Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ink Twitter Deal

Twitter and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have entered into a long-term agreement under the social media network’s Amplify program.

Since launching Amplify in May, adiposity Twitter has entered partnerships with television networks like A&E, along with the NBA, the NFL and Major League Baseball. But this deal is the first Amplify partnership involving individual teams.

“I don’t know that they’ll become the norm, but as soon as the NFL deal happened you see the trigger effect in other leagues,” says Kirstine Stewart, head of Twitter Canada. “This is so very new right now but people understand how quickly the digital space is moving. These things start a spark and we’ll see how high the flames go.”

For Twitter, the Amplify platform helps answer questions that percolated both before and after the company’s initial public offering, about how it would generate revenue from an audience that spans 232 million active users who access the service for free.

And for MLSE the deal provides an opportunity to tap into the conversations that sprout on Twitter during live sports events. The Leafs, Raptors and other teams can then inject an advertising message and measure feedback in real time via replies, retweets and video views.

“No-one has cracked the code on monetizing social (media), and we’ve made our first sale,” says Dave Hopkinson, MLSE’s chief commercial officer. “We’re underway. The future is very bright.”

England Submits Bid for 2018 FIH Women’s World Cup

England Hockey have revealed they have formally submitted a bid to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to host the 2018 Women’s World Cup in London.

The Women’s World Cup bid forms part of a portfolio of bids for major events in the forthcoming years which England Hockey is submitting to the FIH, and which also includes the Men’s Champions Event and the Men’s and Women’s World League Semi-Finals.  The purpose built Lee Valley Hockey Centre, the 2012 Olympic Games legacy facility, will play host to the events.

England Hockey’s Chief Executive Sally Munday (pictured) commented on the bid: “We have a clear goal to increase the visibility of hockey in England, which in turn will help drive participation and ultimately elite performance, and events such as the World Cup will be central to achieving these objectives.

“Recent international hockey events have shown the large and passionate following in England for our National teams, boosted by our women’s team winning a silver medal at last month’s EuroHockey Championships. In addition to London hosting the 2015 EuroHockey Championships, the World Cup 2018 is one of a series of bids we’ve submitted to host international events in the coming years, aiming to continue the momentum we’ve generated and keep hockey in the forefront of the public’s minds and mainstream media.”

The bid has the full backing of Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, who also is a former hockey player and a follower of the sport: “We have total support for England Hockey’s major events strategy, and in particular the bid for the 2018 Women’s World Cup. We can use this event to continue to deliver a tangible legacy following the London 2012 Olympics and it would be fantastic to have more major events of this importance in our country.”

The Women’s World Cup will form part of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series, which is investing £27million of National Lottery funding to support the bidding and staging costs of major events, on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers. 

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added: “Since the spectacular success of last summer’s 2012 Games, London has continued to make its mark as a world class international sporting city. I wholeheartedly support England Hockey’s bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2018 which, as part of wider portfolio of fixtures, will ensure we make the most of our fantastic Olympic and Paralympic venues and continue to deliver a lasting legacy for many years to come.”

The decision on which country will host the Women’s World Cup in 2018 will be announced by the FIH in Lausanne, Switzerland on 7 November.

Yahoo Inks New Content Partnership Deal with NBC Sports Group

Yahoo and the NBC Sports Group announced a content and promotion partnership that combines the Web company’s sports reporting with NBC’s television presence and digital resources.

The alliance will include original video content that will appear on both Yahoo Sports and NBCSports.com, live streams of events such as “Sunday Night Football,” and adoption of Yahoo Sports’ fantasy platform as the exclusive game provider for NBC Sports’ news and information site Rotoworld.

Financial details of the deal were not revealed. The two will maintain separate Web sites and newsrooms but will collaborate on big sports news, both on the Internet and TV.

The pair touted the partnership as expanding NBC Sports’ digital footprint.

“Through our growing television and digital platforms, the Yahoo Sports partnership dramatically expands the digital reach of NBC Sports around the biggest sporting events,” Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group, said in a statement. “We are committed to continually growing this alliance for the benefit of both parties, our sports-property partners, and, most importantly, sports fans.”

The deal is part of Yahoo’s ambitions to raise its profile in other media. Yahoo and CNBC announced a partnership to jointly distribute content and programming across their networks. Like the NBC Sports deal, Yahoo and the business news channel partnered on creating co-branded, original videos that will appear on Yahoo Finance and CNBC.com.

Host for 2019 Asian Games to be Awarded on November 8

The host of the 2019 Asian Games, anabolics for which three cities are in the race, cialis will be decided on November 8.

The 31st Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)`s General Assembly is scheduled to make the decision at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in China on November 8.

Surabaya (Indonesia), ed Hanoi (Vietnam) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) are in the running to host the continental sports extravaganza.

