Betfred will be the principal partner of the England Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair teams on a two-year deal including this autumn’s Rugby League World Cup.
The partnership will kick off with the Mid-Season Internationals this weekend – when England’s Men face the Combined Nations All Stars in a double header at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium also featuring England Women versus France, with England Wheelchair also facing France at the Manchester Basketball Centre on Sunday.
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “We are proud of the successful relationship with Rugby League that we have built at all levels since we became the title sponsors of the Betfred Super League in 2017, and to be principal partners of the three England teams preparing for a home World Cup is a perfect fit.
“It’s especially exciting for us to be working with the Women’s and Wheelchair teams, after breaking new ground for Rugby League as the first sponsors of the Women’s Super League in 2019, and now also of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, Wheelchair Super League and Challenge Cup.
“Rugby League is such an inclusive sport and it’s a great honour for us to be involved at all levels, as we look forward to the country getting behind England Rugby League.”
Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s Chief Executive, said: “Betfred have been outstanding sponsors for the sport of Rugby League for the last five years, sticking with us through the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, and this new partnership with our three England teams underlines the strength of that relationship.
“They are a proud English company with roots in the North, and let’s hope we can celebrate the partnership with England teams reaching all three World Cup Finals in Manchester on the weekend of November 18-19.
“It promises to be a thrilling tournament, and we are delighted that Betfred will be the principal partners of our three England teams until the end of 2023.”
HSBC has announced a four-year partnership with Emma Raducanu, current British women’s tennis number one and the reigning US Open champion, with the shared ambition to create opportunities for the next generation.
Emma made tennis history when in 2021, she became the youngest female British player to win the US Open. Since then, her authenticity, talent and determination has made a global impact beyond the tennis world as an international citizen, who embraces a multi-cultural lifestyle.
In her announcement video, Emma reveals her excitement about the collaboration which is anchored in shared interests and values, championing internationalism, inclusivity, and opportunity for young people. HSBC is partner to five Olympic sports – golf, rugby sevens, tennis, badminton and football. Underpinning this support is a commitment to future generations and a sustainable and accessible future for sport.
The bank is committed to opening up a world of opportunity for our customers and communities all over the world. From focusing on supporting grassroots initiatives that help children realise the physical and mental benefits of sport, to opening up participation and enjoyment of sport to a wider audience.
HSBC is the Official Banking Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon. It has supported the Ticket Resale Scheme since 2010 and generated £1.8m, with every ticket re-sold helping charities through the Wimbledon Foundation, enabling increased opportunities for local communities and the next generation of tennis players. Initiatives such as Give It Your Max have been beneficiaries of this support, opening up tennis to more children in inner city schools. The bank has also presented the Mexico Telcel since 2004.
HSBC supports young customers across 64 countries and territories who, like Emma, look for a bank that will help open the opportunities that matter to them, whether it is to start university, to travel or simply to begin managing their own money.
Noel Quinn, HSBC Global Chief Executive, said “HSBC has had a longstanding relationship with Emma and her family for many years. We’re hugely proud of Emma and what she has already achieved in her professional career. We also believe there are some really great and innovative ways that we can work with her to inspire and educate young people, which is why we’re so pleased to have forged this new long-term partnership.”
Emma said, “To partner with HSBC is so natural for me having grown up playing in the HSBC Road to Wimbledon and having been a customer for many years. If I wasn’t a tennis player, I would definitely want to work in finance so I’m excited to learn more about the industry in the years to come. We are working on some really cool ideas and I’m particularly looking forward to working on initiatives that help young people such as financial education, but watch this space!”.
Icons Series, a new concept in sport and entertainment, today announced a three-event partnership with sustainable clothing brand Reflo to become the “Official Team Rest of the World Apparel Partner.” The agreement begins with the inaugural USA event June 30 – July 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ, where Reflo will outfit furnish Ernie Els’s team with six unique outfits inspired by the majestic waterside location of the course.
Known for disrupting the fast fashion industry while leaving a positive impact on the planet, Reflo apparel is made from advanced technical fabrics woven from recycled waste, and the gear for this summer’s event will repurpose the equivalent of 36,608 plastic bottles.
Highlighting the company’s sustainability-driven purpose, Reflo will plant nearly 3,000 trees in partnership with Icons Series and implement additional initiatives at the event such as planting an additional tree for every birdie made. Fans can track the initiative’s progress by using #Trees4Birdies.
“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Reflo, one of the most innovative new brands in the apparel space,” said Icons Series CEO, Thomas Brookes. “Their sustainability efforts are industry-leading and align perfectly with Icons Series’ goal of ‘making a difference by being different.’”
