UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, today announced that VENUM, the world’s leading designer, marketer, and distributor of combat sports apparel and accessories, will continue as UFC’s exclusive global outfitting partner.
The multi-year renewal was facilitated by IMG’s licensing business, which exclusively represents UFC and brokered the original agreement with VENUM in 2020.
The announcement of UFC’s renewal with France-based VENUM comes as UFC prepares to hold its first-ever event in the country, with UFC FIGHT NIGHT: GANE vs. TUIVASA set for Paris this Sat., Sept. 3, at Accor Arena.
“We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with VENUM,” said Tracey Bleczinski, Senior Vice President, UFC Global Consumer Products. “VENUM is an iconic combat sports brand that understands the unique needs of MMA athletes, and the feedback on the craftmanship, style, and performance of the VENUM-designed Fight Kits and apparel has been tremendous. We’re looking forward to continue to work with Franck Dupuis and his team at VENUM to deliver outstanding fight gear and training apparel for our athletes and fans.”
“VENUM’s return to UFC in April 2021 has been a source of great pride for the VENUM team,” said Franck Dupuis, VENUM Founder and CEO. “The enthusiastic reception from UFC athletes and fans to the launch and release of our UFC collections has convinced us to continue our adventure inside the Octagon, and to continue to improve our products to serve a demanding and passionate public. The best is ahead of us.”
The VENUM UFC Fight Kits and apparel line are high quality MMA gear and performance apparel specifically designed and developed for UFC’s world-class athletes competing inside the OctagonÒ and for fans and practitioners of an authentic MMA lifestyle.
The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are back in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) after a two-year absence, with beIN SPORTS adding the MENA region to its broadcast rights portfolio for the next three seasons.
This ensures that fans across the 24 countries included in the agreement are able to follow their favourite teams as well as the league’s stars and local heroes, such as Algerian international Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush (VfL Wolfsburg), Moroccan Bundesliga newcomer Noussair Mazraoui (FC Bayern München) and Tunisian midfield ace Ellyes Skhiri (1. FC Köln).
As one of the world’s biggest sports leagues, with more goals per game than any other top European division and excitement each matchday, the Bundesliga is once again reaching more than 200 FIFA member countries through its global partner network. As part of the existing agreement with Bundesliga International, beIN SPORTS already has the rights to broadcast the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches in France, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. The new agreement means that beIN SPORTS has, as they did until 2020, the rights to show all matches from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, as well as the relegation play-offs and the German Supercup. The agreement also includes full clip and highlights rights across digital and social media channels, in addition to on-demand programming such as highlights and magazine shows. The contract begins immediately and runs until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Bundesliga International CEO Robert Klein: “With stars such as reigning African Player of the Year Sadio Mane lighting up the league each week, we look forward to working with beIN SPORTS to deliver world class localised content and showcase the best of the Bundesliga over the next three years to the millions of football fans throughout the region, who can now follow the league as well as their favourite teams and players again.”
beIN SPORTS MENA CEO Mohammad Al-Subaie: “We are delighted to welcome the Bundesliga back to beIN SPORTS in the MENA region. As one of the biggest and most significant leagues in world football, we’re proud to give German football fans the best viewing and engagement experiences, while helping German football flourish and grow in the region.”
RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Associazione Calcio Milan (“AC Milan”, “Milan” or the “club”) for €1.2 billion.
For one hundred and twenty three years AC Milan has been synonymous with championship level football. Since its founding in 1899, AC Milan has won 19 Serie A Championships, 7 Champions Leagues/European Cups, 7 Supercoppa Italianas, 5 Coppa Italias, 5 European Super Cups, 3 Intercontinental Cups, 2 European Cup Winners’ Cups, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
As the new owner of AC Milan, RedBird will continue to invest in all the key areas that will advance the Club’s sporting and commercial interests, building on last season’s achievements that culminated in the club’s Serie A championship. RedBird’s experience in operating and building global sports businesses will ensure that the next chapter in AC Milan’s storied history will build on its current momentum.
