Entertainment company Madison Square Garden Co, drugs announced major profits over the last nine months, due in part to increased play-off ticket sales.

Net income for the company who own the New York Knicks and Rangers, tripled to US$28.6 million, or 37 cents a share, from US$8.53 million, or 11 cents a share.

Sales also increased by 42 per cent, up to US$332.9 million, up until 30 June.

National Hockey League (NHL) side The Rangers, hosted 11 play-off home games whilst National Basketball Association (NBA) side the Knicks hosted two before losing to the Miami Heat.

Thanks to these play-off games, MSG’s sports department increased to US$131.2, or 74 per cent.

The company, who is best known for Madison Square Garden Arena, rose 10.5 per cent in market pre-trade on Friday 24 August.

The on-going Arena Transformation project has also helped boost the company’s funds, with the project entering its first phase.

Madison Square Garden Arena is in the midst of a three-year “transformation” project, which will include the arena’s lower bowl, floor and locker rooms renovated.

Shares of the New York-headquartered company had already surpassed 41 per cent this year, which was thanks to a new contract earned with Time Warner Cable (TWC).

Media sales for MSG advanced by 20 per cent up to US$167 million in the fourth quarter.

Parallel Media Group plc (PMG) has been appointed by the International Judo Federation (IJF) as a global sponsorship agent for judo events during the initial period ending 31 December 2016.

David Ciclitira, Chairman, commented: “We are delighted to add the sport of Judo to our portfolio and especially in light of Great Britain’s recent Silver and Bronze medals in the recent summer games and the growing success of our new K Pop business in Asia. PMG and its subsidiaries have a number of other projects that we are working on at the moment and we look forward to making further announcements in due course.”

Parallel Media Group plc is a leading sports marketing, media and event management Company.

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal, has suggested Formula One teams leaving Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) may regret their decison and has labelled the decision of the departing teams as short-sighted.

Red Bull, Ferrari, Sauber and Toro Rosso all announced they would be leaving FOTA towards the end of last year, meaning just seven outfits remain in the group. The split came in the midst of a row over the cost-saving Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA) and Ferrari issued a statement saying “FOTA’s drive has run its course”.

However, Brawn believes FOTA’s remit is wider than just cost saving, and with Concorde agreement negotiations over the distribution of the sport’s revenues coming up, he is disappointed that the teams have not maintained a united front.

“We are very committed to FOTA and we think it’s a great shame that we’ve lost the members from FOTA because I think we may live to regret that,” Brawn said. “I think when there was a crisis and outside pressure it pushed FOTA together, now that there’s not so much outside pressure the natural competitiveness of the teams is pushing us apart a bit.

“But I think we are very short-sighted in not recognising that FOTA has a very important role to play. I think it is an unfortunate feature of Formula One that we all find it fairly difficult to come together. I’m a great believer in FOTA but I’m disappointed, obviously, with what has happened in the last few months. I think we’re going to regret it in Formula One because one of the objectives of FOTA was to find the right solutions for Formula One, not just the right solutions for an individual team.”

And he said it was pivotal teams remain united over the RRA.

“The RRA is very important. We’ve got to find some means of restraining the costs overall and technical regulations and formal regulations will only go part way. The concept of RRA is very important, but it does need everyone to commit to it and work together to find the best solution to having an RRA system. We are committed to it and we are going to persevere to try and make sure it is applied properly and it’s viable for the future of Formula One. I think without it we are at high risk.”

by Ismail Uddin

adiposity helvetica, sans-serif;”>The International Rugby Board (IRB) has estimated the Rugby World Cup 2011 will generate $1.67 billion for the global sports economy according to a major new study by MasterCard.

Conducted by the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS) on behalf of MasterCard Worldwide, The Economic Impact on Global Rugby Part IV: Rugby World Cup 2011, concludes that the economic impact of Rugby World Cup is profound and that it has huge potential to create a lasting legacy.

Over 95,000 overseas visitors are expected at RWC 2011 in New Zealand, 30,000 more than at RWC 2003 in Australia. As a result, the report estimates that the total economic activity from overseas visitors may amount to $654 million. This short-term commerce flow will come through international spending in bars, clubs, shops, hotels, city attractions, bookmakers and inside host stadia, along with sponsors and organisations spending on marketing in cities around matches.

In the long-term, the study suggests that the economic impact from increased tourism, civic sponsorship and business development as a result of the event is likely to be NZ$1.32 billion ($1.08bn). This reinforces findings following the FIFA World Cup 2010, when 92% of visitors indicated that they would recommend South Africa to friends and relatives, and 90% said they would visit again.

