Gillette to Title Sponsor 2014 Home Run Derby

Personal care brand Gillette has expanded its partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) by becoming the title sponsor of the 2014 Home Run Derby.

The event takes place on Monday, July 14, as part of All-Star Week at Target Field in Minnesota, and it will be televised live on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET and featuring live coverage by MLB Advanced Media, which coordinates the popular social-media interaction by players around the field.

The summer showcase event has grown in recent years through multiple innovations. In addition to the rise of social engagement by players, this also will mark the fourth consecutive year featuring captains for the AL and NL squads, who will select the other participants and personally invite them. The captains for this year’s event, as well as other details, will be announced in the coming weeks

“Gillette has partnered with Major League Baseball longer than any other company, and the Gillette Home Run Derby is a terrific way to celebrate our 75th anniversary of working together,” said Tim Brosnan, MLB executive vice president of business. “With outstanding performances, the successful introduction of players engaging in social media during the event and integration of captains from each league in previous years, the Derby continues to be fresh, entertaining and one of the most popular events on the sports calendar.”

“Whether you’re standing at the plate waiting to crush the ball or in front of the mirror prepping for an optimal shave, we understand that maximum contact is very important when performing your best,” said Hooman Shahidi, senior brand manager of Gillette North America. “That’s why we’re excited to partner with Major League Baseball during the Home Run Derby to promote our new Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology, which features a new dimension of movement to better meet a man’s face, resulting in maximum contact and fewer missed hairs.”

Toyota to Remain Co-Title Sponsor of Sonoma Raceway NASCAR Race

Toyota Motor Sales, help U.S.A. and the Northern California Toyota Dealers have signed a multi-year agreement to continue as co-title sponsor of the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway, officials announced today.

Toyota has served as co-title sponsor of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 since 2007, as well as the raceway’s official vehicle. The three-year extension will mark 10 years of sponsorship with Sonoma Raceway.

The 2014 season marks Toyota’s 10th anniversary participating in NASCAR national series competition. In 2004, the manufacturer entered the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) with the Tundra and moved into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) with the Camry beginning in 2007. Toyota has won nine manufacturers championships – three in the NNS and six in the NCWTS, as well as five driver’s championships.

“Sonoma Raceway is one of the premier motor-sports venues on the West Coast and our partnership enables us to showcase the freshest line up of cars, trucks and SUVs in the industry,” said Henry Hansel, president of the Northern California Toyota Dealer Advertising Association.

Toyota will also continue as title sponsor of the raceway’s annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 preview show on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The 30-minute special, which airs a minimum of six times during the month of June, has been nominated for a sports Emmy award in past years.

The agreement also includes hospitality, extensive signage, promotional rights and other assets during major event weekends in Sonoma, including comprehensive, interactive displays for race fans during the June NASCAR event.

“We could not be more proud of our association with the Toyota brand, their terrific lineup of cars and trucks and the outstanding group of dealers in our region,” said Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president and general manager. “We are grateful for their support of the raceway and the NASCAR event and look forward to working together for many years to come.”

Acura Partners with Tiger Woods Foundation to Promote Brand at Three Golf Tournaments

Acura has agreed a partnership with Tiger Woods Foundation in a multi-year agreement that includes vehicle and philanthropic support to the foundation’s efforts in advancing education programs for underserved and low-income students.

As the official vehicle of the foundation, Acura will have a significant presence at all three Tiger Woods Foundation supported golf tournaments, starting with the 2014 Quicken Loans National Tournament taking place June 23-29 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. As the exclusive automotive sponsor, Acura will be providing more than 180 vehicles for use at the tournament and will host product displays for guests at the event.  Acura also will have a significant presence at the Deutsche Bank Championship (Aug. 27-Sept.1) and the exclusive World Challenge.

“The relationship with the Tiger Woods Foundation further strengthens Acura’s already deep ties to the game of golf while benefiting an organization that is advancing educational efforts critical to this nation in the areas of math, science and engineering,” said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president and division manager of Acura. “We look forward to working with the Tiger Woods Foundation over the next three years and feel we’ve already hit one down the center of the fairway with our support at the Congressional next weekend.”

“I’m looking forward to having Acura join my foundation’s team at the Quicken Loans National and at our learning centers,” Tiger Woods said. “It will be cool to see how they incorporate their technology with our STEM initiatives for underserved students nationwide, including our three D.C.-based learning centers.”

Acura has a long history with the game of golf including a 10-year relationship as the official vehicle of the Pinehurst Golf Club in North Carolina, site of the 2014 U.S. Open. Acura also serves as the title sponsor of the Acura College Alumni Team Championship, which brings collegiate teams from around the country together for the ultimate golf tournament of champions.

“We are thrilled Acura is partnering with us at our tournaments and education platforms,” Rick Singer, Tiger Woods Foundation president and CEO said. “Given Honda’s exceptional history in premier engineering, our learning center students will absolutely benefit from this addition to our STEM programming.”

Rafael Nadal Announced as Telefónica Ambassador

World No. 1 Tennis player Rafael Nadal has agreed to be Telefónica’s new global ambassador until 2020.

