Professional Triathletes Organisation Appoints Excel Sports Management To Support Global Partnership Expansion

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) continues to establish itself alongside major professional sports by appointing leading US-based sports management and marketing agency, Excel Sports Management to support global partnership sales for the newly established PTO Tour.

The PTO Tour will consist of a US Open, Canadian Open, Asian Open, European Open and the Collins Cup and will see the world’s greatest non-drafting professional male and female triathletes competing for a $5.5M annual prize purse. Each PTO Tour event will have world-class TV production broadcast live to a global audience and high-quality shoulder programming showcasing the stories of the PTO professionals.

In 2022, the PTO Tour will consist of the PTO Canadian Open in Edmonton, Canada on 23th-24th July, the Collins Cup in Bratislava, Slovakia on 20th-21st August and the PTO US Open in Dallas, Texas on 17th-18th September with the Asian Open and European Open following in 2023.

The PTO Tour dates are in addition to the first PTO Pro AM at the Herbalife 24 Los Angeles Triathlon which was announced earlier this year and will take place on 15th May from iconic Venice Beach to downtown LA.

The multi-year partnership will see Excel Sports Management support the PTO across its event and PTO Tour assets, including the PTO World Rankings, which has quickly been established as the definitive measure of triathlon’s top athletes. With the events shown in over 165 countries in 22 languages, the PTO aims to reach over 35 million sports fans. Through enlisting Excel Sports Management to lead its rights representation, the PTO ensures it will be well-positioned to form valuable partnerships with brands seeking this high-value audience.

Sam Renouf, CEO of the PTO, stated: “We are thrilled to work with Excel Sports Management with our partnership strategies as we launch the PTO Tour. Excel’s long-standing reputation from representing some of the highest-profile athletes and properties in professional sports, make them ideal partners to support our growth. The PTO’s mission is to showcase the superhuman talents of our athletes through engaging broadcasts that consolidate the incredibly valuable triathlon fanbase. In doing so, we are creating unique opportunities for brands to connect through the sport and further their commercial objectives in the newly commercialised market”.

Vitality Women’s FA Cup Prize Fund Increases To £3m Per Year From 2022-23 Season

The FA have today announced a new landmark investment into the Vitality Women’s FA Cup that will see the competition’s prize fund receive a significant uplift to £3m per year.

The new agreement will be introduced from the start of the 2022-23 season and will see funds spread across each round of the competition, resulting in greater investment across both the women’s professional and grassroots game.

Our Board signed off on the new proposals at a meeting last Thursday, highlighting our commitment in continuing the impressive growth of the women’s football across every level of the game.

The Vitality Women’s FA Cup has grown in stature, with 417 teams entering the competition this season, while interest has significantly increased over the last decade, which resulted in the Final being permanently moved to Wembley Stadium connected by EE in 2015.

And this new financial commitment looks to recognise and acknowledge that increased profile and commercial interest in the competition.

Now that the uplift in prize fund for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup has been agreed, work will begin on how that money is divided and allocated, with the aim being for all clubs that enter the competition to benefit.

One commitment we will be making, is that a disproportionate amount of this new fund will be invested into the early rounds of the competition. This will ensure those clubs further down the pyramid entering those rounds, really feel the benefit of the prize money earned.

Sue Campbell, director of women’s football, said: “I’m delighted to be able to make this announcement of increased funding for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup because it’s going to benefit so many clubs across the women’s football pyramid.

“The FA Cup, whether men’s or women’s, is the biggest and best domestic cup competition in the world, and this increased investment highlights that we want clubs competing in it to be rewarded, while also highlighting our ongoing commitment to the women’s game.

“Women’s football continues to be in a growth phase and we are always looking to make improvements and investment to drive it forward and break new boundaries. This is certainly one of the most pleasing during my time with the organisation, because I know it means so much to so many.”

More details will be announced in due course on the structure of the new funding and how it will be distributed across the different stages of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup next season.

Meanwhile, this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup is at the quarter-final stage, with the Final to be played at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 15 May and tickets are on sale now.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club Extend Selco Partnerships

A long-standing partnership between Selco Builders Warehouse and reigning LV= Insurance County Champions Warwickshire County Cricket Club has been extended.

