The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Fanatics, a digital sports platform and one of the largest global providers of licensed sports merchandise, today announced they will open the first NBA Store in Paris this summer. The new store, which will be operated by retail giant Lids and located at 20 Boulevard Saint-Michel in Paris’s Latin Quarter, will mark the third NBA Store in Europe, joining London and Milan.
The more than 300-square-meter, three-floor store will feature an extensive range of official NBA and WNBA merchandise and memorabilia, including jerseys, apparel, headwear, sporting goods, toys and collectibles from major brands such as Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Wilson. The store will also feature exclusive NBA Paris-branded apparel and novelties as well as a customization area where fans can personalize NBA jerseys and hats for all 30 NBA teams.
As part of the league’s partnership with Fanatics, additional international NBA Stores operated by Lids are scheduled to open this year. Locations and further information will be announced at a later date.
“At the intersection of fashion and basketball culture, Paris has a unique tradition for the game and some of the most passionate NBA fans in Europe,” said NBA Europe and Middle East Senior Director, Global Partnerships Steve Griffiths. “Together with Fanatics and Lids, we look forward to welcoming fans from France and beyond to this exciting new and interactive space where they can celebrate their NBA fandom in style.”
“Lids is excited to bring the first NBA Store to Paris,” said Lids Sports Group President Britten Maughan. “Our location on Boulevard Saint-Michel will offer the widest assortment of NBA products in the country and will be a destination for both locals and tourists. The NBA is an international brand and has proven to have a broad appeal globally. The new NBA Store in Paris will offer both fan apparel and trending fashion inspired by NBA culture in the U.S.”
The fantastic setting for our event at Emirates StadiumGuests begin to arrive at for the Digital & Data MasterclassAn introduction from iSportConnect’s Ben Page and David FowlerOur first panel of the day featuring Arsenal, the ECB, the Gym Group and InCrowdFrom left to right: Mic Conetta, Alison Crowe, Alexandra Kyrke-Smith & Jim HingstonOur second panel of the day – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Snap Inc., the Minnesota Vikings and EngageRMFrom left to right: Tim Barber, Kahlen Macaulay, Christian Magsisi & Scott KegleyOur feature interview of the day with Nicole LaPointe Jameson, CEO of Evil GeniusesJay Stuart & Nicole LaPointe JamesonThe day’s third panel, containing Meta, the Kansas City Chiefs, Boots & NagraFrom left to right: Lea Bayssat, Robert Alberino, Dale Western & Anthony Smith-ChaigneauClosing the day was a panel including the Carolina Panthers & Whistle InternationalFrom left to right: Jeff Nathenson, Beth Hushon & Sean Phaler
Milan, in collaboration with Fansea, is delighted to kick off its first official NFT project, which sees the Club putting on sale a limited-edition 3D NFT of a special Rossoneri jersey from South Sudan, with proceeds going to Fondazione Milan to support their charitable initiatives across the globe, including its efforts to help alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The 3D NFT, created by Fansea using modern and sustainable technology, will cost €45. Fans will be able to purchase one or more of the only 75,817 certified pieces of digital memorabilia – a number that represents the capacity of the San Siro stadium – from 14April on the following website: https://acmilan.fansea.io/. The special 3D NFT will then be accessible on the Fansea app once it launches on 29April.
The limited-edition NFT represents a special AC Milan jersey from South Sudan, whose story was shared with the world last December. The jersey, from the 2016/17 season, was discovered by Danish war photographer Jan Grarup during a trip to South Sudan to document the effects of the severe floods in the country and was then donated to the Club, which ultimately put it on display in the Mondo Milan museum at Casa Milan – the Rossoneri’s HQ in Milan – in a new exhibition dedicated to the educational and social projects implemented by Fondazione Milan. The Club and Fondazione Milan had also made a donation to UNICEF, active in South Sudan to guarantee all children their right to a childhood.
Thanks to AC Milan’s partner BitMEX, which has committed to contribute to the project by making a donation to Fondazione Milan through the purchase of a large number of the special NFT, the first 10,000 fans to pre-order the NFT will also receive an additional benefit, which allow users to get trading discounts and other benefits on BitMEX.com.
