Acer Signs on with LPGA

The Ladies Players Golf Association (LPGA) has announced the addition of Acer, apoplectic | a world-leading information and communication technology company as one of its marketing partners.

Acer, which is ranked No. 2 for notebooks globally, will have brand activation and advertising opportunities at 12 LPGA events in 2013 and will build on their already sound presence in women’s golf. Earlier this season, Acer signed on as the presenting sponsor for this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic, which was held in May outside Atlantic City, NJ and won by LPGA and World Golf Halls of Famer Karrie Webb.

“Acer seeks opportunities to connect with our target customers around the world and one of the most engaging ways to achieve this is through sports,” said Kim Phipps, director, Global Marketing and Brand for Acer.” The LPGA is truly international with events and broadcasts reaching millions of golf fans in many countries where Acer is present, making the relationship a natural fit.”

The company has also provided direct support of the world’s best golfers on a personal level. Acer named Taiwanese superstar and former world No. 1 Yani Tseng as its Global Brand Ambassador in 2012. Acer has a long history in junior golf that began in 2002 when Acer partnered with the Taiwan Golf Association to create the Acer Golf Program for junior players.

“Acer has been a great supporter of women’s golf and we are pleased to welcome them to the LPGA family,” said Jon Podany, LPGA Chief Marketing Officer. “We appreciate their support of Yani Tseng and we were excited to have them as a presenting sponsor at this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic. It’s great to see them build on that with an expanded partnership with the LPGA. They are the kind of global brand that is a terrific fit with Golf’s Global Tour.”

BragBet Becomes Official Betting Partner of Football Association of Ireland

Irish online betting and social networking company BragBet has become the official betting partner to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Irish national football team.

Commenting about the deal, site BragBet CEO, order Phil Riordan said; “We are absolutely delighted to sign this deal with the FAI and become the official betting sponsors of the Irish national team. As someone who has a background in football, I am delighted to see that this deal will help the growth of football across the country. This is an exciting time for BragBet and for the game in Ireland. Hopefully, our work together will promote the Boys in Green and generate more interest in the Irish game. We are really looking forward to announcing a grassroots initiative together to put money back into clubs throughout Ireland in the coming weeks.”

Making the announcement, FAI CEO John Delaney said: “I would like to welcome BragBet as official betting partner of the FAI. The partnership will give us a great platform for further promotion of the game and will provide funding to support the work that we are doing on many levels to grow Irish football.”

BragBet, a dynamic entrant to the social media marketplace, is backed by Telefonica, amongst others. 

UFC Champion Cain Velasquez to Endorse GM Titanium

Current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has become the new brand ambassador for alcoholic beverage GM Titanium.  

As Brand Ambassador for GM Titanium, Velasquez will make personal appearances at events, spread the word about GM Titanium via his social media, and lend his name and likeness to marketing materials.

“In creating GM Titanium, we envisioned it as a real game changing brand,” says R. Scott Green, SVP of Marketing and Sales for the House of Marnier Lapostolle. “Cain Velasquez personifies the essence of the brand; he’s a true Titan. Through his audacious and ambitious spirit, Cain has proven that he can rise through the ranks and emerge at the top through all adversities.”

“In the ring, as with everything in my life, I strive to be the best and to do so on my own terms,” said Velasquez. “I am honored to team up with GM Titanium, a product that is truly breaking the status quo to create a spirit unparalleled in smoothness and taste.”

Launching in select markets in August 2013, GM Titanium is a revolutionary new spirit from the House of Marnier Lapostolle, producers of the iconic Grand Marnier brand but contains no sugar. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sign PODS Sponsorship

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced today a partnership with PODS Moving & Storage who have signed on as a sponsor in a multi-year agreement. 

As part of the agreement, drugs PODS will also have the opportunity to join the team in some of its many community efforts.

“The Buccaneers always enjoy forming partnerships with local businesses, and PODS Moving and Storage, headquartered in Clearwater, is a perfect example of our commitment to our local business community,” said Buccaneers Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer. “We are pleased to not only have a new sponsor, but also an official provider for our team’s moving and storage needs.” 

