India will not be hosting a European Tour event next year after their sole event lost their main sponsors.

The Avantha Group, decease an Indian business conglomerate, decided against renewing their sponsorship for the $2.3 million Avantha Masters citing difficult economic conditions.

The Avantha Group had been the sponsors of the tri-sanctioned event in New Delhi for the last four years but it would no longer be sponsoring the prestigious tournament from next season. 

“Having successfully hosted the prestigious Avantha Masters for four consecutive years, the Avantha Group has concluded that in order to attract top talent, both the timing of the event in the golf calendar along with a substantial prize money increase will be required,” the company said in a statement. 

“Given the current economic conditions, the Avantha Group has concluded that this is not the appropriate moment to do so and has therefore not renewed its contract with the European Tour,” it added. 

India is going through its worst economic crisis in decades and it has affected various sporting events like Indian Premier League and Indian badminton League as well. 

Avantha Group, however, said: “We are very satisfied in the conduct of the European Tour and would continue to explore other golf events and formats. 

“We reiterate our firm commitment to the development and growth of professional golf in India.” 

With Avantha Masters out of the Indian calender from next year, the country will now be hosting just three Asian Tour events: the $ 1.25 million Indian Open and two $ 300,000 tournaments — the SAIL-SBI Open and the Panasonic Open.

Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc., has announced an exclusive fan photo partnership with the University of Southern California (USC), for its 2013 college football games at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  

USC is the latest to join the ranks of over a dozen marquee NCAA athletic institutions that now use Brand Affinity’s fan activation services.

Beginning this Saturday, September 7, Brand Affinity’s FanPhotos activation platform will be deployed at each home game. Roving professional photographers will interact with the crowd before, during and after the game to capture memorable moments with family and friends. Fans will then be able to view their photos online, enhance with customizable USC themes and logos, and then place orders so that they can relive the excitement long after the fourth quarter.

Adding to the interactive fan experience, Brand Affinity will also be creating a giant, multibillion-pixel crowd photograph, called a Fanoramic, taken at a select game this season.  Once the Fanoramic is posted online, users can zoom into the crowd photo to find themselves and their friends. They can then share “a moment in time” on Facebook or email, through the “tagging” feature, or fans can choose to add their own personal photos and videos, taken at the game.

“USC football fans are some of the most passionate in the country,” said DeSha’ Runnels, Director of Corporate Relations, USC Sports Properties. “We are thrilled to partner with Brand Affinity Technologies to deliver a new game day experience and help fans further showcase their Trojan Pride.”

“Based in Southern California, we know firsthand how important Trojan football is to this community,” said Ryan Steelberg, CEO of Brand Affinity Technologies. “By teaming up with USC, we are excited to help capture and extend the Trojan football experience through the use of our FanPhoto, Fanoramic, and our expanded suite of fan engagement solutions.”

Brand Affinity’s FanPhotos fan activation is used by a number of major sports organisations including teams from Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, National Football League, and many more.

Time Warner Cable Inc. has expanded its sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The expanded partnership makes Time Warner Cable primary sponsor of the No. 5 Chevrolet SS team with driver Kasey Kahne for six races in 2013 and five races in both 2014 and 2015. Previously, bronchi Time Warner Cable committed to sponsor four primary events per season from 2013 through 2015. A winner of two Sprint Cup races this year, impotent Kahne has been featured in the high-profile “Enjoy Better” national brand campaign.

In addition, Time Warner Cable will be a primary sponsor of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. for five events in 2013, including four during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The No. 88 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet SS will appear Sept. 7 at Richmond, Va., Sept. 15 at Joliet, Ill., Sept. 22 at Loudon, N.H., Oct. 6 at Kansas City, Kan., and Oct. 12 at Concord, N.C.

“We’ve been extremely happy with the results from our NASCAR initiatives,” said Jeffrey Hirsch, Time Warner Cable’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Residential Services. “The on-track performance of Hendrick Motorsports is well documented, but they’ve also put significant resources into building a world-class marketing operation. It’s been a team effort, and we’re seeing terrific exposure and return.”

As part of the new sponsorship agreement, Time Warner Cable will collaborate with Hendrick Motorsports’ sister company, Hendrick Automotive Group, as a marketing partner. The organizations will work together to develop marketing solutions specific to the automotive industry using Time Warner Cable product offerings.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Hendrick Motorsports,” said Joan Gillman, Time Warner Cable Media’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “With this relationship, we will work together with Hendrick Automotive Group to develop innovative marketing solutions that will be valuable to the entire auto industry. Our teams could not be more engaged to take full advantage of this proving ground with our multi-screen digital solutions and enterprise services that include research, production, promotions and client solutions.”

The partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, which promotes Time Warner Cable’s video and Internet services, began in 2006. It incorporated on-car branding for the first time in 2012.

“This is the second time in the last year that Time Warner Cable has expanded its commitment to Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We’re now leveraging more of our assets, from both Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group, to drive even greater value into what’s been a very effective program. It’s a terrific partnership that works on multiple levels.”

The Wally Dallenbach Jr. Foundation has announced their partnership with Max Gresham, driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet for Sharp-Gallaher Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

In 2009, Dallenbach formed the Wally Dallenbach Jr. Foundation to give children who have lost a parent the opportunity to learn about the outdoors, their family heritage and their parent’s passions through hunting and fishing expeditions.

As an avid hunter and fisherman, Gresham will act as an ambassador for the foundation. To announce the partnership as well as raise more awareness of the foundation’s efforts, Gresham has offered to run a special Wally Dallenbach Jr. Foundation paint scheme at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 28.

“Max is an outdoor enthusiast like I am and understands what an outdoor adventure means for a child who spent time with their parent hunting or fishing,” Wally Dallenbach Jr. said. “When he offered to let us run the special paint scheme I was thrilled! What a great way to let more people know who we are and what we are all about. I have to say the paint scheme turned out really cool.”

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the nation, has announced Happy Squeeze as the official On-the-go “Superfood” of US Youth Soccer.

The new partnership will highlight Happy Family’s line of Happy Squeeze pouches. . The sponsorship will provide US Youth Soccer players with a healthy snack choice while on the move to soccer practices, games and events. These squeezable snacks are hassle-free and allow for easy use for players of all ages.

“The US Youth Soccer organization is a natural partner for us as we have a shared mission to promote positive health and well-being among today’s youth,” said Shazi Visram, founder, CEO, and Chief Mom of Happy Family. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to support them in providing nutritious and delicious snacks the whole family can enjoy.”

Happy Squeeze will reach the more than three million youth players and one million adults engaged with US Youth Soccer through the promotion at events and on USYouthSoccer.org. Samples of Happy Squeeze snacks will be available at several events, including the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and the US Youth Soccer Workshop at the NSCAA Convention.

“We are pleased to welcome Happy Squeeze as a US Youth Soccer sponsor,” US Youth Soccer Executive Director Jim Cosgrove said. “Not only are our members passionate about soccer and furthering their skills but they are also concerned about eating and staying healthy, and that’s why Happy Squeeze is such a great fit for us.”