Selco, one of the UK’s leading builders merchants, will sponsor the Family Stand at Edgbaston Stadium for its extensive programme of international and domestic cricket in the 2022 season.

The deal ensures Selco’s sponsorship of Warwickshire will continue into an eighth year.

Selco has previously been a front of shirt partner for Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears in the Royal London One-Day Cup and the Vitality Blast, as well retaining branding rights throughout the stadium, including the hover cover protecting the pitch from the elements.

While Selco has an ever-expanding nationwide presence, its roots are firmly based in Birmingham with branches in Solihull, Tyseley, Tyburn, Perry Barr and Solihull and its Support Centre in Wythall.

Carine Jessamine, marketing director of Selco, said: “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Warwickshire over many years and are delighted to extend that further.

“The club has enjoyed strong success in all formats over our time as a partner, not least winning the County Championship last year, and Edgbaston has built a reputation as an outstanding sporting venue in the UK.

“It’s a partnership which has worked brilliantly for both parties and we are excited to be sponsoring the Family Stand and supporting the next generation of cricket fans in the Midlands and beyond.

“We are already planning a busy and engaging year of activity to ensure we enhance the matchday experience for those attending Edgbaston, particularly in the T20 format.”

Ben Seifas, commercial partnerships manager at Warwickshire, added: “Selco has been a loyal and valued partner for several years and we are delighted to extend the agreement further.

“Our family stand is an alcohol-free zone in 2022, as part of our plans to enhance the match day experience for those in attendance, so it’s great that Selco will be at the heart of that activity through the Family Stand sponsorship.”

With hundreds of trade brands always in stock, Selco’s 72 UK branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible.

e-MTB: ALL AROUND eMTB Race Partners With Bosch eBike Systems As Title Sponsor

The mountain bike’s technological development has produced a new surge in both tourist and sporting cycling in the mountains.

This surge is also behind the success of a new competition format, designed for riders who want to test their skills on technically challenging trails surrounded by Europe’s tallest and most majestic peaks.  

The organisers of the ALL AROUND eMTB Race have selected BOSCH eBike Systems as the Title Sponsor for their event because Bosch sets the world benchmark in eBiking. They are also delighted to announce that between July 5th and 9th next,  bikers from all over the world will be whizzing around the trails of the Valle d’Aosta as they compete in the very first edition of the ALL AROUND eMTB Race BOSCH ePowered.

“It was a long, tough job,” commented Luca Santini organiser of the ALL AROUND eMTB Race BOSCH ePowered. “But by working with the Region of Valle d’Aosta and thanks to the invaluable support of the 21 municipalities involved, we were able to develop a race route with specific e-mountain bike characteristics. Getting the support of a brand as important as Bosch also helped confirm that our format is competitive”.  The ALL AROUND eMTB Race BOSCH ePowered has 200-kilometre circular route that starts and finishes at Cogne with stop-offs at Gressoney La Trinitè, Antey-Saint-André and Valpelline, and a cumulative elevation gain of 8,000 metres. Each stage will also feature a climb of over 2,700 metres.

The meeting point will be the ALL AROUND BOSCH Camp, a huge 250sqm tent where riders can get advice and assistance from Bosch experts before the start, in addition to enjoying other activities. At the Aprés Course at the end of each stage, there will also be music, craft beer and local Valle d’Aosta foods to enjoy. This will be a very sociable time of the day as riders await the announcement of the classification and the personal data analysis offered by Bosch. Photos and video clips of the epic moments from the race will also be shown on a large screen.

“We chose the ALL AROUND eMTB Race because its trails have a high degree of technical difficulty where our motors can really unleash their very best performance,” commented Federica Cudini, marketing manager Bosch eBike Systems Italy.  “It’s a tough challenge for participants which won’t just have to have a great technique but also be able to manage their power reserves, by optimising our system’s functionalities as best they can. The Performance Line CX Drive Unit is the ideal companion for this challenge. It’s compact, light and delivers up to 85 Nm of torque meaning it guarantees faster acceleration and is more sensitive to the rider’s effort.”