“The Icons Series is a cutting-edge sport and entertainment concept whose aim to deliver a differentiated product to a global audience aligns with our vision,” said Reflo Co-Founder Rory MacFadyen. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Team Rest of the World beginning with the inaugural USA event this summer and showcase our high-quality apparel options being worn by iconic sports stars. We are also delighted to be spreading the Reflo message and supporting the invaluable staff, volunteers and officials of this unique event.”
The current Team Rest of World roster includes former top-ranked tennis player and three-time Grand Slam winner Ash Barty, boxing’s pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez, three-time Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, one of the finest cricketers in history AB de Villiers, one of the most successful soccer managers ever Pep Guardiola, a veteran, record-breaking, international and winner of multiple major trophies, James Milner MBE, international rugby champion and World Rugby Hall of Famer George Gregan AM, and one of the best batsmen of the modern era, Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting AO. Additional Icons will be announced in the coming weeks.
Bolstering their commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Reflo launched an extensive collection of high-performance men’s apparel. The apparel is made from advanced technical fabrics woven from recycled waste including single use plastic and coffee beans. The UK-based company aims to recycle five million plastic bottles worth of plastic, and plant 1 million by 2026. The fabrics are created to adhere to multiple sustainability certifications including Global Recycled Standard, Bluesign, Oeko-Tex 100 and U Trust.
Today’s announcement supports Reflo’s commitment to challenging the traditional sponsorship model by cultivating positive impact partnerships engineered to create a more sustainable future. The company recently announced a partnership with the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open with additional sports and brand collaborations to be announced throughout the year. Reflo products, including the limited edition Reflo x Team Rest of World polo shirts will be available to purchase on course throughout the event and at www.reflo.com.
About Icons Series
Icons Series is a world-first, innovative new concept in sport and entertainment which brings bonafide global icons together for an ultra-competitive team match-play tournament. The events feature Team USA against Team Rest of World, with two professional captains and rosters composed of the biggest names in sport battling it out in a new frontier in entertainment. Founded by visionary global sports executive Thomas Brookes, Icons Series launches at Liberty National Golf Club in 2022 with additional worldwide events to follow.
Nitro Rallycross have appointed Aurora Media Worldwide as broadcast production partner for their inaugural global championship series. Aurora will create the world feed and global highlights programmes.
Specialising in the development and production of live, premium global sports events, Aurora is recognised as a creator of innovative, formatted international live broadcasts, which are widely distributed around the world.
The new season of Nitro Rallycross, also known as Nitro RX, sees the series visit a host of brand-new tracks and classic rallycross venues across the globe with stops in the USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland and The Middle East. All of which will be given the Nitro touch of “Cars that Fly” and “Tracks that Thrill”.
The Nitro RX 2022-23 season comprises ten rounds, with the iconic Lydden Hill Race Circuit, in Kent, hosting the first race this weekend on 18th-19th June. The series finale takes place in the USA in March 2023.
Nitro RX’s high-adrenaline race line-up includes three regular divisions: Group E, Supercar, and NRX NEXT. This series sees the competition debut of the FC1-X – the most powerful vehicle in rallycross – in the new electric class, Group E which will capture the spirt of the iconic Group B rally cars of the 1980s. The FC1-X delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak horsepower (800 kW) and accelerates from 0-60 in just 1.4 seconds.
Capturing the thrill of the series, Aurora will use a combination of track & RF cameras, live on-boards, drones and FX cameras, video-game inspired shots will take audiences in close to the action, with a refreshed and innovative suite of data driven graphics to tell the on-track story.
The presentation team include Jarod DeAnda as host for the programmes and the voice of Rallycross himself, Andrew Coley, is onboard as Lead commentator. Katie Osbourne will be reporting from the paddock, all backed by ‘Street Bike Tommy’, of Nitro Circus fame, getting up close and personal to authentically showcase drivers, team members, friends, family and fans on the ground.
Nitro RX mastermind Travis Pastrana will be defending his crown, lining up alongside the likes Andreas Bakkerud, Fraser McConnell and Chris Meeke, plus former F1 World Champion Jenson Button, seeking a new challenge as he joins the line-up, alongside Xite Energy Racing team owner and driver Oliver Bennett later in the season.
Brett Clarke, Chief Revenue Officer, Thrill One Sports & Entertainment said: “We are very excited to be working with Aurora Media Worldwide. They’re the best in the business at creating innovative, ground breaking sports productions from broadcast through to digital, perfectly suited to the world of Nitro RX. Our show is fast-paced, up close, and personal. As a fan experience, it gives you everything but the autographs… for those, you’ll have to join us in person!”