Priority areas of focus include supporting the club’s sporting and business leadership to ensure that the team is consistently competitive at the highest levels of football; ensuring that it has the infrastructure and facilities befitting one of the world’s most prominent sporting organisations; and strengthening the Club’s women’s and youth teams, as well as its charitable arm, Fondazione Milan.
Gerry Cardinale, RedBird Founder and Managing Partner, said: “Our vision for Milan is clear: we will support our talented players, coaches and staff to deliver success on the pitch and allow our fans to share in the extraordinary experiences of this historic club. We will look to leverage our global sports and media network, our analytics expertise, our track record in sports stadium developments and hospitality to deliver one goal – maintaining Milan’s place at the summit of European and world football.”
The deal will also see Yankee Global Enterprises (YGE), owner of the New York Yankees, one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises, enter into a strategic partnership with the club with a minority equity stake in AC Milan. RedBird has a longstanding relationship with the Yankees and the Steinbrenner family, with whom it is a co-owner of the Yankees Entertainment Sports (YES) Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the United States.
On the partnership with YGE, Mr. Cardinale said: “We have a multi-decade relationship with the New York Yankees and the Steinbrenner family that has resulted in the creation of some of the most successful businesses in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We are very pleased to continue our partnership with them and will look to explore opportunities together to broaden our fan reach and expand commercial opportunities that are only available to franchises that operate at the highest levels of sports globally.”
The completion of the purchase of Milan takes RedBird’s assets under management to approximately $7.5 billion and adds AC Milan to RedBird’s portfolio of global sports and entertainment investments that include Fenway Sports Group (Liverpool FC, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins), Toulouse FC, the Rajasthan Royals, the YES Network, the SpringHill Company, Skydance Media, the XFL, OneTeam Partners and Dream Sports.
Esports Insider (ESI), the leading global B2B esports events company, is excited to reveal the agenda and full lineup of speakers for their upcoming 2022 ESI London event. ESI London will take place at BOXPARK Wembley for the second year in a row, across 6th & 7th September. With over 75 industry-leading speakers and a range of sessions, workshops, and panels to attend, ESI London has elevated this exciting networking experience to the next level.
Esports is considered to be one of the fastest growing industries worldwide, with a predicted market size of over $12 billion USD by 2030 and a growing audience of over 475 million active watchers globally. Recently, public interest in esports has increased following the Commonwealth Esports Games with multi-million dollar sponsorships by mainstream brands and investments from celebrity-status athletes coming into the esports industry. ESI London provides the perfect place to discuss the growing market with brands, professionals, and organisations.
This year, ESI London will begin with the Hall of Fame awards on September 5th at gaming venue, Platform in Shoreditch before a takeover of BOXPARK Wembley on September 6th-7th providing an expansive 20,000 square foot for esports professionals to connect, network, and enjoy the main events. In addition to the networking zones, conference area, and other lounges, ESI London will offer a quiet work zone and a Safe Space, supported by Women In Gaming International (WIGI) and Swipe Right PR. The Safe Space is designed to provide attendees with a moment of solitude and respite from the hustle and bustle of the festival.
ESI London introduces many C-Level executive speakers from the top global esports teams and tournament organisers, international consumer brands, ethereum technologies, education, investment and betting services. These organisations include decision makers and C-level speakers from investment firms, esports teams, and brands such as:
CEO – DUX Gaming
CEO – Team Liquid
Founder & CEO – Hotdrop
Chief Strategy Officer – Alliance
CEO – AXR Edge
Co-Founder – Subnation
Chief Innovation Officer – BLAST
CEO – FITCHIN
Founder – MetaGameHub
CRO – BETER
CEO & Founder – GRID
CEO & Founder – Abios
International Sector Director Esports and Gaming – YouGov
Sessions include:
Tuesday 6th September:
The Esports Team Identity Conundrum
Speakers from DUX Gaming, Team Liquid, Hotdrop, and Alliance
SPORTFIVE x Fnatic & Guild – The Evolution of Esports Sponsorship, sponsored by SPORTFIVE
Speakers from SPORTFIVE, Guild Esports, and Fnatic
Revenue Sustainability In Esports – A World Outside of Sponsorship
Speakers from Blinkfire Analytics, Omnicoach, and Nuvei
The UK Esports Scene
Speakers from The Story Mob and YouGov
Location, Location, Location – How Esports Offers Destinations a Major Opportunity, sponsored by London & Partners
Speakers from ESL Pro League, Iceland Esports Association, HPN Global, and Subnation
Empowering Brand Partnerships through Deep-Level Data and Insights
Speakers from Shikenso Analytics, EXCEL, and EE
Building Your Esports Presence, sponsored by AXR Bridge
Speaker from AXR Edge
Mid Lane, Mirage and the Meta – How can we widen the Viewing Audience via Content, Broadcast & Production.
