The Houston Rockets have announced that Kenda Tires will remain an Official Partner to the NBA team through the end of the 2014-15 NBA season following a multi-year extension to their corporate partnership.

According to the new deal, clinic Kenda will receive corporate sponsor status, apoplectic including use of Rockets marketing rights, vialis 40mg TV-visible branded signage, hospitality and presenting sponsorship of a game night.

“This has been a tremendous partnership for the Rockets and we are thrilled to have Kenda with us again,” said Rockets andClutch City Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown. “Kenda is completely aligned with our organization’s position as an international sports property and we believe this partnership will continue to enhance both companies.”

“We are excited to continue our sponsorship with the Houston Rockets,” said Eric Yang, Kenda’s automotive marketing manager. “The team has a great core of young players and we believe it is only the beginning. Similar to the culture at Kenda, the Rockets organization has built a winning product and we wish them the best in the upcoming seasons.”

Over 325 million people watched Rockets game broadcasts worldwide during the 2012-13 NBA season across all networks. Excitement is set to grow even further for the Rockets after the marquee signing of Dwight Howard (pictured).

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Michael Waltrip Racing’s Brian Vickers has acquired a new sponsor for his No. 55 Toyota Camry as Aaron’s, Inc will come on board to sponsor the NASCAR driver for a Sprint Cup race.

“We at Aaron’s are thrilled about this partnership.  We’re building a championship organization – and we know that Brian Vickers and the No. 55 team, under Michael Waltrip’s tradition of winning, are focused on building a championship caliber team,” said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “So many of our customers are enthusiastic and loyal NASCAR fans and we are proud to be a part of a sport they are passionate about. We are looking forward to continued success with Brian Vickers both on and off the track.”

Vickers has raced the No. 55 on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting several impressive performances including his third career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14.

Beginning in 2014, he’ll pilot the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with a fresh new paint scheme, unveiled today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. in every race.

“I can’t put into words how this makes me feel,” said 29-year-old Vickers. “I’ve really found my home at MWR over the past few years, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Aaron’s associates and customers. I am honored that Aaron’s is welcoming me into their family full-time. Knowing that I have a top-notch team and a dedicated sponsor for a full season is a really great feeling every driver dreams about, and like everyone else, I want to win races and win a championship. Michael and co-owner Rob Kauffman are really building something special at MWR and are giving me the tools to accomplish those goals.”

“Aaron’s is a cornerstone to MWR’s success.  This is a big announcement today because it shows a tremendous vote of confidence in the sport of NASCAR and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization,” said Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing.

“The relationship with Aaron’s is very personal to me because they helped place Michael Waltrip Racing on the map in 2000 when I was running a half dozen Nationwide Series races from a small garage in my backyard. Now they are enabling MWR to continue its growth as we will have three drivers racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and beyond. So much of this confidence comes from the NASCAR fans who continue to support the sponsors of our teams. I want to sincerely thank the NASCAR fans who are Aaron’s customers because you make this all happen,” said Waltrip.

The National Football League has revealed it has expanded its partnership with leading risk management firm Aon plc which began in 2012.

Aon will serve as an official sponsor of the two sold-out NFL games scheduled this autumn at Wembley Stadium in London.

The NFL will play two regular-season games in London for the first time this year as part of the International Series, prostate when the Minnesota Vikings host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 29, and the Jacksonville Jaguars host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, October 28.

“The NFL understands that the issues Aon helps clients with every day and that are core to our business – talent, health, risk, retirement, data and analytics and capital – also drive successful performance and results in sports,” said Patrick Pierce, Aon’s global director of sponsorships. “One of the shared qualities of sport and business is that the outcome is unknown. Managing this risk successfully allows a great team to deliver great results, whether on the field of play or at work. We are thrilled to further our partnership with the NFL and again demonstrate the capabilities that empower results for Aon’s clients in the UK and around the world.”

