Newly promoted French Ligue 1 team FC Nantes have signed a sponsorship deal with Au Fil des Marques, anabolics a leading destocking retailer for major brands.

The agreement was negotiated by Infront Sports & Media, the international sports marketing company.

It is the retailers first football partnership and the association will be activated through a series of activations through its national retail network over the entire football season.

Waldemar Kita, President of FC Nantes, said: “I would first like to thank the representatives of Au Fil des Marques for their confidence in the club. We are delighted to welcome this new partner to FC Nantes for the next two seasons and are confident we will share big moments with this sponsor by our side.”

Lionel Ragazzi, Co-Creator & President of Vestiti, the holding company of Au Fil des Marques, stated: “Joining a historic club, as prestigious and popular as FC Nantes, makes me proud and our commitment to the club is proof of the appreciation we hold for them.”

Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that The “Rathskeller,” one of Indianapolis’ premier restaurants, has joined the Indy-based organization as an associate sponsor for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

The Rathskeller will carry its company’s logos on the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet driven by ECR team owner/driver Ed Carpenter in the Indy 500. Carpenter, a Butler University graduate, is the defending winner of the Indy 500 pole position. Carpenter will run for his second Indy 500 pole this Sunday afternoon at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We are very excited to have The Rathskeller joins us for Indy 500 with the Ed Carpenter Racing Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet car,” said Carpenter, the only team owner/driver in the current Verizon IndyCar Series. ”The Rathskeller is a legendary Indianapolis night spot with superb food and great entertainment. We would love to have them celebrate in victory lane with us on May 25 at IMS.”

The Rathskeller serves outstanding fare in European cuisine and features special events and is live entertainment facility located at the heart of the Mass. Avenue arts and entertainment district. 

“I could not be happier to be a partner of Ed Carpenter Racing and Fuzzy’s Vodka team,” said Dan McMichael, Rathskeller principal. “Rathskeller is a hometown original, and the fit with Ed’s and Fuzzy’s connection is just a natural for us. We are very proud and look forward to hosting a victory party for the team!

Hockey Australia has extended its partnerships with two official suppliers ahead of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup.

Kookaburra Sport and Body Science International have renewed their commitments with Australian hockey.

Kookaburra Sport, price the world renowned Australian sports equipment company, impotent extends its long term relationship as it continues as the exclusive Official Hockey Ball Supplier to Hockey Australia and as Hookin2Hockey Program Partner.

Sports nutrition company Body Science International will continue as the Official Supplier of Compression Garments and Nutritional Products to the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos.

Speaking about the extension of both partnerships, Hockey Australia Chief Executive Cam Vale (below, right) said, “The renewal of our arrangements with Kookaburra Sport and Body Science International provide another excellent boost to hockey in Australia. It’s particularly pleasing that both companies are extending long term relationships with Hockey Australia and their continued commitment comes hot on the heels of the recent extension of Ausdrill’s relationship as the major partner of the Hockeyroos.

“With the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy this year, Australian hockey will be in the spotlight on a national and global stage and we expect our partners will enjoy the opportunities and excitement generated by such high profile events.”

As Official Hockey Ball Supplier, Kookaburra will supply the balls used at every Australian national championships as well as those used by the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras in training and matches. The ball – the very best in world hockey – is used by the International Hockey Federation at all of its tournaments.

As the Official Hookin2Hockey Program Partner, Kookaburra Sport will support hockey’s flagship national grassroots program by providing equipment for the participant pack.

Recently relegated Doncaster Rovers have revealed shirt sponsors One Call Insurance and Stoneacre Motor Group have extended their sponsorship deals with the club.

Relegation to League 1 provided both organisations with opportunity to reduce the value of their sponsorship package in the third tier of English football.

However, Nik Springthorpe, the Managing Director of One Call Insurance, and Shaun Foweather, the Managing Director of Stoneacre, are confident that the club will once again make an instant return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

“Having spoken to the clubs Commercial Manager, Andrew Whitham, and listened to the messages coming out of Doncaster Rovers through Gavin Baldwin and Paul Dickov, we’re confident that the club will be challenging for promotion next season” said Springthorpe.

Foweather added: “Our association with Doncaster Rovers has been a long and successful partnership and we’re putting our full faith in the club to return to the Championship.

“With that in mind and, despite relegation this season, we’re maintaining our sponsorship value at the Championship rate.”

Commercial Manager Whitham, added, “Both One Call Insurance and Stoneacre’s support over the past few years has been invaluable, they are fantastic partners. It’s great to see they are backing the club to have a successful season in 2014/15 and assisting that by maintaining their Championship spend with the club.”

English League two team Wycombe Wanderers have announced a new partnership with Marvel Cars, the official taxi supplier for the football club and Adams Park Conference Centre.

The High Wycombe based taxi company will offer preferential rates to supporters who quote ‘Wycombe Wanderers’ when booking, and have also signed up for a series of advertising opportunities around the stadium to support their club and increase their presence within the fanbase.

