DIRECTV Sports Networks have announced sports industry veteran and former ESPN executive Jim Noel has been appointed as senior counsel of the company and its three ROOT Sports-branded regional sports networks.

The three regional sports networks inlcude ROOT Sports Northwest, order ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. Noel will report to DIRECTV Sports Networks President Patrick Crumb and will be based in the company’s corporate headquarters in Seattle.

As the senior counsel, impotent Noel will oversee all legal affairs of the company and support all business functions, including affiliate distribution and television rights agreements with team and league programming partners.

“We are thrilled Jim is joining DIRECTV Sports Networks,” said Crumb. “His extensive legal experience and knowledge of the sports television business make him a great addition to our leadership team.”

Noel joins DIRECTV Sports Networks with more than 30 years of legal and business experience in the sports industry. Most recently, he was the chief legal officer of the United States Golf Association. Prior to the USGA, Noel spent 19 years at ESPN Networks, where he held both legal and business positions, including vice president, Business Affairs & Programming and assistant general counsel. Previously, Noel worked for the National Football League as director of Legal Affairs for NFL Properties and as assistant counsel to the Commissioner and NFC Coordinator.

“I’m pleased and proud to be joining such an outstanding organization,” said Noel. “DIRECTV is a world-class company, and DIRECTV Sports Networks provide vibrant television platforms for tapping into the passions that fans have for their home teams. I look forward to playing a role in continuing to grow our businesses.”

ROOT Sports Northwest, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh are distributed in 18 different states and hold exclusive telecast rights to more than two dozen professional and collegiate teams and conferences. Those include the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Utah Jazz, Big Sky Conference, Mountain West Conference and West Coast Conference, among others.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announced that it would be handing over the operation of its customer database to Sport England working in partnership with UK Sport and London & Partners. As previously announced, LOCOG began a competitive tender process in October 2012 to find the right partner to help build the strongest possible sporting, volunteering and cultural legacy for the long term. Following a rigorous review, LOCOG selected the three partners to own and manage the database on a not-for-profit basis.  LOCOG will not benefit financially. This transfer of information, which will be a first for an Organising Committee, has been approved by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.  LOCOG and the three partners are working with the Information Commissioner to ensure full compliance in data protection regulations covering the transfer. The operation of the database will be consistent with LOCOG’s stated objective to build a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games by getting more people involved in sport, as spectators,  volunteers or participants, as well as in the arts and cultural events.  The partners will continue the Stay Inspired campaign to build on the model deployed so successfully by LOCOG from the earliest days when over 2 million people signed up to back the bid right through the journey to the Games, helping to generate the huge popular support for the Games and build a communication platform for the Games Maker volunteers, ticket holders and local leaders.  The 5.3 million people currently on the database will have an opportunity to opt out or carry on receiving the monthly newsletters. For those still in the database on March 28 2013 the transfer means that they will continue to receive regular email updates about sport, volunteering and culture from across the UK.   Seb Coe, LOCOG chair said: “The British people took the Olympic and Paralympic Games to their hearts last summer. Many went to see sports they had never seen before, many more volunteered for the first time, millions took part in the London 2012 Festival and the Torch Relay and thousands signed up to be local leaders organising celebrations and community events in neighbourhoods across the UK.  These were the London 2012 fans and millions have chosen to stay engaged.   I am delighted that we’ll be able to continue to keep these amazing people informed and involved in the legacy of the Games.  The group of organisations taking this fan base forward are at the epi-centre of sport, culture and volunteering so I am confident they will continue to keep the public in the loop and deliver great opportunities for everyone to enjoy over the next 10 years. Chair of the partnership and Sport England Chief Executive Jennie Price, said “We are really delighted to be keeping the spirit of London 2012 alive and helping people stay inspired. London 2012 changed the way we think about sport, volunteering and our cultural life forever. The Games created a sense of community and excitement up and down the country and we will use the database to capture and keep that feeling.  “As three partners we have the inside track on what’s going on in sports and culture, so people can keep in touch and get involved. And our commitment to operating the database on a not-for-profit basis and staying true to LOCOG’s approach means that they can be sure their data won’t be sold on.” Sport England will be responsible for overseeing and managing all information issued via the database, ensuring the information is held securely, continues to meet the needs, preferences and interests of subscribers, and reflects the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement in promoting engagement beyond the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced today that it has opened a new office in Miami, impotent Florida to serve as its headquarters for all operations in Latin America.

The Miami office will focus on achieving significant growth across all lines of WWE’s business including Media Distribution, medical Live Event Touring, Consumer Products and Digital within Latin American markets.

Dominic Hayes, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of WWE International, said: “WWE has a well-established TV and pay-per-view presence in Latin America, with long-term partnerships in place with such notable broadcasters as Televisa, TV Azteca, DLA and DirecTV Latin America. The launch of our Latin America office allows us to build upon our current success and demonstrates our further commitment to continued growth in the region.”

by Ismail Uddin

English League Two team Rotherham United FC have named its new £20 million ($31 million) venue the New York Stadium in homage to the history of the part of the northern England town where it is based.

