OneFootball And Argentina Football Distribution Team Up To Bring Argentina’s Top League To Fans Worldwide

OneFootball and Argentina Football Distribution LLC (AFD) have today announced a new distribution partnership to bring Binance Torneo de la Liga Profesional de Fútbol matches to millions of fans around the world via AFA Play. 

The multi-territorial deal will now give Argentina’s top division’s global fanbase flexible access to a suite of live matches and highlight clips directly on the OneFootball platform (available on App/Web), featuring top teams such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Racing Club and many more. 

Argentina Football Distribution operates the OTT streaming service AFA Play,  which broadcasts Argentine Primera División matches abroad. With this deal, AFD and AFA Play will tap into OneFootball’s vast user base of 100m highly engaged, passionate football fans and the platform’s innovative single-game pay-per-view feature to further grow the international coverage for Argentina’s top tier.

Offering both paid and free options, content will be available for OneFootball users in over 130 markets around the world, including France, Italy, the UK, Germany and Southeast Asia, among others. Up to five live games per matchday will be made available on a pay-per-view basis for €1.99 per match (or equivalent currency) for the 2022 and 2023 season, in addition to free on-demand match highlights and video compilations for all matches after full time. On-demand content will also be available via the OneFootball distribution network, which includes over 230 premium publishing partners globally.

Argentine Primera División is the latest competition added to OneFootball’s global portfolio of football competitions made available for live streaming through either distribution partnerships such as Brasileirao Serie A (via Brasileirao Play) or select rights acquisitions such as a landmark deal for the international rights to 9 European football leagues (via European Leagues).

This cooperation also builds on OneFootball’s and the Argentine Football Association’s existing partnership for other video content, as well as the recently announced NFT partnership which will see OneFootball bring fans of the Argentine national team into the world of Web3 with unique, officially licensed digital assets.

Nikolaus von Doetinchem, Vice President OTT Streaming & Media Rights OneFootball, said:

“At OneFootball, we are always looking for ways to bring our community more accessible and flexible ways to experience the world’s best leagues. This deal with AFA Play is a major milestone that further complements our OTT portfolio of live matches and highlights on OneFootball, including in some of our core markets such as Germany, Italy, the UK, and Spain. It’s all about putting the fans first and we’re glad to have found another partner with AFD that has the same mindset. We’re excited to be bringing the iconic Argentine Primera División and AFA Play to new audiences across the globe and are looking forward to further deepening the partnership with Argentine football across Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 in the future.”

Ignacio Galarza, President at AFD, added:

“AFD’s goal is to boost the international distribution of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol de Argentina all around the world. We are thrilled to team-up with an innovative company like OneFootball, because this agreement is a significant step to reach new territories and younger audiences that are core demographics of OneFootball subscribers: Gen Y and Gen Z.”

Barclays Women’s Super League And Barclay’s Women’s Championship Rebranded; Isuzu UK Named New Title Sponsors Of FA Trophy And FA Vase

The Football Association can today confirm the beginning of a new era for the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship with the launch of a new visual identity and name change ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The rebrand will also see the naming convention altered for the two competitions, with ‘The FA’ dropped from the title of both the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship. This represents the long term strategy for the leagues to be under new ownership in the future, with this process ongoing. 

The 2021/22 campaign saw unprecedented interest in the women’s professional game, with Sky Sports and the BBC driving visibility in the first season of the new broadcast deal announced last year, while commercial interest continues to grow – highlighted by Barclays renewing their sponsorship of the Women’s Super League and becoming the new title partner of the Women’s Championship from next season.

The sponsorship of the Women’s Championship for the first time and renewed commitment to the Women’s Super League last year sees the organisation’s cyan colour added to the refreshed brand to better align the two competitions.

The refreshed branding will be activated immediately, with all assets associated with the two leagues being updated and available to download from today.

Kelly Simmons, the FA’s Director of the Women’s Professional Game, said:

“We’ve seen tremendous strides made in the women’s professional game since it turned professional four years ago, which meant we needed a refreshed branding that reflected that progress.”

