LF Corp to Provide Formal Wear for 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade

Fashion house LF Corp. has become a sponsor in the formal wear category for the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade.

2015 Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC 2015) signed the sponsorship agreement for formal wear with LF Corp. on the 20th. In attendance were Kim Yoon-suk, treatment Secretary General of GUOC, medicine and Jo Su-bin, pills Director of LF Retail Brand. 

LG Fashion currently changed its name to LF Corp. to expand the business into a lifestyle brand from a fashion brand and is growing into a global brand company. Through this sponsorship with Gwangju Universiade, they have engaged with international sporting events. 

As the official sponsor for the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade, LF will design and produce all formal uniforms, including suits, shirts, and ties for officials, judges, and awarding agents. 

LF will be given the rights to use the title as the official sponsor of the Gwangju Universiade, as well as use the official Gwangju Universiade logo and advertise and promote through official channels. Utilizing these rights, LF will carry out promotions by producing and selling a special fashion line using the Gwangju Universiade logo, while also contributing to the successful hosting of the Games through various marketing activities, such as promoting the Universiade in magazines and online mobile commercials. 

Kim Yoon-suk, Secretary General of GUOC, stated, “It is expected that the quality of the Games will enhance as the leading lifestyle brand, LF has become an official sponsor of the Gwangju Universiade.” He also added, “As the LF has put on a new front, I hope that the company will also be able to use the Gwangju Universiade as an opportunity to grow into a global company.”

Jo Su-bin, Director of LF, also said, “As the LF is preparing for a new future, it will share the Gwangju Universiade’s vision to challenge and become new.” He added that as an official sponsor, LF will put its utmost effort to contribute to the success of the Universiade. 

Gwangju 2015 is set to take place between July 3rd to 14th, 2015, with around 20,000 participants from 170 countries attending.

LOTTE Extends Title Sponsorship of LPGA Event

The LPGA have revealed LOTTE has extended its title sponsorship of the LPGA LOTTE Championship for an additional three years.

The LPGA LOTTE Championship, there won by Hawaii native Michelle Wie in 2014, symptoms is the only LPGA sanctioned tournament in the state of Hawaii. Wie joined a star-studded list of LOTTE winners including Ai Miyazato (2012) and Suzann Pettersen (2013). The trio has accounted for 27 total LPGA Tour wins.

“The first three editions of the LPGA LOTTE Championship provided us with a successful platform in terms of exposing and promoting the LOTTE brand globally, no rx ” said Mr. Sunwook Jang, CEO of Daehong Communications, the company that owns the tournament and oversees all aspects of the LOTTE Championship. “With this extension, we are looking forward to further establishing the LOTTE Championship as one of the best events on the LPGA Tour that all players, sponsors, and global following of the LPGA can look forward to enjoy and participate in.”

The total purse of the LPGA LOTTE Championship will grow in 2015 to $1.8 million, an increase of $100,000 over 2014.

LOTTE’s extension with the LPGA Tour aligns with their goals of continuing to contribute to the growth of Korean women’s golf and to become a top-10 global company in Asia by utilizing the marketing platform of the LPGA Tour.

“We are proud to extend the partnership with LOTTE and to continue building this wonderful tradition in the Hawaiian islands,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “Together with LOTTE, we look forward to showcasing the global nature of our Tour, the global impact of the LOTTE business, and the incredible beauty of Hawaii for this spectacular tournament.”

The LPGA LOTTE Championship will continue to feature a Saturday finish over the next three years to accommodate the TV audiences in both the United States and Korea.

LOTTE has been invested in growing the game of women’s golf in Korea by sponsoring two events on the KLPGA Tour, the LOTTE Mart Women’s Open and the LOTTE Cantata Women’s Open. One of LOTTE’s brand ambassadors is Hyo Joo Kim, who is currently No. 1 on the KLPGA money list with three wins this year.

The LPGA LOTTE Championship will be held in Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii.

Allianz to Sponsor National Rugby Championship

The Australian Rugby Union has announced Allianz Australia as an official competition partner of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship and official NRC Referees Partner. 

The three-year agreement, which lasts until the end of the 2016 season, will see the Allianz logo appear on the front jersey of each referee officiating a match in the competition.

Allianz Insurance joins a strong competition partner roster that includes Buildcorp as Naming Rights Partner for the National Rugby Championship, FOX SPORTS, ASICS, Gilbert, Qantas and the Intercontinental Hotel Group.

Paul Kernaghan, Allianz’s Chief Market Manager said, “We are proud to become an official competition partner of the Buildcorp NRC. The competition’s innovative approach to making the game more attractive to the fans and the support for emerging talent aligns with Allianz’s ideals of continuous renewal and improvement.”

Andrew Fagan, General Manager, National Teams and Rugby Operations at the Australian Rugby Union, said: “We are delighted to welcome Allianz on board as one of our valued competition partners for the Buildcorp NRC.

“The calibre of brands that have chosen to align themselves with the Buildcorp NRC – not only with the tournament itself but also with each of the nine clubs – is testament to the quality of competition that the ARU has created.

