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.”

Pitch International and MP & Silva today announced a partnership to develop and manage joint projects across Asia. 

Based in Singapore, allergy | the partnership will utilise the collective strengths of the two leading sports media rights agencies to develop selected projects, including the acquisition and distribution of rights, production services and events management. Properties such as Brazil Global Tour, Six Nations Rugby, Ascot and Racing UK, Capital One Cup and nPower Championship were selected to kick-start the partnership.  A number of new projects focused on Asia are currently under negotiation and will shortly be announced by both agencies as part of this partnership.

Together, Pitch International and MP & Silva distribute over 15,000 hours of programming to over 200 broadcasters across the globe. 

MP & Silva Chief Executive, Andrea Radrizzani, said: “It is a natural evolution of our business in Asia to work with Pitch.  Our businesses are complementary and together we have the scale to ensure we can continue to exploit bigger events and rights in the territory.  Our companies are both innovative and dynamic and we look forward to working with federations and broadcasters on some exciting projects over the next few years.”

Pitch International Managing Director, Jonathan Rogers, said: “We are delighted to be working more closely with MP & Silva.  They are a great partner with an excellent track record in Asia.  Our two organisations know each other well and there are strong synergies and enhanced opportunities from working together in the Asian market.  We believe our collective strength in the market should increase the range of rights, events and services we can offer.”

AEG Facilities was named operator of 2014 FIFA World Cup venue Arena da Baixada, Clube Atlético Paranaense announced at a press conference in Brazil.

The 46,000-seat multi-purpose stadium located in Brazil’s south region in Curitiba is home to Clube Atlético Paranaense of the Brazilian Football League.

“AEG Facilities is an outstanding partner for Atlético Paranaense. Their management and event programming expertise will provide Arena da Baixada and the city of Curitiba a diverse lineup of sports, musical and cultural entertainment that will bring years of success to our multi-functional complex and community,” said Mario Celso Petraglia, Presidente do Clube Atlético Paranaense.

Under the new partnership, AEG Facilities will operate the multi-purpose, retractable-roof stadium that is currently under renovation and will be completed in June 2013. In addition to the soccer stadium, AEG Facilities will operate Arena Olympico, a 10,000-seat multi-purpose indoor companion arena that will open in 2015.

“We are thrilled and honored to support Atlético Paranaense’s rich and long standing tradition of success, both in Brazil and internationally,” said AEG Facilities President Bob Newman. “Curitiba is one of South America’s most dynamic sports and entertainment markets, and we look forward to being a partner of the Curitiba community as they prepare for the 2014 World Cup.”

Arena da Baixada is one of twelve planned host venues that will be upgraded or constructed for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which will be the first World Cup in Brazil in 60 years, and the first staged in South America since the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.

The Curitiba venue is the third Brazilian facility in the international sports, entertainment and venue organization’s worldwide portfolio. The Los Angeles-based company provides venue management and event programming support for the 45,000-seat Arena Pernambuco, also a 2014 World Cup venue, opening in April in Recife. In addition, AEG Facilities will operate São Paulo’s Nova Arena, opening in November 2013, and home to Palmeiras, one of Brazil’s most popular football clubs.

“Arena da Baixada and the accompanying indoor arena make up one of the most compelling venue projects in the world today and are truly multi-use venues,” said AEG Facilities Senior Vice President Chuck Steedman. “Not only is the arena a fantastic football venue, but with a retractable roof and 46,000 seats, it is a perfect venue any time of year for concerts, shows and other special events. The addition of the 10,000-seat indoor arena creates a tremendous venue package for the great market of Curitiba.”

The Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commission has secured funding for the 16 NRL clubs from the broadcast deal with Channel Nine.

ARLC officials successfully negotiated for Nine to make a $30 million funding payment – $8 million of which goes directly to the clubs as a television rights bonus. All clubs have or will be paid $500,000. The one-off payment was expected to come earlier but was confirmed yesterday after a week of negotiations between ARLC officials and the network, which yesterday avoided administration.

”From the moment we signed the heads of agreement with our broadcast partners we have been working towards providing this payment to the clubs,” ARLC interim chief executive Shane Mattiske.

”This is just the start of the benefits the new broadcast rights deal will provide to the game’s stakeholders over the term of the agreement … it is a significant step for the clubs.

O2 has announced an innovative partnership with Nike to launch a ‘Priority Sports’ loyalty scheme to give its customers exclusive access to the sportswear brand’s products and services.

The initiative, set to launch this week, will enable customers who have downloaded the relevant smartphone app to receive exclusive deals relating to Nike products and athletes it sponsors, including footballer Wayne Rooney and cyclist Mark Cavendish.

It is not known what offers will be available as part of the scheme.

O2 already has an association with sport through its Rugby Football Union sponsorship, which it recently extended by four years. O2 has sponsored Arsenal FC since 2002, while Nike provides the club’s kit. A source familiar with the plans said the club is involved in the scheme.

O2 launched its ‘Priority Moments’ location-based mobile loyalty scheme a year ago, with its partners including WH Smith, French Connection and Harvey Nichols. It also expanded its ‘Priority Tickets’ offering to the RFU sponsorship.

Earlier this year, O2 boosted launched its O2 Wallet, which allows users to make simple payments and shop using their mobile device.