USA Ultimate, medicine the national governing body for the sport of ultimate frisbee in the United States, and ESPN announced today a multi-year agreement to carry the sport’s major properties – the College Championships and inaugural Triple Crown Tour, including the U.S. Open and the National Championships.

As part of the deal, ESPN will produce and distribute live coverage of the College Championships, U.S. Open and National Championships on ESPN3 and tape-delayed programs of the College Championships on ESPNU. ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network accessible online atWatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the award-winning WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members. The network is available in more than 83 million households nationwide to fans who receive their internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider.

“This is an exciting development for USA Ultimate,” explained USA Ultimate Chief Executive Officer Tom Crawford. “The networks of ESPN represent the premier sports platform in the world, and aligning ourselves with the most powerful brand in sports puts ultimate in an extraordinary place. We are thrilled to collaborate with ESPN for the foreseeable future.”

“The strategy we’ve discussed with ESPN will serve both the traditional television viewer as well as our young and tech-savvy membership base with multiple convenient and accessible viewing options,” continued Crawford. “This approach allows us to achieve our goal of creating large-scale visibility for the sport, while satisfying the growing demand for live and on-demand content from both ultimate fans and sports fans in general. Together, ESPN and USA Ultimate have some interesting and dynamic production ideas, so we’re eager to showcase our athletic and entertaining sport.”

The deal gives sports fans – including USA Ultimate’s 45,000 members and millions of ultimate players in the U.S. – unprecedented access to ultimate content.

“Carrying the College Championships and inaugural Triple Crown Tour live on ESPN3 is a true testament to our goal of serving fans,” said Todd Myers, ESPN director, programming & acquisitions. “Delivering these events across platforms to more than 83 million households nationwide is great exposure for a sport that showcases the highest level of competition in ultimate sports.”

Tony Fernandes, the owner of Queens Park Rangers, will take the team to Malaysia for pre-season training.

Fernandes, who is in South Korea to work on new sponsorship deals for the club, said he is extremely proud to be taking the team to Malaysia

QPR CEO, Philip Beard, said the pre-season tour will be an important aspect of the team’s  preparation for the 2012/13 Premier League season and that it is not “just a PR trip”.

QPR will play against Indonesia’s Persebaya Surabaya in Surabaya on July 23.

The Walt Disney Company President and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger have announced that he has named George Bodenheimer Executive Chairman of ESPN, and John Skipper ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, beginning at the start of next year.

The moves continue the Company’s focus on ensuring strategic continuity and succession planning.

Bodenheimer, currently President of ESPN and ABC Sports and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks, will relinquish his day-to-day operating responsibilities January 1.  As Executive Chairman of ESPN, Bodenheimer will continue to chair ESPN’s Board of Directors, provide strategic direction and support a seamless transition to Skipper, who will assume day-to-day operating responsibilities January 1.  Skipper has served as ESPN’s executive vice president, content, since October 2005.

Bodenheimer will continue to report to Iger.  Skipper will have a dual report to Iger and Bodenheimer.

Iger said: “George has said repeatedly that ESPN’s success has been led by its collaborative corporate culture and a deep bench of executive talent.  While that remains true, it obviously and intentionally downplays his leadership and many significant contributions.  We’ve focused on succession at all levels of Disney for some time now, and consistent with that approach, George initiated conversations last spring that led to today’s announcement.

“With George’s continued presence, John’s experience and vision and an executive management team and workforce that are unparalleled in the sports media business, ESPN is extremely well positioned for continued success.”

Bodenheimer’s 13 years as president of ESPN have been marked by expansive growth domestically and internationally across every available metric and media platform.  Today, ESPN is comprised of eight US television networks, five HD services, a 3D TV network, 48 international networks, 13 international editions of SportsCenter, 18 web sites, 750 radio affiliates, the largest mobile sports operation and 7,000 employees worldwide.  ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters has increased to 116 acres, featuring a state-of-the-art digital production center with construction of a second facility underway.

Bodenheimer said: “I’ve been with ESPN 31 years – my entire professional career. Constant change and consistent growth have marked each of those years, and to me those two themes underscore today’s news.  We’ve demonstrated that change managed well is healthy – for companies and for people.  After 13 years as President, I felt it was a good time to step away from the day to day management of ESPN and let others take the lead. I very much appreciate Bob’s support over the years, and look forward to my future role with ESPN.

“We are in great shape on many fronts. The people of ESPN have made us the great company we are today.  I am very proud of all that we have accomplished together, and excited about our future.”