The OCA will also hold a gala banquet and an award function the same evening. 

Twenty Asian athletes, including 10 females, will be rewarded for their outstandingachievements at the London Olympic Games, it added.

Schindler Elevator Wins Contract to Provide Mobility Solutions for San Francisco 49ers Stadium

Schindler Elevator Corporation has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract with Santa Clara Stadium Authority to provide mobility systems for the new San Francisco 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, sale California.

The contract includes 25 elevators, pharm including 18 Schindler 400AE mid-rise machine room-less units, as well as 38 Schindler 9300AE escalators.

HNTB, an internationally renowned architecture firm, and Turner Devcon Joint Venture (TDJV), will design and build the new 1.85 million square foot, 68,500 seat Santa Clara Stadium, which will feature open pedestrian plazas, commercial community space, a 49ers team store, and a 49ers Hall of Fame. The stadium is functionally designed to create a building that can be used for a wide range of events, including: professional and college football, soccer, motocross, concerts and civic events.

Contributing to the stadium’s long list of sustainable design concepts, the Schindler 400AE elevator system uses high-efficiency AC gearless machines to reduce energy usage and Power Factor 1 drives that regenerate energy back into the building’s electric system where it can be used to power the lighting, air conditioning or other equipment. The elevator cabs are equipped with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

The Schindler 9300AE escalator’s optimized drive system is perfectly matched to the demands of the rise, allowing motor power to drop by as much as 27% compared with earlier escalator models.

“We’re thrilled and honored to have been chosen to provide the mobility solutions for the new Santa Clara stadium,” said Jakob Zueger, CEO, Schindler Americas. “This sustainable and innovative multi-purpose facility will be right at home in the Silicon Valley where it is among the most technologically-advanced companies in the world.”

London Wasps Takeover Near Complete

London Wasps have announced that they have almost completed the sale of the Rugby club to a consortium led by former player Ken Moss.

Both parties have exchanged contracts for the sale of the club.

Moss turned emerged as the front-runner to takeover the club when talks with a different party failed to materialise back in April. The club now expect the takeover to be completed by mid-July in a move that will bring Steve Hayes’ four-year ownership of the side to an end. 

The news of the takeover was announced through a statement on the club’s website which also said: “The club’s priority is now on ensuring the deal is complete within this timeframe as well as finalising arrangements for the club’s future structure and operations.”

The club has been up for sale since last July in a move that was sparked by Wycombe district council’s decision to not back plans for a new stadium. 

The club was threatened by administration at one stage, but things have swiftly changed for the Wasps.

Lucas Oil Reaps the Benefit from Super Bowl Venue

Lucas Oil, erectile the title sponsors of the 2012 Super Bowl venue will reap the rewards for the game being hosted in the stadium after Front Row Marketing Services projected the company will get $33.8 million in branded media value.

In 2008, medstore native Hoosier and company founder Forrest Lucas paid $121.5 million for a 20-year naming rights deal for the Indianapolis Colts’ new home stadium. Some sports marketers scoffed at the price and Lucas’ strategy of attaching itself to a football venue. Until then, therapy the company mostly had been involved in motorsports.

Today, the deal looks like a bargain.

Based on the exposure that Lucas Oil Co. will get from Sunday’s NBC telecast alone, Philadelphia-based Front Row Marketing Services projects the company will get $33.8 million in branded media value.

The average annual payment of Lucas’ naming rights deal is less than $6.1 million.

“The more than $33 million value that Lucas Oil Stadium is projected to receive from the NBC broadcast is proving that corporate naming rights partners are right,” said Eric Smallwood, a senior vice president at Front Row, a division of Comcast-Spectator.

Front Row based its numbers on the estimated $3.5 million that NBC was asking marketers for a 30-second commercial during the game. Lucas Oil is expected to get visuals from signage outside and inside the stadium, including scoreboards; verbal mentions during the broadcast and some on-screen graphics.

“Lucas Oil is not an official partner of the NFL, but as part of their corporate naming rights deal, the signage they have in place stays in place,” said Smallwood.

During the Olympics and some other high-profile events, companies that are not partners of the official sanctioning body generally have their signs removed, Smallwood added.

Milt Thompson, president of Grand Slam Cos., an Indianapolis-based sports marketing consultancy, said: “Lucas’ deal, with the Colts games, Final Fours and all the other events was a slam dunk even before the Super Bowl. Clearly the fact that the stadium will host the Super Bowl makes this deal a runaway success for Lucas Oil.”

Lucas Oil should expect to see an immediate bump in sales, traffic to its website and inquiries to the company, Thompson said. More than 110 million Americans are expected to watch the game on TV.

