English Championship club, Bolton Wanderers have announced a three-year consulting agreement with Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary Front Row Marketing Services, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing sports and entertainment marketing firms.

The agreement will allow Wanderers to find new ways to expand their brand globally as well as identify new sponsorship opportunities for the club.

“Bolton Wanderers is one of the UK’s most historic clubs and we are excited to help them grow business opportunities,” said Chris Lencheski, President of Front Row Marketing Services. “English football is revered around the globe and we know that the time is right to help smart, aggressive clubs grow their brand to a hungry and passionate consumer base, while at the same time enhancing the offerings for the supporters who fill Reebok Stadium each match.”

“We are delighted to be working with Front Row. They are in a prime position to develop new commercial relationships for us in international markets and have great experience in this field,” said chairman Phil Gartside.

FIFA has announced the stadium that was set to host major fixtures in the Futsal World Cup in Thailand would not be ready in time.

The tournament’s group stage is already under way and the Bangkok Futsal Arena was due to host it first games in a week’s time.

FIFA said that the games will now be played at alternative venues in the city. The quarterfinal matches scheduled to be played on November 14 will now be played at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium, the semifinals and final will take place at Bangkok’s Indoor Stadium Huamark.

A FIFA inspection team carried out a thorough evaluation of the US$39M stadium before deciding it would not be suitable for use in the competition.{jcomments on}

After the successful launch of the iSportconnect Directors Club Germany in November 2011, viagra the 2nd live event of the exclusive virtual network for the sports industry in Germany takes place on December 5, 2012.

The central topic of the 2nd edition in Munich will be “Betting & Gaming – How the new state treaty on gaming affects the sports industry” and examines the legal situation of sponsorships with and from the betting industry. After a keynote from Dr. Michael Stulz-Herrnstadt, media rights expert at Bird&Bird, on the current legal situation, a discussion between Tipico Managing Director Stefan Meurer, Pro7/Sat1 media expert Dr. Florian Kolb, Infront Germany Managing Director Ralf Koslowski and a soon to be named club representative will follow.

While the private betting industry meanwhile invests 10 million Euros into German Bundesliga alone, with another 4 million Euros from federal betting companies, the legal situation about advertising, e. g. in the frame of a sponsorship concept is still not fully clear. The iSportconnect Directors Club will shed light into the dark on the current situation as well as on all possible scenarios.

The 2nd iSportconnect Directors Club Germany will take place on December 5 at the premises of law firm Bird&Bird at Pacellistraße 14, 80333 Munich, with a reception at 5.30 p. m. followed by the keynote and the panel.

The event is intended to attract representatives from sponsors, clubs, federations, rights holders and the media. Following the official part, iSportconnect Directors Club Germany offers a great deal of time for networking. If you are interested in attending, please register on dev.isportconnect.com/directorsclubgermany.

The event is exclusive for members of iSportconnect.com and by invitation.

Africa’s premier rugby sevens tournament, here Safaricom Sevens, thumb is set for a much welcomed cash injection having agreed a $100,000 sponsorship deal with MultiChoice Kenya and SuperSport.

MultiChoice General Manager, Danny Murica, has insisted that $89,000 will be used to covering television productions of the three-day tournament.

The remainder of the sum is simply considered as a cash donation, for organisers to use however they see fit for the benefit of the game in Africa.

The partnership was revealed today at Nairobi’s 30,000 capacity Nvavo Stadium, the venue of this year’s edition of the Safaricom Sevens, which kicks off on 21 September.

iSportconnect, the global networking platform for sports business, has become an official media partner  with  the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology (SEAT).

The partnership utilises the much acclaimed pre-conference Networking Tool for the upcoming SEAT 2012 Conference on the 5th-8th August 2012 at The Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA. Technology tours and special events will be held at Fen Way Park, TD Garden and The Markley Group Data Centers.

As well as combining social networking with the latest sports business news, events, job listings and market place data, iSportconnect will act as a virtual meeting room, enabling participants to interact before and after the heavily anticipated summer event in a secured way, due to the site’s Strict Door Policy.

iSportconnect Marketing & Partnership Manager, Xavier Cureau said: “We are very pleased to be working with SEAT. This will further expand our image in the USA and help promote what looks to be a top event across Europe and the Middle East. I am very much looking forward to the 2012 conference and working closely with the SEAT team.”

Christine Stoffel/Chris Dill added: “ We are very excited about this media partnership in an effort to expand the SEAT community across the world and reach every sports and entertainment organization. SEAT’s primary role for existence is to make a difference in the sports and entertainment industry by bringing together technology, marketing, operational and broadcast leaders together in a forum that empowers an intimate community of professionals to network, collaborate, innovate and be thought-leaders across the world. iSportconnect’s leadership team’s vision is complimentary to SEAT’s and together we will bring the world and business of sports to unite.”

The SEAT 2012 Conference focuses on collaboration: bringing people, business & technology together across sports & entertainment. For more information on attending the 2012 SEAT conference-event, visit www.seatconsortium.com.  Follow SEAT on Twitter: @seatconference;  LinkedIn: search for SEAT Sports Group  and FaceBook: facebook.com/SEATconsortium.

SEAT LLC, a sports technology consortium for the executive leaders across sports and entertainment industry. SEAT brings leaders together with innovative technology solution providers to solve industry challenges and to address the evolution of the industry. SEAT is the only conference-consortium and consulting company that is holistically owned and operated by prior sports executives, giving SEAT a unique distinction above all other conference organizations. Members of SEAT’s community are comprised of executive technology, marketing, sales and operations leaders from all major sport league governing bodies, professional and amateur sports organizations, pro golfing organizations, collegiate CIO’s, collegiate athletic directors, collegiate athletic technology and marketing professionals, racing organizations and leading entertainment and sports venues. 

