Consolidated viewership data for the Hyundai A-League Round 2 match between Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium has confirmed a new regular season average TV audience record for a single match of 164, viagra 100mg 367.

The previous record TV audience for a regular season match of 162,471 was recorded in Round 1 of the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.

The consolidated average includes “as live” viewing in the week following the live broadcast.

After four rounds, the average TV audience of 94,969 this season is currently tracking for an all-time season average record. Average attendances are currently sitting at 15,460, a 20 per cent increase on the same point in the 2011/12 season.

This increase in average attendance has moved the Hyundai A-league into 14th position on the average attendances for top professional football competitions around the world, moving the Hyundai A-League from 24th to 14th in just 12 months.

Importantly this also puts the Hyundai A-League third in Asia behind China (Chinese Super League 7th) and Japan (J-League 13th).

In comparison, the current Hyundai A-League average of 15,460 is ahead of both the USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Republic of Korea’s K-League at the same time in their evolution after eight seasons.

Season 8 also sees the Hyundai A-League on track to see its 10 millionth fan walk through the turnstiles since inception in 2005.

Even more records are tumbling with Club memberships already up on last season’s total Club memberships seeing a year-on-year improvement of 11% from 2011/12 season.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley said the surge in TV audiences and attendances this season was attributable to several key factors .

“There’s no doubt the marquee players Alessandro del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono have ignited massive interest in the Hyundai A-League,” said Buckley. “I congratulate the clubs involved for making the investment in these star players.

“There’s no such thing as overnight success in professional sport, just lots of hard work and strategic planning that sets up success. Much of the credit must go to our 10 member clubs who have built strong membership bases and fan engagement programs over a period of years.

“The arrival of the Western Sydney Wanderers in football’s heartland has added so much to the competition. The Sydney derby, after just one edition, has become one of the most anticipated fixtures.

“The role of our key partners in Hyundai, Fox Sports, Qantas and Optus is also critical in supporting the competition and lifting awareness.

“There’s no doubt that FFA’s ‘We Are Football’ marketing campaign has really connected the 1.7 million participants at the grassroots to the great things happening in the Hyundai A-League. Stability remains our top priority, but I can see sustained growth ahead for the A-League.”

Chief Operating Officer Jason Rowley has been promoted to the President of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns following Brad Casper’s departure.

Casper resigned as President of the Phoenix Suns to focus on outside business ventures, the team announced today. 

“I enjoyed my time with the Suns,” said Casper. “It was a wonderful opportunity for me, but ultimately serving the Suns while continuing to juggle a portfolio of other business interests became too much.  I’m grateful to have worked with so many gifted professionals and I look forward to cheering on the team next season.” 

Casper joined the Suns following a 5 1/2 year stint as President and CEO of the Dial Corporation and its successor, Henkel Consumer Goods, Inc.  Casper has been Executive Chairman of a Dallas-based sports nutrition company since March 2011, and will focus his time on this and other local business interests, including serving on the Board of Directors of Grand Canyon University. Casper oversaw the Suns’ business operations since October 2011.

“I want to thank Brad for his contributions and wish him nothing but the best in the future,” said Robert Sarver, Phoenix Suns Managing Partner.

Rowley will immediately assume responsibility for the club’s business operations as President.  Lon Babby will continue serving as President of Basketball Operations.

Rowley became COO in October 2011 after four seasons as the club’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel. 

As COO, Rowley has overseen business units including game operations, broadcasting, legal affairs, and arena operations.  He received his bachelor’s degree and J.D. from the University of Arizona and prior to entering law school served in the U.S. Navy.  Rowley began his legal career in 2001 with the law firm of Snell & Wilmer in Phoenix and was corporate counsel for Van Tuyl Group, the nation’s largest privately held automotive retailer, before joining the Suns.

Mayor of Barcelona, anabolics Xavier Trias, arthritis welcomes sporting world to Catalunya

Barcelona the “inspiration” for any city hosting the Olympic Games

07 March, sale pills 2012: Barcelona:

The Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB) – www.globalsportsforum.org – the world’s leading exchange platform for sport, got underway today as more than 1,000 delegates from the world of sport gathered to discuss the latest issues affecting the industry.

The fourth annual GSFB is taking place at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona from 7 – 9 March.  Included on the agenda are the likes of Sebastian Coe, Chairman, LOCOG; Eric Cantona, Director of Soccer, New York Cosmos; sprint runner, Oscar Pistorius; two-time NFL Super Bowl winner, Justin Tuck of the New York Giants; and many of sports leading brand and rights holder representatives, including: NBA, FIFA, UEFA, RFU, Coca-Cola, YouTube and ICC.

Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, welcomed the audience to his city, for three days of debate, as the audience seeks to determine “What’s Next?” for sport.

Xavier Trias was followed on stage by Maite Fandos, Deputy Mayor of Quality of Life, Equality and Sports, City of Barcelona; and Kelham Salter, Senior Policy Officer, Sports Unit at the Greater London Authority (GLA), for a discussion on “How sport brings a city to life”.  With just 142 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the GSFB marking 20 years since Barcelona ’92, the discussion focused on sport’s potential to change a city and energise its people.

Kelham Salter, Senior Policy Officer, Sports Unit, GLA, said:

“What’s been amazing for me is the breadth of impact that the Olympic Games can have – not only as a sporting event but also in terms of economic regeneration. The 2012 Games are being held in a deprived area and we are seeing huge changes, including significant amounts of jobs for local people.”

“Equally the Games are a unique opportunity to showcase the city to the world… and that can help create a domino effect. Hosting the Games well and successfully helps bring both sporting and non-sporting events to the city.  Barcelona is the inspiration for any city holding an Olympic Games.”

Lucien Boyer, President and CEO, Havas Sports & Entertainment and General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said:

“I am delighted to be back in the city of Barcelona, a wonderful sporting city, for the fourth edition of the GSFB.  This is a significant time to be here, as it is 20 years since the Olympic Games came to Barcelona and transformed the city to truly put it on the sporting map.” 

“As we look ahead to London 2012, it was interesting to hear how London is shaping up to host the Games.  The discussion provided a perfect start to this year’s event and I look forward to hearing from some of sports leading figures over the next three days.”

To watch some of the sessions at this year’s GSFB LIVE online, go to: www.globalsportsforum.org/live.  You can also follow the debate on Twitter at @GlobalSportsFor or by regularly checking the GSFB website.

Leeds United’s takeover by Bahrain-based investment bank GFH Capital is finally set to be completed, both parties have announced.

The buyout of the club, which has been in the works for almost six months, is poised to go through after GFH provided current Leeds owner Ken Bates with proof that it has the funds available to complete the deal.

Bates said: “It’s been a long road, but we are in a good place. Both sides have been in talks over the last few days to finalise this deal. We are keeping focused and hope to complete very soon.”

GFH notified the Bahrain stock exchange last month that it had signed an exclusive agreement with Leeds, and deputy chief executive officer David Haigh is hopeful that the deal can be completed soon.

Haigh said: “With the money in place, we are poised to make this deal happen pending agreements and arrangements which are in the interests of the future of Leeds United – we need to make sure all the finer detail is addressed before trading signatures.

“Despite what has been said recently in media, both sides continue to talk regularly and continue to work hard to get the job done.”

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020, was elected Thursday as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Following the election Takeda said it was “an extremely humbling experience, and I would like to express my appreciation to the IOC for the responsibilities they have entrusted in me. I look forward to continue representing and promoting the Olympic Movement in Japan and throughout the world. I am determined to inspire and educate youth through sport, as there is no other universal language that better brings people together.”

In addition to his positions with the IOC, JOC and Tokyo 2020, Takeda is also President of The Olympians Association of Japan, Executive Board Member of the Olympic Council of Asia, and Honorary Vice President of the International Equestrian Federation.

Tokyo is one of three candidates bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. His new position will add momentum to Tokyo’s bid.

iSportconnects’s Creative Partner and Creative agency The Forest Studio have recently expanded into North America and have opened their 2nd office in New York.

 

Creative Director, Karl Hudson said

“The move was an easy choice to make, having been back and forth to New York many times in the last two years, we knew there was an opportunity to build and develop on our current sports clients – at the point we made a few calls and x amount of presentations later, we signed a couple of deals which are cracking foundations upon which to build a US business…”

 

The Forest Studios currently work with Wasserman Media Group, Leaders, Grass Roots Football and Chelsea Football Club.

 

 

Vietnamese company, HAGL Group has expanded its football sponsorship portfolio with a new US$200,000 deal supporting the Lao Football Association.

Under the two-year deal, HAGL will help the Lao Football Association recruit a new coach for its national team. The company will also back a team called the ‘Hoang Anh Attapeu Football Club’ that will compete in the Lao Prime Minister Cup next month and in next year’s Lao League.

The company will also be a major sponsor of the Lao League from 2013.

The Chairman of HAGL, Doan Nguyen Duc, has supported football in Asia for several years.