The stadium is built on the site of a foundry that made New York’s distinctive fire hydrants and New York is the historic name for the area.

Club chairman Tony Stewart said: ”The new stadium name is strongly rooted in more than 150 years of Rotherham’s proud history of industry and enterprise. I have had many letters, e-mails and calls from fans with their suggestions. But, over the past few weeks, the support for New York really started to gather momentum.

”After careful consultation and detailed research into the local history of the site, we felt that New York was the perfect name for our new stadium.”

Rotherham left Millmoor in 2008 after 101 years following a dispute with the stadium owner. It is playing in nearby Sheffield until New York Stadium is ready.

The steel framework on three sides of the new stadium is in place and the ground should be ready for its new tenant by the time the 2012-13 season kicks off in August.

The site previously was home to the Guest and Chrimes Foundry, which was in business from 1857 until 1999 and was one of many local works to export iron and steel infrastructure to North American cities.

But the choice isn’t just about nostalgia and local history.

”We also feel that the name can open doors for the commercial team at Rotherham United,” Stewart said. ”We looking into the possibility of setting up links between Rotherham and New York, USA.”

The Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) management board are set to meet today to discuss what changes need to be made after the critical reviews into England’s World Cup.

The reports, obtained by The Times last week, were compiled by the RFU, the Rugby Players’ Association and the Aviva Premiership clubs and presented to the Professional Game Board.

Stuart Lancaster, who currently oversees England Saxons, looks set to be appointed interim head coach – with assistance from Graham Rowntree – for the duration of the RBS 6 Nations.

With Lancaster filling the role of caretaker, the RFU will have the breathing space needed to assemble a permanent coaching team to take England to the 2015 World Cup.

It is potentially an exciting period for English rugby with high-calibre coach candidates Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith among those stating they would be open to an approach from Twickenham next year.

Today’s meetings will be important for director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, who has been the target of intense criticism since Martin Johnson’s resignation as manager.

The RFU board meeting should prove pivotal to the future direction of Twickenham and England.

The recommendations could include changes to the structure of the elite department and the national team management.

Andrew compiled the RFU report and sits on the management board, but his own role is set to come under close scrutiny.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson told Press Association Sport urgent reform of Andrew’s elite department was needed after it let England down at the World Cup.

Mallett, the former South Africa, Italy and Stade Francais coach, believes there is no need for an elite rugby director to oversee the national team.

Indeed, Mallett’s interest in the head coach’s position hinges on his demand that he report only to the board and chief executive, and not to a director of elite rugby.

The RFU expect to announce their new chief executive on December 14.

Discuss what’s next for the RFU with Michael Cunnah

 

MP & Silva have announced the launch of its office in Budapest today, May 3, to advance its growth and support for clients and partners in Eastern Europe.   

The Budapest office marks the company’s latest move to expand and reinforce its operations worldwide following the establishment of offices in Hanoi, Beijing, London and Munich in 2010.. 

A statement on the company’s website claimed: “The Budapest office will not only be pivotal in furthering the distribution and commercialisation of the company’s portfolio, but will add value in servicing Eastern European clients and reaching out to key partners, with MP & Silva already involved with events such as Serbia Open, Croatia Open, Zagreb Indoors and FIGHT CODE.”

Nadia Strakova will lead the Budapest office as East European Sales Director, supporting MP & Silva’s operations with her vast experience in regional programme and channel distribution. She will work closely with Roberto Dalmiglio, Managing Director Europe, MP & Silva, to drive sales development in the region.

Andrea Radrizzani, Group CEO, MP & Silva, said: “Opening the Budapest office is an important milestone for MP & Silva, for the overall expansion of the group worldwide and tapping into the East European market. We are confident about the potential for sports in the region, which has been spurred by increasing numbers of East European sporting stars and the region’s increasing dominance of key sporting events such as UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Europa League and the FIFA World Cup – which will be in East Europe for the first time in 2018.”

Ticket sales for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand are booming according to Martin Snedden, the man responsible for the events successful delivery with almost two-thirds of the target being reached at this early stage.

In total, 864,000 tickets have been sold since the programme was released earlier in the year which has brought in revenues of NZ$166m (US$122.7m). A target of 1.45 million sales had been set across the 48 matches played in the tournament with around 662,000 having been snapped up already.

RNZ 2011 Ltd chief executive Martin Snedden claimed that key match ticket sales and revenue targets had been met this year with organisers preparing for the arrival of 85,000 international visitors next year.

Snedden stated: “This is a very good position to be in with 267 days to go until kick-off. We still have a lot left to do, but event preparations, coupled with ticket sales to date and strong international visitor projections mean we are getting ourselves in good shape to host the tournament.”

Snedden added: “We are on track to achieve the forecast total ticket sales revenue of $NZ268 million. (That target) was always going to be a big leap into the unknown given that the biggest grossing event previously in New Zealand’s history was the 2005 Lions tour during which the New Zealand Rugby Union grossed NZ$24 million from ticket sales. We’ve now achieved seven times that figure. In the end, we’ll need to do 11 times that amount to hit budget.”