Isuzu UK become new title sponsor for the FA Trophy and FA Vase

England’s two leading non-league competitions will now be known as the Isuzu FA Trophy and the Isuzu FA Vase from today and into the 2022-23 season, as Isuzu UK look to become the driving force behind grassroots football.

The Isuzu FA Trophy is open to clubs playing in Steps 1 to 4 of the FA’s National League System, which are the four tiers immediately below League Two of the EFL, and the Isuzu FA Vase is open to clubs at Steps 5 to 6. The round dates, clubs accepted and any exemptions for both competitions will be announced in July 2022.

The Finals of both competitions are to be held at the home of English football, Wembley Stadium connected by EE, in May 2023. Last season’s ‘Non-League Finals Day’ attracted a crowd of 46,111 people who witnessed two exciting games where Newport Pagnell won The FA Vase and Bromley lifted The FA Trophy.

Isuzu dealerships all across the county will be getting actively involved with their local clubs, with several having already started making preparations for local sponsorship deals, placement of advertising boards and promotional matchday activations.

Our commercial director Navin Singh said: “We’re really excited to welcome Isuzu onboard as both a partner and title sponsor of the FA Trophy and the FA Vase. These competitions involve National League System teams across the length and breadth of the country, and Isuzu’s commitment to this level of the game and extensive network of dealerships will help to support them next season and beyond.”

Meanwhile, William Brown, managing director of Isuzu UK, added: “We’re extremely delighted to announce our new partnership with the FA and the title sponsorship of the FA Trophy and FA Vase competitions.

“We know that a local football club can often be the heart of a community, being run by volunteers and supported by local people and this is something that, along with the Isuzu dealer network throughout the country, we’re pleased to support.

“We’re looking forward to actively supporting the teams involved in the two competitions and being the driving force behind grassroots football. We can’t wait to kick off the new season.”

E. & J. Gallo Winery Announced As Official Wine Sponsor Of NFL

The NFL and E. & J. Gallo Winery announced Wednesday that Gallo will be the official wine sponsor of the NFL.

The multi-branded, multi-year agreement makes Gallo the official wine sponsor of the NFL. The partnership is uniquely structured to engage NFL fans and will include opportunities for local team activation, player imagery and appearances, on-site presence at premiere events, and broadcast, digital, and social content from NFL Kickoff through the Super Bowl.

Barefoot, America’s most loved winery, will kick-off the partnership. Barefoot brings more consumers into the wine category than any other brand thanks to its long-standing efforts to demystify wine and make it accessible to everyone through inclusivity and celebration.

“Gallo is thrilled to be uniting America’s most loved winery with America’s most popular sport,” said E. & J. Gallo Chief Marketing Officer, Stephanie Gallo.

She added, “As an industry leader our role is to welcome new consumers to the wine category in unique and relevant ways. This partnership will do just that by bringing our avid fan bases together. The notion of togetherness seems more relevant now more than ever.”

“We are excited to partner with E. & J. Gallo to bring more choices for our fans,” said Tracie Rodburg, NFL senior vice president, sponsorship management. “We look forward to pairing E. & J. Gallo’s extensive portfolio of wines, including its iconic brand Barefoot, with our fans, clubs and premiere events for memorable NFL experiences.”

Through this partnership, Gallo will implement 360-degree programming, creating surround sound for its brands all the way throughout the consumer purchase journey.

Over the years, through acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and new brand innovations, Gallo has continued to expand and diversify its portfolio across all price points to meet growing consumer demand and evolving preferences. This tradition continues with Gallo as the Official Wine Sponsor of the NFL.

Infront X Restructures Leadership Team For Future Growth

Infront X has announced today a number of changes to its leadership that will take effect in June 2022, in line with the company’s strategy to design and deliver digital experiences with the maximum commercial potential for our clients in the sports and entertainment industry.

The company will introduce a new Executive Leadership team composed of Joel Speier in the newly created Executive Chairman role, Joni Lockridge who will be promoted to Chief Operating Officer, Krishnan Ramachandran remaining as Chief Financial Officer as well as a new Chief Commercial Officer role which the company is currently hiring for.

