Nike Confirm End to Manchester United Kit Deal

By Ismail Uddin

Sports apparel company Nike have confirmed today they will not renew their association with Premier League giants Manchester United when the deal expires at the end of next season. 

The U.S. company has been supplying United’s kit since 2002 but felt an extension ‘did not represent a good value’.

A Nike statement, obtained by iSportconnect, read: “Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans. We are proud to have partnered with them for the last 12 years and will continue to sponsor the club until the end of the 2014/15 season.

“Any partnership with a club or federation has to be mutually beneficial and the terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike’s shareholders.

“We look forward to a successful final season with the club.”

Their withdrawal could clear the way for the club to sign a lucrative new deal with German sportswear company adidas with reports sugesting the new contract could cost up to £60 million per season. 

United to Bounce Back

Steven Falk, Star Sports Marketing director, analysed the developments by saying: “From the day they acquired club, MU’s owners made no secret of their dissatisfaction with the Nike deal considering it too long a duration; too many categories ceded by the club; and an imbalance in the level of reward due to each party.”

“This is their first opportunity to renegotiate the deal so it is not surprising they want to shape it to their needs and to maximise the financial potential they can extract either from Nike or from an alternative supplier. The success of this approach can be seen from the record deal they negotiated with GM who replace Aon on this season’s shirt, the other big sponsorship property,” added the former Manchester United Marketing Director.

“As it is reported that that Nike has the option to to match any competing deal, the announcement of their withdrawal from negotiations suggests that the club already has an acceptable alternative offer on the table.

“It will be interesting to see which company is prepared to back its confidence in MU’s sale pitch with a record investment in this category. Hopefully, they have done their due diligence. Otherwise they will soon discover there is a big difference between the club’s estimate of the size of its global fan base and the number of fans actually engaged with the club.”

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Greene King Returns to Ipswich Town Fold as Official Beer Sponsor

English Championship club Ipswich Town have signed a five year sponsorship deal with Greene King considered to be a six figure sum. 
As well as Greene King’s IPA becoming Town’s official beer, prostate the Bury-based company will also take on the sponsorship of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand again.
Greene King were the Club’s shirt sponsors for six years between 1995-2001 and continued their relationship with Town by having their name on the South Stand from 2001 until the summer of 2009, marking a 14 year association with Blues.
The new partnership will also include a revamping of the bars at Portman Road, including Legends in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, while the corner bars at either end of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand will be renamed the ‘78 Bar’ and the ‘81 Bar’, recognising the Club’s triumphs in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup in those years.
“We are obviously delighted to be back working with a local company but also a nationwide brand in Greene King,” said Town managing director, Ian Milne.
“It’s a significant investment they have made in the Football Club and we look forward to a successful working relationship over the next five years.”
Chris Houlton, managing director for Greene King Brewing and Brands, said: “In our 14 year history with the Club we saw some real highs, particularly when with our name on their shirts Ipswich Town won promotion to the Premier League in 2000.
“As a Suffolk brewer, we actively look for opportunities to invest close to home and I am proud that football fans can now toast every win and commiserate every loss with a refreshing pint of Greene King IPA at Portman Road.
“We are with Ipswich Town every step of the way on their journey to success in the forthcoming season and indeed the next five years.”

MinuteClinic Named Official Sports Physical Provider of USA Football

MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark and the largest and fastest growing provider of walk-in medical clinics in the United States, announced today a joint marketing and sponsorship agreement with USAFootball, football’s national governing body.

As part of this agreement, MinuteClinic has been named USA Football’s official sports physical provider.

Through the affiliation, all USA Football members, who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., can receive a special discount when they obtain their sports physical at MinuteClinic year-round. 

“USA Football is a national leader and innovator in promoting health and safety among youth athletes, which sets a standard for football organizations and other sports to follow,” said Nancy Gagliano, M.D., MinuteClinic chief medical officer. “We are proud to be associated with a like-minded organization that puts player safety first and shares in our goal to help youth athletes stay healthy and play their best.”

“It’s important for young athletes to get checked before the start of a new season,” said Dr. Patrick Kersey, USA Football medical director and physician for Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Sports Performance. “Sports physicals play an important role in identifying high-risk disorders or conditions that might affect an athlete’s health and safety.”

Turner Scott Motorsports Secures New Sponsor

Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) have announced Heater.com will sponsor Ben Kennedy and the No. 31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) entry beginning at this weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway.

The event will mark Heater.com’s first foray as a sponsor in NASCAR.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Ben Kennedy and Turner Scott Motorsports,” said Michael Munsterman, CEO of Heater.com. “After having the opportunity to experience a NASCAR race firsthand, we saw the energy and passion of the fans and how exciting NASCAR racing is, especially in the Truck Series. We’ve been very impressed by Ben [Kennedy] and his performance so far this year, so we’re thrilled to associate our brand with such a promising talent.”