As Executive Vice President, Content, Skipper is responsible for the creation, programming and production of ESPN content across all media platforms, including television, radio, the Internet, broadband, wireless, interactive games and home entertainment.  Under his leadership, ESPN has consistently set records for television ratings and digital consumption; negotiated several major rights agreements with the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, FIFA, the Masters Tournament, the British Open, the USTA, Wimbledon and several college conferences; and launched a wide variety of creative programming, including the critically acclaimed ESPN Films sports documentary series.

Skipper joined ESPN in June 1997 as senior vice president and general manager of ESPN The Magazine, overseeing one of the most successful magazine launches of the 1990s.  Previously, he was senior vice president of The Disney Publishing Group, overseeing all of Disney’s magazine, book and licensed publishing operations in the United States.

Skipper said: “I am humbled and excited to be given the opportunity by Bob and George to lead this terrific company.  George set a high bar and an impeccable example, and I will dedicate all of my energy to follow George’s lead in both empowering and supporting my 7,000 ESPN colleagues who do such great work every day.  I look forward to working alongside them in meeting the many challenges that lie ahead.”

SMEX – The Sports Merchandise Exhibition has been successfully running for 13 years and continues to provide the very best platform from which to find brandable products or services to increase the merchandising opportunities within any sporting club.

With registered visitors from over 21 different countries. These visitors are key buyers looking for corporate gifts, allergist uniforms for stadium staff, “give away gifts”, something new for their conference and banqueting departments, new ways of promoting their clubs, bags and point of displays around the stadium. They are looking for things to build fan interaction, community gifts or merchandise they can brand and sell on to a fan base.

With over 120 manufacturers and distributors exhibiting and nearly 700 key senior decision makers and buyers from the very best sports clubs and retailers visiting, Wembley Stadium is absolutely the place to be from 9am until 5pm on 14th March 2011.

2011 is proving to be our biggest year yet with buyers from over 20 different sports already visiting. These include rugby league, rugby union, tennis, golf, motor rally racing, badminton, equestrianism, basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, hockey, Judo, Skating, BMX, gymnastics, handball, netball, rock-it-ball, billiards, polo and snooker as well as football.

With visitors from the Premier leagues finest clubs, teams from across Europe and all those from the local leagues all under one roof at the same time, it makes SMEX 2011 an exciting prospect for any company looking to put their products in front of the football industry.

SMEX is now firmly established as the foremost sports merchandise event for the whole of Europe. It’s now more crucial than ever that clubs find new merchandise products and revenue streams that work for them, while building their brand awareness.

SMEX is the only event in their calendar that allows them to see all of the products in one place. It continues to provide the chance to meet face-to-face and see the very latest innovative merchandise products and services available today.

If you would like to be a part of the most cutting edge sports merchandise exhibition around, please contact us for more information.

SMEX – The Sports Merchandise Exhibition

9 AM – 5PM, Monday 14th March 2011, Wembley Stadium, London

www.smexevent.com

The Big East Conference has announced they have entered into a multiyear, order wide-ranging television contract with ESPN to telecast its football, generic basketball and Olympic sports until 2020.

The contract includes comprehensive national exposure via the acknowledged leader in college sports television, the ESPN networks. 

“I am delighted that the current Big East Conference, which will be renamed and rebranded, will be partnering with ESPN well into the future,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco.  “The extraordinary exposure provided by the ESPN networks will give viewers the opportunity to see the exciting competition and intense rivalries that will characterize our Conference.” 

“This agreement with ESPN will offer outstanding exposure for all of our institutions and is evidence of the great future for our conference,” Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida and Chair of the Big East Executive Committee. 

“This agreement signifies our commitment to ensuring superior content across any device for many more years,” said John Skipper, ESPN President. “Sports fans everywhere, including the schools’ most passionate followers, will enjoy our extensive multi-sport offerings.”The current football contract with ESPN runs through the 2013 season.  By 2014-15, football, basketball and Olympic sports will be under one agreement. The conference will retain marketing rights which will provide lucrative sponsorship opportunities.

The next steps for the conference include naming and branding.

“We are working expeditiously to rename and rebrand the Conference,” Aresco added.  “We have an outstanding group of institutions that are excited to work together to establish a dynamic new identity.” 

Euro 2012 is on course to break attendance records after group matches and the quarter-finals received the highest-ever attendance figures.

Nearly 1.3 million visitors watched the group and quarter final matches of EURO 2012. The stadiums of the championship co-hosts Poland and Ukraine saw the combined number of 1,274,186 football fans over the fortnight. According to the tournament director in Ukraine Markian Lubkivskyi, the average attendance at the stadiums reached 98 percent.