Philip Sharpe, who has been successfully managing Infront X’s core business together with Krishnan Ramachandran as Managing Director & COO since early 2021, has decided to retire from his position in mid-July.

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Group said: “The new leadership structure of Infront X with Joel at the helm, supported by Joni and Krishnan, brings together an experienced team of complementary backgrounds. This sets the company up for continued growth and will benefit clients seeking to maximize the commercial potential of their digital assets in the rapidly changing market.”

“I would like to congratulate Joel and Joni for taking on their new roles, and I sincerely thank Phil for his leadership and commitment for the past 7 years and wish him all the best for the future. Our clients, internal teams, and the sports industry have all benefited from his efforts,” Blatter continued.

Joel Speier has been a long-standing member of the Infront management team for more than ten years until 2021. Most recently he was leading the Group’s Strategy, Business Development and M&A unit. In this role, he worked closely with major sports rights holders worldwide on commercial rights partnerships and oversaw Infront’s M&A activities, including Infront’s investments in multiple sports technology companies. Prior to his long tenure at Infront he worked with the NBA and Merrill Lynch.

Joni has been with Infront X since 2016, most recently serving as VP of Business Strategy & Operations. She will draw from her sports and digital experience with brands, rights owners, and professional service organizations to grow and evolve an Infront X team who is already known as one of the most trusted development and delivery partners in sports. Prior to Infront X, Joni led Digital Strategy at the PGA of America and the Solutions team at Definition 6 in Atlanta. Joni has been named “Manager of the Year,” “Client Service Person of the Year,” and “Unified Marketer of the Year” at various organizations and started her career with a coveted MBA Internship position at Nike World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

Joel Speier, incoming Infront X Executive Chairman added: “Infront X is uniquely positioned as the only player with a long-track record and a clear focus on the sports vertical. Our ability to design and deliver technology-agnostic solutions that achieve tangible and measurable commercial results for clients complements what the industry has always known about Infront X– that our teams can handle the most complex timelines, integrations, and implementations.”

ATPI Halo And FIM Announce New Agreement For 2022

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has announced a new year of co-operation with ATPI Halo, its carbon neutral partner for the General Assembly and FIM Awards.

ATPI Halo will work alongside Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) for this year’s FIM General Assembly and Awards, offsetting all the event emissions.

The partnership highlights the exemplary focus that the federation have on environmental sustainability and reducing GHG emissions associated with their sport.

Last year, all unavoidable emissions of the FIM General Assembly and Awards were offset thanks to the sponsorship of ATPI Halo. Through this event the FIM contributed to two verified Projects, the Luangwa Community Forest Project and the Katingan Mentaya Project.

Katia Juárez, FIM International Sustainability Commission Director, explained: 

“Motorcycling is contributing to climate action from different flanks. Introducing new alternative energies, research, promoting the reduction of consumption and during our events reducing emissions by raising awareness among our users, electronic competitions, use of public transport, and neutralising all those emissions that cannot be reduced.

The support of companies like ATPI Halo is very important for us to achieve our climate ambitions. Through the contribution to these projects we can support with programmes aligned with the objectives of our sustainability strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Ian Sinderson, Group CEO, ATPI confirmed: “We are proud to be selected as the environmental sustainability partner to FIM for the second year running. ATPI’s commitment to protect the environment and its company values go hand-in-hand with those of the FIM and we are absolutely thrilled that ATPI Halo will be able to support this fantastic federation once again.”

Disover more about ATPI Halo here.

Everton Sign Club Record Shirt Sponsorship Deal With Betting Company Stake.com

Everton Football Club has confirmed a Club-record main partner agreement with Stake.com.

The multi-year partnership with the leading casino and sports betting platform will commence on 1 July and is the highest value front-of-shirt deal in the Club’s 144-year history.

As Everton’s main partner, the Stake.com brand will feature on front of the men’s and women’s playing shirts, as well as appearing on screens and media backdrops at Goodison Park and Finch Farm and across the Club’s digital platforms.