This is AC Milan’s first NFT venture, a step that highlights the Club’s innovative nature, combined with the desire to always drive positive change through the power of the AC Milan brand, seeking to build bridges and promote the healthy values of sport that make up the very DNA of the Rossoneri, an ideology that is in line with the Club’s RespAct Manifesto.
AC Milan Chief Revenue Officer Casper Stylsvig commented:
“This is a special moment for the Club as it embarks on a journey in a new territory in the name of charity. It is in AC Milan’s nature to explore new innovative ways to engage with its international fanbase of over 500 million people, whilst spreading the positive values of sport, so we are proud to be able to combine these two different sides of our Club into one project.”
Fansea CEO & Founder Alexander Schlicher added:
“As part of this special charity project in collaboration with one of the most iconic clubs in the world, we share a passion for sport and want to take our part of responsibility to help disadvantaged people and children. With this first non-profit NFT, AC Milan is breaking new ground and will be supported by BitMEX as well as Fansea in the future.”
Sky Sports has today announced an extension of its rights to show the Masters Tournament exclusively live in the UK and – starting with this week’s Tournament – Ireland.
The multi-year deal, made in partnership with Augusta National Golf Club, was first announced live on air on Thursday evening. The deal gives Sky the exclusive rights to the first, second, third and final rounds and play-offs (if applicable) at the iconic course.
The extension of the deal means Sky Sports remains the home of the Masters in the UK, and now Ireland too – giving golf fans access to the spectacular holes and sparkling greens of Augusta National. Customers will be able to tune into coverage from Amen Corner as well as Featured Groups and much more, including full highlights from each day’s play.
Sky EVP and CEO UK and Europe Stephen van Rooyen said: “We’re thrilled to be able to extend our partnership with Augusta National to continue to show this iconic Major Championship, meaning that Sky Sports continues to be the home of golf in the UK & Ireland.”
Sky will provide expansive coverage of this year’s Masters Tournament, including Amen Corner on YouTube as well as five other digital feeds available. Golf fans will have the best analysis on offer, including Sky Scope, Virtual Holes, Touchscreen, Zen Green and Shot Centre for Masters Breakfast – each giving expert insight into every piece of action on the course.
Sky Sports Golf is the home of golf in the UK and in 2022 will show all four men’s Majors, all five women’s Majors and both men’s and women’s tours – well over 100 tournaments in total. In addition, golf fans can tune in for round-the-clock coverage on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports’ social and digital platforms.
The LEGO Group and Epic Games today announced they are entering a long-term partnership to shape the future of the metaverse to make it safe and fun for children and families. The two companies will team up to build an immersive, creatively inspiring and engaging digital experience for kids of all ages to enjoy together.
The family-friendly digital experience will give kids access to tools that will empower them to become confident creators and deliver amazing play opportunities in a safe and positive space.
Niels B Christiansen, CEO of The LEGO Group said:
“Kids enjoy playing in digital and physical worlds and move seamlessly between the two. We believe there is huge potential for them to develop life-long skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication through digital experiences. But we have a responsibility to make them safe, inspiring and beneficial for all. Just as we’ve protected children’s rights to safe physical play for generations, we are committed to doing the same for digital play. We look forward to working with Epic Games to shape this exciting and playful future.”
Tim Sweeney, CEO & Founder, Epic Games said:
“The LEGO Group has captivated the imagination of children and adults through creative play for nearly a century, and we are excited to come together to build a space in the metaverse that’s fun, entertaining, and made for kids and families.”
As the metaverse evolves, it is reshaping how people meet, play, work, learn and interact in a virtual, 3D world. The LEGO Group and Epic Games will combine their extensive experience to ensure that this next iteration of the internet is designed from the outset with the wellbeing of kids in mind.
Epic Games has expertise in building creative tools and immersive worlds that are open and accessible to players and developers everywhere. It is at the forefront of popular culture, creating experiences that connect people through gaming, music and creative collaboration. Epic is also committed to enabling developers to create age-appropriate experiences online and in 2020 acquired SuperAwesome, a company that has pioneered technology designed to deliver safe digital engagement with children under 16.
For 90 years the LEGO Group has inspired generations of children through play through the endless creative possibilities of the LEGO brick, which remains the core of its business. The company is a leader in defining safe digital play experiences for children including the development of an industry-standard Digital Child Safety Policy with UNICEF and the 2016 launch of the first fully live moderated social app for children.