He will represent both the institutional brand and the commercial brands – Movistar, there O2 and Vivo – in Spain, viagra United Kingdom, cheap Germany and the Latin American countries where the company operates.

One of the most important initiatives that will be rolled out through that sponsorship is the “Rafa Nadal Academy By Movistar”, the tennis academy that Rafa will open in his native Majorca to promote the values of sport, and particularly tennis, among children. 

BitPay to Title Sponsor College Bowl Game in St. Petersburg

ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, has announced BitPay, the world’s leader in business solutions for the bitcoin digital currency, as the new title sponsor for the annual college football postseason game played in St. Petersburg (Fla.).

Beginning with this year’s December 26 game, the bowl will now be known as the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. BitPay will serve as title sponsor for three years through the 2016 game. 

“Our goal is to continue to move bitcoin into the mainstream and sponsoring the St. Petersburg Bowl offers us that opportunity,” said Tony Gallippi, Executive Chairman for BitPay. “College football fans and the bitcoin community represent a similar target demographic – tech-savvy men between the ages of 18 and 40.”

“We’re extremely excited to welcome BitPay to college football and our bowl home in St. Petersburg,” said Brett Dulaney, Executive Director of the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. “We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial arrangement.”

The 2014 game will be played on Friday, Dec. 26. The game, which will once again air on ESPN, is in its first-year of its new conference affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the American Athletic Conference.

William Hill Signs Scottish Sprint Cup Sponsorship

British bookmaker William Hill has renewed its sponsorship of the Scottish Sprint Cup for the next three years.

Subject to fixture list planning approval by the BHA, medical Britain’s biggest bookmakers are strengthening their sporting sponsorship commitments in Scotland by adding the £100, stuff 000 five-furlong race to their portfolio until 2017.

Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “The Scottish Sprint Cup is Musselburgh’s flagship race and the continued support of William Hill means a huge amount to us as a progressive and aspirational racecourse. The £100,000 William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup and the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup, which is staged in September, are an excellent double act which are the standard bearers of Flat racing in Scotland.

“Scottish Racing continues to make strong progress and we are keenly looking forward to developing this brilliant race day with William Hill and Stobo Castle so that it remains a sell-out capacity event for many years to come.”

Musselburgh Racecourse commercial manager, Sarah Montgomery, said: “Each year we say Ladies Day can’t get any better but it does and its popularity seems to keep growing. It was our largest ever attendance in the modern age and we could have sold hundreds of more tickets if we had the capacity.

“The effort and thought that went in to the outfits worn by racegoers was truly outstanding and Stobo Castle Ladies Day is established as the place to see and be seen during the summer sporting season. Tickets for 2015 Ladies Day went on sale on Monday and they are already flying out the door and we are gathering our breath and getting ready to do it all again next year.”

Nike Sign Golfer Patrick Rodgers to Endorsement Deal

Nike Golf announced that former Stanford athlete and No.1-ranked amateur in the world Patrick Rodgers has joined the brand, signing a multi-year agreement to represent the brand. 

The 21-year-old, who was recently named the winner of the 2014 Haskins Award – given to the outstanding collegiate male golfer of the year – in addition to this year’s Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus Award, will use Nike Golf clubs, ball, footwear, glove, bag, apparel, headwear and accessories. Rodgers will make his professional debut as a Nike Golf Athlete at the Travelers Championship June 19-22 in Cromwell, Conn.

He joins an elite group of fellow Nike Golf Athletes who are also Haskins Award winners, including Tiger Woods, Kevin Chappell, David Duval, Russell Henley, Jamie Lovemark and Bob Tway.

Since switching to Nike Golf equipment earlier this year, Rodgers won five out of his last seven college tournaments.

“Nike has always been behind the most elite players in every sport. To be joining the Nike stable is exciting because I know I am joining the best,” said Rodgers. “I was thrilled with the immediate impact the Nike equipment had on my game and I am excited for the future knowing I am aligning with the premier company in sport and golf.”

A three-time NCAA Division I All-American and 2014 PAC-12 Player of the Year at Stanford University, Rodgers broke the school record for lowest career stroke average of 71.1 — set by Woods — with a 70.33 average score. Rodgers tied Woods’s all-time wins school record with 11 victories. A member of the 2011 and 2013 U.S. Walker Cup teams, the Avon, Ind. native also set a single-season scoring record this year of 69.4.

“Patrick’s phenomenal college career and outstanding achievements as an amateur make us excited and proud to welcome him to the Nike Golf family,” said Mark Thaxton, Senior Director of Global Sports Marketing Operations. “He is a tremendous athlete with a passion for sport and the Nike Brand, and we look forward to being a part of his continued success as a professional.”

PruHealth & PruProtect Partner with Arsenal, Liverpool & Manchester City

Health and life insurers PruHealth and PruProtect have signed partnerships with three top Premier League clubs today.

Champions League bound clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have all signed on with the brand.

The leading lifestyle insurers and their parent company, Discovery, will be promoted in a variety of ways by the clubs, including pitch side advertising, branding of the medical staff’s clothing and logo positioning on the women’s team kits.