“Last year, we witnessed Aon’s enormous passion for this partnership and their ability to help the NFL bring tremendous cross-cultural experiences to a new market,” said Marc Reeves, the NFL’s International Commercial Director. “Aon is a committed and engaged partner, and we are pleased to be aligned with a global firm that shares our interest in introducing the UK and Aon’s clients, markets and colleagues to American football and the NFL. We look forward to working with Aon as we continue to spread our sport’s presence in the UK and around the globe.”

Aon has featured prominently in other sporting endeavours including being the the principal partner and global shirt sponsor of Manchester United since 2010.

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SAP, a worldwide leader in enterprise application software, has announced a new multi-year global sponsorship with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Through the agreement, the WTA and SAP will collaborate to transform the sport – aiming to develop innovative solutions to further engage with fans, provide players with the tools to analyze performance and optimize strategy and better service the media. In addition, SAP is now an official sponsor of the prestigious WTA Championships, to be held in Istanbul from October 21 to 27, 2013.

“Through our cooperation with SAP, we aim to provide revolutionary analysis for our fans, players, coaches, and media,” said WTA CEO & Chairman Stacey Allaster (pictured left). “We are thrilled to be teaming with a global, innovative leader like SAP as international companies continue investing in women’s professional tennis.”

“SAP has a longstanding commitment to the sport of tennis, and the WTA provides an excellent platform for SAP to demonstrate this on a global scale,” said Steve Peck, senior vice president, Global Strategic Initiatives, SAP AG. “Our innovative technology is transforming sports and entertainment around the world and we look forward to working with the WTA to help players and coaches to perform at a higher level and engage fans like never before.”

The announcement of the SAP sponsorship expands on the WTA’s continued business success off court with over $200 million in revenue generated for the organization since 2011. The WTA’s sponsorship portfolio continues to grow with six new sponsors in the past three years, including the signing of Xerox as a global partner in February of this year. In addition, Singapore was recently awarded the year-end WTA Championships for 2014-2018 in a record-setting partnership. 

SAP is also the current mobile app provider at the Sony Open tennis tournament, has Ambassador relationships with former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick and current rising star Milos Raonic, and was the title sponsor of the SAP Open for the last nine years.

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Tokyo 2020 have expanded their corporate partners to 21 following the announcement today that Rakuten, and Inc., one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, has become the latest bid sponsor.

Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said: “The Rakuten group’s corporate philosophy has always been to empower people and society through the internet. Owing to our strong affinity with sport and its capability to inspire society, we have actively engaged in empowerment through sport as part of our CSR initiatives. With hopes that Japan will have the opportunity to empower the world, the Rakuten group is fully behind Tokyo 2020’s efforts to land the greatest celebration of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Tokyo 2020 CEO Masato Mizuno said: “With less than one month to go until the Host City Election, I am pleased to introduce Rakuten as the 21st official Tokyo 2020 Bid Partner. Tokyo 2020 offers certainty in times of uncertainty, and Rakuten’s enlistment as Official Bid Partner underscores the Japanese business community’s strong desire to contribute its knowhow, technologies and creativity toward a dynamic Tokyo 2020.”

The IOC Evaluation Commission praised Tokyo’s marketing programme in its report issued on 25 June. Tokyo 2020 projects that revenue from domestic sponsorship would total USD 932 million, with an additional USD 26 million for the Paralympic Games. “Given the scale of the Japanese economy and the support for sport that has been demonstrated by the corporate sector, the overall revenue target is considered achievable,” the report stated.

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English Rugby League club Widnes Vikings have renewed their partnership with Electrod UK.

Electrod UK are owned by Roddy Snedden, who recently joined the Club’s Board of Directors.

In 2014, Electrod UK will sponsor the training range and their brand will also appear on the shorts of next season’s playing and replica kit.

Roddy Snedden commented: “I am delighted to continue Electrod UK’s sponsorship support of the Vikings for next season. 

“I hope it helps with the continued growth and improvements at the Club that have been so evident in only our second season back in the Super League.”

Vikings CEO James Rule added: “I am delighted that Electrod UK have expanded their partnership with the Club, with this sponsorship agreement for next season.

“Their investment continues to be an integral part of the evolution of Widnes Vikings.”