“PODS is very excited about our new relationship with our hometown Bucs,” said Ann Lehman, Senior VP of Operations for PODS, Enterprises, Inc.  “Not only are we looking forward to providing them with moving and storage services, we see it as a great charitable partnership platform that will help both of us give back to the community. We look forward to supporting the Bucs as they enter an exciting season.”

Shell Named Presenting Sponsor of US Grand Prix Fan Festival

Circuit of The Americas has announced a new partnership with Shell to ignite excitement around the 2013 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix by offering Austin Fan Fest fueled by Shell, impotent an interactive, remedy four-day festival presented free to the public Nov. 14-17.

The lively street festival, now in its second year, will feature an expanded footprint encompassing most of downtown Austin’s renowned Warehouse and 2nd Street entertainment districts.

“We enjoyed a remarkable response to our inaugural Austin Fan Fest last November with 220,000 guests attending over three days and look forward to building on that foundation this year with the help of our new presenting sponsor, Shell,” Circuit of The Americas President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Sexton said.

“We’re creating a larger festival footprint this year with more diverse activities and entertainment options, and we’re opening one day earlier to accommodate arriving race fans. Whether you’re a racing enthusiast, casual sports fan, music lover—or just looking for an interesting way to experience the Austin entertainment scene—Austin Fan Fest fueled by Shell will appeal to you. A key focus will again be live music, with six stages scattered throughout the festival area, as well as a number of interactive fan-engagement zones and lots of activities for race fans and families.”

“Shell has competed in Formula 1 for years; and Austin Fan Fest is a way of connecting people, passion and performance around Formula 1’s spectacular, cutting edge innovations,” said Shell Oil Company President Marvin Odum. “We’re about better, more efficient, ever cleaner fuels and lubricants for our customers. There are few better places to show that off than at a Grand Prix in our own back yard.”

SKINS to Sponsor Ironman Champion Kevin Collington

SKINS Compression, healing a gradient compression sportswear brand, view has forged a partnership with Kevin Collington, the reigning Ironman 70.3 US Pro Champion.

Under the new deal, SKINS will support Collington through the Ironman 70.3 World Championships held on Sunday 8 September in Henderson, Nevada, and beyond.

SKINS will provide the decorated triathlete ‘with the latest technology-driven compression garments known to best support proper muscle function, help prevent injury and aid in active recovery during the most extreme physical conditions.’

This latest sponsor deal follows another long-course-athlete-alliance, confirmed back in February this year, with reigning Ironman World Champion and Ironman 70.3 World Champ Leanda Cave.

“As an extreme athlete who competes frequently, I have to perform at my very best while training day in and day out,” said Kevin Collington, professional triathlete and SKINS ambassador. “And optimal recovery is the key to putting my best on the line.”

He added, “For this reason, I have been looking to SKINS in preparation for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships – the brand’s revolutionary compression and recovery wear has allowed my body to push its limits without injury and be competitive with the world’s best athletes.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Kevin not only because of his reputation as one of the best triathletes in the sport, but because his passion, dedication and relentless approach to performance truly align with our brand,” said Johnny West, General Manager of SKINS North America.

“Leading into the 70.3 World Championships this weekend, we will be cheering for Kevin, who is predicted to be a leader in the competition. It truly gives us at SKINS the utmost satisfaction when we can support such a top-notch athlete through the products we engineer.”

Adidas Returns as Kit Suppliers for Feyenoord

Feyenoord have announced a new five-year deal starting from the 2014-2015 season for adidas to return as kit suppliers for the Dutch Eredivisie side.

adidas replaces Puma, medstore which has been Feyenoord’s apparel sponsor since the 2009-2010 season. Feyenoord last wore adidas between 1991 and 2000. 

Feyenoord’s commercial director Mark Koevermans is delighted to welcome adidas back to Feyenoord.

“adidas is the number one football brand worldwide, impotent ” he says. “It’s also a no-nonsense company that is a very good fit for Feyenoord. The partnership felt right for us the moment we started discussions with adidas.”

Paul Boerboom, general manager of adidas Benelux, added: “We are especially proud and happy to return to Feyenoord. Both the city of Rotterdam and the club Feyenoord are a fantastic fit for adidas. The policy that Feyenoord pursues, by getting to the top with young players it brings through itself, appeals to us hugely. We hope to experience a successful time together with Feyenoord.”