The LEGO Group and Epic Games have agreed to three principles which will ensure the digital spaces they develop deliver engaging play opportunities safely:
Protect children’s right to play by making safety and wellbeing a priority.
Safeguard children’s privacy by putting their best interests first.
Empower children and adults with tools that give them control over their digital experience.
Formula 1 and Canal+ have announced an extension of their partnership until 2029 for the exclusive broadcast rights of the sport in France.
Since Canal+ became an official broadcast partner of F1 in 2013 it has seen a huge audience tune in for every Grand Prix weekend, with significant increases season after season. The first two Grands Prix of the 2022 season already rank among the top five ratings of all time for Formula 1 events on CANAL+, with 1.42 million viewers tuning into the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX and 1.31 million viewers watching the season-opening FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2022. This builds upon strong numbers in 2021, where CANAL+ saw an average 1.14million viewers for each Grand Prix – an 18% increase on a record-breaking 2020 season, and a 50% increase compared to 2019.
Canal+ continues to bring fans extensive and immersive programming featuring a host of experts, including former F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Romain Grosjean, as well as experimenting with programming on new platforms, such as Twitch, helping to engage the next generation of fans in France.
As part of the extended partnership, for the first time ever, CANAL+ subscribers will be able to get access to F1TV Pro through myCANAL, in addition to the broadcaster’s array of programming and digital content.
Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1, said:
“We’re delighted to announce the extension of our partnership with Canal+, who will continue to bring F1 action to fans in France as we enter an exciting new era for the sport, and beyond. The increase that we see year-on-year is a testament to the programming that they provide to their audience, as they continue to look for new and innovative ways to engage with fans.”
Maxime Saada, President of Canal+ Group, said:
“We are proud and happy to continue to broadcast the Formula 1 Championship exclusively until 2029. We sincerely thank F1, and in particular Stefano Domenicali, for their renewed trust, allowing us to bring to our subscribers a thrilling competition which keeps increasingly seducing the fans and attracting a wider audience.
For nearly 10 years, we have been bringing an immersive experience, along with world-renowned expertise, endlessly improved by our editorial team, led by Thomas Senecal. F1 has undoubtedly become a must-watch sport for our audience, as evidenced by the 50% increase in viewership over the past two years.”
As a Worldwide Olympic Partner, Deloitte will apply its deep expertise in management and business consulting to help enhance and secure the IOC’s digital ecosystem supporting the Olympic Movement.
Deloitte and the IOC have formed a “partnership with purpose” that leverages Deloitte’s considerable business acumen to help the IOC realise the possibilities of its strategic roadmap for the future, Olympic Agenda 2020+5, and its vision to build a better world through sport. In partnership with the IOC, Deloitte will provide a global team with wide-ranging management and business consulting capabilities to deliver meaningful impact to the National Olympic Committees, billions of fans, and the thousands of athletes who make the Olympic Games possible.
Deloitte will utilise its environmental, social and governance services expertise to assist the Olympic Movement in driving progress on critical challenges identified in Olympic Agenda 2020+5 related to corporate governance, strategy, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and athlete support and well-being.IOC / Christophe Moratal – Punit Renjen, Deloitte Global CEO and Thomas Bach, IOC President
“We are living through one of the most consequential moments in history. The Olympic Movement plays a vital role in uniting the world through friendship, solidarity and fair play, and never has this been more important than now. Together, Deloitte and the IOC aspire to make an impact that matters – to strengthen, enhance and create a long-lasting and positive impact on society through the Olympic Movement,” said Punit Renjen, Deloitte Global CEO.
“We are delighted to be working with Deloitte and excited by the opportunity this partnership presents for the entire Olympic Movement. Deloitte’s initiatives to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals align with the IOC’s philosophy of further change and transformation as expressed in the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 strategic roadmap for the future,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“Having worked with Deloitte for several years now, the IPC is enthusiastic to explore with Deloitte how its expertise and wide range of services can benefit the wider Paralympic Movement as we aim to use sport as a tool to drive social inclusion,” said International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.
Enabling the transformation of the Olympic Movement
Deloitte will support the IOC with its digital transformation strategy. It will utilise its digital expertise to help advise in such areas as personalising the fan experience and enhancing digital services, connecting fans around the world and extending the appeal of the Olympic Games between editions.