Established in 2017, Stake.com has quickly grown to become one of the industry’s largest online casinos with millions of users worldwide and offers a huge range of sports betting and casino gaming products. Stake.UK.com is fully licensed by the Gambling Commission.

The partnership with Everton represents further expansion of Stake’s sports partnership portfolio, building on the brand’s recent unveiling as the UFC’s Official Betting Partner in Latin America, Asia and Brazil, which is reaching a global TV audience of nearly one billion households. The organisation also has a huge portfolio of recognisable global ambassadors, with rapper and actor Drake and UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Jose Aldo, alongside Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, collectively forming a diverse portfolio of partners.

Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Executive at Everton, said: “Stake.com is an ambitious organisation with impressive growth plans and we’re all very excited to enter into a partnership with them at this stage in their journey.

“My talented colleagues in our new Revenue Team have made excellent progress in recent months and worked tirelessly to secure what is the biggest main partnership deal in the Club’s history – I’d like to congratulate them on this achievement and, on behalf of everyone at the Club, express my gratitude to Stake.com for choosing Everton as a long-term partner.

“Finally, I am pleased to say that we have already been working together with Stake.com on some exciting activities and content for our local and international supporters and we look forward to sharing more detail on these plans soon.”

The new Club-record agreement comes following an expansion of Everton’s commercial team and a clear focus on delivering an uplift in revenue across all of the Club’s commercial assets. By taking up the option to end Everton’s previous main partnership with Cazoo early, the Club’s commercial team were able to beat off competition from within football and other sports to secure the lucrative deal with Stake.com.

Akhil Sarin, Head of Acquisition for Stake.com, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Everton, a club steeped in tradition and with a passionate and loyal fanbase respected the world over. Everton is a club that perfectly complements our own growth ambitions as we seek to expand our presence globally and strengthen our top-tier sports sponsorship portfolio. It’s a huge honour for everyone at Stake.com to be joining the Everton family and playing our part in supporting the Club in the transition to the new stadium. We look forward to celebrating this most exciting chapter in the Club’s history with Evertonians everywhere.”

With new bases and staff now located in London and the US, supporting the commercial team at the Royal Liver Building headquarters in the centre of Liverpool, this deal is the latest development in the Club’s post-covid commercial strategy. More partnership agreements will be announced soon as the Club lays the foundations for future growth ahead of a move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.  

Rugby League World Cup 2021 Announces Key Partnership With Vodafone

The Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) has today announced that Vodafone will be its official Technology Partner.

The tournament, which was postponed due to the pandemic, is set to take place in England from 15 October – 19 November and will be the first time the RLWC encompasses the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions within a singular event, across 61 games and 21 venues. 

Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, RLWC2021 said: “We are pleased to welcome Vodafone Business on board as our official Technology Partner as we look to create innovative and exciting ways for fans to engage with the sport of rugby league.

“With tickets selling fast and excitement building, the countdown is on for our tournament to make a real impact across local communities in this country and we are delighted to have the support of Vodafone to help us deliver the biggest, best and most inclusive Rugby League World Cup in history.”

Nick Gliddon, Director, Vodafone Business UK, said “Our new partnership with the Rugby League World Cup is hugely exciting, and an important part of our ongoing support for sport in the UK. The Rugby League World Cup is a champion for diversity and inclusion, and we share those values and beliefs at Vodafone – we’re here to help bring to life the ‘Power of Together’ with this brilliant new partnership.”

This new partnership with the RLWC2021 further expands Vodafone’s commitment to support sport in the UK, post pandemic. The partnership builds on Vodafone’s new multi-year partnership with Wimbledon and the AELTC as Official Connectivity Partner, its role as Lead Partner for the British and Irish Lions 2021 Tour of South Africa, Lead Partner of Wasps Rugby and Netball, and Rugby Union Player Associations the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Rugby Players Scotland (RPS) and The Wales Rugby Players Association (WRPA).

Fulham Football Club Partners With Somfy

Fulham Football Club is pleased to announce a partnership with state-of-the-art shading technology supplier Somfy for the next three seasons.

