The San Francisco Giants have extended their partnership with Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) for a further five-years 

The deal includes sponsorship of the iconic right-field wall at AT&T Park known as Levi’s Landing.

The Giants and the Levi’s brand, two hometown icons, have had a great partnership connecting with fans since 2006. The Levi’s brand has been synonymous with the park’s right-field wall which is known for its sweeping views of San Francisco Bay’s McCovey Cove and is the site of the water cannons, flying the Levi’s logo and shooting water hundreds of feet into the air after each Giants home run. Levi’sLanding is also a focal point for players and fans alike who hope to witness the hitting of a homerun ball over the wall and into McCovey Cove.

“The San Francisco Giants and the Levi’s brand are two iconic bay area organizations sharing a common thread in engaging passionate players and fans,” said Levi’s Brand President, James Curleigh. “We couldn’t be more proud to renew our commitment with the San Francisco Giants in an effort to build on our legacy and an even stronger partnership over the next five years.”

“We are extremely proud that this new agreement will ensure that one of baseball’s oldest franchises and one of the world’s most iconic apparel brands will continue to partner in their shared hometown of San Francisco. It is an honor for us to connect with our fans through a brand that continues to define our lifestyle today,” said Larry Baer, Giants president and chief executive officer.

The deal grants the Levi’s brand signage on the 25-foot high brick right field wall, branding on the Splash Hit Counter, branding on the banners above Levi’s Landing and branding on the 501′ distance marker in the Fan Lot in Left Centerfield.

As part of the new agreement, the Giants will be rebranding their “casual Friday” policy to “Levi’s Casual Fridays” encouraging employees, including players and coaches, to sport their Levi’s jeans on Fridays.

The Levi’s brand announced the agreement renewal today during an employee meeting. As part of the presentation, employees were surprised with appearances from Giants President and CEO Larry Baer, players Brandon Belt and Javier Lopez and the team mascot, Lou Seal.

As previously announced, the Levi’s brand is connecting with another Bay Area sports icon as part of its recent naming rights partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.

 

The Port Adelaide Football Club have announced EnergyAustralia as a new joint major partner under a multi-year deal connecting one of Australia’s leading electricity and gas retailers with one of Australia’s most successful sporting organisations.

The partnership marks the first time EnergyAustralia has joined an AFL club as a partner demonstrating the confidence it has in Port Adelaide’s growth and direction.

EnergyAustralia’s commitment to Port Adelaide will not only see its striking green logo appear on the front of the Power’s home guernsey in the AFL but also on the front of the iconic black-and-white jumper worn by the Magpies in the SANFL.

Port Adelaide Chairman David Koch said the club was proud to partner with such a highly regarded and successful national company.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club is delighted to welcome EnergyAustralia as our new joint major partner, generic ” Mr Koch said.

“As a club we not only play on the national sporting stage but also on the national corporate stage in order to achieve our core vision of winning premierships and being a major contributor to our community.

“A new partnership with EnergyAustralia less than twelve months after announcing our partnership with Renault gives our club great commercial credibility with two major national brands on our AFL guernsey for the first time ever.

“The most pleasing aspect of this partnership with EnergyAustralia is that it extends well beyond the football field.

“Sure the partnership provides us with financial strength and stability to continue to evolve our football program in the pursuit of sustained on field success but most significantly it will allow us to continue to expand our industry leading community programs.

“The community program that EnergyAustralia is particularly keen in helping us support is the Power to End Hunger program. EnergyAustralia is very passionate about working with us to achieve our ultimate goal with Foodbank to end hunger here in South Australia.”

Mr Koch said the club had been in discussions with EnergyAustralia for several months and it was clear throughout the negotiations that both organisations shared the same philosophies and values.

“By the time we were having all our meaningful conversations regarding the partnership EnergyAustralia had already done their due diligence on the Port Adelaide Football Club and what we stand for, order ” Mr Koch said.

“What they liked about us was our never ever, give up attitude, our involvement in the community and our united Member-driven philosophy.