In addition to the hosting and sporting benefits, Rugby World Cup plays a pivotal role in the growth and prosperity of Rugby worldwide. All commercial revenues generated by the Tournament are reinvested in Rugby around the world to increase competitiveness and ensure more men, women and children can access the sport. This is done through the IRB’s £45 million Strategic Investment Programme for the period 2009-2012. The total investment for the period is £150 million. This includes £17 million in Oceania and £6 million in New Zealand.

IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller said: “Rugby World Cup is one of the world’s top three major sports events and the largest in the world this year. As the report underlines, it will drive significant economic activity around the globe and, in particular, in New Zealand, both during the Tournament and in the longer term.

“We have no doubt the Tournament will be both successful and memorable. Aside from seven weeks of spectacular Rugby, New Zealand 2011 will benefit New Zealand and New Zealanders and it will benefit the global Game. The commercial revenues generated from the Tournament drive the growth and development of Rugby worldwide across our 117 Member Unions in order that more men, women and children can enjoy the sport and that more teams can compete to qualify for Rugby World Cup and ultimately challenge to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

“Alongside the more established Rugby nations, fans will be able to see emerging nations such as Russia, who will be playing in their first Rugby World Cup, and Romania where participation has risen 222% since 2003, adding to the appeal of the Tournament and inspiring further growth.”

According to the report, on a global level, economic activity is generated by fans travelling and people engaging with the Tournament from their home nation as part of the expected four billion television audience, for example by buying merchandise and consuming food and drink. It also reflects commercial companies who engage with the Tournament including broadcasters, sponsors, suppliers, licensed merchandisers and commercial travel and hospitality.

doctor helvetica, drugs sans-serif;”>Tennis and squash brand Mantis Sport have appointed Macesport to handle their PR and sports marketing campaign.

Macesport, Britain’s leading independent sports communications agency, will be providing a full press office function for the new and exciting UK based brand that was launched in 2009.

Macesport will be promoting and leveraging a range of sponsorship properties that Mantis have acquired in both the tennis and squash markets.

Macesport will also provide a full range of media and public relations services including the development of a social networking and digital solution for Mantis.

Macesport managing director Paul Mace said: “We are delighted to welcome Mantis into our family of sporting clients. Mantis have very exciting plans to further develop their consumer presence both at home and internationally and we are very pleased to have been chosen to help them achieve their objectives.

“As well as the traditional PR and press office support we will also be working closely with the Mantis team on their digital and social media strategy – something we have had significant success with across a number of our existing clients.”

Martin Aldridge, Managing Director of Mantis, said of the appointment; “Macesport have a fantastic reputation in the sports industry and we are looking forward to the new partnership. Despite being a relatively new brand we have made significant progress and this is the next step on our journey.”

Mantis joins a Macesport client roster that includes a number of leading international sports brands, sponsors, governing bodies and sporting events.

Macesport also boast an impressive Elite athlete representation unit that has developed the media careers of Robbie Savage, Michael Gray, Darren Moore and Kate Dennison.

Newport, Wales, the host city of this year’s Ryder Cup, has announced plans to construct a Fanzone in the city’s John Frost Square for the duration of the competition.

The Fanzone, inspired by similar initiatives at this summer’s FIFA Worl Cup and Wimbledon’s ‘Murray Mount’, will be free-of-charge and will have big screens showing the golf, live music and food stalls, with a total capacity of 2,000.

Leader of Newport City Council, Matthew Evans, said: “It’s an exciting year for Newport and we want to make the Ryder Cup experience as enjoyable as possible for locals and visitors alike.”

The tournament takes place from 1 to 3 October at the Celtic Manor Resort, and with tickets for all three days completely sold out, the Fanzone means the fans won’t miss any of the action.

The USRowing Board of Directors have added three female officers including the organization’s first female president at its March 22 meeting in Tampa, Fla. 

Women’s Vice Chair Erin O’Connell  has been promoted to President succeeding Peter Cipollone, while Midwest Region Representative Frances Mennone takes over as secretary and USOC-AAC Representative Esther Lofgren continues to serve as the treasurer.

O’Connell is the first female president of the USRowing Board of Directors since the organization was formed in 1982 by the merger of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, founded in 1872, and the National Women’s Rowing Association, established in the early 1960s.

Currently the Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Seattle Pacific University, O’Connell joined the USRowing Board of Directors in December of 2010, serving as an At-Large Representative before taking over as Women’s Vice Chair in 2013.