The Reasons Major Sporting Events Are Heading To The Middle East

ELLVEE founder Sam Hollis evaluates the Middle East’s increasing focus on hosting major events for iSportConnect.

Why is the Middle East becoming such a hot spot for major events?

Governments are prioritising major events because they deliver directly against national agendas. Events provide global visibility for host cities and countries, opening their doors to the world and shaping reputations.

Earned media value, the monetary value of an audience’s engagement with broadcast and other media content, is often in the multiple of 10-20x the total event budget.

Events provide a platform to highlight cultural and economic development, enhance profiles of tourist destinations and emphasise the liveability of cities – a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining both local and international talent.

How do major events deliver economic benefits to the host?

The direct and indirect economic impacts are relatively well known, delivering lasting public infrastructures, domestic and international tourism, job creation and local employment, amongst other benefits. Earned media value, the monetary value of an audience’s engagement with broadcast and other media content, is often in the multiple of 10-20x the total event budget.

The Diriyah Season in Saudi Arabia in 2019/20, which included sporting events such as the Diriyah E-Prixs and the Clash on the Dunes boxing, was delivered by a huge workforce, employing a large proportion of Saudis and creating new jobs. Many of the international companies involved have since incorporated in Saudi.

The Clash on the Dunes boxing attracted international ticket purchasers from all over the world and showcased Saudi to an international broadcast audience. Together with the publicity press trip across Riyadh, New York and London, the event was covered in tens of thousands news articles across the world and generated billions of global media impressions.

What about social benefits for the host?

Harder to assign a dollar value to, but important to host locations, are the wide-ranging social impacts of hosting major events. Increased national pride, sporting participation and development, volunteering opportunities for skills building, youth engagement, female empowerment, and inclusion – all of these can be maximised through the correct approach to event delivery and legacy planning.

“We are increasingly seeing commercial partnerships with international rights holders being structured to support the development of the broader sporting ecosystem.”

At ELLVEE, we are increasingly seeing commercial partnerships with international rights holders being structured to support the development of the broader sporting ecosystem. Host venues expect rights holders to concede greater rights and provide increased legacy contributions, such as local knowledge transfer and capacity building, in return for hosting fees.

Do you see the approach to hosting major events changing over the next few years?

In the short to medium term, we believe that governments in the Middle East will continue to boost the development of the sporting, cultural and events sectors through public investments as part of their national transformation agendas. However, we are already seeing a keener focus on financial sustainability via two forms – reducing costs of event delivery and increasing revenue generation – with the goal of increasing private investment to reduce reliance on the public purse over time.

Qatar will of course play host to the FIFA World Cup at the end of this year.

On costs of event delivery, we are beginning to witness the development of local supply chains and the ecosystem of local businesses to deliver events at more competitive pricing – driving down costs, reducing reliance on overseas vendors and mitigating leakages from the host economy.

On revenue generation, hosts are looking to secure more commercial rights in longer term partnerships with international rights holders. With local delivery capabilities now proven, focus is turning increasingly to the commercial exploitation of rights secured – such as local sponsorships, ticketing – alongside the creation of new revenue generating assets (e.g. tourism and e-visa packages via partnerships in the hospitality sector).

If you are a rights holder reading this, are you too late?

Absolutely not. ELLVEE is working on a range of exciting mandates with rights holders to help structure long term event partnerships in the region across sport, culture and entertainment.

“Hosts are looking to secure more commercial rights in longer term partnerships with international rights holders.”

There are also emerging opportunities to co-invest with local partners in creating new event IPs, both customised for local audiences but also which can be exported globally over time.

ELLVEE: The trusted commercial advisers for events and IPs across sport, culture and entertainment in the Middle East – FOLLOW ELLVEE HERE

U.S. Bank Named WNBA Changemaker And The League’s Official Bank

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that U.S. Bank will become a WNBA Changemaker through a new multiyear relationship with the league. WNBA Changemakers is a collective of purpose-driven companies that harness their power to elevate women in sports and support the league’s mission around advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. As a supporter of the league, U.S. Bank will serve as the Official Bank of the WNBA. U.S. Bank will also become the official bank of future marquee events such as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase, AT&T WNBA All-Star, and the WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm®.