European football championship first attracted over a million of viewers in 1996, when matches in the UK were visited by over 1.27 million people. This number used to be the highest attendance figure for EURO until 2012.

One may indicate a significant turnout increase over the history of the tournament, as the first UEFA European football championship, held in 1960 in France, unfolded in front of the eyes of almost 79,000 fans. EURO 2004 in Portugal was witnessed by nearly 1.16 million people, while the latest EURO 2008, co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland, drew in 1.14 million football lovers, reports Champion.com.ua.

The remaining three EURO 2012 matches will take place at the tournament’s largest arenas – the National Stadium in Warsaw(capacity – over 58 thousand), Donbass Arena in Donetsk (over 50 thousand capacity), and Kyiv’s NSK Olimpiyskyi (70 thousand). It is expected that the total audience of EURO 2012 will reach 1.4 million people.

Notably, Ukraine prepared four stadiums for the European Football Championship – the National Sports Complex Olimpiyskyi in Kyiv (will host EURO 2012 final), Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Arena Lviv in Lviv, and Metalist Stadium (nicknamed Spider) in Kharkiv. As a result of renovation, Olimpiyskyi became the second largest stadium in Eastern Europe capable of hosting up to 70,050 guests. Stadium in Lviv was built specially for the championship.

According to UEFA, EURO 2012 fan zones in the eight host cities also experienced notable turnout. The attendance leader among the eight fan zones is the one in Kyiv – as of June 20, 1.19 million football fans visited the area since its opening. Reportedly, the largest and loudest EURO 2012 fan zone at Warsaw’s Plac Defilad was attended by 820 thousand fans.

Total fan zone attendance as of June 20 equals 4.241 million, with Polish fan zones attracting almost 1.8 million visitors and Ukrainian – nearly 2.5 million.

Burnley Football Club have announced that Paul Fletcher is to depart from his role as chief executive of the club.

Mr Fletcher, who has held the position at Turf Moor for four years, has agreed to stay until the end of the season in a commercial capacity and continue his involvement with Burnley Football Club’s UCFB College of Football Business and other new initiatives

A club statement said: “Burnley Football Club can confirm that Mr Paul Fletcher is to stand down from the role of chief executive.

“Mr Fletcher, who has held the position at Turf Moor for four years, has agreed to stay until the end of the season in a commerical capacity and continue his involvement with Burnley Football Club’s UFCB College of Football Business and other new initiatives.

“Burnley Football Club has begun the task of identifying a new chief executive immediately, with a view to an appointment as soon as possible.

“Burnley Football Club will make no further comment at this time.”

unhealthy helvetica, sans-serif;”>DATE: 5^th April 2011

TIME: 11.00am – 3.00pm (including a stadium tour)

VENUE: Leicestershire County Cricket Club

County Ground

Grace Road

Leicester, LE2 8AD

Notice is herby given of 2011 Annual General Meeting of The Venue Managers Association (formerly UK Stadium Managers Association).

The Managing Secretary, Neil Levett, will firstly introduce the aims, objectives and reasons for the name changes to the assembled audience of members. There will then be a presentation by DC Jim Maietta, from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure who will speak on threats and protective security including some UK and international examples and what Venue Managers can do to mitigate risk.

At least one other guest speaker will present a paper and this will be followed by a tour of Leicestershire County Cricket Club for Venue Managers to see, first hand, another colleague’s venue and to discuss the issues they commonly face.

Editors are reminded that membership of UKVMA is open, exclusively, to Managers/Directors of multipurpose venues such as Stadia, Arenas, Athletics Tracks, Racecourses, Dog Tracks, Motor Racing Circuits, Auditoria, Theatres and Exhibition Centre’s and that it is the person who is the member and not the venue.

For further details on UKVMA please contact the Membership Secretary, Sandy Lopes, on

01732 459683, by email sandy@aladltd.co.uk or visit the UKVMA website www.ukvma.org

Craig Whyte’s takeover of Rangers last May is to be investigated by the Crown Office.

Mr Whyte purchased an 85% stake in the club from Sir David Murray for just £1, but now the Crown Office has confirmed its investigation into “alleged criminality”.

The statement, released on Monday, confirms that the decision to open proceedings follows an inspection of financial files, which they received from administrators Duff and Phelps.

The Crown Office statement read: “The investigation into alleged criminality follows a preliminary police examination of information passed to them in February this year by the club administrators.

“The Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will now work with Strathclyde Police to fully investigate the acquisition and financial management of Rangers Football Club and any related reports of alleged criminality during that process.”