Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup organisers ERC has announced that the 2014 editions of the competition will be staged in France.

The two European club rugby showpiece matches will be played on the weekend of 23/24/25 May 23rd/24th/25th and ERC is currently working in partnership with the FFR to confirm dates and venues for both games.

It will mark the fourth occasion Heineken Cup final has been staged in France and the sixth time the Amlin Challenge Cup final has been played on French soil. The announcement was made today at the French launch of the 2012/13 tournaments which was held at the headquarters of France Télévisions in Paris. 

The event, generic which was attended by representatives of the seven French Heineken Cup clubs and by Stade Francais Paris who are competing in the Amlin Challenge Cup, ed is one of four official launches organised by ERC in advance of the 2012/13 European club rugby season.

Further launches will be held in London October 1st, Sky Studios), Dublin (October 2nd, Aviva Stadium) and Rome (October 8th, Stadio Olimpico).

The Ottawa Senators today launched the organization’s We Mean Business campaign, an initiative to inform prospective clients about the impact that doing business with the club can have on their organization and in the community.

This business-to-business marketing program is aimed at helping the Senators achieve a goal of selling 500 pairs of season seats in the 100- and 200-levels of Scotiabank Place during the off-season.

“As one of the economic drivers in this community, we hope that we have earned the support of businesses within our region,” said Senators president Cyril Leeder. “We have put in place an affordable ticket pricing structure, established a first-class guest experience and will continue to put an exciting and competitive team on the ice.”

Currently, the Senators’ season-seat renewal process is underway, with the organization projecting to have 11,500 season seats committed for next year, before any additional new season seats are sold. Renewal rates currently sit at 93 per cent for full-season seats and 89 per cent for half-season packages. The We Mean Business campaign will push toward the Senators’ goal of 13,000 season seats for the 2012-13 season.

“We are asking the principals within the local business community to give us 15 minutes to demonstrate to them how a partnership and Senators season tickets can be a win-win for both parties,” said Senators vice-president of marketing Jeff Kyle. “Our region is made up of passionate, loyal consumers and employees who are knowledgeable about our brand. We feel there is still room to educate businesses in our community about the advantages that can come as a result of a partnership with the Senators organization.”

Since 2002, the Senators, through a variety of special events, from the Bell Capital Cup to the NHL all-star game, have generated more than $425 million in economic activity in the Ottawa region. In addition, the Senators and the Sens Foundation have raised more than $65 million, which has been re-invested into community initiatives across eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

The PGA TOUR, Pacific Rubiales Energy and SportLink announced a three-year extension that will allow the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship, to continue through the 2015 Nationwide Tour season.

First played in 2010, the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship was the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event played for official money in South America.

The field will again feature 144 players and will continue to include a number of players from South America. The purse will be $650,000 next year.

“When we announced the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship in December 2009 it was a ground-breaking moment for the PGA TOUR,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “In the three years that have passed all of our expectations have been met and exceeded, and we have developed meaningful personal and professional relationships with Pacific Rubiales and many, many other people in the wonderful country of Colombia. The Championship has evolved into an exciting international sporting endeavor and opened the eyes of many to all that is great about the new Colombia.”

Jose Francisco Arata, president and executive director of Pacific Rubiales Energy, said: “Colombia and Pacific Rubiales have certainly enjoyed and benefited from the first three years of our partnership with the PGA TOUR and very much look forward to continuing and enhancing it over the next three. The Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship has demonstrated both internally and outside our borders the progressive nature of Colombia, as well as the value in investing in this country.”

“Colombia has been honored to host the PGA TOUR,” said German Calle, president of SportLink and tournament director of the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship. “Among the many things the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship has done is provide a platform on which to promote democratic prosperity which is so central to President Santos’ vision for Colombia. Many people have been introduced to the beauty and opportunity that exists here. Extending our relationship with the TOUR for three more years will only provide more potential to showcase Colombia to the world.”

Pacific Rubiales is a Canadian-listed producer of oil and natural gas. It is the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company in Colombia.

It has been revealed that Formula One parent company, private equity firm CVC could block a possible takeover of the sport from the consortium between Rupert Murdoch owned News Corporation and Italian investment firm Exor, as it as first refusal on any stakes offered for sale.

James Murdoch confirmed last week that News Corporation had teamed up with Agnelli family owned Exor, who have ties with Ferrari, for a possible takeover bid of Formula One, buying out the sport’s minority shareholders.