“We’re all looking forward to the big kick-off and seeing some incredible Rugby being played right across the country.”

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Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles Inks First Endorsement Deal

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback and NFL rookie Blake Bortles has signed his first endorsement deal since joining the National Football League.

Jack Hanania, discount CEO of Hanania Automotive Group in Jacksonville, announced Monday that the company has signed an endorsement agreement with Bortles where the third overall pick in this year’s NFL draft will pitch cars. Hanania said Bortles will endorse Audi of Jacksonville and the A8 luxury car.

“Blake is a very great guy and he’s a great ballplayer. We see a lot of potential with Blake and we did a sponsorship deal with him,” Hanania said. “The good thing about Blake is he’s driving an A8 and he loves the car.

“We’ll get with our advertising agency and we’ll do some great spots for our company,” said Hanania, though he declined to disclose the terms of the endorsement deal.

TAG Heuer Named Official Timekeeper of New York City Marathon

Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer has been named the official timekeeper and timepiece of the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, for three years, from 2014 to 2016.

“The TCS New York City Marathon perfectly embodies the TAG Heuer mindset of mental fortitude, perseverance and inner strength,” said TAG Heuer North America President and CEO, Ulrich Wohn.  “Running 26.2 miles requires resilience and willpower and TAG Heuer is thrilled to celebrate those personal achievements with these ambitious individuals.”

As the official timepiece and timekeeper of the TCS New York City Marathon, TAG Heuer is able to celebrate runners; both top professional athletes and recreational runners of all ranks who’ve made a commitment to a goal they’ve set and attained, when they thought it was impossible.

“TAG Heuer is a legacy brand that aligns well with the TCS New York City Marathon and New York Road Runners,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “With their storied history in sports and commitment to performance and innovation, this is a great match with our running community and we’re excited that they’re recognizing some of the most inspiring runners in the marathon.”

Under Armour Partners with VMI Athletics as Official Supplier

Virginia Military Institute has become the first NCAA Division I school in the state of Virginia to sign an exclusive agreement with sports apparel manufacturers, Under Armour. 

The Keydets recently inked a multi-year deal with the Baltimore-based leader in performance apparel, footwear and accessories, making Under Armour the official supplier and outfitter of VMI Athletics beginning in the fall of 2014.

The agreement gives UA the right to provide game and training gear to the Keydets’ 18 varsity teams while also outfitting coaches and members of the athletic department staff. The comprehensive agreement also includes various marketing and promotional opportunities along with access to partner-only designs. The partnership will be implemented in concert with BSN Sports of Salem, Virginia.

The exclusive contract will be the school’s first such agreement and the Keydets will become the first NCAA member institution in Virginia to exclusively wear the Under Armour brand. VMI will join an impressive list of Under Armour schools, which includes such NCAA Division I institutions as Notre Dame, Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and more. NFL quarterbacks Cam Newton and Tom Brady, among others, also endorse Under Armour products.

“The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the Virginia Military Institute is thrilled to enter into this relationship with Under Armour,” said Dr. Dave Diles, VMI Athletics Director. “Our cadet athletes, coaches, staff and the VMI family will benefit greatly from this partnership. Under Armour’s commitment to innovation, performance and product and corporate integrity are a perfect match for VMI; and, the value that they place on community involvement connect perfectly with the values and mission of the Institute.”

“We’re thrilled to have Virginia Military Institute join our growing list of NCAA partners,” said Erika Whyte, Under Armour Territory Manager. “Bringing two champions together always raises the level of competition. We look forward to empowering the student-athletes, the cadets and the community of VMI with best-in-class technology as we strive to make ALL athletes better.”

Bayern Munich Announce Two New Partners

Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich have announced two new partners as it looks to expand its digital and energy saving output.

The German team have partnered with SAP who has become the club’s official partner for sport analytics and enterprise software and Yingli Solar who has installed a solar power system on the roof of FC Bayern Munich’s training facility on Sabener StraBe.

Earlier this year, FC Bayern Munich signed a deal for the SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) application and a scalable solution for commerce from hybris software, an SAP company. With this technology, the club aims to intensify the interaction with its fans, personalize their experience and reward them for their loyalty. Discussing FC Bayern’s internationalization strategy, the two companies agreed very quickly that there was a lot of potential for a broader cooperation, with technology helping the club on and off the pitch. Especially in the area of player performance and health monitoring, SAP is expected to bring in a lot of value add with SAP HANA platform and the company’s expertise in every dimension of data analytics.

“SAP has the technology to support three of our main goals: optimize our business processes to facilitate our global expansion, help our team stay fit and perform at their highest level and give our fans the best possible experience,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, German former football striker and CEO of FC Bayern Munich.

“The FC Bayern Munich is currently one the best performing football clubs of the world. Leveraging innovative technology, we want to permanently secure a global top position for the FC Bayern. Our players’ performance and their health are of paramount importance to reach this goal, and so are our fans. Our club has more than 292 million fans worldwide, including 9.4 million in the U.S. We have ambitious goals both in terms of sports and economic success, and we want to inspire people worldwide.”