James Hopkins, Commercial Director, Aurora Media Worldwide said: “Nitro Rallycross is a revolutionary motorsports concept, expanding from US to international shores. The action is non-stop and we are excited about the innovative sporting format and production plans, including working with a world class talent roster representing over.”
LaSource, a sports B2B agency based in Paris, focused on sport, digital and technology have shared their thoughts on how rights are changing within the world of web3.
It’s no surprise that in our fast changing world, many industries, including the sports one, are eagerly examining blockchain technology.
Indeed, the rise of Web3 and its digital stack of new technologies could open up a wide range of opportunities for sports rightsholders and their media partners. Not only could blockchain enable them to better control their IP, it could also lead to new efficient and transparent ways of monetizing it.
“That way of registering new IP could benefit sports organizations in various aspects, from basic assets to specific activations involving clubs, sponsors and athletes.”
This exciting topic will be discussed during our upcoming Web3 Summit in London, and here are some elements which will be discussed.
Using Blockchain as IP Registery
Nowadays, getting a patent or registering trademark can be a long and tumultuous process. Blockchain could drastically simplify it. As suggested by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the creation of smart contracts in the blockchain could “provide evidence of a time stamp of first or subsequent use of a trademark, which could then be presented to the court/registry as evidence.”
“One of the main perks of this would be a more controlled environment for media rights and transactions between owners and buyers.”
That way of registering new IP could benefit sports organizations in various aspects, from basic assets to specific activations involving clubs, sponsors and athletes.
Better Controlling IP: Proof Of Ownership
One of the main blockchain characteristics is the creation of a secured environment with a record of every transaction made on it. If you think about it, this could offer an ideal place for any sport organisation to catalog and store all their assets and creations in a very simple way. Any future issues around the ownership chain would be easily identified through the blockchain’s timestamp. One of the main perks of this would be a more controlled environment for media rights and transactions between owners and buyers.
As we all know, the sports rights market has become increasingly carved up. Linear TV viewing is slowly but surely decreasing as fans are digesting clip-form content on their smartphones and live streams over social media. To counteract this market fragmentation, many resort to illegal streaming and other piracy and copyright infringements using peer-to-peer networks that are almost impossible to control. Blockchain could have the potential to resolve any number of these complex and costly legal issues. It could help rights owners to protect the rights they have bought.
Better monetising IP with blockchain
Coming back to our previous example on sports broadcasting rights, rightsholders could even use the blockchain network not only to facilitate but also develop new monetization model with micropayments. Becoming more and more accustomed to “digital” business models, sports fans are switching from monthly subscription model to a “per-use” payment model.
Thanks to blockchain, the distribution and monetization of bitesized content could become much more fluid and prevalent. Blockchain-enabled micropayments could help sports right holders to better monetise all their catalog, from entire events to highlights and other small snackable content.
Web3’s legal issues
Businesses will increasingly adopt Web3 technologies. For companies or other entities entering into this space, it is essential to understand the many legal issues that may arise.
For sports organisations, blockchain technology and the metaverse offers many products to engage with fans, such as avatars, NFT Marketplaces, advertising, etc. It will be crucial for leagues to understand which laws apply to what products, but above all to give a legal statement of what they are and under which asset inventory they can fall into.
Let’s take the example of avatars. Some topics could be discussed, such as the right of publicity. The intellectual property issues related to the rights of players and their avatars, but also the legal protection of the avatars in a metaverse. Consequently, if a league seeks to transfer its sports ecosystem into the Metaverse, it must consider and prepare well these rights to avoid legal disputes.
“From a practical perspective, depending on the design of the network, blockchain technology could be expensive to implement and run.”
As outlined above, blockchain could offer the sports industry innovative ways to manage and leverage their IP. However, it is not an easy way forward. From a practical perspective, depending on the design of the network (including whether the network is set up to be public or private), blockchain technology could be expensive to implement and run. The power required to run the network should also be considered and be balanced with the value it can generate. Finally, moving from a centralized model to a decentralized one can be too idealistic and it might need some intermediate and regulatory steps, evolving into a hub-based metaverse.
All of this is definitely to come as it is very much in the early stages and everything still needs to be built. We can’t wait our event to happen in order to tackle these topics more in depth with leading experts.
Find out more from LaSource at our iSportConnect Web3 Summit presented by Tezos at Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium later this month, follow this link for more information and to get your tickets now – https://www.web3summit.sport/
World Table Tennis (WTT) announced Hebei Enlio Sports Group (Enlio) as its Official Flooring Supplier.