“I am honored to assume the role of president of the USRowing Board of Directors,” said O’Connell. “As a board, we are charged with executing the USRowing mission statement, to provide ongoing opportunities to achieve excellence in rowing in the United States. We’ll continue to work with Glenn (Merry, USRowing CEO) to ensure the organization moves forward in a healthy capacity with an eye towards Rio, while concurrently looking to enrich domestic rowing opportunities.”

The Big East conference today announced it has hired Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures to be the lead negotiator through the upcoming negotiations for a new television contract.

The firm is led by Chris Bevilacqua, one of the most prominent figures in the television sports industry, whose background lends credence to the fact the conference is acting to maximize its value. Bevilacqua led negotiations for the Pac-12 in landing its 12-year, $3 billion TV — as well as the Pac-12 network that will launch this week.

“If one believes that past performance is the best predictor of future performance, we have tremendous confidence in our selection of Chris Bevilacqua to be our lead negotiator,” interim commissioner Joe Bailey said in a statement.

Bevilacqua will lead the Big East into an environment where sports teams and leagues selling broadcast rights have earned extraordinary sums. Earlier this year the ACC revamped its contract with ESPN, after adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the conference, and scored an annual outlay of $17.1 million per school. Rights for other sports entities have ballooned, as well. Bevilacqua was also responsible for the deal that netted the Texas Rangers $3 billion over a 20-year span, according to reports.

The Big East has persevered through tumultuous times over the last 18 months. It lost members in Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia — as well as TCU, which had agreed to join but left for the Big 12 before playing a game. It has reconstructed itself, adding Boise State, Central Florida, Temple, SMU, San Diego State, Houston, and Memphis.

That allows the conference, in Bevilacqua’s opinion, to have solid footing in the marketplace as it begins negotiations.

“They are, I think, in a very good position in that the value of live scarce intellectual property sports rights are only going up,” he said. “In this case they’re the last conference franchise into the market for a long, long time. The timing is actually very good. Hard to predict – I don’t have a crystal ball — the actual outcome. I can tell you with great certainty there will always be a lot of buyers for valuable live sports rights and there’s only one Big East conference, that’s typically a very good place.

“There’s a scarcity element to here on top of the fact the media ecosystem is placing a premium nowadays on live sports rights. I think there will be a very favorable opportunity in front of the Big East. It’s not just going to depend on how well they think about strategically approaching the market and all of their packing they might consider. Obviously, the relationship with ESPN has been a long time important partner and they have to have some discussion with them. All of this is prospective.”

Beginning Sept. 1, the Big East will enter a 60-day exclusive negotiating window with ESPN, the cable sports network the conference is currently tied to. According to a CBSSports.com report, the conference rejected a deal with the network last year that would have netted them $1.17 billion over nine years. Bevilacqua would not disclose whether there is pressure to finish a deal with ESPN within the allotted window.

“ESPN is an important partner and they have certain rights,” he said. “It’s been well documented that they have first negotiation window and the conference will treat that seriously and honor all of those obligations.”

There has been wide-ranging speculation as to how much the Big East may be able to receive in its next deal. A New York Daily News report said that the conference may be able to receive $10 million per football school and an additional $4 million per basketball school from NBC. A CBSSports.com report said that it may only be able to get $50 million annually.

“I haven’t frankly paid much attention to that,” Bevilacqua said of the forecasting. “I’m not sure where they are coming from. Usually when someone is putting out numbers this early, someone has got some kind of agenda. I’m not going to get engaged in that conversation now.”

Bevilacqua expects the new commissioner to be “very engaged” in the process. As for any insight on what to expect for the conference’s eventual value, the answer is very pro forma.

“The marketplace will determine that,” Bevilacqua said.

Chinese suppliers may seek assistance from the courts if adidas does not compensate them for terminating contracts.

Last week adidas announced its plan to shut down an apparel operation in Suzhou, Jiangsu province and terminate its contracts with five suppliers in the country.

Shanghai Manlang Textile Co. Ltd. General Manager, Sun Yingli said adidas informed her and her colleagues in April that it wished to end the contract with the textile company.

Sun said: “Some machines and software systems are tailor-made for adidas. They will be useless if we stop working with that company. What’s worse, I’ll have to lay off workers. Other companies may even go bankrupt. I hope we can sit down and negotiate a resolution as early as possible.”

Adidas Greater China Corporate Communication Director, Sabrina Cheung said adidas “gave its suppliers fair legal notice of its intent to terminate the business contracts.”

About 30 percent of what Shanghai Manlang Textile produces is made for adidas. Other suppliers reportedly have no clients other than adidas.{jcomments on}