“U.S. Bank’s support as a WNBA Changemaker is exactly what we envisioned when we created this platform, and we are excited that U.S. Bank will share in our mission to support the players and the league in unparalleled ways,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “One important element of this partnership was the idea to create financial education programs that will not only offer assistance to the elite athletes of the WNBA during their playing days, but also help set them up for long-term success beyond the court. U.S. Bank has shown outstanding commitment to highlighting our players as role models and community leaders, and we look forward to working together to advance the WNBA.”

As an official WNBA Changemaker, U.S. Bank will provide players and alumni access to financial resources and will create programs to increase financial education across the country. A cornerstone of the relationship will be the creation of a new league-wide financial wellness program, where U.S. Bank will implement benefits and resources that include access to advisors for all WNBA players so they can create a game plan for their financial futures.

“At U.S. Bank, we are focused on empowering women leaders, building wealth, and creating access for diverse communities,” said Andy Cecere, chairman, president and chief executive officer for U.S. Bank. “Our core values line up perfectly with the WNBA in inspiring the next generation of female leaders. We look forward to positively impacting women’s basketball as a WNBA Changemaker, not only by amplifying the sport, but also by focusing on social change alongside these other amazing supporters.”

As part of the relationship, U.S. Bank will provide financial education and opportunities to WNBA players – from rookies to veterans focusing on their life after basketball on an ongoing basis throughout each year via marquee league events and initiatives. Through these touchpoints, U.S. Bank will provide players with networking and mentorship opportunities, internships, training seminars and work to educate them about the importance of setting financial goals to prepare them for their post-playing careers.

In addition, the WNBA and U.S. Bank will identify and work with a non-profit organization to develop a tailored program aimed at supporting young women in underserved communities. This immersive community program, designed to improve financial health and propel economic advancement for women of color, will give aspiring businesswomen access to experts in a wide range of industries to help identify goals and access real business opportunities.

“This relationship represents so much of what we are committed to at U.S. Bank, and we could not be prouder to support the WNBA,” said Kate Quinn, vice chair and chief administrative officer for U.S. Bank. “Together, we will work to advance equity through financial wellness and education, which is part of U.S. Bank Access Commitment™, our long-term approach to building wealth and creating opportunities for diverse customers and employees. We are excited to get to work.”

U.S. Bank joins a growing lineup of WNBA Changemakers including: AT&T, the Official 5G Innovation Partner of the WNBA; Deloitte, the Official Professional Services Provider of the WNBA; Nike, the Official Outfitter of the WNBA; and Google, the Official Trends and Fan Insights Partner of the WNBA.

Nashville Soccer Club And GEODIS Announce Landmark Stadium Naming Rights Partnership

Nashville Soccer Club’s new 30,000-seat stadium will officially be known as GEODIS Park. Today, the club unveiled a historic naming rights partnership with global supply chain operator GEODIS during a special banner display ceremony at the stadium. Scheduled to be completed next month, GEODIS Park will be the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and Canada.

“We have repeatedly said that the new stadium will become the spiritual home of Nashville Soccer Club,” said Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “The commitment of logistics specialist GEODIS as the naming partner and the unveiling of ‘GEODIS Park’ is a landmark part of the history and journey of the club. I am hugely proud of the incredible work that Will Alexander, our Chief Revenue Officer, and the partnership team played in bringing this opportunity to where we are today. Having had the opportunity to meet with GEODIS members throughout the formation of this partnership, I can confidently say that their people, culture and values are very similar to those of our organization and that makes them the perfect partner for this huge next step.”

GEODIS, a France-based industry-leading global supply chain operator with its North American headquarters based in Brentwood, Tenn., is one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in the United States, employing more than 15,000 teammates across 19 campuses and more than 230 sites. GEODIS is also a major employer in the Middle Tennessee area with more than 2,000 teammates in the region.