Enlio has supported WTT events since 2021 and has decided to deepen and extend its partnership with a three-year Global Supplier agreement from 2022 – 2024.
As a Global Supplier, Enlio will provide flooring for selected WTT Grand Smashes, WTT Cup Finals, and WTT Champions. The 2022 – 2024 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 are also part of the deal.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the WTT,” said Enlio Chairman Li Yu. “We are very proud to see our flooring used in the top table tennis events of the ITTF and WTT, as well as to be the sole supplier of table tennis flooring for the Paris 2024 Games. We will be committed to providing environmentally safe, first-class performance Sports flooring and high-quality event services, continuing to strengthen the close cooperation with ITTF and WTT, and look forward to contributing to the promotion and development of table tennis around the world.”
Enlio is an internationally renowned sports flooring brand, and its products have become the designated floorings for many international events. Since its initial cooperation with the International Table Tennis Federation in 2013, Enlio has successfully provided flooring to world-class events such as the World Table Tennis Championships and the Youth Olympic Games table tennis events.
WTT Managing Director Matt Pound commented on the new appointment, “I am delighted Enlio decided to deepen their business relationships with us. It is a highly respected and recognised brand with the highest quality standards. World Table Tennis offers its partners a wealth of opportunities and we look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration with Enlio.”
WTT heralds a new era for table tennis events. Following the resounding success of Singapore Smash in March, WTT has been gathering momentum and support from the business community. As the sixth global partner, Enlio is becoming part of the new chapter of professional table tennis.
BLAST Premier has partnered with OMEN, Magnum ice cream, MOCHE and Teleperformance ahead of this month’s Spring Final that is set to take place in Lisbon’s Altice Arena.
As part of the deals, OMEN, Magnum ice cream, MOCHE and Teleperformance branding will feature in the Altice Arena during the event and across BLAST Premier’s digital and broadcast channels that reach over 154 territories around the world.
This week’s Spring Final will be the second BLAST event to take place in Lisbon – following the BLAST Pro Series, which sold out at the same venue back in December 2018.
OMEN, Unilever-owned Magnum and lifestyle brand MOCHE will be returning as BLAST Premier partners, while the Spring Final will be business service provider Teleperformance’s first event with the tournament organiser. Fans in Altice Arena will be able to win product giveaways and enjoy a number of in-person activations.
Oliver Clarke, Commercial Director for BLAST, said: “We’re delighted to welcome on board four leading and diverse brands in OMEN, Magnum ice cream, MOCHE and Teleperformance, as we make our long-awaited return to Lisbon this week. Four years ago the Portuguese esports community showcased why they’re one of the most enthusiastic and passionate fan bases in the world. We look forward to building on that experience with the help of our partners, to engage and excite the thousands of fans in the Altice Arena and the millions watching from home.”
Eight of the world’s leading teams will head to Lisbon for the Spring Final this week to compete for a prize pool of $425,000 and a place in the highly-anticipated World Final in December.
BLAST Premier is the global Counter-Strike tournament series, hosting the best players and teams, offering opportunities to regions across the globe and crowning the world champions of CS:GO. Up to 32 of the world’s best teams take part in the seven BLAST Premier events across the year with a combined prize pool of $2,475,000 on the line.
IMG ARENA, a leading sports data supplier for media, betting and professional sectors, has signed a multi-year agreement with DFB GmbH & Co. KG, the marketing and commercial arm of the German Football Association DFB.
The partnership covers streaming and fastpath data rights for all 63 matches in the DFB-Pokal, Germany’s storied national knockout cup competition, commencing with the 2022/23 season of the tournament, allowing distribution of the content to IMG ARENA’s global network of sportsbook operators.
The DFB-Pokal competition features 64 teams from the top two domestic leagues, Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, including record 20-time winners FC Bayern Munich.
This deal expands IMG ARENA’s data-driven partnership with DFB, which already includes collaboration around the 3. Liga and FLYERALARM Frauen-Bundesliga for fastpath betting data rights through a European Leagues agreement.
Mark Wrigley, Senior Director of Rights at IMG ARENA, said: “We are proud to announce this expanded partnership with one of the most prestigious federations in sport. The DFB-Pokal is a hugely exciting competition that will sit alongside the most in-demand properties in our portfolio.”
Dr. Holger Blask, Managing Director of the DFB GmbH & Co. KG, said: “IMG ARENA is a leader in sports data distribution across multiple sports and sectors. We are pleased to grow the scope of our work together to include data and streaming for DFB-Pokal, one of our most important assets. The combination of IMG ARENA’s technology leadership and worldwide reach will bring new engagement with the competition and broaden its audience.”