Advancing the IOC’s purpose and efforts to address global challenges
As a leader in purpose-led organisational initiatives, Deloitte will bring that expertise to support and advise the IOC in the development of strategies that will help it achieve its vision of building a better world through sport.
Deloitte will work with the IOC on the development of programmes, legacy projects and playbooks on initiatives such as athlete support and mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability and the reduction of the Games’ carbon footprint.
In recognition of the importance of good governance and transparency, as expressed in Olympic Agenda 2020+5, a “Centre of Excellence” will be developed through this partnership relating to best practices in administration and management operations for participating National Olympic Committees.
Michele Parmelee, Deloitte Global Chief People and Purpose Officer, said: “This partnership brings together two iconic global brands who share a passion for driving positive societal impact. We see this spirit embodied in the Olympians and Paralympians who work for Deloitte and inspire us to see the possibility of what Deloitte and the IOC can accomplish together.”
Jiri Kejval, IOC Marketing Commission Chair, stated: “Deloitte’s relationship with the Olympic Movement is a clear example of how the Worldwide Olympic Partner Programme continues to attract the most renowned names in business. Deloitte’s commitment to providing world-class expertise to the Olympic Movement demonstrates the unique opportunity that the TOP Programme provides.”
This is Deloitte’s first global partnership with the IOC and is the culmination of Deloitte’s many years of support for various parties in the Olympic Movement. The new global partnership complements Deloitte’s ongoing agreement with the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028, as well as with the Canadian Olympic Committee, German Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Irish Olympic Committee, Polish Olympic Committee, and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, where Deloitte’s member firms provide support to thousands of Olympians and Paralympians.
Peacock will become the exclusive home to a new Major League Baseball game of the week on Sunday mornings, it was announced today. Beginning on May 8, Peacock will live stream an NBC Sports-produced baseball game for 18 consecutive weeks, with start times for the first six Sunday games at 11:30 a.m. ET and the following 12 Sunday games beginning at Noon ET. Each game will feature NBC Sports-produced pregame and post-game shows on Peacock.
The first game (Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox from Fenway Park on May 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET) will be simulcast on the NBC broadcast network, with the remaining 17 games available exclusively on Peacock’s premium service (full schedule below). In addition, Peacock will be the exclusive home of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game – featuring top minor league prospects – which will be played during All-Star Week in July at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
On each of the 18 Sundays that Peacock presents a game, it will be scheduled as the exclusive home of live MLB action until 1:30 p.m. ET that day, when the remainder of the day’s schedule will begin.
Peacock will also feature classic MLB games, award-winning documentaries from the MLB Film & Video Archive, and highlight packages available on-demand in a new MLB hub.
“We are excited to announce this multi-year partnership with Major League Baseball, which will exclusively offer Peacock subscribers a premium property in a unique time slot for the sport, while continuing NBC Sports’ rich baseball history,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.
“Expanding Peacock’s premium live sports offering for customers remains a top priority and we are very excited to partner with MLB to bring a new, exclusive package of games to Peacock on Sunday mornings for baseball fans,” said Rick Cordella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, Peacock. “We look forward to building upon NBC Sports’ long-standing relationship with Major League Baseball and providing streaming customers exclusive access to games on Peacock.”
“As consumption habits continue to evolve, it is important for us to provide new ways for fans who are outside the cable bundle to watch MLB games,” said Noah Garden, Major League Baseball Chief Revenue Officer. “This agreement marks an exciting new chapter to the extensive history of innovation between MLB and NBC Sports in delivering exciting baseball action to our fans.”
The first Major League Baseball television broadcast was a 1939 Cincinnati Reds-Brooklyn Dodgers doubleheader on W2XBS (the precursor to WNBC-TV) in New York. NBC Sports was a home to the first World Series broadcast in 1947, the first All-Star Game nationally broadcast in 1952, and has televised 39 World Series – more than any other network. Additionally, from 1957-2000, NBC Sports was home to a wealth of baseball programming, including Game of the Week and Monday Night Baseball telecasts, more than 30 All-Star Games, and countless Postseason moments.