Speakers from BLAST and ESL Gaming
Wednesday 7th September:
Unlocking Fan Power: A Seat at the Table for Global Esports Communities
Speakers from FITCHIN and MetaGameHub
Esports as a Vehicle of Social Impact in Communities
Speakers from Teleperformance Portugal, IN4 Group, and NSE
US V UK: The University Esports Experience
Speakers from Shenandoah University and the University of Warwick
What can Web3 actually bring to Esports?
Speakers from FITCHIN and MetaGameHub
The Clutch:
Judges from Overwolf, Bidstack, Esports Global and Hiro Capital
The Devil’s in the Data
Speakers from BETER, GRID, and Abios
Good Foundations – Localised & Accessible Infrastructure is the Key to Esports’ Future
Speakers from Riot Games, Sidequest, and Intel UK
LVL Up – Designing Platforms for Esports Communities and Professionals
Speakers from EXCEL, SeventySix Capital, and Esports Awards
“We are elated to welcome you to BOXPARK Wembley for the second year in a row for ESI London 2022” Sam Cooke, Managing Director & Co-Founder of ESI comments, “We can’t wait for attendees to hear the thoughts of world-leading minds in esports and experience the networking activities we have prepared designed to feed your mind and provide you with unique networking experiences to connect you with brands and individuals across the esports industry.”
On 31 August, World Table Tennis (WTT) announced that the Agricultural Bank of China has officially become 2022 WTT China Partner.
The Agricultural Bank of China will provide support to the 2022 Chengdu World Team Table Tennis Championships and other WTT events in China.
As one of the major comprehensive financial service providers in China, the Agricultural Bank of China is an important part of China’s financial system. With the most extensive network system and leading information technology advantages, it provides hundreds of millions of customers worldwide with convenient, efficient, and high-quality financial services. The Agricultural Bank of China is also committed to contributing extensively to environmental sustainability and sports development.
Table tennis is an iconic sport in China, and the Chinese table tennis team features some of the best players of the moment. The Agricultural Bank of China and World Table Tennis are joining hands to become strategic partners for WTT events in China in 2022, sharing high expectations for future cooperation and the development of table tennis.
Matt Pound, Managing Director of WTT, said: “As a well-known brand in China with an excellent public reputation, the Agricultural Bank of China shares the same values as World Table Tennis and and we are excited to welcome them as a new partner. World Table Tennis is the highest level of table tennis, hosting top-level events across the globe. We look forward to working with the Agricultural Bank of China over several events of the WTT Series. Together we will create sportsmanship and an energetic experience for our fans which will help develop both brands worldwide. Let’s look forward to more exciting WTT matches in 2022.”
There is less than a month until the start of the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships, held in Chengdu from 30 September to 9 October 2022.
Efforts to increase visibility and expand the popularity of women’s basketball received a massive boost today as Google becomes FIBA’s first-ever Global Partner of Women’s Basketball and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The partnership will start with this year’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia on September 22, where Google will be the Exclusive Presenter of the All-Star 5, recognizing the best players of the tournament.