“At GEODIS, we are proud of our rich history in the Nashville community that dates back more than 70 years,” said Mike Honious, GEODIS Americas President &CEO. “With this historic new partnership—and the first of its kind for our company—we will be able to use GEODIS Park as a platform to strengthen our commitment to building a strong community alongside a like-minded organization who shares that same vision to make an even greater impact alongside one another. Ultimately, GEODIS Park will be the place where GEODIS, Nashville SC and our community will keep rising together.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.503.0_en.html#goog_172687221Play VideoPlayUnmuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 1:35Loaded: 10.38% CaptionsFullscreen

As a global showcase for the company, GEODIS will receive prominent branding on the stadium’s exterior, interior and rooftop, including flagship signage above the main entrance welcoming attendees to GEODIS Park. Additionally, the partnership features naming rights to one premium club and several innovative programs to support the Nashville community. For example, GEODIS will serve as the presenting partner of both a new soccer league focused on underserved neighborhoods in the surrounding community and the “One Nashville Under Gold” flag, a photo-mosaic with a collection of images representing Nashvillians from all walks of life that will be presented at every home game.

Excel Sports Management’s Properties division sourced and negotiated the stadium naming rights deal between Nashville SC and GEODIS.

Built in the heart of Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, GEODIS Park is set to become one of the premier sports and entertainment destinations in the United States. The 30,000-seat stadium will feature a 360-degree canopy, a 65-foot-wide shared concourse and a safe standing supporter’s section. Just 150 feet of distance will separate the last row in GEODIS Park and the touchline. In addition to being the official home to Nashville SC, GEODIS Park will serve as a leading multipurpose venue for concerts and community activities as well as a hub for Nashville-area businesses to utilize throughout the year.

The excitement leading up towards the opening of GEODIS Park has been evident across Middle Tennessee with approximately 20,000 season tickets sold to date and very few premium tickets remaining. All private suites, loge boxes and the stadium’s three largest clubs are sold out ahead of the 2022 season.

GEODIS Park will officially open its doors on May 1 when the Boys in Gold host the Philadelphia Union at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Come on “N” and be a part of history when Nashville SC opens the gates to GEODIS Park by visiting NashvilleSC.com/22tix or calling 615-750-8800 to secure your seats.

MLB & MLBPA Agree New Collective Bargaining Agreement, With Season Set To Start On April 7th

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, paving the way for the 2022 regular season to begin on April 7.

After the MLBPA approved the deal by a 26-12 vote, the owners ratified it Thursday night with a unanimous 30-0 vote, officially bringing the three-month lockout to a close.  

“I am genuinely thrilled to be able to say that Major League Baseball is back and we’re going to play 162 games,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “I do want to start by apologizing to our fans. I know that the last few months have been difficult. There’s a lot of uncertainty, at a point in time when there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world. [It’s] sort of the way the process of collective bargaining works sometimes, but I do apologize for it.  

“One of the good things about collective bargaining is that it gives our players an opportunity to have input on what their workplace and the game is going to look like going forward. And they took full opportunity to provide that input during these negotiations. Our players are great, great athletes. I respect them. And I respect the input that we received from them during this process. And we really did learn a lot.”

The mandatory Spring Training report date for all clubs is Sunday. Exhibition games will begin on March 17 or 18.

The deal came to fruition a day after MLB postponed Opening Day until April 14 in the absence of a new agreement and announced that each team’s first four series were removed from the schedule. However, as part of this agreement, a full 162-game schedule will be played, and the four series that were previously removed from the calendar will be rescheduled.

The new five-year CBA includes increased minimum salaries, a new pre-arbitration bonus pool to reward the top young players in the game, a raise in competitive balance tax thresholds, the introduction of a universal designated hitter, the widest-ranging Draft lottery in pro sports, a system to prevent alleged service-time manipulation and limits on the number of times a player can be optioned in a season to address concerns regarding “roster churn.”

The deal also includes an expanded 12-team postseason format, bringing playoff baseball to two additional markets each year.

As part of the agreement, a Joint Competition Committee will be formed comprised of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire. Beginning in 2023, the committee will be tasked with adopting changes to playing rules such as a pitch clock, base size, defensive positioning and automatic ball/strike zone.

Under the previous agreement, MLB had the right to unilaterally implement rule changes with a one-year notice, but the new system will allow the game to improve in a more timely fashion thanks to the collaboration between the league and players.

Manfred reached out to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark after the union voted in favor of the deal.  

