888sport Extends Agreement To Sponsor The National Football League

888sport, the innovative, cutting-edge sport division of 888 Holdings plc (LSE: 888), is delighted to announce that it has agreed a new sponsorship agreement with the National Football League (NFL) to continue as its official sports betting partner in the UK & Ireland until 2025.

Under terms of the new agreement, 888sport will expand upon its highly successful partnership with the NFL, which has spanned across the last two seasons. For the highly anticipated London fixtures, which are set to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium later this year, fans can expect to see the 888sport logo visible on the exterior of the stadium and throughout the fan zones, as well as on LED advertising boards during the games itself. This will be supported by a strong brand presence on all TV matches and highlight shows.

In line with the Group’s strategy to create entertaining, content-rich experiences for players, 888sport will become the exclusive presenter brand of the NFL’s apps and Fantasy products including Pick’em, the Super Bowl Challenge and Draft Predictor. Across its social channels, 888sport will also broadcast unique and engaging video content, filmed in partnership with the NFL and will offer fans exclusive prizes, including official merchandise and tickets to upcoming Super Bowl events.

The new agreement between 888 and the NFL cements the duo’s longstanding relationship, which has included a previous partnership with NFL team the New York Jets  – the first partnership of its kind between a pure digital gaming company and an NFL team.

Kieran Spellman, VP – Head of Sport at 888sport, commented:

“We are really delighted to be the official sports betting partner of the NFL and playing our part in the continuing growth and success of such an amazing brand and sport in the UK & Ireland. Our partnership will bring 888sport closer to the heart of live sport and continue to inspire us to create great content-rich and entertaining experiences for our customers. We are really looking  forward to continuing our work with the NFL and cannot wait for the start of the new season.”

Pedro Barreda, Director International Marketing and Head of Sponsorships, at 888sport, commented:

“This partnshership is another great step forward for 888sport, in strengthening our presence across our core markets of the UK and Ireland and making us the NFL’s official betting partner for many years to come.”

Michelle Webb, NFL UK Senior Director, Commercial, at the National Football League, commented:

“We are very pleased to be continuing and expanding our partnership with 888sport. We look forward to working with them on innovative ways to create touchpoints that will resonate with our fans and help us to reach a broadening audience.”

ATP & Pepperstone Launch Global Partnership, Live Rankings

ATP has announced Pepperstone, the award-winning Melbourne-based FX and CFD broker, as the global naming partner of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and Official Online Trading Partner of the ATP Tour.

The agreement sees Pepperstone join the Tour as Platinum Partner with a global on-site presence at 11 events across the ATP Tour season, culminating at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Pepperstone will also receive year-round promotion via ATP’s social, digital and broadcast channels, delivering worldwide exposure to the brand and its innovative trading products.

The partnership kicks off today with the launch of a brand-new product — the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings — a dynamic new feature enabling fans, players and media to track the real-time rankings and impact of match results day-to-day. The partnership launches ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2023.

First launched in August 1973, the Pepperstone ATP Rankings serve as a true measure of excellence and the official mechanism determining player standings, tournament entries and seedings in men’s professional tennis. A key barometer for player records and milestones, the Pepperstone ATP Rankings also provide a narrative that connects every level of the men’s professional game throughout the season.

In addition to the Rankings, Pepperstone also becomes the naming partner of the season-long Race To Turin, Race To Milan, the ATP Cup Standings, as well as presenting partner of the official year-end No.1 ceremonies in singles and doubles.

Massimo Calvelli, ATP CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Pepperstone to our family of global partners and to celebrate the moment with the launch of the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. In line with Pepperstone’s award-winning customer service, the ATP is always looking for new ways to improve the experience of our millions of fans around the world, and the launch of the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings is a landmark moment that will help elevate our storytelling and create new opportunities to engage with the ATP Tour every day of the season.”

Tamas Szabo, Pepperstone Group CEO, said: “We are tremendously excited to enter into this ground-breaking partnership, becoming the first and Official Online Trading Partner of the ATP Tour. Tennis and trading have a few things in common – preparation, access to information, experience and ultimately the right decision at critical moments.

“ATP Tour’s global footprint and enormous following will enable us to bring the world’s financial markets to astute, adventurous traders around the world, driving our vision to create a better way to trade.”

Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings will link match-by-match results to projected positional moves in the traditional Pepperstone ATP Rankings, immediately contextualising what a big victory – or defeat – means to a player’s standing relative to his rivals.

Updated following the completion of each match, Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings reflect real-time points added and dropped by players, who will dynamically rise and fall based on their most recent result. Fans and media will no longer have to wait until the weekly Pepperstone ATP Rankings are run to understand the impact of matches won and lost.

Pepperstone ATP Rankings will continue to be used for tournament entry and seedings and to recognise achievements and milestones with historical context. For example, a player must spend at least one week at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings to be considered a World No. 1.

The introduction of the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings marks the most significant addition to the ATP’s Rankings properties since the 2000 introduction of the calendar-year Race, helping track players’ journeys to qualify for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals. It comes as part of a wider push to enhance functionality of the ATP Tour’s digital platforms, and continually level-up the fan experience across the tennis ecosystem. Visit Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. To learn more about how they work, visit our FAQ page.

World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 Announces Milano Pro Sport As Official Supplier

UK based gymnastics and sportswear manufacturer Milano Pro Sport has been announced as an official supplier to the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022.

Milano will feature prominently at the Championships as part of a fanzone open to the whole city of Liverpool, with their newest and most cutting-edge gymnastics collections available. 

Milano pride themselves on sustainability, aligning with the Championships’ own values, and the sportswear brand has recently started producing a fitness range in their new “Vita” fabric – produced using discarded fishing nets recovered from the bottom of European seas and recycled into textile grade yarn. Each purchase sees Milano directly supporting the “Healthy Seas” charity, which works to tackle plastic pollution in our oceans.

Milano began as a family business in 1991 but has since grown to be a major player in the gymnastics industry, becoming the official sponsor to the British Gymnastics team. The brand produces all their leotards in the North-West of England.

Discussing the partnership Gemma Williams Fox, Championships Director of the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022, said:

“I am delighted to confirm Milano as an official supplier for the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool. Based locally, but a world-recognised brand for providing gymnastics attire, we look forward to working closely with them to deliver an innovative event as we welcome the best gymnastics talent to a city defined by creativity, culture, and ambition.”

Working closely with Milano, the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be delivering a truly unforgettable event, ensuring a world-class fan experience and athlete environment with the strongest safeguarding and athlete welfare measures. 

On announcing their partnership, David Kaitiff, CEO at Milano said:

“It’s an absolute honour to have been selected to partner with World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022. Being at the forefront of our industry, bringing upgraded fabrics, upgraded diamantés and cutting-edge designs and collections to the industry is so exciting. We also look forward to interacting with our clients and wider audience at the event, and promoting our initiatives centred around our environmental and sustainability responsibilities. We look forward to meeting everyone from the gymnastics community around the world who’ll be visiting the event.”

The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 is an Olympic qualifying event for the Paris 2024 games and will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. 550 gymnasts from 75 countries will compete in the global event at the M&S Bank Arena, which will take place from 29 October to 6 November 2022.

ABT Sportsline Confirms Return To Formula E

ABT Sportsline has confirmed it will return to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the beginning of the Gen3 era, starting in 2023.

The German outfit will enter as a customer team and makes its way back to Formula E having been a fixture throughout the championship’s first seven seasons. Despite a hiatus in Season 8, ABT can still count itself among the most successful teams in Formula E history, with 47 podiums and 1,380 points to its name.

The team won the first ever Formula E race in Beijing in 2014 while Lucas di Grassi steered to the Drivers’ title in 2017. ABT sealed the Teams’ crown a season later and partnered with Audi between 2017 and 2021.

“Formula E has always had a big place in our hearts and we have never made a secret of the fact that we want to be back,” says Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner. Abt and the team’s aim is to put together a perfect package alongside Head of Sports Marketing Director Harry Unflath and CEO Thomas Biermaier. “After the internal kick-off, we are now talking to our current and potential partners. The goal is to bring a strong team to the championship, both on and off track.”

“We have always been in contact with Formula E and the FIA, had many discussions and have received great support from the whole team around Alejandro (Agag), Alberto (Longo), Jamie (Reigle) and Frédéric (Bertrand),” says Biermaier. The result: ABT has expesed its intention to take over the twelfth license for Season 9. 

