A new joint venture has been established in an attempt to boost the profile of cricket in the U.S. Podar Holdings International Pte Limited of Singapore and Top Bloom Corporation Limited, have joined with Australian sports marketing firm Insite to become foundation partners of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and the Cricket body of New Zealand (NZC).

The companies have joined forces to launch a new venture called Cricket Holdings America (CHA) LLC. The CHA will hold a majority of the commercial rights to cricket in the US.

Commenting on the new venture, USACA President Gladstone Dainty said: “This agreement provides USACA with the ability to grow the game from grassroots to the elite level. It has opened doors for private investment into cricket in America, one of the more exciting new market opportunities for the ICC. Importantly, it will provide a sustainable revenue stream for the development of the game and secondly, we shall be supported by the knowledge and expertise that comes from a full member country like New Zealand.”

He added: “It is also worth noting that the US broadcast market has huge potential. It has historically been the second highest rights payer behind India. By growing cricket in our country we are not only benefitting Cricket Holdings America LLC but all ICC Member nations.”

The ICC has hopes that the new initiative will provide cricket the best opportunity to thrive in the United States.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat advised: “The ICC has long considered the United States as a strategically key market for the growth of the game. We are extremely supportive of the new partnership and their efforts to grow cricket within the United States. We wish them all the best.”

Global retail broker FxPro has agreed a deal to become the main sponsor of Premier League side Fulham, replacing electronics company LG.

FxPro will begin its sponsorship of the team from this July, and this will see the FxPro brand appear on the front of the side’s first team shirts until the summer of 2013.

The deal is the biggest in the club’s history, after they recorded their highest ever finish in the league and reached the final of the Europa League final last season.

As part of the deal, FxPro will also be supporting several Fulham Foundation initiatives, including funding for Fulham Deaf FC.

Chief Executive at Fulham, Alistair Mackintosh, said: “I am delighted to welcome FxPro to Fulham during a period of such success and optimism on and off the pitch. It is always a cause for celebration when you have an opportunity to work with a brand that shares your commitment and vision for success.”

Director for FxPro, Denis Sukhotin, added: “FxPro is delighted to team up with Fulham Football Club for the next three years. FxPro is committed to raising the profile of Fulham FC and supporting the Club as it seeks to replicate last season’s success in the domestic and European competitions during the period of our association.”

FxPro also recently announced they were to become Aston Villa’s main sponsor for next season as well.

CSM Sport & Entertainment has hired Rob Smith as CSM Australia Managing Director strenthening their psition in the Asia-Pacific region.

The CSM group of companies operating in Australia includes sports marketing consultancy Fast Track, adiposity commercial rights sales and talent management agency Essentially, branding specialists ICON, global hospitality experts iLUKA, and motorsport marketing giant JMI.

The news highlights CSM’s aggressive growth strategy for the APAC region following this month’s opening of the Singapore office and the relocation of Jonathan Castleman, CSM Group Managing Director Middle East and APAC, to Singapore.

Smith joins CSM from GroupM agency SponsorCom and brings with him a wealth of experience from across the sports, media and entertainment spectrum.

“I am rapt to be joining CSM at such a pivotal moment for the business in Australia.  The opportunities for each of the CSM businesses are many and exciting” said Smith.

“The potential for Essentially in commercial rights sales as well as athlete management was a significant factor in my decision to join the group.  Furthermore, the work Fast Track did with HSBC on last year’s Lions tour raised the bar for sponsorship activation, illustrating the benefits that can be derived from a partnership between brand, sport and agency.  There is lots of potential in this market for brands and businesses to drive significant value from aligning with events, teams, sports and talent from across the sport, media and entertainment spectrum – with our fantastic team and broad product and service offering, CSM is well placed to help them do that” said Smith.

Smith will drive the strategic growth of CSM across Australia, reporting into Jonathan Castleman.

“Australia is a hugely important sports market globally.  Rob’s appointment to oversee the group reflects our commitment to and belief in the potential that it offers.  We have big plans for Australia and the region and this is just the start of the journey” said Castleman.

Seb Coe, Chairman of CSM also commented “Australia is one of the biggest sporting nations in the world and I am delighted that CSM has appointed Rob to take us to the next level in such an important and growing market.  Australia has an undisputedly strong domestic sporting culture and with major global events such as the AFC Asian Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup coming to the region in 2015, it plays a key role in CSM’s global future.”

CSM is headquartered in Surry Hills, Sydney, alongside Chime Communications’ lead advertising agency VCCP.  CSM also has offices in Melbourne and Adelaide.

The Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards, sale both owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, have joined social media platform, Snapchat.

Snapchat is a photo messaging application that allows a brand or user to send a photo or video message to followers.

The Capitals and Wizards use the Snapchat Stories function to give fans behind-the-scenes access of the team, including exclusive images of practice, players and game days. Snapchat Stories content is available for 24 hours.

“We are always looking for new ways to connect with our fans by sharing content, and Snapchat believes we are consistently more active than other teams on the app,” said Mike Hutchinson, Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s senior director of digital media. “Whether it’s showing a Caps player preparing his equipment for the game or sharing scenes from a Wizards practice, Snapchat allows us to give the fan base inside access to the teams.”

France have have been awarded the 2016 European Badminton Championships and the 2017 European Junior Championships.

Following triumphs hosting the 2010 World Championships in Paris and Yonex French Open Super Series, viagra 40mg  the French Badminton Federation (FFBaD) seemed like perfect candidates for the tournaments. 

Since 2012 France have also hosted an International Circuit tournament in Orleans and have successfully hosted the 2013 European Club Championships in Beauvais, adiposity outside Paris. 

The French Badminton Federation will now open an internal bidding procedure to host the two events. A decision is expected at the end of 2013.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us”, medstore explains Richard Remaud, President of FFBaD. “After hosting the 2010 World Championships in Paris, it’s another chance to develop badminton in France.”

The 2016 European Champions will take place in week 17 and will offer the last world ranking points for the 2016 Olympic Games qualification in Rio. The 2017 European Junior Championships will take place from 7 to 16 April 2017.

The FFBaD is one of Europe’s fastest growing Member Associations having 180.000 registered players today.

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.