“The partnership between SAP and FC Bayern Munich is an impressive union,” said Gerhard Oswald, member of the Executive Board of SAP SE for Quality, Scale and Support. “By combining the power of FC Bayern Munich with that of SAP HANA we will be able to develop new solutions that will transform the world of football from every angle.”

FC Bayern to Use Solar Power

Munich also revealed a partnership with Yingli Solar.

The Yingli Solar power system has a capacity of 29.2 kWp and will produce more than 31,000 kWh of clean electricity each year. With the new system, the football club now is able to generate their own renewable energy which has a positive impact on the environment by reducing 21,000 kg of harmful CO2 emissions annually.

“We are so proud that FC Bayern Munich will now be ‘Powered by Yingli’. At FC Bayern Munich, we not only live up to our social responsibility but also commit to a sustainable economy,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Executive Board Chairman of FC Bayern München AG. “As our renewable partner, Yingli has supplied their PV modules to help FC Bayern Munich become one of the greenest clubs. We are very happy to have Yingli as part of the FC Bayern Munich family. We both share a passion for football and place great value on the environment, our cultures and traditions.”

“Yingli is thrilled with the results of our partnership to date. We have had several successful years with great joint projects since 2011,” said Darren Thompson, Managing Director of Yingli Green Energy International AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy. “The fact that FC Bayern Munich decided in favor of a Yingli Solar power system makes us proud and demonstrates once more what an excellent fit we are for the club when it comes to sustainability.”

William Hill Partners with Aston Villa in UK & Ireland

Aston Villa FC have signed William Hill Online as their new Official UK & Ireland Betting Partner.

Aston Villa acting Chief Executive Robin Russell said: “We are delighted to add William Hill to our growing number of Official Partners as Official UK & Ireland Betting Partner.

“William Hill has been one of the leading brands in bookmaking for many years and the company has enjoyed a long and successful association with football, medicine too.

“We look forward to an exciting and productive partnership with them.”

William Hill Chief Marketing Officer Kristof Fahy added: “We’re delighted that William Hill Online has become Aston Villa’s Official UK & Ireland Betting Partner.

“Aston Villa is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in English football history and it’s great to be associated with such a club.”

Yamaha to Sponsor New Jersey Motorsports Park

Japanese bike manufacturer Yamaha has renewed their partnership with New Jersey Motorsports Park.

As part of the relationship, denture Yamaha receives signage at the southern New Jersey facility’s Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceways, sale exhibit space, and a season-long souvenir program ad.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome back Yamaha to the New Jersey Motorsports Park family,” said Brad Scott, NJMP general manager/COO. “Yamaha has been a partner and supporter of NJMP for many years, and we’re excited to continue working with them in the future.”

“We are very excited to continue our relationship with New Jersey Motorsports Park. Their track is the perfect place in the Northeast to ride your R1 or R6 and experience everything both bikes have to offer,” said Northeast Regional Marketing Manager, Matt Potter. “We are also very excited for the final round of the AMA Pro Road Racing series being held at New Jersey Motorsports Park as Yamaha Superbike riders Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier will be battling on their R1’s for the Championship.”

AMA Pro Road Racing returns to New Jersey Motorsports September 13-14, 2014 for the Kawasaki Devil’s Showdown presented by Ion Camera doubleheader weekend.

World Rally Championship Renews Michelin Partnership

The FIA World Rally Championship has extended its deal with tyre supplier Michelin through to the end of the 2016 season. 

The French giant has been a partner, and official supplier, of the championship for many years, providing tyres to most of the participating teams in that time, and will be rewarded for its continued co-operation with a comprehensive ‘visibility package’ that includes TV-relevant banners along on stages and its logo embedded in on-screen results.

In addition, there will also be customised integration of the brand via the series’ comprehensive digital service, with editorial articles complimenting the usual promotional presence on the championship’s official website. Michelin will continue to use WRC audio and visual content on its own websites and social media channels. 

“This extension of our partnership with WRC was a logical step for us to take,” Michelin motorsport director Pascal Couasnon admitted, “The FIA World Rally Championship offers an authentic environment for Michelin to demonstrate the quality and endurance of our tyres, often under the most extreme conditions, [but] this co-operation also facilitates a significant global media visibility throughout almost the entire year. 

“In 2013, more than 600 million fans worldwide followed the WRC on TV and more than three million visited the rallies on site. These numbers speak for themselves and we are waiting for other improvement.” 

The announcement of Michelin’s continued involvement is a major step for promoter GMBH, a joint venture between Red Bull Media House and the Sportsman Media holding. 

“We are delighted to continue to have Michelin at our side as a partner,” MD Oliver Ciesla confirmed, “We can guarantee Michelin an attractive environment at the stages, in the service park and on television. 

“From the start of the current season, we have been able to significantly increase the transmission times compared to last season and thanks to our media strategy involving more live action. Michelin, as a WRC partner, profits from this development.” 

The 2014 WRC continues this weekend with Rallye Deutschland, the first all-tarmac round of the season.