ABT has secured a powertrain supplier for 2023, which it will announce shortly, and discussions are already underway as the privateer aims to secure a pair of “clever” drivers to leverage every possible advantage at the start of Formula E’s new era.

“As far as our two drivers are concerned, we have very clear ideas,” adds Biermaier. “We will probably start as underdogs, unlike last time as a factory team. That’s why it’s all the more important that we have quick and clever drivers in the cockpit, who fit in well with us. The first talks are exciting and very positive, so I’m sure we’ll have our team together soon.”

“I am delighted to welcome ABT back to where they belong in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship,” says Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E. “ABT is a proven success story in Formula E with record-setting points and podium finishes so their return after a season out to be part of the Gen3 era is positive for fans and the sport.”

Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO, said: “Formula E is the pinnacle of all-electric motorsport so it’s natural that teams and manufacturers leading the electric mobility revolution want to be part of the championship.”

“In Season 9 we will introduce two game-changing developments designed to enhance the appeal of racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. First, we debut the Gen3 race car which will set the standard in performance, efficiency and sustainability. Second, we introduce new financial regulations to underpin competitive balance and financial sustainability for our teams. 

“Together, they create an environment for competitive racing and long-term growth. We look forward to seeing ABT embrace these opportunities as they return to Formula E in Gen3.”

Frédéric Bertrand, Director Formula E & Innovative Sport Activities at the FIA, says: “I’m delighted that a team so closely associated with Formula E since the beginning has expressed its clear intention to return to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from next season and to feature on the first grid of the new Gen3 era. ABT has solid references in the series, and more broadly in motorsport as a whole, and its commitment underscores the appeal of both Formula E and the new Gen3 car launched in Monaco recently.”

SPORTFIVE Appointed As Media Rights Partner In Asia For The Davis Cup Finals 2022-24

Kosmos Tennis today announced that global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE will be its exclusive media rights partner in Asia for the Davis Cup for the next three editions, starting from the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals.

As part of the strategic partnership, SPORTFIVE will be responsible for the distribution of the media rights to the Davis Cup Finals up until 2024, in all of Asia except China, Kazakhstan, Japan and Singapore. The deal will also cover the 2023 and 2024 Davis Cup Qualifiers.   

Working closely with Kosmos Tennis, SPORTFIVE will leverage its global network, extensive media sales expertise and strong presence in the Asian market, to help grow its roster of broadcast partners in Asia and maximise its reach and audience in the region.  

Thomas Klingebiel, President Media at SPORTFIVE, said:

“Over the past few years, SPORTFIVE has already supported Kosmos Tennis with the distribution in the region. We are excited to extend our partnership and we are grateful for the trust and confidence Kosmos Tennis has placed in us. We believe the international fanbase of the Davis Cup has significant growth potential and together with Kosmos Tennis, we can expand the footprint of this prestigious competition in Asia and elevate it to new heights.”

Enric Rojas, Managing Director at Kosmos Tennis, said:

“We are very pleased to have SPORTFIVE, a renowned global organisation with a proven track record and know-how in developing mutually beneficial partnerships with long-term value, on board as our partner in spearheading the media rights in Asia for the Davis Cup. We look forward to working with them to further expand the coverage of the Davis Cup to reach more fans and new audiences in Asia.”

The Davis Cup by Rakuten is the world’s largest annual international team competition in sport, with a record 148 nations entering the 2022 edition. Since the historic reforms to a multi-city format in 2019, the previous two editions have seen a good attendance with over 105,000 spectators attending the 2021 event in Madrid and Turin and great interest from tennis fans from all over the world in front of the screens.

The group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals will see 16 nations playing across four cities – Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and a fourth city yet to be announced – on 14-18 September, with the top eight teams advancing to the knock-out stage, which will take place in Málaga on 21-27 November.

NBL Canada Partners With IMG ARENA For A Multi-Year Sports Betting Partnership

IMG ARENA, a leading sports content and technology business, is to become the official data supplier for sports betting for the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada).

The exclusive audio-visual sports betting and data rights deal begins at the start of the next season – 2022/23 – with distribution to IMG ARENA’s network of sportsbook brands worldwide.