CVC owns 63.4 per cent of Formula One’s parent company Delta Topco, and has confirmed it received a ‘friendly’ approach from Murdoch, the deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. 

Murdoch released a statement confirming: “Over the coming weeks and months, Exor and News Corporation will approach potential minority partners and key stakeholders in the sport.”

However, the shareholders of Delta Topco are all bound by an agreement signed in 2006 when CVC refinanced the £1.75bn (US$2.86bn) debt which it used to buy F1.

The agreement states that CVC has first refusal on any shareholders’ stakes if they decide to sell, and also gives the firm the right to veto the sale of any other stakes in Delta Topco. 

Nick Clarry, CVC’s managing director, added: “The shareholders’ agreement gives us control in any event, as they cannot sell without first offering the shares to us and we must approve all and any transfers.”

 

---

Related Discussion – Formula One Pay-TV Move Would Harm Audiences and Revenues

 

Delphi has been unveiled as the official automotive technology partner of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), gaining access to branding and marketing rights at rally events throughout the season.

The deal is another boost to the automotive supplier’s motorsport sponsorship portfolio having already sponsored Nascar team Hendrick Motorsports and the British Truck Racing Championship.

President of Delphi Product and Service Solutions Francisco A. Ordoñez, stated: “At Delphi, we live and breathe automotive technology and, for us, racing epitomises the very high, extreme durability standards we strive for every day. The WRC shares these very same values, making this a great strategic fit for Delphi. The partnership reinforces our commitment to motorsport and gives us a solid platform on to which build our profile worldwide.”

Simon Long, the chief executive of Convers Group owned WRC promoter North One Sport, added: “Delphi’s commitment to delivering real world innovations that make vehicles smarter and safer, as well as more powerful and efficient is a natural fit with the WRC. With their original equipment technology and service expertise, the association with Delphi is very important to us. We are delighted to welcome Delphi to our family of partners.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern said Friday he thinks eliminating teams will be on the table during collective bargaining as a way to solve the league’s financial woes.

“It’s a sensitive subject for me because I’ve spent 27 years in this job working very hard not only to maintain all of our teams, but along the way add a few,” Stern said during his preseason conference call.

“But I think that’s a subject that will be on the table with the players as we look to see what’s the optimum way to present our game, and are there cities and teams that cannot make it in the current economic environment. I’m not spending a lot of time on it.”

CBSSports.com first reported Thursday that the league would “continue to be open to contraction,” after Stern said he wanted player costs reduced by $700-800 million.

That set off predictable panic in some small-market cities whose teams have struggled on the court and at the gate. Asked if contraction should be a chilling word in Memphis, Stern said: “No, it shouldn’t be. It’s a good word to use, especially in collective bargaining.”

The players likely would fight contraction because of the loss of jobs it would entail.

“That would be more for them in their decision-making process than ours,” union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said. “We have a responsibility to protect as many jobs as we possibly can, so that would be more for the commissioner and the league and the owners to make a decision on contraction and numbers of teams and those things.”

For now, Stern is more interested in making teams in smaller markets competitive and profitable than he is in taking them away.

“I would say that we’re committed to small market teams,” Stern said. “We are going to have a new CBA eventually and we’re going to have a more robust revenue sharing.”

The labor deal between the league and players is set to expire June 30, and Stern revealed Thursday the league wants salary costs slashed by one-third in the next agreement. The union released a statement later Thursday in which executive director Billy Hunter said the owners’ stance could lead to a lockout and loss of part or all the 2011-12 season.

“I don’t believe that Billy wrote that, because he wouldn’t threaten me with a lockout,” Stern said. “And all I can say is that’s what negotiations are for and we’re looking forward to our next negotiating session.”

Stern disclosed other aspects that could be part of a new deal. Though the owners are seeking a hard salary cap, Stern thinks any system will continue to give teams a financial edge when re-signing their own players, which they currently enjoy through the use of the Bird exception.

The commissioner also said the idea of a “franchise player” is an interesting concept that he believes will come up in bargaining. NFL teams have a franchise tag designation they can use on their own player, something NBA owners may want after a summer in which LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire left their clubs, and Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul reportedly decided they want to do the same.

Deputy commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday the league is projecting losses of $340-$350 million this season, and Stern reiterated Friday that major economic changes are needed.

“I would say the league is viable as long as you have owners who want to continue funding losses. But it’s not on the long term a sustainable business model that we’re happy to be supporting,” Stern said. “It needs to be reset.”