In his first full-time season, Kennedy has one top-five and four top-10 finishes, including a career-best finish of third at Martinsville Speedway in March. Kennedy currently leads the NCWTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings by 27 points and has earned Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors in five of eight events in 2014. The 22-year-old is ranked seventh in the NCWTS Driver Point Standings.

“I’m really pumped to have Heater.com joining us for this upcoming stretch of races,” said Kennedy. “In talking with the Heater.com management team, you can see how much they appreciate and understand the sport. I think they’re going to be a great partner for our team. I’m really hoping that we can welcome them to the sport with a trip to victory lane.”

TSM has had a strong start to the 2014 season, earning two wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, two ARCA Racing Series wins and five victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The No. 31 team visited victory lane in the most recent NCWTS event at Iowa Speedway and TSM has scored back-to-back wins in the last two events at Michigan International Speedway.

“I’m very pleased to have Heater.com on board with Ben Kennedy,” said team co-owner Harry Scott Jr. “We are always very excited to welcome new companies to the sport and I know that we’ve got a great shot at bringing them to victory lane in the events they’ll be joining us for.”

The No. 31 Heater.com Chevrolet Silverado will make its on-track debut on Friday, July 11 in the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. 

Nielsen Dodge Inks Deal With Seton Hall Athletics

Seton Hall University have announced a partnership with Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram with the branch becoming a corporate partner of the Athletics Department. 

A key component of the partnership taps Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram as ‘Official Car Dealership of Seton Hall Athletics’. This exclusivity also provides the dealership naming rights to the ‘‘Nielsen Dodge Courtside Zone’’ at all home Seton Hall men’s basketball games.

‘‘It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram and align Seton Hall Athletics with another industry leader,’’ said Director of Athletics Patrick Lyons.

‘‘We are excited to begin this partnership and look forward to the unique engagement opportunities associated with it.’’

Nielsen’s partnership is effective from the start of the 2014-15 athletic season and also allows for an exclusive fan-driven event to be held at its East Hanover showroom.

‘‘Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram is extremely excited about being ‘‘the official car dealership of Seton Hall University. Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram prides itself on supporting the local community and we are honoured to have the opportunity to partner up Seton Hall and our new store Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in East Hanover,’’ said Bill Snouffer, GM of the dealership.

Formula E’s Mahindra Racing Partners with Carlin for Inaugural Championship

British race team Carlin have been announced as the new technical service provider to Mahindra Racing in the inaugural FIA Fomula E Championship, ask which will be launched in September this year.

Carlin, a multiple championship winning team, will provide engineering and technical support to the Mahindra Racing Formula E team from the championship’s technical headquarters in Donington and at the 10 track events on the 2014/15 calendar.

Formula E is the world’s first fully electric racing series with 10 teams already scheduled to join the grid.  Races will be held across the world, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Monaco.

Trevor Carlin, Director of Carlin Motorsport, said: ‘‘We are incredibly proud to be working with such a big organisation as the Mahindra Group and we are keen to repay their trust in us with a successful Formula E campaign from the outset.

‘‘It’s already clear to us that Mahindra Racing are taking this programme incredibly seriously and are aiming for results at the highest level which we both respect and find very exciting. It speaks volumes about British motorsport that such a big Indian company has chosen a British team to work with and we’re very honoured.

‘‘We are very excited to be involved in such a ground breaking series as Formula E from the very start.’’

Dilbagh Gill, Mahindra Racing Team Principal, said: ‘‘We were very keen to work with a team that had race and championship winning experience at a high level but also had the ability to manage and work with non-F1 budgets.

‘‘Carlin are extremely well respected and together with our expertise in powertrains and electric vehicles, we make a good team.’’

The FIA Formula E Championship will begin in Beijing on 13th September and conclude in London on 27th June 2015.

TDECU Gets Naming Rights to Houston Football Stadium

The University of Houston have announced that credit union TDECU has secured naming rights to Houston Football Stadium, which will now be known as TDECU Stadium.

The facility is set to open Aug. 29 when Houston hosts UTSA in a nationally televised showdown.

“With TDECU, we have a great friend of the University that shares our philosophy, values and mission. When two winning teams come together, great things happen,” said University of Houston President Renu Khator. “TDECU Stadium is a powerful symbol of our commitment to athletics and student success that will bring together faculty, staff, students, alumni and the city of Houston. We cannot thank TDECU enough for helping us to make this gift possible.”