Wycombe Wanderers just managed to secure their Football League status finishing one place above the relegation zone.

Glasgow 2014 has announced that Technogym is the Official Provider of Fitness Equipment for the Commonwealth Games. 

Technogym equipment will be available for use at the Fitness Centres within the Athletes’ Village which will be home to 6,500 athletes and team officials from the 71 competing nations and territories at Games Time. 

As an Official Provider to the Games, Technogym will work with Glasgow Life to install Technogym’s fitness equipment in the Fitness Centres in the Village, providing all athletes with accessible, versatile training tools that adapt to the needs of every sport. 

This announcement follows Technogym’s successful stint as an official supplier to five editions of the Olympic Games, including Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Beijing 2008 and most recently London 2012. 

David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, said: “It is vital for our competing athletes to have access to the highest quality training equipment within the Fitness Centres at the Village. 

“We are delighted to have the experience of Technogym as part of the set-up to galvanise and support the participating teams as they aspire to new achievements this year.” 

Technogym’s founder and President Nerio Alessandri said: “At Technogym we have a 30-year heritage of research and innovation in order to provide unparalleled equipment and technology to the world’s elite athletes. Our expertise and experience makes us the ideal providers to help the Commonwealth Games offer the best facilities for its participating countries and athletes. 

“We will bring to Glasgow our knowledge of what it takes to make a large-scale global sporting event a success, and of how to create a lasting legacy of sport and fitness within the city and country. We are pleased and proud to be a part of the Games and look forward to helping to bring the city alive with another summer of sport in 2014.”

The Champions Hockey League has secured its latest partner with premier dporting goods provider Warrior Sports coming on board as as Official Kit Supplier for this new pan-European competition.

The agreement, brokered by Champion Hockey League’s marketing & media partner Infront Sports & Media, will be valid from the league’s launch date in August 2014.

The contract with Warrior includes a wide range of rights over the term of the agreement including product category exclusivity. All teams participating in the Champions Hockey League will wear Warrior apparel with the logo centrally featured on player clothing including jerseys, pant shells, socks, gloves and top scorer helmets. Branded clothing for referees includes jerseys and pants and for all staff Warrior tracksuits, jackets and shirts will also be supplied.

The package includes high brand visibility across the entire competition with perimeter board advertising at all 149 games and penalty bench branding during the playoffs as well as video wall clips and additional brand signage on-site.

Activation is also a key feature of the package with Warrior product placement on-site as the company is also stepping up as the Official Merchandiser of the Champions Hockey League. In this capacity, Warrior will set up a comprehensive merchandising program for the competition and its participating clubs.

Jonathan Ram, Warrior Sports VP International, EMEA, commented: “We are excited to be an integral part of the launch of this new pan-European league that will showcase great hockey competition. This is also a unique and powerful opportunity for us to showcase the Warrior brand and our innovative products to hockey athletes and enthusiasts.”

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, added: “With Warrior, we were able to conclude a milestone agreement for the Champions Hockey League, providing a premiere and innovative equipment supplier. Warrior is strongly rooted in the sport of ice hockey and underlines the competition’s potential to position itself successfully within the European sports landscape.”

Hendrick Motorsports has signed a unique partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), arthritis in conjunction with DC Entertainment (DCE).

The deal with the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions will allow the team and its partners to develop consumer promotions and original content to engage youth, vcialis 40mg drive fan excitement and energize licensed merchandise initiatives.

WBCP and DCE will work with Hendrick Motorsports and its partners to build on- and off-track programs teaming star drivers Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with the most recognized characters in Super Hero lore, including Batman, Superman, The Flash and Green Lantern.

“We are excited to partner on a long-term program that brings together Hendrick Motorsports’ super hero drivers with the Super Heroes of DC Comics,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “This partnership will allow us to offer NASCAR and DC Comics fans unique experiences that tap into the storylines of our characters and the successes of these four world-class athletes.”

Potential programs include co-developed car paint schemes, comic books and digital content incorporating DC Comics Super Heroes and illustrated likenesses of Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Team partners will have exclusive opportunities to align with upcoming Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Comics-inspired programming and releases.

“Working with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment will make for an innovative and impactful partnership,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Adding value to sponsor relationships, developing an even stronger retail licensing platform and engaging with young people are high priorities for us. This collaboration will generate many opportunities in those areas.”

The first joint program will come to life around upcoming Sprint Cup events at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 25) and Michigan International Speedway (June 15) where Superman, the world’s first and most recognized Super Hero, will be featured on Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet SS. 

“Our partners have activated promotions around Batman and Superman that remain two of the best programs we’ve ever seen at retail,” said Patrick Perkins, Hendrick Motorsports’ vice president of marketing. “We expect similar success with the Superman Hall of Heroes. It’s an excellent fit for the National Guard and a perfect kickoff to our new association with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment.”