“It was clear to us that they wanted to partner a club that not only shared those same philosophies but also held integrity in the highest regard. They felt we were the perfect fit for them and we felt they were the perfect fit for us. We could not be happier that they have partnered our club moving forward.”

Mr Koch said another highlight of the partnership was that EnergyAustralia would also partner the Magpies in the SANFL competition.

“All throughout our discussions it has been clear that EnergyAustralia want to embrace the whole of the Port Adelaide Football Club – the Power in the AFL and the Magpies in the SANFL – which is a powerful ingredient of our One Club culture,” Mr Koch said.

“For the first time the Port Adelaide Football Club will have the same logo of a joint major partner on the front of our home Power guernsey in the AFL and on the front of our famous black-and-white guernsey in the SANFL. We think that is pretty special.

“EnergyAustralia are partnering the Magpies because they not only want to be associated at the elite level of football with the Power but also at the grass roots level with the Magpies to assist with the development of our younger players from local communities,” Mr Koch said.

Ireland’s Grand Slam winning women’s rugby team has a new sponsor in the shape of Aon Insurance.

The company, which famously sponsors Manchester United, has signed on to sponsor Phillip Doyle’s team on a three-year deal. 

The sponsorship, which is the first of its kind for the women’s senior team, will see the Aon logo displayed on the jersey for the first time as Ireland take on Scotland in the first game of their RBS 6 Nations defence tomorrow in Ashbourne.

Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship, IRFU President Pat Fitzgerald said: “We are delighted to welcome Aon to the Irish rugby family and especially pleased that it is our Women’s team that they have decided to put their support behind.

“Women’s rugby has grown strongly and the success of our women in the RBS 6 Nations has been fantastic for the sport. Now, with a strong partner like Aon we are confident the growth of our women’s game will go from strength to strength.”

Richard Endersen, Chief Executive Officer , Aon Ireland, said: “Aon has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Irish Rugby Football Union for many years. That is why we are delighted and honoured to have been selected as the first-ever sponsors of the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team.”

Women’s Captain Fiona Coghlan, said: “It is fantastic that Aon have given their backing to the women’s game as it is a real recognition of the hard work that everyone involved in the game has put in over the year, which ultimately resulted in our 6 Nations win last year.

“As we head into the defence of our RBS 6 Nations championship we are very proud to have such a strong partner on our Irish jersey.”

Texas Tech University Softball have announced a partnership with Combat, look a subsidiary of Bauer Performance Sports (BPS) and a leading designer and manufacturer of elite composite baseball and softball bats, medicine in a new three-year partnership.

COMBAT will continue to be the official supplier of elite softball bats and accessory products to Red Raiders Softball.

The Red Raiders play Division I in the Big 12 Conference and are led by Head Coach Shanon Hays. Over the program’s 23 seasons, the team has made five NCAA Regional appearances, including in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“We are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Coach Hays and the Texas Tech Red Raiders softball program,” said Don Cooper, USA Director of Sales and Marketing for Combat. “Teams that renew multi-year agreements are teams that are happy with the products’ performance and overall quality. This signing is further evidence of Combat’s market-leading bat technology and growing reputation for delivering the largest sweetspot/core performance zone in the industry. Our bats provide a performance at the plate that the players want.”

Coming off a fourth consecutive season in which the Red Raiders had 30 wins or more, Head Coach Hays has high expectations for his team leading into 2013-2014.

“I believe Combat has a cutting edge bat line that will help our players exceed expectations at the plate,” said Head Coach Hays. “This is why it was an easy decision to renew our agreement to have them as the exclusive bat for our players for the next three years. I expect our ball club to be very strong at the plate this season and Combat bats will be instrumental in that success.”

Elite amateur league, ambulance the National Conference League have announced a partnership with Kingstone Press for a new sponsorship deal for 2014. 

Already the title sponsor of the Kingstone Press Championships, generic an Official Partner of the England Rugby League team, health and a partner in the Rugby League World Cup  at the end of 2013, Kingstone Press will be the main sponsor of the NCL and support them in their development of the sport at the grassroots level. 

