English Championship club Huddersfield Town have signed a new commercial partnership agreement with international digital content firm Red Touch Media.

With its headquarters in Salt Lake City, unhealthy Utah, troche USA, but with a regional UK office in Liverpool, Red Touch Media works with the likes of media giants the Warner Music Group, Sony Pictures, EMI and the Universal Music Group.

As part of this new partnership deal, Red Touch Media will help Town build an archived content library to sit alongside htafcmegastore.com.

Red Touch Media’s partnership will also see them have a presence on Town match days and at networking events such as the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy.

Huddersfield Town’s Commercial Director Sean Jarvis, commented: “We’re delighted to enter into this partnership with Red Touch Media, which I believe is a first of its kind for a Football League club.

“The deal will allow us to digitise some of the archived content that the Club has, which will subsequently be available to our supporters in the future.

“Rob is a Huddersfield Town fan and brings a lot of passion and energy to this partnership, which will see Red Touch Media also get involved in other aspects of the Club’s business network. We can’t wait to get started!”

Wayne Scholes, CEO and Chairman of Red Touch Media added: “Through the use of Red Touch Media’s technology, Huddersfield Town has a secure distribution channel that will enable fans to easily access archived content.

“We’re pleased to help the club distribute this content to audiences eager to learn more about the club’s rich history and accomplishments.”

Ashaway Racket Strings has extended its partnership with the Women’s Squash Association, remaining “The Official String of WSA”. 

“We’re very happy to renew our longstanding relationship with the WSA and their new management team,” said Steve Crandall, Vice President of Ashaway Racket Strings. “The WSA World Tour is the premier venue for women’s professional squash competition, and WSA members comprise the best female squash players from around the globe. Many women players, both amateur and professional, find Ashaway strings ideally suited for their unique style of play and we want to do all we can to support WSA and encourage more women to take up this exciting and challenging sport.”

The Women’s Squash Association is the global governing body for women’s professional squash. It is responsible for governance of the WSA World Tour and WSA World Tour tournaments; the welfare of players competing on the WSA World Tour; and promotion of professional women’s squash around the world.

The WSA World Tour comprises 72 events in 25 countries, where a total of 247 players from 42 countries compete for prize money, ranking points, and (where relevant) World Series Standings points. Total prize money on WSA Tour is now US $1,450,000.

“WSA are delighted to rename Ashaway as ‘Official String Partner’,” said WSA Chief Operating Officer Kim Creamer. “Our long and productive relationship, spanning over a decade, has played a valuable and supportive role to both our player members in their pursuit for the perfect game as well as generate positive visibility within the squash community.”

ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Honda Performance Development today announced a technical partnership that will see HPD implement ZF’s high-performance clutch and shock absorber technology in a variety of North American racing series where HPD is active.

The two companies, both with long records of success in motorsports, will work together to investigate other potential performance-enhancing technology, utilizing their respective engineering and R&D strengths. 

Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda IndyCar, Andretti Autosport, said: “We are very proud to welcome ZF to HPD as a technical partner,” said Art St. Cyr, president of HPD. “ZF’s reputation as a technology supplier in the motorsport world and beyond is second to none, so we are delighted to be working with them. Together, we will continue to work on innovative products, to better help our teams and drivers stand on the top step of the podium in all of our racing series.” 

Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, added: “We are really looking forward to the new technical partnership with Honda Performance Development. We already have a very successful and growing business relation with Honda, supplying products and technology for Honda production vehicles in the U.S. With the partnership in racing we are able to point out our prominent competencies as a development partner and technology leader in motorsports. The racing series where HPD participates are an ideal platform for this. We are looking forward to many future victories together.”

Recently relegated Bundesliga 3 team SG Dynamo Dresden have extended their partnership with USD Immobilien GmbH until 2015.

The deal, brokered by SPORTFIVE, will also see the Dresden-based company secure TV advertising and inside the stadium signage.

Also the company will have logo presence back on the left jersey sleeve.

“The USD is now for over ten years, with body and soul partner of Dynamo Dresden. Despite the descent was immediately clear to me that we will continue our commitment as a sponsor in the 3rd league. Because both the company as well as for me as a person, this partnership is a matter of the heart. The club has to handle large tasks in the 3rd league. Therefore, faithful partners and sponsors are important to be sporting challenges,” said Thomas Dathe, managing director of USD Immobilien GmbH.

“I want to contact the contract extension is also a sign to other sponsors of the club and bring down the one expressed: Let’s do it together in Division 3 at! It is important that in the club again stop off some rest. This message is also addressed to the fans of Dynamo Dresden. We have to stick together and make sure that this great traditional club radiates the greatest possible appeal to potential sponsors. Because we need lots of sponsors, partners and supporters who are committed to here, so that together we can build something in the coming years.”

Robert Schäfer, Managing Director of SG Dynamo Dresden, is pleased with the extension of the sponsorship agreement: “We are happy about the extension of the exclusive partnership with the USD Immobilien GmbH. The ten-year existing partnership speaks for itself about the high commitment and high identification Dresdner this company with the SGD. Dynamo Dresden is very grateful to those in the state capital rooted partner at your side to have. I am convinced that cooperation between the USD and the club will bear good fruit in the future. “

American company Sunoco, Inc. will be the title sponsor beginning in 2014 of the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced today.

Now in its 63rd year, the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award has been presented to an amazing list of legendary drivers including Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Tony Stewart, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Arie Luyendyk and many more.

“The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award has long been one of the most coveted honors that a first year driver in the race can receive and the list of its recipients is a ‘Who’s Who’ among professional racing drivers,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “What makes the award exciting is that a driver who might not have had the best of practice or qualifying leading up to the race, could put it all together on race day and make a strong showing when it really counts. We are looking forward to seeing who that Sunoco Rookie of the Year is for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500.”

Sunoco has a long and successful history in motorsports. In the late 1960’s, the team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue competed in several different series with Sunoco-sponsored cars. This legendary team won many major events including the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and numerous high-profile sports car championships.

“Sunoco is proud to sponsor this year’s Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award,” said Sunoco Director of Marketing Drew Kabakoff. “We are thrilled to expand the Sunoco Rookie program and our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through this historic and prized award.”

Threadneedle Investments, drugs an international investment manager and the global financial services sponsor of the ITU World Triathlon Series, today announced its sponsorship of British triathlete Vanessa Raw.

Raw, who will wear Threadneedle branding when she competes internationally, will support Threadneedle clients and employees competing in the Threadneedle Team Triathlon by providing coaching sessions, training tips and support in the lead up and on the day of the event.

An established artist as well as a professional triathlete, Raw has become an active ambassador for Threadneedle Foundation partner charities Access Sport and The Art Room. She will work with the Threadneedle Foundation and UK sport development charity Access Sport to develop Tri-3-Sportz, a legacy programme designed to break down barriers to triathlon and make the sport more accessible to young people in London.

Vanessa Raw said: “I am thrilled to be working with Threadneedle, Access Sport and The Art Room. The support from Threadneedle is invaluable to me, and the synergy between what I do for a living, and what they represent made Threadneedle the absolute perfect fit! I cannot wait to get involved – starting with supporting Threadneedle staff and clients at the upcoming London Triathlon.”

Gary Collins, Head of EMEA Sales, Wholesale for Threadneedle, commented: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Vanessa – she is an inspiring triathlete and fantastic role model. Triathlon is a sport rapidly growing in popularity around the world and we look forward to working with Vanessa to support our clients and employees participating in triathlon events in London, Hamburg and Stockholm.”