Bundesliga 2 team, FC Energie Cottbus has announced Tropical Islands, Europe’s largest tropical leisure resort will remain a main sponsor.

The contract was extended by Infront Sports & Media, the marketing partner of the club.

The main sponsor package includes Tropical Islands’ logo placed on the team shirt as well as extensive perimeter advertising at the club’s home ground – Stadion der Freundschaft (“Stadium of Friendship”). In addition, the brand benefits from full integration across all other facets of the club, including print and online publications.

Furthermore an extensive ticket and hospitality contingent is provided with supplementary marketing activation opportunities also featured as part of the package. This includes special promotional campaigns as for next weekend’s home game against SV Sandhausen, when Tropical Islands will be offering all visitors to the stadium vouchers to visit the resort.

American race car driver Conor Daly and VBrick Systems Inc., a leading provider of media management and distribution solutions, have announced that VBrick, for the second year in a row, will support and sponsor Daly during the 2013 racing season.

In addition to Daly’s GP3 program that will span eight countries, VBrick will also support his debut at the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

VBrick’s sponsorship will include partnering with Daly to produce high definition live video events via the Internet, providing sponsors and fans with unprecedented live access to Daly and his race teams. Daly will also carry the VBrick branding on his helmets, racing suits and ART Grand Prix prepared GP3 car.

“I very much look forward to working with VBrick again this year. Last year we did a great live video event from the Force India factory during the British Grand Prix weekend that gave fans direct live access to me on Twitter and I look forward to taking that up a notch this year,” said Daly. “My fans around the world will have live access to me while I’m at some of the world’s greatest sports venues, including the Indy 500. It’s going to be really cool.”

“VBrick is proud to continue its sponsorship of Conor Daly,” said Shelly Heiden, chief executive officer of VBrick. “Conor and VBrick share the same commitments to precision, reliability, and speed, a combination that has helped both him and VBrick deliver winning results.”

Daly will drive for the French-based ART Grand Prix team, arguably Europe’s best junior team. Twelve of the current Formula One grid have passed through the ART development system including Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, Pilipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado, Paul DiResta, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg.

Continental Tire announced that they have extended their agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), ampoule Major League Soccer’s commercial arm, anabolics to continue as an official partner and the official tire of MLS in the United States and Canada, as well as announcing a new partnership with U.S. Soccer. 

The MLS partnership includes designation as the official tire of the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup, Major League Soccer’s championship game.  The multi-year sponsorship with MLS extendsContinental’s relationship with the league, which began in 2010. 

Continental Tire announced a new partnership with U.S. Soccer,  which will see Continental Tirebecome an official sponsor and the official tire of the U.S. Men’s, Women’s and Youth National Teams.  The multi-year partnership will provide Continental Tire with the opportunity to support the U.S. National Teams through the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2016 Olympic Games and a wide variety of games and tournaments at every age level. 

“We are proud to extend our relationship with MLS and expand our soccer program in North America to now include U.S. Soccer and our National Teams,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for Continental Tire.  “Our partnership with MLS has been very beneficial.  We have been able to expose our Continental brand and its array of high-quality, long-lasting tires to the passionate MLS audience. Soccer fans are like no other type of sports fan and we are pleased that they’ve been very receptive to our message. Our partnership has produced exceptional results by every measure.  By adding U.S. Soccer and the U.S. National Teams to our partnership, we will be able to speak to an even larger audience which is extremely positive for our brand. Continental Tire has a rich history in soccer globally and we’re thrilled to continue that tradition here in the U.S. with MLS and U.S. Soccer.” 

Under the agreement, Continental will retain the right to use MLS, MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup marks in its advertising and marketing materials at a local and national level.  The sponsorship also includes in-stadium signage and activation rights at a specified amount of games.  Continental will also receive exposure on MLSsoccer.com, MLS’ website, and VIP hospitality suites in select markets. 

“In support of their overarching FIFA partnership, Continental Tire has realized tremendous success as a strategic partner of MLS since coming on board in 2010,” said David Wright, senior vice president for SUM.  “That success, coupled with Continental Tire’s desire to drive a deeper connection with our passionate fan base, has resulted in a long-term renewal that also includes the addition of U.S. Soccer. As is the case with all of our partners, there is a lot of excitement as brands start gearing up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Canada, as well as the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.”

Reigning Stanley Cup Champions, purchase Los Angeles Kings has announced the signing of five Presenting Partners for the 2012-13 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs including season long presenting partner McDonalds. 

Toyota, Verizon, Mercury Insurance and Travel Alberta all joined McDonalds to take a leading role during this year’s post season. The Kings are currently 2-1 down in their series against the St Louis Blues.