Somfy will provide Fulham FC’s Fulham Pier development with intelligent solar shading system to help create an energy efficient, sustainable space that provides visitors with a user experience focused on wellbeing and comfort. Somfy was chosen because of their expertise and proven experience in delivering smart shading solutions in the UK and across the world.

Somfy will use the partnership to engage with Fulham FC’s business network and will use the Fulham Pier development as a showcase to develop further business opportunities.

Operating in 59 countries, Somfy is the world leader in automatic controls for solar shading, access openings and closures in homes and buildings.  They have spent the last 50 years assisting and making life easier for millions of users around the world.  Somfy create new, reliable, and sustainable solutions that improve both energy performance and wellbeing for smart homes and connected buildings.

Channel Manager for Commercial Projects for Somfy UK, Elliot Chmielinski, said:

“Becoming an official partner of Fulham FC is fantastic and supports our plans for further development in the UK. The prestigious new Fulham Pier development is the ideal showcase for our intelligent shading solutions.  The club’s recent promotion back to the Premier League and ambitious growth plans make it an incredibly exciting time to partner.  We look forward to working closely in partnership and supporting the club over the next three years.”

Managing Director for Somfy UK, Steven Montgomery, added:

“We are delighted to partner with Fulham FC.  The partnership provides us the opportunity to really showcase the power of working with Somfy on an end-to-end solution for dynamic shading. I’m excited about introducing our customers and potential project partners in the future to how we work and will work with Fulham.”

Fulham FC Sales Director, Jon Don-Carolis, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Somfy onboard in a ground-breaking partnership across Fulham Football Club and Fulham Pier. As we move forward into an incredibly exciting period for the Club it is important that we partner with brands with shared vision and beliefs. This strategic collaboration will drive new business to Somfy through showcase, association and introduction emphasising our corporate credentials.”

Jack Grealish Named As New Ambassador For Special Olympics GB

Special Olympics GB, the non-profit organisation and largest provider of year-round sports training and competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities, has announced that Jack Grealish, the 26-year-old England football star, has become a principal Ambassador.

Jack Grealish has committed to a long-term role with Special Olympics GB with the aim of raising visibility of the charity’s work throughout Great Britain and driving support and opportunities for the 1.5 million people who live with intellectual disabilities in Great Britain today.

Grealish, who became the most expensive English football player ever when he signed for Manchester City from Aston Villa last year for £100 million, has committed to using his platform to shine a light on the empowering role that Special Olympics GB plays in driving inclusion and creating possibilities for all individuals to be accepted regardless of ability or disability.

Jack Grealish said:

“I’ve been thinking for some time about how I can best use the platform football has given me to create a positive change, and it had to be something really close to my heart. Special Olympics GB is such an important organisation, playing a huge role in tackling the lack of inclusion for hundreds of thousands of kids in the UK with intellectual disabilities. Nobody should be excluded from opportunities, and I can’t stand bullying or discrimination! In my new role with Special Olympics GB, I’m proud to stand side-by-side with all the children, young people and adults living with intellectual disabilities, and the incredible families who support them. I hope that everyone in Great Britain gets behind Special Olympics GB and its incredible athletes and volunteers. So please follow Special Olympics GB on their social channels and together we can start to make a real difference.”

Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB said:

“Everyone at Special Olympics is delighted and excited Jack has agreed to join Special Olympics GB as a principal Ambassador. After a truly challenging time for many people during the pandemic, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, there is so much positive momentum in Special Olympics GB at this time, it is the perfect moment to welcome Jack to the family. We look forward to continuing to add to our diverse group of Ambassadors to accompany Jack on his new mission with Special Olympics GB in the near future.”

Paul Richardson, Chair of Special Olympics GB said:

“The fact that Jack’s made the choice to align his brand with Special Olympics GB is testament to the importance of the work we are committed to doing and the ambitious growth plans ahead. Jack shares our vision for an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We are looking forward to working together with Jack and his team to make this a reality and I hope that everyone who doesn’t know about Special Olympics GB or intellectual disabilities will check out our Special Olympics GB website and social media platforms to see the massive, diverse and inspiring community we are proud to represent.”

