Leading technology provider Vixlet has secured today a strategic partnership with the the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)  that allows fans to socially connect with players, tournaments and other passionate fans worldwide.

It will be Vixlet first partnership with an international sports league.

“Vixlet’s innovative technology and state-of-the-art platform aligns perfectly with our strategic goal to continue to grow our international fan base,” said WTA Chairman and CEO, Stacey Allaster. “The partnership with Vixlet will support stronger fan engagement and provide a natural extension to our existing digital properties to help share exciting stories through our social channels.”

“The WTA is a global leader in sports entertainment and we are excited to develop this relationship, introducing Vixlet to both casual and avid tennis fans around world,” said Vixlet CEO Lisa Gopala.

“The WTA will utilize leading-edge features of Vixlet built around its key assets including, players and tournaments, for a best in class fan engagement experience” said Vixlet Chairman Krishna Gopala.

The deal follows Vixlet’s partnership with the Miami Dolphins announced last week. 

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SPEEDO USA, a division of PVH Corp. has signed an extension of its long-time partnership with 12-time Olympic medalist and 20-time World Champion Natalie Coughlin through 2016.

One of the most decorated and versatile female swimmers of all time, Coughlin has worn Speedo swimwear her entire career and will continue to represent the brand on the road to Rio and beyond. As part of the partnership, Coughlin will continue her role as part of an athlete advisory group to the SPEEDO Aqualab, the brand’s high-performance research and development center, and will also use her expertise to help SPEEDO USA further reach the ever-growing swim fitness community. 

Team Speedo star since 2004, Coughlin is aiming to make her fourth Olympic team in 2016, where she could become the single-most decorated American female Olympic athlete of all time – Coughlin is currently tied with Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson with 12 Olympic medals earned in three Olympic Games; she is represented by Janey Miller at Octagon.

“I’m excited to continue my longtime partnership with SPEEDO,” said Coughlin. “I have been a part of the SPEEDO family since I started swimming professionally– and wore SPEEDO long before that and their support both in and out of the pool has helped me become the swimmer I am today.”

“SPEEDO is proud to continue our 10+ year relationship with Natalie,” said Jim Gerson, President of SPEEDO USA. “Not only is she one of the most decorated swimmers and Olympic athletes of all time, but she is truly one of the greatest ambassadors the sport of swimming has ever seen.”

Indian online travel agency Yatra.com has announced its partnership with Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals as official travel partner.

Through this association, recipe Yatra.com aims at reaching out to millions of IPL fans by leveraging the cricket fever in the country.

Yatra.com CEO Dhruv Shringi said: “We are delighted to partner with Rajasthan Royals and ride the IPL wave this season. Yatra is about creating ‘happy travelers’ and offering complete commitment and dedication to customers and partners. This partnership is a great fit as the Rajasthan Royals brand ethos resonates closely with our own.”

Commenting on the partnership, discount Rajasthan Royals CEO Raghu Iyer added: “Rajasthan Royals is pleased to partner with a leading online travel company like Yatra.com, as the team’s official travel partner. We trust that this will mark the beginning of a long and fruitful journey for both organisations in the time to come.”

British automotive lubricants brand Castrol has announced today the extension of a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the National Football League (NFL).

The agreement renews the Castrol EDGE status as the official motor oil sponsor of the NFL through March 2017– continuing the relationship that began in 2010.

“Castrol is thrilled to renew a multi-year sponsorship with the NFL, following the success of our initial sponsorship deal,” saidCarolyn Eckert, Director of Integrated Marketing for Castrol. “Castrol is committed to delivering strong engine performance and NFL fans have truly connected with our ‘Driven Stronger’ message.  We look forward to continuing that engagement with millions of NFL fans both on and off the field.”

As a sponsor of the NFL, Castrol will be present across a number of NFL platforms, including NFL game broadcasts, NFL Network, NFL Mobile and NFL.com.

Castrol is renewing this sponsorship on the heels of a successful multi-year deal that promoted the “Driven Stronger” brand through multiple channels such as videos, advertising, social media, on-site activations and the use of official brand ambassador Adrian Peterson, running back for the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL highlighted the best “Driven Stronger” players by position each week of the season on NFL.com to provide fans with information on some of the best players around the league.

“We are pleased to continue working with Castrol to reach our fans year round in authentic and innovative ways,” said Renie Anderson, NFL senior vice president of sponsorship and partnership management. “Castrol provides unique and interactive experiences that have resonated with football fans across the country. We are very proud of the relationship to date and excited about the future.”

During the multi-year sponsorship, the brand will maintain category exclusivity in the motor oil and related lubricants field.

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NASCAR has announced it has reached a multi-year agreement to renew its official partnership with Safety-Kleen.

The company will continue as the Official Environmental Services Supplier of NASCAR.

Safety-Kleen, abortion an Official NASCAR Partner since 2004, provides onsite trackside support with its cleaning products and through its oil recycling and re-refining services at more than 200 NASCAR-sanctioned races a year. This ensures all cleaning solvents, oil, fluids and lubricants used in NASCAR racing are recaptured and re-used into useable products. 

“Safety-Kleen’s efforts at-track each and every race weekend has greatly contributed to NASCAR owning the largest recycling program in sports,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “Simply stated, Safety-Kleen has been a staple in our sport for years, and we are thrilled to extend our Official Partnership.” 

“Safety-Kleen’s relationship with NASCAR is ideal for our customers and its fans. Safety-Kleen collects all used fluids from the tracks during race weekends – and from most team facilities year round – and then recycles or responsibly disposes of those fluids,” said Curt Knapp, Safety-Kleen executive vice president, marketing and oil re-refining sales. “This ‘closed-loop’ philosophy is by far the most environmentally responsible approach to handling these fluids.” 

British footwear brand Chatham has announced it will sponsor the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week with the signing of an extended partnership for a further two years.

As part of the sponsorship deal Chatham will showcase its used summer range in the retail arena at the regatta. The sponsorship of the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week gives Chatham the opportunity to highlight its ongoing work with Sahara Force India F1.

Philip Marsh, troche Managing Director of Chatham, ampoule commented: “Chatham has a fantastic relationship with Cowes and the extension of our sponsorship for a further two years really highlights this. It reflects two great British brands working together and I look forward to exhibiting in August.”

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) have named Pacifico as its official U.S. beer sponsor, allergy participating in elite Tour events at Huntington Beach, malady Lower Trestles, symptoms | Honolua Bay and the Banzai Pipeline.

“We’re very pleased to announce the ASP’s partnership with Pacifico,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “Pacifico is a brand that is synonymous with the enjoyment and celebration of beach culture and a partnership with the world’s best surfers is a very good fit. We’re excited to have Pacifico sign on as the official beer of the ASP in the U.S.”

“We’ve been on some amazing adventures with some very talented surfers in our history and we’re thrilled to broaden our support of surfing as the official beer of the ASP in the U.S.,” Jim Sabia from Pacifico said. “Pacifico’s ASP partnership will enable us to continue creating experiences and stories for surfers and fans of the sport who share our laid-back lifestyle.”

“Pacifico will be at every WCT event in the U.S., hosting fan experiences at contest sites and throughout the local areas,” Jim continued. “The beer that was originally brought to the U.S. by surfers will also partner with endemic brands to celebrate the events, adding to the nightlife with great music, good vibes and cold beer.“

“Pacifico shares the ASP’s goals of bringing surfing to more American fans and helping the sport to grow alongside its endemic partners, and we’re excited to drop in,” Jim added.