For further information on SEAT, please contact: Christine Stoffel, +1-602-639-1807, Christine.Stoffel@seatconsortium.com or Chris Dill,  +1-503-680-3222, Chris.Dill@seatconsortium.com

The Chief Executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A) Golf Club, Peter Dawson, has warned the BBC they may lose their rights to the Open if they persist in reducing it’s live golf coverage.

From next year, the BBC will screen only six days of live mens’ professional golf. The corporation has a contract to show the Open live until 2016 but, speaking at this year’s venue of Royal Lytham & St Annes, Dawson made it clear there is no guarantee of that agreement being extended.

“Certainly,” replied Dawson when asked if the BBC’s gradual withdrawal from golf was a concern to the R&A. “We have had that conversation with the BBC. They know we have got our eye on them. It hasn’t just been in golf but with the likes of tennis as well.

“You have to stay in practice and keep up with advances in technology. You need to be in practice to do it well. We obviously want the Open Championship to be seen by as many people as we can. The BBC know they need to get off the financial plateau they are on with the Open Championship by the next time it comes around. Who knows who will be on the scene then?”

Contractual talks are due to get underway between the R&A and the BBC about 18 months before the present deal ends.

For now, the Open is placed on a B section of listed events earmarked for free-to-air coverage. Others alongside them, such as the Ryder Cup and domestic Test cricket matches, only have highlights coverage on terrestrial television.

The R&A report strong advance ticket sales for this year’s Open, despite the competition of the Olympics in London. July will mark the 11th playing of the championship at Lytham & St Annes and the first time since 2001. It is hoped than an increase on the aggregate 180,000 attendance from 11 years ago will be secured.

“That would be a good achievement in an Olympic year for London,” Dawson said. “We thought there would be some effect but we are not seeing it in ticket sales at this point. Corporate hospitality is storming along, it is well up on last year. Corporate sales are stronger than they have been.”

Spectators will be able to use mobile phones again on a Open course following a decision to remove the ban on mobile phones which has been in place since 2006 in order to enhance the experience for the general public. Calls will be allowed in designated areas but photography and video recording will not be permitted during the four days of the championship.

“There is no denying the attachment people feel to their mobile phones both in terms of gathering information and staying in touch with family and friends,” Dawson said. “We understand this and allowing their use at the championship will enrich the Open experience.

by Ismail Uddin

However, last week F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone called for Bahrain to be given more time, telling Reuters that “we need to wait a little bit to see exactly how progress is made”. In turn an announcement was made yesterday, May 2, confirming that Bahrain would be given until June 3.

An FIA statement read: “The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has granted the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit an extension until June 3, date of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Barcelona. This decision was taken after consultation with the relevant Bahraini authorities and Formula One Management, the international promoter.”

Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed Rashid Alzayani said at the weekend: “Clearly our national priority is to find a resolution to the difficulties that the Kingdom of Bahrain has experienced. The national situation has moved on in a positive manner, the situation is evolving all the time; our day-to-day life is gradually improving under the current State of National Safety.”

He added: “Bahrain’s grand prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrain and Bahrainis. It is a showcase to the world and we look forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula 1 back to Bahrain in the very near future.”

The European Commission is reportedly in talks with Formula One’s governing body (FIA) over the plausibility of creating a series of electric car racing championships, in an effort to promote awareness of new vehicle technologies.

The European Commission is said to have approached the FIA with regards to the possibility of launching an electric car, go-karts, and single-seater racing events, in the hope that the high-profile of F1 will generate awareness of advances made in the electric and hybrid industry. 

FIA president Jean Todt has been holding discussions with the European Union’s industry commissioner Antonio Tajani about how to raise interest in more energy-efficient cars.

Tajani said: “One of the priorities of my mandate is to give a concrete start to the ultimate conversion of the European car industry.”

The BBC have sold the distribution rights for next year’s 2011 Cricket World Cup to Sunset+Vine. The company will provide a highlights coverage package for the sports main event in 2011 to be hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The tournament begins on 19 February and runs for six weeks until the final on the 2 April.

Jeff Foulser, Chairman Sunset+Vine, said: “Sunset+Vine is delighted to be awarded the contract to produce the Cricket World Cup for the BBC. We are looking forward to the challenge of delivering high quality daily programming from such a vibrant and cricket loving part of the world.”

After deals were also agreed between Century TV and Input Media to broadcast the MotoGP and World Bowls respectively, Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, said: “We are delighted that, following a fully open tender process, we have appointed Century, Input and Sunset & Vine to work with us on these three important events. It was a highly competitive process which demonstrated the strength of the Independent Production sector in sport in the UK.”

Former Scotland and Glasgow Warriors rugby captain Jon Petrie is joining Scottish Rugby in a new post as commercial operations manager.

Scottish Rugby’s Director of Commercial Operations, bronchi Communications and Public Affairs, order Dominic McKay said: “Jonny’s leadership skills were recognised by club and country as a formidable back-row forward.

“Since he retired as a player he has forged ahead in his business career and has been Head of Sponsorship for the energy company SSE for the last four years, ailment playing a key role in their activities in the sports and entertainment markets.

Petrie said: “I’ve enjoyed the past seven years since I retired, proving myself away from rugby and building up commercial experience.

“Coming back home to BT Murrayfield now feels like the right thing to do though, and I’m very much looking forward to getting into the business, where there are clearly some exciting things already happening.”