With the arrival of adidas Feyenoord will introduce a new distribution model for official club apparel. From the summer of 2014 the shirts, strips, training apparel and other Feyenoord/adidas sports clothing will be exclusively available through the official Feyenoord sales channels, that is the Feyenoord Fan Shops and the Feyenoord Online Fan Shop.

Sunderland Reveal NIP+MAN as Official Male Grooming Partner

NIP+MAN has become the official male grooming partner of Sunderland AFC.

NIP+MAN’s logo will appear across the Stadium of Light’s dugouts, capsule showcasing the brand to a potential audience of millions through the international TV platform. Sunderland AFC’s players will also be using the range of products.

SAFC’s commercial director, discount Gary Hutchinson, shop sale said: “As a bespoke male grooming product, football offers NIP+MAN a fantastic platform on which to increase the reach of their fledgling brand and access their target audience. We are pleased to welcome NIP+MAN to Sunderland AFC and look forward to working with them.”

Stratis Hatzistefanis, Co-Founder of NIP+MAN, said: “We are over the moon to be partnering with Sunderland AFC, our first partnership in the sporting industry. We look forward to introducing Sunderland fans to our brand-new male grooming products and raising the awareness of NIP+MAN.”

Launched in May 2013,  NIP+MAN is a men’s grooming range designed to target everyday skin and body concerns, ranging from tired skin, sore muscles and ab sculpting.

Lotus F1 Revs Up for Italian GP with Emaar Properties

With the 2013 F1 Italian Grand Prix this weekend, Lotus have announced a new two-year sponsorship deal with Emaar Properties.

The agreement with the Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company is for two years and will see Emaar enjoy a presence on the team’s E21 car, in addition to a range of other Lotus F1 Team ‘marketing collateral’. Emaar logos will appear on the E21 for the first time on Friday, when practice commences at Monza.

The deal follows on from recent new partnerships with brands such as Microsoft, Unilever [Clear and Rexona] and The Coca-Cola Company [burn].

“We are delighted to begin this new relationship with Emaar Properties; particularly as the UAE has been a fruitful location for us on track with Kimi Raikkonen winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” said team principal, Eric Boullier.

“That victory truly confirmed that Lotus F1 Team as one of the foremost outfits in F1 and we have continued our strong performances this season. With this new partnership with the developer of such iconic projects as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, we are looking forward to some home support as we race in the UAE once again this year. We are also very excited to see how this partnership will further enhance Lotus F1 Team’s brand value.”

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, added: “F1 brings man, mind and machine together in one exciting journey to perfection. The minute attention to details, the passion and commitment, and the determination of every participant to push the boundaries are values that have also set Emaar apart, as we challenged accepted norms to develop world-class projects such as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

“Our partnership with Lotus F1 Team, a remarkable team with impeccable credentials in the racing circuit, is therefore a perfect fit to our own values. As they race at the F1 Championship circuits across the world, we are truly honoured to extend our support to the Lotus F1 Team, while also engaging with our international clientele and further defining the global identity of our brand.”

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London Irish Announce Pitmans as New Short Sponsors

London Irish have inked a two-year sponsorship deal with Thames Valley based law firm, capsule Pitmans LLP.

Under the agreement, Pitmans’ familiar logo will appear on the left leg on the back of the shorts in all Aviva Premiership, LV=Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup fixtures.

Christopher Avery (pictured left), Managing Partner of Pitmans said: “Sponsoring London Irish is a perfect fit for us. Like us, London Irish are a major brand in Reading and widely known across the Thames Valley and beyond. They have a strong, loyal supporter base which will provide even greater awareness of our practice. We believe in investing in regional brands for the benefit of the Thames Valley and all wish London Irish a successful 2013 season. Rugby Union is enjoying a growing profile with the recent Lions series victory and the Rugby World Cup in 2015, taking place in the UK.”

London Irish Chief Executive, Andy Martin, added: “We look forward to working with Pitmans. They are the premier legal practice in the Thames Valley and will help us connect to other leading businesses in the area. They are an established business that share many of our values and understand the importance of working with a local sports club.”