Duc backed Laos’s national teams from 2008 to 2010 and played an important role in the SEA Games that, held in Vietnam in 2009. He has also help pay the salaries for key Lao football personnel and contributed funding for a football academy.{jcomments on}

 

The Rugby Football League (RFL) have announced the appointment of Gary Linke to the new position of Senior Commercial Manager.

Linke brings rich experience to Rugby League, prescription having spent 13 years with the Football League in the Commercial Department where he played an active role in delivering a number of high profile brands to the sport, including npower and Capital One.

RFL commercial director James Mercer, said: “It is a very exciting time for Rugby League with a raft of new commercial initiatives and we are delighted that Gary has joined as he is a highly-regarded individual with a proven track record in sponsorship and business development.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience and a significant number of relationships within the sports industry. We are looking forward to working with Gary to further enhance Rugby League’s commercial platform.”

Gary Linke said: “I am very excited to be joining the RFL at such an important time for the game, with the Stobart Super League and the Carnegie Challenge Cup driving record interest and the anticipation mounting ahead of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup here in the UK”.

Linke will be based at the RFL’s new London Office near King’s Cross.

-European fans against foreign owners in their domestic leagues-

European sports fans believe the match day experience is the lowest priority for club owners, generic with the majority claiming that ‘foreign owners do not have the best interests of their club at heart’, unhealthy according to new survey findings released today by Havas Sports & Entertainment, unhealthy organisers of the fourth annual Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB), 7-9 March, 2012 – www.globalsportsforum.org.

In the survey sports fans ranked the ‘match day experience’ bottom in a list of club owners’ priorities behind: ‘selling merchandise’, ‘maximising ticket sales’, ‘signing sponsors’ and ‘winning matches’.

In addition 63.3% of respondents stated that they ‘don’t want foreign owners in their domestic league’, with 52.1% claiming that ‘foreign owners do not have the best interests of their club at heart’ and more than half (50.8%) worried that clubs would be left ‘in turmoil’ when a foreign owner leaves.

The research was carried out amongst sports fans across seven European markets as part of the GSFB’s focus on the Globalisation of sport.  Today’s findings, along with other topics affecting the sports industry, will be discussed by the Forum’s 1,000+ delegates, including leading rights holders, brand representatives, athletes and personalities from the world of sport. 

Lucien Boyer, Global President and CEO, Havas Sports & Entertainment and General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said:

“Technology and globalisation have helped more sports clubs reach a wider fan base, but all club owners must not forget their regular and dedicated fan base, who deserve the best possible match day experience.” 

“A club’s most committed and passionate supporters are an integral part of its identity and can be one of the main reasons why a club can gain global appeal.  Owners, whilst focussing on the team’s development on the pitch and commercial potential off it, must remember to keep its loyal fan base happy and work with them to grow the club.

 “It’s a crucial time for owners to balance the imperative for results with its relationship with fans and the long-term sustainability of its club.  That’s why we are staging a panel debate on ‘Football and Finance: the dangers ahead’ featuring Dan Jones, Partner, Sports Business Group at Deloitte and Philippe Rasmussen, Financial Fair Play Manager at UEFA on Thursday, 8 March.”

The Global Sports Forum Barcelona will take place in Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona from 7 – 9 March.  Now in its fourth year, the GSFB continues to attract the sports industry’s leading figures, delegates from more than 50 countries set to attend.  LOCOG Chairman, Sebastian Coe, will be joined by leading brand and rights holder representatives, including Emmanuel Seugè, Head of Sport & Entertainment Marketing at Coca-Cola, Christophe Pillet, Design Director at Lacoste, and Thierry Weil, Marketing Director at FIFA.

UEFA has awarded SBS Discovery Media media rights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden for all European qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In Denmark, the national team’s matches will be aired on Kanal 5; Norwegian fans will be able to follow their country’s progress in the qualifying competitions on TV Norge and/or MAX; and qualifying games involving Sweden will be shown on a combination of Kanal 5 and another free-to-air channel to be confirmed in due course.

Recognising the value of the newly centralised rights, SBS Discovery Media will ensure that viewers in each territory also have access to live match programmes featuring key fixtures played by other countries. It will also broadcast comprehensive free-to-air highlights of games taking place on the same day as the respective national team match.

All fixtures will also be available in each territory via the internet and mobile.

In announcing the awarding of these rights, UEFA said: “We are very pleased to welcome SBS Discovery Media to the family of broadcasters which has embraced the new ‘Week of Football’ concept. The commitment made by SBS Discovery Media and the strength of the channels’ brands across the Scandinavian region combine to provide a powerful platform for the European Qualifiers.”