“I told him that I thought we had a great opportunity for the game in front of us and told him that I hope to work with him on things that are new in the agreement, like the effort to get to the international draft,” Manfred said. “More generally, on seizing the opportunity that I think is in front of us.”

With the CBA finalized, teams around the league will now turn their attention to completing their offseason business, as more than 200 players remain on the free-agent market, including notable names such as Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Kris Bryant and Trevor Story.

Here are some of the details of the agreement between MLB and the MLBPA:

Minimum salary

2022: $700,000
2023: $720,000
2024: $740,000
2025: $760,000
2026: $780,000

• The first-year increase is the largest single-year increase in history, nearly five times larger than the $27,500 increase in the first year of the prior CBA. It also represents a larger increase than the total from the past 10 years.

Competitive Balance Tax threshold

2022: $230 million
2023: $233 million
2024: $237 million
2025: $241 million
2026: $244 million

• The $20 million increase from 2021 to ’22 is nearly twice as large as the biggest previous first-year increase.

• A fourth tax level has been added at $60 million above the base threshold to address runaway spending.

Pre-arbitration bonus pool

• $50 million (to be distributed to the top 100 players based on awards and statistical performance).

• MLB and the MLBPA will jointly develop a statistical method to allocate the funds.

• Under this system, NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes would have seen his salary jump from $608,000 to $4.2 million last season, while Rookie of the Year winners Randy Arozarena and Jonathan India would have seen their respective salaries more than triple in 2021.

Draft lottery

• Top 6 selections will be awarded via lottery.

• Odds would be based on the reverse order of winning percentage, with the bottom three clubs each at 16.5%.

• The 18 non-postseason clubs would be eligible, though revenue sharing payees would be ineligible to receive lottery selections in three consecutive years, while non-payees would be ineligible to receive lottery selections in consecutive years.

International Draft

• In exchange for agreeing to an International Draft by July 25, 2022, MLB will eliminate the qualifying offer system (direct Draft-pick compensation) for free agents.

• International Draft would be 20 rounds (600-plus selections), increasing the total compensation earned by amateurs by more than $20 million annually.

• Signing bonuses would be guaranteed for drafted players.

• Clubs who select players from growth countries (countries with less than 0.5% of signings in the previous three signing periods) will receive additional selections to incentivize scouting and signing in emerging markets.

Rules changes

Beginning in 2023, a committee comprised of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire, will be tasked with adopting changes to playing rules such as a pitch clock, base size, defensive positioning and automatic ball/strike zone.

Other details

• Contracts for arbitration-eligible players will be guaranteed.

• Top prospects who finish 1st or 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting will receive a full year of service.

• Clubs promoting top prospects to Opening Day rosters will be eligible to receive Draft picks if the player finishes in the Top 3 in the Rookie of the Year voting or Top 5 in MVP/Cy Young voting.

• Expanded postseason: 12 teams, with the top two division winners receiving a bye.

• Universal designated hitter.

• Players may only be optioned five times per season.

Haslam Sports Group Hires Eric Clouse As Chief Commercial Officer

Haslam Sports Group (HSG) today announced that Eric Clouse has been hired as its Chief Commercial Officer. Clouse will oversee revenue and marketing departments for the Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew, collaborating with leadership at both organizations to maximize initiatives related to ticket sales and services, business analytics, fan engagement, corporate partnerships and digital content and production.

Clouse has spent the past 10 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, including as the team’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Service since 2019. In the leadership position, he directed all of the Cavs’ ticket sales, including premium and hospitality experiences, and was integral in the team becoming one of the most successful corporate partnership departments in NBA history. Complementing his commitment to delivering business results, Clouse has been dedicated to guiding and developing more than 70 current team members in his previous role, strengthened by a proven track record of past direct reports securing promotions within the sports and entertainment industry.

“While our HSG leadership team was impressed by Eric’s ability to achieve and exceed business goals, we are equally excited about his unique energy and ability to motivate others in a team environment that emphasizes both collective and individual growth,” said HSG Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins. “With 10 years of experience in Cleveland, Eric will be another key member of our executive staff who has a firm understanding of the local sports landscape and important business relationships, as well as other dynamics specific to our region that will benefit our fans and partners in Northeast Ohio and Columbus.”

