Australian energy retailer Lumo Energy has today signed a three-year deal with NRL team Melbourne Storm to be their official energy partner.

As part of the deal Lumo Energy branding will appear on the back of the Club’s playing shorts for Storm’s Round 9 match against Manly Sea Eagles at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 May, adiposity 2014.

As well as delivering strong awareness for the Lumo Energy brand, the partnership will offer Storm members and fans a range of benefits when looking for a better energy deal.

Melbourne Storm Commercial Director Ben Dunn commented: “Lumo Energy is the first energy partner of Melbourne Storm.  Lumo is a dynamic brand and we look forward to creating some exciting marketing programs together.

“This is another endorsement of the strength of Melbourne Storm’s brand being able to unite the Melbourne market whilst delivering significant national exposure,” Dunn said.

Lumo Energy Executive General Manager of Marketing and Sales, Tim Harrington  commented: “Lumo Energy looked at a range of sporting codes to partner with and Melbourne Storm was a natural choice, it’ regarded as Australia’s number one sports teams across all codes in awareness and likeability, it has great brand recognition, is a professional outfit and is as passionate about its fans as we are our customers.  We are proud to have the opportunity to partner with such a powerhouse in sport.”

National Rugby League (NRL) team North Queensland Cowboys have extended their partnership with principal sponsor Toyota Australia until 2017.

The three-year deal extends Toyota’s relationship with the Cowboys to 15 years, making it one of the longest running partnerships in the NRL.

Tim Easey, Regional Manager – Northern Region, representing Toyota Australia and the 10 North Queensland Toyota dealerships, said: “Toyota is delighted to be able to renew its principal sponsorship with the Cowboys for a further three years,” Mr Easey said.

“We’re very proud to have the Toyota name on the front of the North Queensland jersey and to support all that the club does for this region and rugby league in general.

“Our relationship with the Cowboys is an enduring one and we look forward to sharing in even more success stories on and off the field until at least 2017.

“Of course, our partnership with the Cowboys would not be possible without the loyal support from the North Queensland Toyota Dealer network, who have constantly shown they are right behind their NRL club.”

Toyota Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain said the club was thrilled that Toyota Australia and the Toyota Dealers of North Queensland had renewed their sponsorship and that the Toyota name would remain associated with the Cowboys.

“Re-signing with the club for a further three years is a huge endorsement from Toyota that they see great benefits from their partnership with us and reflects the confidence Toyota has in the Cowboys,” Mr Jourdain said.

“We’re honoured that this naming rights partnership with Toyota Australia and the North Queensland Toyota Dealers has now become one of the longest running in Australian sport.

“The Toyota brand is now intrinsically linked with the Cowboys and I’m sure our members and supporters are very grateful that they have once again extended their agreement with us.”

US department store Belk has announced its official sponsorship of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the SEC Network, a new multiplatform national network devoted to the conference and operated by ESPN.

With the new relationship, Belk will be the official retail department store of the SEC, giving the company exclusive access to all SEC championship events, including the SEC FanFare events held annually in conjunction with the SEC Football Championship Game and Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The new deal also gives Belk prime exposure on the forthcoming SEC Network, which will launch August 14, 2014 from the ESPN studios in Charlotte, N.C. The new network and its accompanying digital platforms will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.

“Our six-year  collaboration with the SEC Network will build upon the success we’ve seen with the Belk Bowl,” says Jon Pollack, Belk’s executive vice president of marketing, sales promotion and eCommerce. “We know that collegiate sports are an important part of the Southern lifestyle, and we are excited to further deepen our relationships with ESPN and the Southeastern Conference.”

“Belk’s support for the SEC Network combined with our cross-platform coverage will help us provide each of the 14 schools with unparalleled exposure across all local markets,” said Ed Erhardt, president of global customer marketing and sales at ESPN.

AS Roma have agreed a deal with Sky Sport Italia that will see the Serie A club take to the field for their final two games of the season with shirts bearing the media company’s logo.

With the Giallorossi set to make their return to the Champions League next season, unhealthy  Sky Italia reportedly struck the deal as a means of celebrating the club’s recent success.

Roma’s remaining fixtures see them play recently-crowned champions Juventus to the Stadio Olimpico on 11 May before they travel to Genoa on 18 May.

KV Racing Technology announced today that Hippino will be the team’s official travel partner during the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season.

The new agreement expands Hippino’s relationship with the team. In 2013, Hippino was a sponsor of the No. 11 KV Racing Technology with SH Racing car driven by Tony Kanaan. They began the 2014 season as a sponsor of the No. 11 KVSH Racing entry driven by Sebastien Bourdais.

“We are extremely pleased to have Hippino expand its relationship with KV Racing Technology,” said KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser. “Hippino is an exciting company and we are pleased to partner with them and their founder and CEO EJ Falk who I have gotten to know well during the past year.” 

Commenting on the partnership Falk said: “Hippino is extremely excited to be expanding our relationship in our second season with KV Racing Technology. Hippino has grown to include corporate travel solutions, and individual lifestyle membership benefits, as well as being the official travel partner for the team, making the partnership the perfect fit for our brand.”

IndyCar team Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that cmcglobal and DMCIndy, ambulance consulting and logistical project management companies, rx have signed as associate sponsors for the team’s race cars in the Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

cmcglobal and DMCIndy, Indianapolis-based firms, 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. Mike Conway, winner of the 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, will pilot the No.20 in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10 at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We are very pleased to bring cmcglobal and DMCIndy on board for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indy 500 with the Ed Carpenter Racing Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet car,” said Carpenter, the 2013 Indy 500 pole sitter with a speed of 228.762 miles per hour.”cmcglobal currently provides our team housing for the entire race schedule, we look forward to expanding our partnership with a leader in the logistic and event management industry and it is exciting to have another local company with our racing organization. We hope to take them to victory lane with us on May 25.”

In addition, the No. 20 car also will spot the DMCIndy logo at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indy 500. DMCIndy is “The source for everything in Indianapolis”! Their hospitality professionals possess extensive knowledge and expertise in the design implementation of events and logistics. They are highly committed to providing exceptional quality destination management services. 

“cmcglobal and DMCIndy are very excited to expand our current partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Jeff Cummings, president of cmcglobal and DMCIndy. “Ed and his team are proven winners on and off the track and we hope to be a part of another winning celebration with ECR on May 25 at the fame Brickyard.”

The first-ever Grand Prix of Indianapolis will be ran on the 2.4-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 10.

Poultry producer Butterball has announced it will sponsor 2012 IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as the Indy 500.

“I couldn’t be happier to welcome Butterball to the Andretti Autosport family as we participate in the great American tradition of racing in Indianapolis during the Month of May,” said Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport president, chairman and CEO. “We’re proud to partner with such a storied and beloved brand during this special time of year and hope to be celebrating a victory feast this Memorial Day with Butterball on our table.” 

Butterball’s sponsorship will run throughout the month of May with four-time IndyCar Series champions Andretti Autosport. Butterball, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of total turkey production in the country, will debut its branding on the No. 28 machine this week as practice for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis begins on the revamped road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Our relationship with Andretti Autosport couples two strong, iconic brands,” said Kerry Doughty, president and CEO of Butterball, LLC. “We are geared up for this program and liken the Indy 500 to Thanksgiving Day in that both occasions mark very special events that bring people together.”