Goodwood today announced Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis as the Official Timing Partner of the annual flagship event, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which runs from 23-26 June, 2022.
Roger Dubuis – part of the prestigious Richemont Group – has agreed a multi-year deal which will also see them become presenting partner of the event’s Drivers’ Club. The Roger Dubuis Drivers’ Club provides an exclusive space for the drivers and participants to relax and prepare for the races ahead. Roger Dubuis will also have a presence in the Paddock area with examples of its extreme horological craftmanship in the form of the hyper-performing timepieces from the wider Excalibur and Excalibur Spider Collections.
The Duke of Richmond said: “Roger Dubuis shares our passion for excellence and innovation and are the perfect fit as the Official Timing Partner of Festival of Speed. The brand brings its unconventional and bold spirit to the Festival and it will elevate our customer experiences to even greater heights. We look forward to a dynamic and exciting relationship at the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport, car culture and technology.”
Nicola Andreatta, CEO of Roger Dubuis said: “We are thrilled to join the Festival of Speed. Just as the event is determined to offer the greatest celebration of car culture, we intend to offer the most exciting way to experience Hyper Horology. Together we will create unique performances charged with adrenaline and infused with pleasure, madness and freedom. This is going to be an annual epic rendezvous.”
In addition, Goodwood will provide Roger Dubuis with a number of digital assets and the opportunity to produce their own content for distribution across the Estate’s various social media channels, along with the right to stream the live event on Roger Dubuis’ own platforms globally. The hyper watchmaker’s logo will appear on the digital ‘count down’ clock at the start line of the Festival of Speed hillcimb as well as on the Goodwood website and live on ITV when the timing element is featured.
Roger Dubuis already boasts two partnerships within the motorsport world, creating masterpieces with racing legend Lamborghini Squadra Corse and premium tyre expert Pirelli.
Apple and Major League Soccer today announced that the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match beginning in 2023.
This partnership is a historic first for a major professional sports league and will allow fans around the world to watch all MLS, Leagues Cup,1 and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches in one place — without any local broadcast blackouts or the need for a traditional pay TV bundle.
From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app. In addition to all of the match content, the service will provide fans a new weekly live match whip-around show so they never miss an exciting goal or save, and also game replays, highlights, analysis, and other original programming.
This live and on-demand MLS content will provide in-depth, behind-the-scenes views of the players and clubs that fans love. A broad selection of MLS and Leagues Cup matches, including some of the biggest matchups, will also be available at no additional cost to Apple TV+ subscribers, with a limited number of matches available for free. As an added benefit to fans, access to the new MLS streaming service will be included as part of MLS full-season ticket packages.
The MLS live and on-demand content on the Apple TV app will be available to anyone with internet access across all devices where the app can be found, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, and Apple TV HD; Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sony, TCL, VIZIO, and other smart TVs; Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices; PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles; Chromecast with Google TV; and Comcast Xfinity. Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.
“Apple is the perfect partner to further accelerate the growth of MLS and deepen the connection between our clubs and their fans,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Given Apple’s ability to create a best-in-class user experience and to reach fans everywhere, it’ll be incredibly easy to enjoy MLS matches anywhere, whether you’re a super fan or casual viewer.”
“For the first time in the history of sports, fans will be able to access everything from a major professional sports league in one place,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “It’s a dream come true for MLS fans, soccer fans, and anyone who loves sports. No fragmentation, no frustration — just the flexibility to sign up for one convenient service that gives you everything MLS, anywhere and anytime you want to watch. We can’t wait to make it easy for even more people to fall in love with MLS and root for their favorite club.”
At launch, all MLS and Leagues Cup matches will include announcers calling the action in English and Spanish, and all matches involving Canadian teams will be available in French. Apple and MLS will also provide enhanced league and club coverage for fans to easily follow the league or their favorite clubs in Apple News, with the ability to watch highlights right in the News app.
Complete details for the new service, including when fans can sign up, subscription pricing, specific details about the new MLS programming, an improved match schedule, broadcast teams, production enhancements, and pre- and postgame coverage — as well as all the ways fans will be able to enjoy MLS content across the Apple ecosystem — will be announced in the coming months.
Major League Soccer is the fastest-growing soccer league in the world, more than doubling in size to 29 clubs over the last 15 years. The momentum will continue as soccer will grow throughout North America on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. With players representing 82 countries, MLS has the most global player pool in all sports, and its fan base is one of the youngest, most diverse audiences in North American sports.