Peacock’s expansive programming features live sports coverage including Sunday Night Football, Olympic Games, Premier League, Notre Dame Football, NTT IndyCar Series, and much more. Peacock Originals streaming now include Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure, Meddling, Picabo, and American Rockstars. Peacock also offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel which streams Peacock Original Brother from Another and staples like The Dan Patrick Show, Pro Football Talk Live, and The Rich Eisen Show.
Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Amazon FireTV and Fire tablets; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; Samsung Smart TVs; VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs; LG Smart TVs; Comcast’s entertainment platforms including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and XClass TV; and Cox’s Contour and Contour Stream Player devices. To learn more about Peacock and how to sign up, visit PeacockTV.com.
Russell Stopford, former digital lead at Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and Manchester City, has joined top digital sports agency Stadion as Chief Executive Officer.
Highly-respected in the digital world, Stopford will play a key role in leading the strategic growth and development of Stadion who already have an impressive portfolio of clients across top tier football, rugby union and sports governing bodies.
Lee Cook, Founder of Stadion, said: “When you have worked in sport for as long as I have, you get to know some amazing people and occasionally an opportunity to work with them. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Russell over the last eleven years since we met while he was at Manchester City. With his experience at some of the top clubs and digital businesses in the world I knew we had a rare opportunity to bring someone with a wealth of knowledge and expertise into Stadion. I’m delighted he has joined the team and can’t wait to grow the company together.”
Stopford said: “Stadion has an outstanding reputation for creating bespoke high performance digital experiences for some of the most respected brands in sport. The business continues to go from strength to strength and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to evolve the offering and to lead and work alongside a very talented team of innovative and creative individuals.”
He added: “Stadion has developed a suite of purpose-built products which ensure clients achieve maximum engagement with their customers across all aspects of digital and social in an extremely user-friendly way. This is an exciting time for Stadion.”
Most recently, Stopford was Chief Digital Officer at PSG leading the digital transformation of the club for nearly four years. He was responsible for strategy, execution and commercial for the French giants’ products connecting their global fan-base through consumer digital technologies. Previously he was Director of Digital for FC Barcelona, which included the largest social media audience of any sports club in the world.
Prior to that he was Product Development Director at Perform Group (including Goal.com – the largest global football site) and before that was at Manchester City where he was responsible for all digital channels including City TV.
Stadion was founded in 2014 by Cook. Clients include four of the top ten football clubs in the world as well as several other EPL, SPL and championship clubs, Team GB, the Union Cycliste International (UCI), Harlequins and Munster from the world of rugby union and the Australian Olympic Committee.
Stadion has created products that power everything from websites to apps and voice interactions. These are built around a central publishing hub which allows the client to deliver the latest content to its audience in a fully customisable, modular and responsive way.
beIN SPORTS has announced an exclusive broadcast deal with World Rugby covering the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the remainder of the 2022 Series and the full 2023 Series. The agreement also includes rights to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.
The deal means that beIN will be the only place to watch World Rugby’s sevens action in Australia and all 24 territories of the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region until the end of the 2023 Series.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will take place from 9th to 11th September 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. The event is expected to attract well over 100,000 fans to one of the best live sporting events in the global calendar and is the premier stand-alone international rugby sevens competition outside of the Olympic Games.
In the run up to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, beIN SPORTS will broadcast a packed schedule of events kicking off with the HSBC Rugby Sevens in Singapore on 9TH & 10TH April. This will be followed by action in Vancouver, Langford, Toulouse, London and Los Angeles through to the end of August this year.
Mike Kerr, Managing Director, beIN Asia Pacific said:
“We are incredibly proud to partner with World Rugby. The Sevens has a loyal fan base in MENA and Australia, and we’re delighted to offer fans extensive coverage of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on beIN SPORTS. This latest acquisition demonstrates beIN’s ongoing commitment to bringing compelling sports offering to our viewers.
Alan Gilpin,Chief Executive, World Rugby said:
“We are delighted to welcome beIN SPORTS to the global rugby sevens family. They join us at a very exciting time for the sport following a hugely successful second Olympic competition in Tokyo and with Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town set to thrill fans around the world later this year.
“Through this partnership with beIN SPORTS the fast paced, high octane nature of rugby sevens will have the opportunity to reach and inspire new fans and participants as rugby sevens continues to grow and expand around the globe.”
This weekend will kick-start the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action in Singapore’s National Stadium (09-10 April 2022), which will be available to watch exclusively on beIN SPORTS.