All five were season-long partners and will add to their playoff presence with this commitment.  Four of the five playoff presenting partners had similar post season involvement during the Kings’ 2011-12 championship run with Travel Alberta as the lone newcomer to the group. 

“Our partners, as well as our fans, are anxious to repeat the excitement of the 2012 postseason,” said Bill Pedigo, Senior Vice President.  “And these five partners are smartly looking to maximize their exposure and association with the team during this most visible time of the year.” 

Elements of the presenting partnerships include tags in Kings marketing efforts, increased in-arena exposure, logos on all in-arena giveaways, and a significant on-line presence.

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RockTape, cough the world’s strongest brand of kinesiology tape, has announced that it will be an official sponsor of the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games, an annual fitness competition created and operated by CrossFit, Inc. where elite athletes compete for the title of Fittest on Earth and a piece of a US$1 million purse.

The CrossFit Games, now in their seventh year, will be held July 26-28 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA and broadcast worldwide on the ESPN network. RockTape will provide athletes competing in the Games with product to aid with event preparation and recovery.

Used by athletes worldwide, RockTape is applied to the weak or injured muscle and improves circulation, promoting healing and faster recovery; increasing performance. RockTape has helped professional athletes in a variety of sports outperform their injuries and surpass their goals.

“We’re proud to support the event and the amazing CrossFit Games athletes through our sponsorship this year,” says CEO of RockTape, Greg van den Dries. “Our goal is to help ease the physical and mental strain resulting from this incredibly grueling competition to the best of our ability. We know these elite athletes have trained all year to qualify for this unique competition and prove their fitness and we will be right there to support them.”

“This is the fourth year RockTape has provided products to CrossFit Games athletes and we’re excited to have RockTape support our search for the fittest man and woman on earth,” says General Manager of the CrossFit Games, Justin Bergh. “RockTape’s emphasis on sports performance makes them a natural fit as a sponsor for the CrossFit Games and we’re glad to have them on board.”

RockTape will also host a booth at CrossFit’s exhibitor village for spectators to sample and purchase products. For more information about the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games, please visit games.crossfit.com.

English Super League team, discount Bradford Bulls have announced a new partnership with car retailers Halifax Volkswagen.

Locally based Halifax Volkswagen will be showcasing its cars at the Provident Stadium when Bradford take on Leeds Rhinos tonight.

Gavin Hogg, price brand manager at Halifax Volkswagen, ed said: “Bradford Bulls are one of the region’s most respected and best-loved brands – and therefore a perfect match for Halifax Volkswagen.

“Rugby League has an obvious synergy with our business as it is very much focused on team work and being a team player

“The sport has an unmistakable family feel which we are proud to be part of and we look forward to working with the club and the team on a number of initiatives and activities in the coming months.”

The sponsorship will enable Volkswagen to have a presence at Bradford Bulls home matches, increasing awareness of the Halifax dealership, as well as opportunities for joint promotions to customers. In return, Volkswagen will support Bulls marketing initiatives to increase supporter numbers on match days.

Omar Khan the Bradford Bulls Chairman said: “Forging professional relationships within the community is vital to the ongoing success of our team, so this sponsorship represents another welcome step forward for the club off the field.

“We are delighted to be working with another local company,  Halifax Volkswagen and believe this collaboration will give both parties a good opportunity to increase their brand profile across the region.”

Everton star Marouane Fellaini and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge have teamed up BT to help launch the British company’s new sports channels.

Fellaini, 25, and Sturridge, 23, will be rivals on the pitch for the Merseyside derby on Sunday but the duo are on the same team as BT Ambassadors and co-stars in TV ads for BT Sport.

Both players will also feature in BT Sport programmes as well as marketing and promotional materials for BT Sport, which are expected to roll out across various media outlets from May 6.

Fellaini, said: “It was great to film the adverts with some of the most successful players in the Premier League.

“It’s exciting to be involved with BT Sport and I am looking forward to contributing to the programmes next season. I hope that I can bring some real insight from a player’s point of view.”

Sturridge said: “These are exciting times for me. I feel that I have settled in well at Liverpool and next season I want to reach new levels on and off the pitch.

“I am looking forward to being involved in the BT Sport ads and giving the viewers some fresh insight into the game.”

BT Sport will show 38 exclusively live games from the Barclays Premier League for three years from August 2013, including 18 top picks.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are thrilled to have bridged the Merseyside divide and captured two stars, one from either side of Stanley Park.

“Both these guys are exactly the sort of young, distinctive talents we want to showcase.

Tottenham star and PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale, plus Arsenal and England winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also signed up with BT in recent weeks.

Premier League top scorer Robin van Persie, of Manchester United, will also star in BT Sport’s TV adverts, adding to the telecoms giant’s rolecall of current Premier League stars who are helping to launch its new sports offering this summer.