’94, 2010)

4Sight Sport Becomes Official CRM Agency of Rugby League World Cup 2013

4Sight Sport, the partner company of Green 4 Solutions, has been appointed as the official Customer Relationship Management (CRM) & Data Agency partner for the Rugby League World Cup 2013, which will take place in October.

4Sight, which was founded two years ago to deliver CRM strategy development, analytics and data marketing to the sport & leisure industry, will review the current sources of customer data and provide in-depth customer insight and fan engagement services.

RLWC2013 Marketing Manager, Mark Foster said: “Rugby League World Cup 2013 is a major event in the sporting calendar and so far ticket sales have been very encouraging. We are looking forward to continue that, using 4Sight’s services to develop our data and fan engagement strategy and build on the excitement that a major tournament brings to the country.”

Garry Adamson, Managing Director at 4Sight Sport & Leisure, added: “Data driven sales and marketing strategies are now seen as a crucial method for sports rights holders to achieve their commercial aims.  We are delighted to assist a prestigious world tournament with their forward thinking plans in this area.”

Blackthorne Named as iSportconnect Directors’ Club Logistics Partner

Blackthorne International Transport has been announced as the Official Logistics Partner for the exclusive iSportconnect Directors’ club to be held in London this week.

Blackthorne specialises in delivering all types of cargo to Russia by air, sea or road.

The Directors’ Club is a prestigious event for leading figures in the sports industry. Senior decision makers are invited to share insight and opinions on business trends, best business practices and relevant industry news.

The event will feature a panel of high-profile sports industry figures and an audience of specially invited iSportconnect members, who will have the opportunity to offer questions to the panellists.There will also be a round table networking opportunity with drinks.

Sree Varma, CEO of iSportconnect, said: “This association with Blackthorne is an exciting development for iSportconnect ahead of our upcoming Directors’ Club. Blackthorne is known for consistent excellence in its services and this partnership is a good fit for both brands.”

Gary O’Grady, Blackthorne Managing Director, added: “iSportconnect is a company bringing together people from around the world and this closely aligns with our values at Blackthorne. We look forward to working together.”

Attendees include:

Top executives across the industry will be attending, including: English Premier League, The FA, RFU, IRB,ITF, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, Tottenham FC, LTA, UK Athletics, West Ham FC, English & Wales Cricket Board, UK Athletics, Liverpool, QPR, Ascot Racecourse and WMRT and a string of sponsorship brands…

For further information go to http://www.directorsclub.biz/

Questions for the panel: The format for the Director’s Club event is modelled on BBC Question Time. We’ve chosen this structure to enable delegates to challenge the panel on some of the big questions facing the sports business today. Delegates with questions should submit them in advance to the moderator, Michael Cunnah through the iSportconnect networking tool >>

West Ham United Named Preferred Bidder for Olympic Stadium

West Ham United have been announced as the ‘Highest-Ranked Bidder’ to move into the Olympic Stadium.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) ranked the Premier League club’s bid as the number one choice after a meeting on Wednesday.

Other bids had been made by League One side Leyton Orient, UCFB College of Football Business and a consortium linked to Formula 1.

The LLDC said the agreement with West Ham depended on the resolution on a number of issues including: the final specification for adaptations to the stadium and associated funding; securing planning permission; obtaining appropriate national governing body approvals; and the finalisation of commercial terms, including a mechanism to protect the taxpayers’ investment in the stadium were the value of the club to increase significantly through a change in location.

If a football use can be agreed the stadium would be reconfigured to provide a retractable/moveable seating solution so there could be a quick change over between athletics and football use.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I hope the detailed negotiations with West Ham can succeed, but I am determined that any deal should protect the interests of taxpayers who have paid for the stadium and would have to pay more for adaptations to make it suitable for football.”

LLDC chief executive, Dennis Hone said: “Today’s decision on the stadium represents an important milestone towards reopening the Olympic Stadium. If we are to have a football tenant, West Ham and othe parties will need to meet the conditions that the Board has set out today. If a deal is not possible then we will bring the stadium back into use as soon as possible.  In any event we are exploring options to hold events in summer 2013.

West Ham said in a statement: “We commend the LLDC and its Chair, Boris Johnson, for their vision in appointing West Ham as Highest-Ranked Bidder. In doing so, London is well on the way to being able to showcase yet another major destination and visitor attraction in the Olympic Park, further strengthening the capital’s place on the global map.”

West Ham Vice-Chairman Karren Brady added: “For the last three years it has been my firm, unwavering belief that the Stadium can truly become a multi-use destination of which east London and the nation as a whole can be proud. I have never lost sight of our vision to play our part, along with the Stadium’s major stakeholders, in ensuring it grows into a global asset. It is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Park, watched by the world.”

“Our vision for the Stadium has always been about standing up for the promises made for London back in Singapore in 2005. We are committed to delivering our promises as set out in our bid. The hard work really does start here and work is already well underway to ensure that we really bring our community, which includes 500,000 supporters in east London and Essex alone, with us.”

“We are already working with key strategic partners to ensure that unemployed east Londoners in key target groups will have access to sustainable employment in the Olympic Park via the 700-plus job opportunities that West Ham’s tenancy will create. We guarantee millions of visitors and customers, which will galvanise the Park and act as the catalyst to spark a thriving economy in this part of east London.”

West Ham United’s Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold issued a joint statement, saying: “We are ambitious for our great club and aim to set the benchmark for visiting away and neutral football supporters from across the globe to come and enjoy the iconic Stadium and be part of our Premier League club experience.”

The Legacy Corporation will now seek a stadium operator to manage the venue, coordinate community and sporting use.