NCL Chairman Trevor Hunt stated: “The NCL, its clubs and its players have long set the standards that the rest of the community game aspire to achieve and our partnership with such a nationally well-known brand as Kingstone Press will only serve to enhance the profile of the brand, the NCL and the sport.” 

The deal will see the Aston Manor Cider brand visible online, at stadia, and on matchdays with programme advertising. 

Already the largest independent cider maker in the UK Aston Manor Cider sees Kingstone Press as a brand with significant potential. 

Managing Director Gordon Johncox said, “Kingstone Press is an important brand for Aston Manor, and a quality product with considerable potential. 

“We made the decision a year ago to align the brand with the exciting, popular and growing sport of Rugby League and are delighted with the results delivered by that investment. 

“Being able to also partner with the National Conference League extends the opportunity we have, and will demonstrate to Rugby League fans that we are committed to a sport we know they are so passionate about – as are we.” 

Trevor Hunt said: “We are delighted to have the chance to work with Aston Manor Cider. 

“As a major brand, Kingstone Press has rapidly become a key supporter of Rugby League from the grassroots to the elite international level. 

“With the experience and investment they bring we can develop the game and support some exhilarating competition across all NCL divisions. However it would be remiss of me not to thank our sponsors of the past six seasons, Hatton’s Solicitors for their unwavering and valuable support, which has been extremely welcome and played an integral part in the continued success of the League. We wish them every success in the future.” 

Gordon Johncox explained what else is planned. “We are excited with the platform that is delivered by working with our partners in Rugby League and how we can develop activities for both on-trade and take home markets. 

“We will invest in support of our sponsorship properties so that we engage with fans attending the matches, those watching live broadcasts in pubs and at home and particularly those new to this major sport. 

“Rugby League delivers an enormous audience and working with our routes to market we intend to extend the reach and enjoyment of a fast, exciting and authentic spectacle.” 

Hunt added, “It is an exciting opportunity for the NCL to further develop its own brand with a sponsor that has demonstrated considerably over the past few years its total commitment to the sport of Rugby League. It is a sponsorship for 2014, but we are hopeful that the partnership forged over the next 12 months may bring further mutually beneficial arrangements for the future.”

The Australian Rugby Union today announced that global logistics firm TNT Express has extended its decade-long partnership with Australian Rugby Union for another three years until the end of 2016.

TNT Express’ managing director – Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Bob Black, said: “We’re excited to continue our longstanding partnership with the Australian Rugby Union as they up the ante on recruitment and retention. As a global business we know the importance of having the best players in a team for success and we’re looking forward to the implementation of the new plan.

“One of our core qualities is to build local and global partnerships while delivering the orange customer experience, and this season the referees will be as prominent as ever in their bright orange jerseys.

“It goes without saying that referees play an integral role in a game of rugby, and without them there is no game. Our ‘Sure we can’ philosophy to support referees is our contribution to the game.”

TNT Express’ support of match officials includes sponsoring Super Rugby referees in Australia and working with the Australian Rugby Union to develop a Referee Mentoring Program and a Referee Recognition Program.

“TNT Express is very proud of its continued support of the Australian Rugby Union through its sponsorship of the Super Rugby Referees,” Mr Black said.

“TNT Express shares the same priority with the Australian Rugby Union for its focus on recruiting women into a predominantly male industry. Our Women in Transport campaign targets women into the non-stereotypical roles of drivers and dockhands – and it’s a campaign that we’re passionate about and will continue to drive into the future.

“There are a lot of parallels between what we do as a business and the discipline, professionalism and drive for continual improvement shown by Super Rugby referees.

“Rugby referees need to adapt quickly and manage the flow of the game under pressure, not unlike the ever-changing environment transport and logistics companies like TNT Express find themselves in.”

Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver thanked TNT Express for its ongoing support of Australian Rugby.

“I am delighted that TNT Express is continuing its support of referees at Australian Super Rugby matches and I am excited by their commitment to create a number of unique programs for our match officials.

“Match officials are essential to our game and ensure it is played according to our values, particularly respect. We appreciate having a partner like TNT Express that supports and invests in referees from the grassroots through to the elite level.”