Niall Guite, Special Olympics World Games gold medallist, artist, and member of the Special Olympics GB Athlete Leadership Team, said:

“I love football so much and it’s amazing to be on the same team as Jack Grealish! To have such an important player and public figure supporting our community gives us all so much energy and motivation. Thanks Jack and welcome to Special Olympics GB!”

Special Olympics GB has ambitious growth plans for 2022 including the return to full-scale competition from June to September with the largest celebration of intellectual disability sport in Great Britain with a brand-new format, The Special Olympics GB Summer Series of Sport.  And 2023 is also set to be a big year for Special Olympics GB with the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin next June. Having Jack Grealish cheering on #TeamSOGB will be truly special for all the amazing athletes involved. 

“If You Cut Through The Hype, The Technology Has A Huge Number Of Potential Applications”

iSportConnect speaks with Tezos, the energy-efficient blockchain, to get answers to some of the most common questions they receive when it comes to the subject of blockchain and web3.

Over the last year Tezos has seen booming growth in user activity, with smart contract calls increasing per month from 100,000 in January 2021 to over 6.2 million in January 2022. Tezos continues to see adoption and momentum grow, with landmark technical integrations by leading sports franchises and global brands such as Red Bull Racing, Manchester United, McLaren Racing, The Gap, Kia and more.

What is Web3?

Web3 isn’t a single type of technology, but a blanket term for a myriad of applications that have emerged from the invention of blockchain. A blockchain is a database, to which information can be added, but not necessarily changed or removed.

Blockchains aren’t hosted in a single place or administered by a single authority, but instead, they are decentralized: Every computer on the network hosts a complete copy of the ledger.

Aren’t blockchains bad for the planet?

The short answer is that some are, and some aren’t. Blockchains are secured using one of two systems, Proof of Work or the newer technology, Proof of Stake. Proof of Work blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum use a huge amount of processing power to secure their ledgers.

“Tezos was designed from the beginning to be more efficient than other blockchains, and to avoid some of the issues that are associated with earlier Proof of Work platforms.”

But newer Proof of Stake blockchains, like Tezos, consume only a tiny amount of energy, without sacrificing security. This makes them more appealing to consumers and brands that are conscious of their carbon footprint.

What makes Tezos different from other blockchains?

Tezos was designed from the beginning to be more efficient than other blockchains, and to avoid some of the issues that are associated with earlier Proof of Work platforms, such as high energy consumption. In addition to its efficiency, Tezos is also inexpensive to use, with very low transaction fees compared to other chains.

Another important advantage of Tezos is its on-chain governance system, which enables it to evolve and upgrade seamlessly, over time, without disruption to users or developers.

What’s the point of NFTs?

NFTs get a lot of negative media coverage, but if you cut through the hype, the technology has a huge number of potential applications beyond just buying and selling artwork. An NFT is simply a token, proving ownership of a digital asset. That asset might be an artwork, but it might also be a ticket to an event, or an avatar in a video game.

“Web3 is in its infancy, but its potential to unlock new experiences, and provide real value to creators and consumers is vast.”

Even physical assets can be tokenized, allowing real-world transactions to happen on a blockchain, without the need for traditional intermediaries. One of the most exciting applications of NFTs for brands and consumers alike is experiences, where a digital ‘ticket’ can be used to provide access to events and spaces in the real as well as virtual worlds.  

Why should my company / brand invest in Web3 technology?

Web3 is in its infancy, but its potential to unlock new experiences, and provide real value to creators and consumers is vast. In an ever more connected digital world, Web3 technology allows for a fairer exchange of value between creators and fans, and opens the door to the Metaverse – a fully virtual space for entertainment and commerce.

In addition, blockchains provide an immutable, transparent and virtually unhackable platform for data, away from the control of big tech companies. This makes Web3 solutions ideal for data verification, asset tracking, and supply chain management, among many other applications. 

iSportConnect’s Web3 Summit presented by Tezos will be taking place on June 28th and 29th at Emirates Stadium, find out more about the event, which will provide tremendous learnings for the sports industry, via this link – https://www.web3summit.sport/