Additionally, Google and FIBA will collaborate with ESPN to distribute the entire Women’s World Cup. Six games will air exclusively in the United States on ESPN2 and ESPNU – the most Women’s World Cup games to ever air on live television in the U.S. The remaining games will be available on ESPN+. Fans can also watch an additional six games live on FIBA’s YouTube channel and the remaining games on FIBA’s Courtside 1891 subscription streaming platform.
“FIBA is determined to further build women’s basketball and take it to the next level, and we are delighted to welcome on board Google as a Global Partner for the women’s game. We are excited to work with such a prestigious brand with whom we share the same strategic goals in regard to women’s development,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
“This partnership promises great things for women’s basketball and the interest in the game globally. Google and its worldwide reach opens countless possibilities to push women’s basketball in the future and we look forward to working with them to enhance the game and attract new fans.”
“At Google, we’re committed to championing equal representation in sports,” said Kate Johnson, Director of Global Sports, Media and Entertainment Marketing, Google. “As FIBA’s first-ever Global women’s partner, we’re proud to help bring even more women’s basketball content to US airwaves and introduce fans to the global game. Through this partnership with FIBA and our collaboration with ESPN, we want to continue to extend visibility and exposure to women’s basketball globally and provide women athletes the recognition they deserve and have worked so hard for.”
Google’s work with FIBA is an extension of the brand’s efforts to increase visibility and coverage of women’s sports. As a WNBA Changemaker for the past two seasons, Google joined forces with the league and ESPN to deliver more nationally televised regular season WNBA games and added a dedicated segment for women’s sports on SportsCenter.
The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced that gate earnings from the first T20I against England will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2022. The match will be played on 20 September at the National Stadium in Karachi and will begin at 7.30pm (local time).
The PCB has urged cricket fans and followers to purchase tickets in big numbers once they are made available online for sale next week to show unity with all those affected by the calamity, help with rehabilitation of the affected population and support the local and federal governments in their relief and rescue operations.
PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “We at the PCB express our grief and sorrow for all those affected by the extreme monsoon rainfall and floods, which has resulted in havoc and devastation beyond imagination, killing over 1,000 and leaving around a million homeless. As cricket unites our proud nation, we stand firmly with the victims and all those involved in the flood relief and rescue operations.
“As a responsible and caring organisation, the PCB has always stood with its fans and public in tough, challenging and testing times. In this regard, we have decided to donate gate proceeds from the first T20I against England next month to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.
“I encourage all spectators to participate in this initiative by purchasing tickets for the first T20I and turning up in big numbers so that we as a cricket family can donate a substantial amount to the fund and show solidarity with those affected by the catastrophe.
“We have already sent trucks full of food, medicines and other commodities to the affected areas and will continue to support our nation and rescue operational teams in any way we can. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people of Pakistan.”
England will play seven T20Is on their first tour of Pakistan in 17 years. Karachi will stage matches on 20, 22, 23 and 25 September, while Lahore will be the venue for the remaining three matches on 28 and 30 September, and 2 October. England will return in late November for three Tests, which will be played in Rawalpindi (1-5 December), Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).
The talent promotion series for the MotoGP™ eSport Championship is back for a third successive season.
On the back of six highly successful years, the MotoGP™ eSport Championship continues to innovate in a variety of ways in 2022. After debuting in 2020, the Rising Stars Series, an eSport talent promotion initiative, returns for a third year and gets underway in September – played, as ever, on the official MotoGP™22 from videogame developer, publisher and longstanding partner Milestone.
Aimed at finding and fostering fresh eSport talent around the world, the Rising Stars Series mirrors Road to MotoGP™ initiatives out on track such as the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup, the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and more, as it seeks to promote young talent towards the pinnacle of the sport.
Two seasons in, and the results already speak for themselves. Of the eleven riders competing in this year’s MotoGP™ eSport Global Series, one – PieroRicciuti55 – first came to the world’s attention in the inaugural Rising Stars Series, and have climbed to MotoGP™ eSport’s blue riband event in a short period! As well as that, two other Rising Stars Series alumni – Vindex813, and U-Mastru21 – are competing in this year’s Global Series.
