NFL team, San Diego Chargers Qualcomm Stadium will known as”Snapdragon Stadium” for ten days throughout the holiday season in promotion of their latest technology release: the Snapdragon, a wireless chip processor that powers 300 smartphones.

“Any where you have the big Qualcomm signage – in and around the parking lot, on the stadium, in the seating bowl — we will replace the Qualcomm signage with new signage that says Snapdragon Stadium by Qualcomm with the Snapdragon logo,” said Dan Novak, a company spokesman, in a statement to the Union Tribune.

Snapdragon Stadium will be featured on upcoming televised games to include Sunday Night Football with Chargers facing the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 18, the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 21, and the classic Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28. Viewers are expected to reach 30 million for all three games.

Novak added: “We want people, when they are thinking about buying their next device, to ask if it has Snapdragon inside.”

Snapdragon technology can be found in smart phones, computer tables, and other computers or devices. Taking a cue from Intel, the company aims to make Snapdragon a household name akin to “Intel inside” – a catchy phrase known to belong to the otherwise quiet Intel.

“Exposure is essential,” said George Belch, chairman of the marketing department at San Diego State University. “You have a couple of high profile bowls that are going to have a relatively big audience in the target demographic they’re after.”

He added: “They’re going up against the Intels of the world in that market. You have to come out swinging and put as much as you can into building brand awareness.”

The cost for changing the name of the stadium is said to be less than a 30-second commercial at the upcoming Chargers-Ravens game.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has apologised for the controversial comments made earlier this week that racial discrimination during games could be resolved with a mere handshake and that racism in the sport is not an issue.

“It hurts and I am still hurting because I couldn’t envisage such a reaction,” said the 75-year-old Swiss.

“When you have done something which was not totally correct, I can only say I am sorry for all those people affected by my declarations.

His remarks come among a long line of other serious blunders, leading many sportsmen, politicians and administrators to call for his resignation.

Despite the storm, the FIFA chief has adamantly refuses to step down and can see no reason as to why he should. Instead, he has insisted that this is a lesson learnt and will continue to fight against racism on the pitch with a policy of ‘zero tolerance’.

“To leave would be totally unfair and not compatible with my fighting spirit, my character, my energy.”  Blatter said.

“When you are faced with a problem you have to face the problem. To leave would be totally unfair and not compatible with my fighting spirit, my character, my energy.”

An eight-year renewal has been agreed to ensue Infront Sports & Media remain as the exclusive global marketing partner of the China Basketball Association (CBA) and the country’s national basketball teams.

The agreement was announced by at a press conference in Beijing today by Hu, rx Jiashi, Vice President of the CBA. Infront, which has been the exclusive marketing partner of Team China since early 2006, will continue in its role until at least the end of 2018.

Infront is the first international sports marketing company to have a comprehensive, all-encompassing marketing and development agreement with a leading sport in China – at both league and national team level.

The next eight years will be important ones for the renewed partnership as Team China will be taking part in two Olympic Games, two FIBA World Championships, another
edition of the Asian Games and two Asian FIBA Championships.

Both the men’s and women’s team recently won gold at the 2010 Asian Games on home ground last November. Internationally, they are both in the top 10 of the FIBA World Ranking.

Hu, Jiashi, Vice President of the CBA, said: “In the past 5 years, as Team China Basketball’s exclusive global marketing partner, Infront has provided strong support to the development of Team China. Infront worked with CBA in many aspects, not only the teams’ marketing and promotion, but also helped the teams to develop technically by introducing top level foreign coaches, scouts and physicians to China, and organizing high-quality international friendly challenge games for Team China to better prepare for big international events.”

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront, added: “This extension of our contract is unique – no international sports marketing company has enjoyed a partnership as close and sustained as Infront’s with the CBA. We have made significant investments in China and in basketball and always said Infront was here for the long-term – and taking a long-term view would lead to the building of trust between our Chinese partners and us. We are very much looking forward to further developing our excellent relationships in this important growth market in order to deliver much added value to the basketball and its stakeholders.”

Ma Guoli, Managing Director of Infront China, commented: “The relevant question for us today is how we can support TCB throughout the upcoming eight years. We are moving to a new phase, where the CBA will be playing a bigger role in running technical development and Infront will intensify its focus on marketing, promotion and media rights sales. We will focus mainly on three aspects, the further marketing and promotion of TCB, the organisation of friendly challenge games for the teams, and the enhancement of media production and delivering of a stronger broadcast product.”

Castleford Tigers, an English Rugby League club, have signed a lucrative contract with Probiz tax specialists. The one-year agreement, with an additional one-year extension option, will see Probiz feature as the shirt sponsor for the Super League club replacing Metrel electrical company who have stepped aside from an agreement to be 2011/12 sponsor due to Probiz’s more lucrative deal.

