PPG Architectural Coatings UK and Ireland has signed an exclusive naming rights deal for Huddersfield Town’s multi-million pound training complex on Leeds Road.

The facility, which will now be known as PPG Canalside, has recently undergone a £3.5m renovation programme and is home to the Club’s First Team and Academy, as well as being an integral sports and social hub for the local community.

As part of the agreement the facilities at the complez will be made available to all of PPG’s employees, which will provide them with the unique opportunity to enjoy first class sports and social facilities locally and mix with the Club’s players and rising stars. 

PPG general manager Steve Pocock said: “As a socially responsible business, PPG has had a long-standing commitment to the communities it operates in and this exciting agreement continues that tradition.

“From the outset, it was apparent that creating a community legacy was at the very forefront of the Club’s thinking and this was something that ties in with our approach as a business.

“This partnership provides both PPG and Huddersfield Town with a fantastic opportunity to work together to give something back to the local community, as well as our own staff, and we can wait to get started.”

Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle added: “Much like PPG, we’re an organisation that is rooted firmly in the local community and we take the responsibility that comes with that incredibly seriously.

“Creating a legacy has been integral to the Canalside project and by partnering with a business that is as socially aware as we are will ensure the facility is used by the community for years to come.

“This is a hugely exciting partnership for both parties and I know the combined teams are working on a number of exciting initiatives to be rolled out to the local community in the coming weeks and months.”

Swedish car maker Volvo have teamed up with international soccer icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a new TV advertisement.

Ibrahimovic stars in a new advertisement for Volvo Cars set to premiere on January 25. The film clip is part of a project that the car manufacturer calls “a celebration of Sweden”. 

“Volvo is part of a globalised world, patient but it is in Sweden we get our power and inspiration. This is something we have in common with Zlatan,” said Anders Gustafsson, CEO of Volvo Cars Sweden, in a press release. 

Volvo refers to the project as a result of the collaboration between “two Swedish giants”. 

“Sweden is a country of diversity. Steep mountains, tangled forests, long distances, snow, sun, darkness, rain and ice. It shapes us and gives us unique qualities,” writes Volvo on its Facebook page. 

Zlatan tweeted about the film clip on Friday: 

“I find strength in the wilderness. Together with Volvo … I celebrate Sweden.”

Rhode Island-based lifestyle company Alex and Ani have announced a new marketing partnership with NBA franchise New York Knickerbockers (Knicks).

The agreement will provide Alex and Ani with premier brand exposure at Madison Square Garden during select Knicks games as well as exclusive activation with the Knicks City Dancers.

“We are excited to welcome Alex and Ani as a new marketing partner of the New York Knicks. This first-time partnership will provide the fast-growing lifestyle company with the opportunity to align with two of our world-class brands — the Knicks and Knicks City Dancers — to extend their reach into the sports world, sick ” said Ron Skotarczak, executive vice president of marketing partnerships, The Madison Square Garden Company.

The core activation for the marketing partnership is with the Knicks City Dancers, who will make several public appearances to showcase the jewelry line. The appearances will be chronicled and promoted on the Dancers webpage. In addition, Alex and Ani will enjoy brand integration at Madison Square Garden during select Knicks games, including courtside and additional in-Arena LED signage.

“We are honored to work with such an elite partner and brand, the New York Knicks, through our Marketing department,” stated Alex and Ani CEO Giovanni Feroce. “It is a natural fit for the Alex and Ani lifestyle brand to support a beloved team and we look forward to continuing our partnership throughout the season.”

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The University of Notre Dame have announced today a new multi-year partnership with Under Armour.

As part of the 10-year agreement, Under Armour will exclusively design and supply the footwear, apparel and equipment for training and game-day uniforms for each of the university’s men’s and women’s varsity athletics teams.

“Notre Dame is the standard-bearer of excellence in collegiate athletics and is one of the most recognizable and admired universities in the world,” said Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank. “It’s an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to dedicate our passion and innovation for making athletes better into this game-changing partnership.  We look forward to collaborating with the university’s administration, athletic department, student-athletes, alumni and its powerful fan base to uphold the Fighting Irish’schampionship pedigree.”

In addition to outfitting Fighting Irish athletic teams, the brand plans to integrate the university into its wide-ranging story-telling efforts, including global marketing campaigns, social media initiatives, in-store promotions and grassroots activations.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Under Armour.  It is a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes in a number of ways,” said University Vice President and Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick. “The most obvious of those relates to quality and quantity of the world-class footwear, apparel and equipment Notre Dame will be able to provide to its student-athletes.  And in as much as this represents the largest financial commitment ever made by a brand to a university, it will provide the critical resources we need to enable our student-athletes to compete at the highest levels.”

“But perhaps what makes me most excited is the overall level of commitment and partnership as reflected in what may be the most wide-ranging overall relationship anywhere in college athletics. That is demonstrated in both the term of the agreement and the unique feature that makes Notre Dame a shareholder in Under Armour,” Swarbrick continued.  “It is reflected in a shared desire to collaborate in areas such as sport technology, product development, and athlete performance.”

“Our coaches and student-athletes look forward not only to using Under Armour’s standard-setting performance footwear, uniforms, practice gear, and equipment—but also to working side by side with Under Armour to help make those products even better.”

Love’s Travel Stops has expanded its partnership with Front Row Motorsports for the 2014 NASCAR season.

They will sponsor the Sprint Cup Series team for 14 races on David Gilliland’s No. 38 Ford. Fans will first see the return of the bright yellow, red and black paint scheme at the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Love’s Travel Stops first teamed up with Front Row Motorsports in 2013, sponsoring three races in the company’s first venture into NASCAR. Gilliland pushed the brand to the center of attention at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in May, when his Love’s Travel Stops Ford shoved teammate David Ragan to the front of the field to earn Front Row’s first victory in a 1-2 Ragan-Gilliland finish.

“Our partnership with Front Row Motorsports is incredibly valuable to us,” said Jenny Love Meyer, vice president of communications for Love’s. “It’s a positive venue to highlight the Fast, Clean, Friendly service Love’s is known for, and our customers have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. For our 50th anniversary year, we are thrilled to be back in NASCAR in a bigger way with Front Row and David Gilliland.”

Team owner Bob Jenkins believes the year-to-year renewal – and expansion – of team partnerships like Love’s is a testament to the growth of the Front Row team and the value it provides to its sponsors.

“This partnership with Love’s is a perfect example of how our program works and why it’s so successful,” Jenkins said. “They got their feet wet last season, saw the benefits of a partnership with Front Row Motorsports, and now they’re expanding their involvement. And we couldn’t be happier that the No. 38 car has a principal sponsor who will be with us throughout the season.”

“This is a personal partnership for me,” said Gilliland. “My family and I travel in our motorhome all over, and we always stop at Love’s Travel Stops. We can always find one whenever we need one, they have everything we need and the service is great. We’re all excited that we’re going to be part of the Love’s family again for another year, and it’s going to be bigger and better.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season opens with the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 23.