There have been changes to streamline the series in 2022. The programme consists of three Online Challenges, where results will be separated by three World Regions (the Americas, Europe and Africa, Asia and Oceania). This year, there will be just one final to determine the winner, with the top four gamers from each region qualifying.
The series kicks off in September and the winner gets a guaranteed place in the 2023 MotoGP™ eSport Championship Pro Draft. 2022 MotoGP™ eSport Official Riders will not be able to compete in the Rising Stars Series.
The Rising Stars Series comprises two phases: the Online Regional Challenges and the Online Final. Gamers will be divided into three categories, depending on their location: Americas (North and South), Europe and Africa, and finally, Asia and Oceania.
The Online Regional Challenges (Qualifiers) are disputed in time attack mode and run throughout September, with the gamers who achieve the fastest lap times awarded points. Only the fastest laps count and each Challenge is played on three different tracks with three different machines and riders.
The four gamers from each region who have the most points from each region after the final Challenge will qualify for the final outright, set to be held on 19th October. They are online only, disputed on the PC and each will be held on different virtual circuits, with the winners of each Online Regional Final awarded a place in the 2023 MotoGPؑ™ eSport Pro Draft.
The International Cricket Council today confirmed Disney Star will be the home of all ICC cricket in India for the next four years having won the TV and digital rights to both men’s and women’s global events through to the end of 2027.
Disney Star won following a single round sealed bid process which has yielded a significant uplift to the rights fee from the previous cycle continuing the impressive growth and reach of cricket.
The decision followed a robust tender, bidding and evaluation process, which started in June 2022.
ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted to continue to partner with Disney Star as the home of ICC cricket for the next four years which has delivered an outstanding result for our Members and will support our ambitious growth plans. They will play a crucial role in the future of our sport and connecting and engaging with more fans than ever before.
K Madhavan, Country Manager & President, Disney Star said: “We are delighted at being able to continue our association with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and look forward to strengthening our partnership by growing the sport of cricket in the years ahead.
“With the acquisition of the ICC Digital and TV broadcast rights, Disney Star has further strengthened its status as the premier destination for marquee cricket events in the country.”
Barclay added: “Having a broadcast and digital partner for women’s events in India is a significant step forward in our ambition to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. Disney Star presented impressive plans for the promotion of women’s cricket and they clearly share our vision so I’m incredibly excited by the size of the opportunity ahead.
“This was an incredibly competitive process, which isn’t surprising given the huge audiences that cricket consistently attracts with more than a billion fans that passionately follow the game globally. I’d like to thank all of the bidders for their interest in and support of cricket.”
AC Milan is delighted to announce a new partnership with Oro Rosso Milano, Italian saffron producer that is getting ready to launch its brand in the domestic and international market soon.
Oro Rosso Milano stands out in the international market for the quality of its product, with bulbs grown in Italy and then processed in Uzbekistan, which is known for its history of spice production. Local Uzbek artisans are renowned for their ability to transform the raw ingredients into the finished product, ensuring the process results in very high quality so that the saffron may be used in both the catering and pharmaceutical industries, thanks to the plant’s many medicinal benefits.
AC Milan and Oro Rosso Milano have thus embarked on a journey based on a mutual hunger for excellence and passion, which distinguish the two brands in their respective sectors.
Mauro Tavola, Partnership Director of AC Milan, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome Oro Rosso Milano to the Rossoneri family. Saffron, like very few other products, reflects the excellence of Italian produce, which is so beloved around the world. And it is this excellence that forms the foundations of this partnership, as it is a fundamental value of the two brands, which drives everything that this Club does on and off the pitch.”
Roberto Tucci, President of Oro Rosso Milano, added:“This partnership with AC Milan will allow us to effectively position our new brand on the domestic and international market. It unites the world of sport with food, two sectors that are profoundly rooted in the Made in Italy movement and the aspiration for excellence. Oro Rosso Milano has tried, since its birth, to bring these values to tables in Italian homes.”