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Haslam Sports Group and the Cleveland Browns, and I look forward to helping continue to build upon our teams’ current culture and the positive momentum in all facets of our business,” said Clouse. “Spending a significant amount of my career in Cleveland, I have a deep appreciation for the region’s passionate sports fans, as well as many meaningful personal and professional relationships during my time in our great city. We are all excited for the 2022 seasons, especially as we identify new ways to engage our fans, partners and team members with the focus of providing them the best experiences possible throughout the year.”

Prior to being named the Cavaliers’ Senior Vice President of Sales and Service, Clouse worked for the team’s suites and premium seating department (vice president, 2016-2019; senior director, 2014-2016). In 2020, he was honored as a member of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ “Forty Under 40” Class of 2020, particularly for his contributions to and vision during the Cavs’ $185 million renovation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Clouse initially joined the organization as a manager of business development in 2011 and was elevated to director of business development and inside sales in 2013.

Clouse launched his career in sports as a ticket sales associate for Central Florida Athletics (2007-2008), supporting football and basketball endeavors as the program debuted two venues: Bright House Networks Stadium and New UCF Arena. He also held a four-year tenure (2008-2011) as director of ticket sales at Louisville before heading to Cleveland.

After graduating magna cum laude from the University Kentucky with a degree in business management and marketing, Clouse earned master’s degrees in business administration and sports business management.

Formula 1 Partners With Lenovo To Bring Its Cutting-Edge Technology To Our Operations

Formula 1 has today announced Lenovo as an Official Partner ahead of the upcoming 2022 season.  The multi-year deal will see Lenovo’s cutting-edge technology used across Formula 1’s operations as it continues to bring the highest-level of racing and entertainment to its worldwide fanbase. As global leaders in their respective fields, Formula 1 and Lenovo want to push the boundaries of what’s possible when combining sports with advanced technology.

Over the next few years, the partnership will involve Lenovo’s technology being used across the Formula 1 organisation, both back at its base and at races. Lenovo’s hardware devices, as well as High Performance Computing and server solutions will be increasingly integrated throughout our operations. From running powerful on-premises data collection solutions to producing higher quality content and supporting broadcast applications, the Formula 1 and Lenovo collaboration will result in a better experience for fans.

The partnership will drive global visibility of Lenovo, showcasing Lenovo’s capabilities on a global scale and integrating industry-leading hardware technology at the heart of Formula 1. It plans to leverage Lenovo’s extensive selection of premium hardware as well as innovative next-generation technology such as augmented and virtual reality, as F1 continues to connect fans with the sport in new and more engaging ways.

Earlier this year, F1 announced that it has extended its commitment to create employment and education opportunities for underrepresented groups, in the form of ten engineering scholarships each year through to 2025. Lenovo is also focused on diversity and inclusion and removing barriers, and through the partnership will work with F1 on projects related to this important area.

Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said:

“As we prepare for our record-breaking season, it is exciting to welcome Lenovo to the team and for us to join forces with a global leader in technology. Like everything in Formula 1, precision and detail are everything, and Lenovo will be at the forefront of providing their experience and innovative technologies to our operations throughout the season. Our fans expect the best from everything we do, and Lenovo is the perfect partner in terms of its premium hardware offerings. We are entering a new era of our sport and we’re committed to delivering a high-quality experience for our dedicated followers around the world.”

Yang Yuanqing, Chairman & CEO of Lenovo, said:

“We are proud to announce our new global partnership with Formula 1, the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, to engage half a billion fans all over the world with exciting, innovative experiences. This partnership is based on our shared passion for innovation, performance, and the winning spirit. Together Lenovo and Formula 1 will push the limits of technology to help shape a faster, smarter, and more sustainable future.”

Luca Rossi, President of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo, said:

“Partnering with Formula 1 to deploy Lenovo’s smarter solutions across the organization, from base operations to the stunning excitement of the Grands Prix, will help push the boundaries of what is possible and transform the racing experience. Formula 1 is focused on its digital transformation and continuing to surprise and delight its fans. Lenovo’s portfolio of hardware, services and solutions will be key to helping Formula 1 create new ways for fans around the world to experience the same thrills you’d experience track side.”