IMG ARENA’s ground-breaking technology will enable fans to enjoy real-time data, allowing NBL Canada to grow their reach while also offering sportsbook operators new content.

Audley Stephenson, Vice President of Operations, NBL Canada, said: “This is an important step for NBL Canada as we move into the sports betting realm and it’s an honour to do so with such a respected and experienced partner in this space.”

Mark Wrigley, Rights Director at IMG ARENA, said: “NBL Canada is an established organisation with an exciting brand. We are delighted they have chosen IMG ARENA to work with them on their entry into sports betting and look forward to building a strong relationship to help grow their offering and audience by engaging fans around the world.”

Headquartered in London, IMG ARENA is a sports content and technology hub serving the Sports, Sports Betting and Sports Media eco-systems. IMG ARENA delivers live streaming and data feeds for more than 45,000 sports events annually, as well as for on-demand virtual sports products and front-end solutions, including the UFC Event Centre. IMG ARENA’s clients include the ATP, UFC, DP World Tour, PGA Tour, EuroLeague, MLS and the FA.

TaylorMade Announces Multi-Year Partnership Extension With Rory McIlroy

Since 2017, 20-time PGA tour winner and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy has put his trust in TaylorMade golf equipment in a partnership that has yielded seven PGA TOUR titles, a FedEx Cup and a Ryder Cup victory. Today, TaylorMade Golf Company announces a multi-year extension with McIlroy, who will continue to play TaylorMade equipment and golf ball.

Built by a shared passion for constant innovation and success, McIlroy’s seven wins with TaylorMade equipment includes a TOUR Championship, PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP, World Golf Championship and the 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year award.“

Over the last several years I have had the chance to work with the best equipment company in golf. Today I am excited to announce TaylorMade clubs and ball will be staying in my bag for many years to come. A combination of the dedicated people and unmatched performance is what drove me to remain a part of Team TaylorMade.” – Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy Stealth Plus Carbonwood 2

The extension continues to reaffirm TaylorMade’s mission to pair industry-leading product innovation and technological advancements with the most successful players in golf. McIlroy is currently one of four Team TaylorMade athletes in the Top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

“Rory is undeniably one of the most captivating players in our game and truly one of the great human beings in the sports world. We have been fortunate to get a first-hand look at Rory’s approach to his game and the championship mindset that helps fuel his success.

Over the past five years, in partnership with Rory, our company has been able to advance product innovation and put the best possible equipment in his bag. Rory’s decision to continue to put his trust in our company has us inspired to push the limits of performance even further.” – David Abeles, TaylorMade Golf CEO & President

Rory McIlroy Stealth Plus Carbonwood Overhead

Socios.com Becomes Official Fan Loyalty Partner Of 26 MLS Clubs

Major League Soccer today announced a multi-year partnership agreement with next generation fan engagement and rewards company, Socios.com, making the company an Official Partner of MLS.

With a shared vision in leveraging next-generation technology mixed with progressive experiences, the Socios.com-MLS partnership forges a deeper connection with fans, and fuels League growth on and off the field.

With 26 Club deals, Socios.com seeks to create a unique community for MLS fans to celebrate their passion for the game and win life-time experiences all from one app. Starting with the 2022 season, the partnership intends to give fans access to exclusive rewards, polls, and opportunities for their favorite Clubs. MLS envisions that fans will be able to have the chance to win prizes for making correct game-related predictions and for correctly answering questions.

“At Major League Soccer, our Emerging Ventures team is always looking for ways to apply the latest technology to provide North America’s youngest and most tech-savvy fans with new opportunities to be connected in a significant way to our players and clubs,” said Chris Schlosser, Major League Soccer’s SVP of Emerging Ventures. “We’re excited to continue our progressive approach to blockchain technology at MLS with Socios.com.”

With the highest percentage of millennial audience of any major U.S. sport, the deal with Socios.com seeks to enable MLS to combine its commitment to innovation and technology to leverage blockchain technology to provide the League and our clubs tools to engage with fans in more immersive ways. Socios.com will be integrated across League and partner clubs’ social channels and receive digital signage at partner club home games.