Stern also provided contrasting updates on the NBA’s two Northern California teams, saying he still expects the sale of the Golden State Warriors to close next week. However, his optimism for a new arena in Sacramento has “faded completely.”

Otherwise, it was largely labor talk for the second straight day. And despite the large gap between the sides, Stern maintained he is still optimistic about reaching a deal.

“We know we’re going to get an agreement done, and we think that the enthusiasm of the season and the prospective growth that it will ultimately represent will enable us to sit down with the players and negotiate in good faith, and we both seem intent on doing all that we can to reach a deal,” he said.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have announced today they have launched their own TV destination, WTA TV developed by Xerox.

The channel will provide an interactive viewing guide that will allow fans to track the latest broadcast information for WTA Premier events based on users’ locations.

In 2013, WTA tournaments were broadcast in 164 international markets, showing more than 400 matches from 22 Premier events. The introduction of WTA TV is aimed to empower the fans and create a more user-friendly experience when following the tournaments throughout the year.

“Since Xerox has joined the WTA family as a partner, they’ve brought the fans of women’s tennis closer to our stars and enriched the fan experience,” said WTA Chairman & CEO, Stacey Allaster. “For fans who travel, they’ll never have to wonder again what channel is covering a WTA tournament.  Now, with a simple click, they’ll know.”

“Xerox and the WTA are always considering natural ways to help each other achieve business objectives and amplify reach. It’s the essence of our partnership,” said Jon Levine, Vice President, Xerox Global Experiential Marketing. “WTA TV is just one proud example of a program we were able to develop for our partner through the services that Xerox has to offer.”

Following the recent announcement that England will host the women’s Hockey World Cup 2018, drugs England has also won the bids to host two further major international tournaments.

England will also host the Women’s Champions Event in 2016 and the Men’s World League Round 3 in 2017.

With the EuroHockey Championships already secured for August 2015, there’s now an exciting calendar of major international hockey events to look forward to in this country, with back-to-back tournaments from 2015 to 2018.

The purpose-built Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is currently being developed as part of the hockey legacy following the London 2012 Olympic Games and will host the events.

England Hockey Chief Executive Sally Munday commented: “It’s such fantastic news for our sport to have back-to-back events hosted in this country. We put a huge amount of work into these bids, so we’re all delighted. This will really help us raise the profile of hockey and deliver a lasting legacy of participation.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support given to us from our partners including the London Mayor’s Office and UK Sport, who have committed to significant funding to help us stage these events which will benefit the hockey and sporting communities in this country hugely.

“I’d also like to thank new Minister for Sport Helen Grant for her support, who I’m sure will be a valuable supporter of our sport in the coming years.”

The Women’s Champions Event in 2016, Men’s League Round 3 in 2017 and World Cup 2018 all form part of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series, which is investing £27million of National Lottery funding to bring up to 70 world-class events to Great Britain to help build a strong legacy from London 2012.

Liz Nicholl, Chief Executive of UK Sport, said: “Through UK Sport’s Gold Event series we will be bringing major hockey championships to Great Britain on a regular basis from 2015.

“Supporting the staging of these high profile, world-level events demonstrates our commitment to helping to build a strong legacy from London 2012. Hockey is doing an excellent job building on their medal success in London and it is particularly pleasing to have won these bids which will showcase our committed, skilful and talented role models to inspire the next generation.”

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) has revealed no new sports will be added to the event meaning sports such as beach volleyball will miss out. 

“The sports program will reflect the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) stipulated 10 core sports (including para-sports) and an additional seven optional sports, no rx ‘ GOLDOC said in a statement today. 

“The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) caps the number of sports at 17.’

GOLDOC Chairman, Nigel Chamier OAM, confirmed there were no changes to the sports detailed in the Gold Coast Candidate City File submitted to the CGF in May 2011.

“The sports program was carefully developed to provide a balance of sports with consideration given to potential athlete participation levels, the number of Commonwealth nations hosting international tournaments and participant numbers from the Commonwealth at world championships’ Mr Chamier said.

Mr Chamier said formal submissions for inclusion were received from Beach Volleyball, Canoeing, Judo and Ten Pin Bowling and were reviewed over the last six months.

“All four applicants failed to meet a sufficient number of criteria to warrant being proposed to the CGF for inclusion in the 2018 sports program,’ Mr Chamier said.