Neville Koopowitz, CEO of PruHealth and Vitality, said: “We believe in the power of sport to help inspire people to live a healthy life, which is why we partner with leading sports figures, teams and events to help us spread the Vitality message. Our collaboration with some of the top teams in the country; Premier League winners Manchester City, runners-up Liverpool and FA Cup Winners Arsenal – is the latest move in our goal of changing the game when it comes to people’s health.” 

Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s Sales and Marketing Director, said: “PruHealth and PruProtect with Vitality have an innovative approach which rewards its members who adopt a healthier lifestyle, and we will be helping them communicate these benefits to Arsenal and football supporters globally. Their approach of rewarding members, which we follow in our own Club membership scheme, positions them as true leaders in their sector and we are delighted to welcome PruHealth and PruProtect into our growing family of commercial partners.” 

Billy Hogan, Chief Commercial Officer for Liverpool FC, said: “We’re thrilled to bring PruHealth and PruProtect with Vitality on board as the first new partner of the 2014/15 season. Their ambition to promote healthy and active lifestyles across the nation fits in well with Liverpool Football Club and the work we’re doing in communities across the globe.” 

Tom Glick, Chief Business Officer for Manchester City, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with PruHealth and PruProtect with Vitality. Having already seen the positive impact of the Vitality programme amongst our staff, we look forward to building that relationship further by helping them introduce Vitality to City fans and the wider football community over the coming seasons.”

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Panasonic Expands Hendrick Motorsports Sponsorship

Hendrick Motorsports has revealed today an expanded partnership with Japanese electronics company Panasonic that includes primary sponsorship of the No. 24 team of four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and current points leader Jeff Gordon.

Panasonic will be featured as a primary sponsor of the No. 24 team in two Sprint Cup races annually and as an associate-level partner in all other events. It will mark the first on-car branding for Panasonic since joining Hendrick Motorsports as a technology partner in 2007. The agreement covers the 2014, 2015 and 2016 NASCAR seasons.

Gordon’s No. 24 Panasonic Chevrolet SS will debut this weekend at California’s Sonoma Raceway and will again appear Aug. 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Panasonic’s Toughbook brand will be featured on the car’s quarter panels at Sonoma.

“To maximize the value of a NASCAR sponsorship, you need to partner with proven teams and drivers that exemplify your brand,” said Rance Poehler, president, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon have a record of excellence that is a perfect fit for Panasonic and its Toughbook brand. We’ve been a technology partner of Hendrick Motorsports for many years, and as our business evolves to solutions and deeper partnerships with our customers, it is an excellent time to extend our relationship from behind the scenes to the car on the track.”

Panasonic will leverage the partnership to promote technology solutions and products for business. Hendrick Motorsports currently utilizes Panasonic technology throughout its Concord facility, including cameras, electronic displays, televisions, digital signage, Toughbook computers and projection units. The team also uses Panasonic’s professional video products to support its in-house video production capabilities.

“Panasonic has a combination of world-class people and products,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We use their technology across the organization, and it provides the best possible tools in every area, from competition to marketing to IT. To have them see more opportunities for their business and want to grow the relationship sends a very positive message.”

Gordon, 42, is one of the most accomplished drivers in NASCAR history. He is a four-time Sprint Cup champion, and his 89 victories rank third on the all-time wins list. In 15 races this season, he has posted one victory, five top-five finishes and a series-best 11 top-10 finishes.

“We’re looking forward to working with Panasonic in a new way, and I can’t think of a better place for their debut with the No. 24 team,” said Gordon, who has posted a record five Sprint Cup wins at Sonoma Raceway and grew up in nearby Vallejo, California. “This is the next step in what’s already been a successful partnership, and it’s going to be fun to take it to another level. We hope to kick it off with a win this weekend for Panasonic and Toughbook.”

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San Francisco 49ers Sign Esurance as Official Team Partner

National Football League (NFL) franhcise San Francisco 49ers have today announced the addition of Esurance as an official team partner, becoming the exclusive car, motorcycle, homeowners and renters insurance sponsor of the 49ers.

Highlighting the multi-year deal, the direct-to-consumer insurance provider becomes the presenting sponsor of the team’s new fan engagement program, Faithful 49 presented by Esurance.

“Esurance is known for its innovative approach to insurance, and we are proud to welcome them as a partner,” said 49ers President Paraag Marathe. “In our relentless quest to develop new and unique ways to provide our Faithful fans a rewarding connection to our team, we feel Esurance is the perfect presenting partner of the Faithful 49 program. Their embrace of digital and social media facilitated the creation of a program that fans will find easy to use and extremely rewarding.”

“The 49ers are one of the most storied and successful franchises in the NFL, and their innovative use of technology and social media in the Faithful 49 program mirrors the way that Esurance leverages technology to put its own customers first,” said Esurance President and CEO Gary Tolman. “We are looking forward to connecting with loyal 49er fans and creating exciting new opportunities for Esurance customers to be a part of the 49ers’ success on and off the field.”

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