“Joining forces with MLS to explore what the best iteration of our blockchain-based fan engagement product will become is truly exciting,” said Max Rabinovitch, Socios.com’s Chief Strategy Officer. “This partnership is going to have far-reaching positive impacts on our evolution and shed light on what the Socios fan engagement universe on the blockchain can be as a whole. MLS is the perfect home to begin that educational journey in North America.”

The agreement also enables Socios.com and MLS to work together on new fan engagement products in the years ahead.

Socios.com has indicated that it has major global expansion plans and will increase its existing presence in Europe, while targeting many more launches in the USA, Asia, and South America with the world’s leading sports properties. Socios.com will debut a mobile app specifically designed for users in the United States later this year and recently announced international soccer legend Lionel Messi as the company’s first Global Brand Ambassador.

World Curling Federation Renews Partnership With Infront To The End Of The 2029-30 Season

The World Curling Federation and Infront have renewed their media and marketing partnership until the end of the 2029–2030 season, encompassing two four-year Olympic cycles.

The partnership, which began in 2008, will see Infront continue its event marketing role for the World Men’s, World Women’s and European championships while also incorporating its services into the new Pan-Continental Curling Championship launching in November 2022. They will also manage the media rights in selected markets worldwide.

The partnership also allows Infront to provide consultation on additional championships on a case-by-case basis throughout the length of the contract.

In a new aspect to the partnership, the World Curling Federation and Infront will also establish a digital and data working group. This group will hold annual workshops, allowing for constant improvements and optimisation of measures in the commercialisation of events.

President of the World Curling Federation, Kate Caithness said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Infront Sports & Media. We have worked together for a number of years and they have been a key component to the increased commercialisation and marketing efforts around our elite level championships.

“Infront are a driving force behind many of our long-standing marketing partners and this contract renewal puts the Federation in a position to continue to grow and enhance that aspect of our championships and bring in further exciting partners to our sport.”

Stefan Krauss, Vice President Winter Sports, Infront, said, “We have worked with the World Curling Federation for many years now and this partnership continues to go from strength to strength. It is a fascinating sport which requires excellent strategic skills and a strong team spirit, something mirrored in the successful leadership at the organisation. It is enjoying a wave of popularity once again as it looks to build towards the next Olympic Winter Games and I look forward to seeing how we can jointly leverage that interest and build on the commercialisation opportunities we have already created.”

Engage with the World Curling Federation on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Weibo and by searching the hashtags #curling

DAZN Agrees Global, Multi-Year Deal To Broadcast Red Bull TV

DAZN, the leading global sports streaming service, has agreed a distribution deal with Red Bull Media House to stream the Red Bull TV linear channel on its platform globally, bringing Red Bull’s collection of inspiring sports and lifestyle entertainment to fans around the world.

The multi-year agreement sees DAZN expand its offering into live extreme sports through Red Bull TV to include coverage of the Crankworx World Tour, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series and the Drift Masters European Championship, among others.

DAZN will also stream a curated selection of Red Bull’s original documentaries, series, highlights and archive programming, to offer fans a greater breadth of sport storytelling from around the world. Programme availability will vary across markets but will include docu-series Driving Dirty: The Road to Baja, Red Bull Soundwave and Road To 55: The Drive To Become A Formula 1 Racer , alongside archive series, Red Bull X-Fighters and Red Bull Street Style, to name a few. Where available, this will also include local language programming in DAZN’s core markets.

Red Bull TV’s programming will be available to DAZN subscribers across all its 200+ countries and territories from Wednesday 4 May 2022. The first event to be broadcast live on the channel will be Wings for Life World Run on Sunday 8 May 2022, which sees professional athletes, fun runners and beginners racing together against the Catcher Car at the same time, worldwide.

Tom Burrows, DAZN EVP of Rights, said, “DAZN is fast becoming a home of true entertainment for the world’s most innovative and compelling sports. Red Bull has a fantastic reputation for showcasing thrilling live events and captivating sporting stories that capture the imagination of fans around the world. We’re delighted to bring Red Bull TV and its programming to DAZN on a global scale.”

Red Bull TV joins DAZN’s premium portfolio of live sports and original programming, including the world’s biggest leagues and competitions UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, J.League and Matchroom Boxing.