“It’s all about impressions, and market research proves if consumers have a choice in products, they’ll most often go with the one they’ve heard of more times,” he said.

The exposure from pre-game and post-game coverage by other TV networks and by myriad radio, print and web publications easily could send the Super Bowl-related brand value for Lucas Oil beyond $50 million, sports marketers said.

Consider that the company will get more than $10,000 value in brand exposure just from having its name on the 68,000 Super Bowl tickets, according to Front Row Marketing.

And Lucas Oil isn’t the only winner this week.

Front Row Marketing projected that JW Marriott hotel will get more than $250,000 from brand exposure during Sunday’s Super Bowl telecast and Papa John’s pizza will get about $10,000 in brand exposure from its presence in the Super Bowl Village.

“It’s not surprising that so much value is being driven out of this one event,” Thompson said. “The Super Bowl is by far the most popular sporting event in America and any commercial property that attaches its name to it is coming up a winner.”

iSportconnect opens Spanish Office and appoints Pedro Galvan as Head of Spain

iSportconnect are delighted to announce that they are welcoming Pedro Galvan as their new Head of Spain. Pedro will look after Spanish sports business strategy, including the initiation of iSportconnect networking events in the region. Pedro will be in charge of achieving institutional and corporate partnerships, advertising, media relations, driving membership and business from the Spanish market.

Mr Galvan joins at an exciting time for iSportconnect, as it looks to expand its offices into Europe, America & Asia as part of its plans to have a greater regional presence in countries where sport plays a big part in the economy, with regional versions of the site with language translation in the pipeline, as well as a mobile version of iSportconnect.com

Mr Galvan is a highly-respected figure within European sports business. He has worked as the Marketing and Communications Director at Volvo Ocean Race, having previously worked at Euroleague Basketball as its Chief Marketing Officer for five years until 2010. Pedro also retains his role of being a member of the Board of Directors at European Sponsorship Association, a position he has held since 2006.

Pedro also holds an extensive and impressive educational background, including an MBA in ESADE, and executive degrees in IESE and Stanford. Moreover he is marketing professor at different business schools in Spain like ESIC, European University and RFEF Business School.

Pedro Galvan said: “It is a great opportunity to collaborate with iSportconnect here in Spain. Every day there are more executives who get involved with sports management in Spain, which is why we need a strong sports business network. Our plans are pretty ambitious: to become the biggest sports business network in Spain in one year.”

Sree Varma, iSportconnect’s CEO and founder, added: “Spain is a strategically important market for iSportconnect, and we are delighted with this opportunity to leverage Pedro Galvan’s many years of experience and expertise in the Spanish market. iSportconnect is a true global sports business community portal and we are looking forward to developing iSc’s services and networking events in Spain.”

Pedro is a welcome addition to the iSportconnect team.

Chevrolet to return to IndyCar series in 2012

Chevrolet’s return to challenge Honda will be announced at a 10 a.m. Friday news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum.

Chevrolet, along with Toyota, last participated in the sport in 2005. Honda has been the exclusive engine supplier since.

The return of Chevrolet is part of IndyCar’s switch to a new chassis and engine configuration for the 2012 season. It’s possible a European manufacturer also will announce its intention to build a turbocharged engine of up to six cylinders with a maximum displacement of 2.4 liters.

With Chevrolet comes additional marketing strength. A racing series achieves the maximum promotional benefit when manufacturers compete with one another. Honda officials have been supportive of another manufacturer joining IndyCar.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Owners Appoint Purdue University President to Board of Directors

Hulman & Company, which owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has announced Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., president of Purdue University and the former Governor of Indiana, has joined their Board of Directors.

“We’re honored that Mitch has agreed to serve with us during this period of renewed focus on economic development and infrastructure improvement. We are positioned for growth in our business units like no time in our history, and Mitch’s business acumen and understanding of the heritage of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are tremendous assets,” said board member Andre Lacy.

Daniels, who waved the green flag to start the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, was the state’s 49th governor, serving two terms after first being elected in 2004. At the conclusion of his term in January 2013, Daniels joined Purdue as its 12th president. He has set a bold agenda to enhance Purdue’s strengths in research, technology and innovation and developed new standards for higher education affordability and accessibility.

Purdue has a long history of motorsports involvement in Indiana, including racing safety and engineering study. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis offers a bachelor’s degree program in motorsports engineering, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway partners with Purdue to reach more students through a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education program. IMS and Purdue also have teamed to study and improve gate entry plans during major race day events.

“I spent many a Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway growing up in Indianapolis, and there’s no more iconic racing facility in the world. Anything a Hoosier can do to help this priceless state asset, he should do,” said Daniels. “The connection between Purdue and Hulman & Company is already strong and this new relationship will take us even further.”