TDECU Stadium will include a TDECU suite located on the 50-yard line, one of 26 sold-out suites in the facility, as well as ticket discounts for TDECU employees and members. A 10-year, $15-million commitment from TDECU secures the naming rights with the University of Houston through June 16, 2024.

“From the beginning of this process, we have been very strategic with how we chose our naming rights gift. We wanted an entity that aligned with our core values, cared about its workforce and its clients, invested in the community and the University. We’ve found that and more with TDECU,” said University of Houston Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades. “When we first met with TDECU in an initial exploratory meeting, we quickly established a bond with (TDECU President and CEO) Stephanie Sherrodd and the leadership team of TDECU. From there, it was a matter of placing our vision on paper and capturing both philosophies. Both parties are truly committed to what they can give and what we can provide to make each other better.”

TDECU will also sponsor the Cougar 100 event, a recent initiative from the University of Houston Alumni Association that recognizes and celebrates the world’s fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UH alumni.

“We are thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to partner with the University of Houston.  We are proud to have the TDECU name on the new stadium as a visible sign of our commitment to the University and the Houston community,” said Stephanie Sherrodd, TDECU President and CEO.  “TDECU’s core values are shared by the University of Houston in improving the lives of those around us in order to build for the future.”

West Bromwich Albion Acquires New Principal Partner

Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion has announced today Intuit QuickBooks as their new Principal Partner.

Intuit QuickBooks is a multi-billion pound global leader in small business accounting software and the company’s logo will feature on the Club’s home and away shirts during the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign.

Albion Chief Executive Mark Jenkins, viagra who today shook hands with QuickBooks Vice-President and UK Managing Director, cheap Rich Preece, on the one-year sponsorship deal, said: “I’m delighted to welcome QuickBooks on board as our new Principal Partner.

“The fact we have been able to join forces with such an established global brand underlines the strides the Club has been making in recent years. We are looking forward to forming a strong working relationship with Intuit QuickBooks.”

Mr Preece added: “We’re thrilled to be forming a close partnership with West Bromwich Albion Football Club.

“As one of the founding members of the Football League, Albion has a long and impressive history as a well-supported, family-focussed club with incredibly passionate fans.

“The Club is about to begin its fifth successive season in the Premier League and we can’t wait to get behind the Baggies. We are excited about making this deal a success on and off the field.”

David Walsh, QuickBooks UK Marketing Director, said: “Making up more than 99 per cent of private sector companies and 60 per cent of private sector jobs, small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurship are a part of the nation’s DNA – and so is football.

“As the world’s No.1 online solution for small business accountancy software, QuickBooks is proud to support the businesses and sporting passions of entrepreneurs in West Bromwich, the West Midlands and the entire UK.”

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USA Volleyball Signs VERT as Official Supplier

USA Volleyball (USAV) has announced a partnership with VERT to begin using wearable jump technology for their national team athletes and events. 

VERT has been designated as a USA Volleyball Official Supplier for Jump Technology.

VERT wearable jump technology allows for players and coaches to see real-time jump height and jump count data anywhere and anytime.  

“The benefits of monitoring our athletes’ jump activity and overall performance is something that nobody in the world has been able to do until VERT technology,” USA Volleyball Secretary General Kerry Klostermann said. “We are dealing with the highest level of athletes.  To be able to measure performance anywhere in the world is an amazing capability.”

“VERT is made in the USA, and now it is going to be worn by Team USA,” VERT founder Martin Matak said. “It can’t get any better than that.  We are thrilled to be part of our home team.”

Gold Coast Airport Renews Naming Rights of Gold Coast Marathon

Gold Coast Airport has today renewed its partnership with Events Management Queensland, cough organisers of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

Gold Coast Airport  will remain as the naming rights sponsor to the historical marathon race for the next three years, medstore | the 15th year the brand has been associated with the event.

Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant announced the signing of the new agreement this morning.

“Gold Coast Airport is extremely proud of our 12 year naming rights association with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon,” Mr Chant said.

“During this time both Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast Airport Marathon have enjoyed rapid growth. We continue to share our main goals of growing tourism for the region and setting benchmarks in our respective industries that gain international recognition.

“We have witnessed the continued growth of the event in terms of entry numbers, community participation and support, and international interest; culminating in the receipt of an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label, making Gold Coast Airport Marathon the first marathon in Australia to receive this accolade.

“Each year, set against the beautiful backdrop of our coastline, thousands of spectators line the streets to cheer on competitors. This event truly encapsulates the spirit of the Gold Coast.

“Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate to other corporate entities our commitment to fostering events that showcase this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.

“We have greatly enjoyed and valued our 12 year history with this event and look forward to playing a continued role in Gold Coast Airport Marathon’s ongoing success over the coming years.”