Probiz will also obtain substantial brand presence within the Tiger’s home stadium as well as pitch-side and roofline advertising with logo placements on the home and away dug-outs, hospitality box, scoreboard and player’s tunnel.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with Probiz as our shirt sponsor for the 2011 season. This significant deal is clear evidence that Castleford Tigers has appealed to a leading wealth creation specialist. Probiz is well backed and a company that has shown long-term support with its large sponsorship portfolio. We believe Probiz’s sponsorship can assist with our plans.” said Craig Poskitt, Head of Commercial Sales of Castleford Tigers.

Feisal Nahaboo, Probiz founder and managing director, added, “We are really looking forward to next season and starting our partnership with Castleford Tigers. The club has a proud heritage as well as a strong reputation for excellence. This is the perfect time to come on board with Castleford Tigers who are on the verge of embarking on a new chapter in their distinguished history.”

Sporting goods giant Nike have announced today that Anthony Watson will be their new Chief Information Officer (CIO).

Watson, a seasoned veteran of the information technology business, joins Nike from Barclays Bank, PLC, where he has been their London-based Managing Director and CIO for Europe and the Middle East, as well as for Global Operations since 2009. He was also the chair of Barclays’ Europe, Middle East, Retail and Business Banking Operating Committee and co-chair of Barclays’ Global Diversity & Inclusion Council.

Prior to Barclays, Watson was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Technology Services for Wells Fargo, where he also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo Bank International. He has also held senior roles at CitiGroup, Unisys Corporation, Microsoft and First-e Bancorp, Europe’s first internet bank.

“We look forward to Anthony joining our team and bringing his deep knowledge, expertise and vision to lead Nike’s overall technology strategy,” said Eric Sprunk, Chief Operating Officer for NIKE, Inc. “We are confident he can deliver progressive and innovative technology solutions and help us to continue to drive sustainable, profitable growth.” 

Watson, 38, will report to Sprunk and his anticipated start date is in mid-April.

Phizzle, a leading technology provider of advanced mobile marketing products and digital advertising solutions, today announced a partnership with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors to provide data-rich digital marketing campaigns designed to enhance the mobile experience for fans during the 2012-2013 NBA season.

An early-adopter of digital technology, the Golden State Warriors look to not only deepen fan engagement at Oracle Arena before, during and after the games, but also during televised broadcasts and on the team’s in-arena digital signage. By doing so, the Golden State Warriors are creating a valuable piece of digital inventory driving revenue and creating meaningful connections between the fans and their corporate partners.

The Golden State Warriors are currently providing the team’s fans with the ability to receive instant news, updates, and special offers through SMS messages powered by Phizzle’s platform. Whether at the game or watching at home, Phizzle’s proprietary solution,Broadcaster iX, produces real-time, interactive HD graphics enabling fans to be part of the action through fun and stimulating experiences such as Text-2-Vote instant polling, trivia opportunities, Text-2-Win promotions as well as Text-2-Screen elements through SMS messages, social media (tweets) and pictures displayed during the game.

“We are extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to be partnering with the Golden State Warriors. The organization is dedicated to providing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy to effectively increase participation and initiate one-to-one dialogue with their fan base,” said Ben Davis, CEO of Phizzle. “With our technology, we’re able to provide the Golden State Warriors an opportunity to measure fan behavior, habits and interests enabling the Golden State Warriors to deliver audiences targeted offers and messages.”

TSE Consulting, drug the international consulting firm specialised in sport, online has expanded its presence in Asia with the opening of an office in Singapore.

The new office in Singapore will be headed by Kenneth Quah, patient Singapore native who has been based in the TSE headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland for the last six years.

Commenting on the expansion, Lars Haue-Pedersen, Managing Director of TSE Consulting, said: “The Asian market is very active in hosting events and using sport to reach government objectives. We are pleased to have Kenneth, a native to Singapore and an experienced TSE Consultant, take the lead of our new office. From Singapore he will enable us to better serve our clients in the region and at the same time expand our reach to new areas throughout Asia.”

Kenneth Quah, Director of TSE Asia, added: “I am excited to return to Singapore after many years and look forward to brining the expertise I have developed at TSE to the Asian market. I will also focus on bridging Asian cities, countries and sports organisations with best practices from other parts of the world. The office will be fully functional by the last quarter of 2012.” 

The new office will provide regional support to cities and regions who are looking to identify and leverage opportunities in sport within the following separate, yet highly inter-related components that are fundamental to sport in any city/region or country: events, performance, participation, and facilities. In particular, TSE Asia will assist cities and countries who are looking to develop long-term sports strategies and host international and national sports events. 

TSE Consulting, headquarted in Lausanne, Switzerland, also has offices in North and South America, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Middle East.

Read Lars Haue-Pedersen exclusive iSportconnect featured profile here>>