ITV To Broadcast EFL And Carabao Cup Highlights From Next Season

ITV will show highlights of the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One, Sky Bet League Two, Carabao Cup and the Papa John’s Trophy from the 2022/23 season after the broadcaster entered into a two-season partnership with the EFL.

A comprehensive round-up of all the day’s action from across the EFL will be screened in the primetime slot on Saturday at 9pm on ITV4, with a repeat being shown on ITV [main channel] later in the evening.

And for those who want to catch up on all the highlights on Sunday mornings, viewers will be able to watch again on ITV.

Highlights of midweek fixtures, where a full round has taken place, will also be broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub, covering Sky Bet EFL matches.

Each show will feature every goal from every EFL fixture plus detailed analysis from a panel of expert pundits.

ITV will also present extensive coverage of Sky Bet Play-Off semi-finals and finals as well as a highlights programme for each of the Rounds of the Carabao Cup and the two-legged semi-finals and final.

A one-hour programme of highlights from the Papa John’s Trophy Final will be shown on ITV4 on the day of the final.

Each highlights programme will be available in full, on a catch-up basis on ITV Hub during the period of 30 days following its first transmission.

EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “With 1891 matches played across the season, it’s crucial for the EFL that the very best of our match action is widely accessible and we are delighted that ITV will show highlights of our games for the next two years.

“As an experienced major broadcaster with a comprehensive sports portfolio, ITV’s commitment to high quality coverage will showcase the breadth and depth of our competitions to football supporters all over the country.”

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “This deal brings viewers free to air coverage of one of the most unpredictable divisions we have in the Sky Bet Championship, the best of the action from Sky Bet League One and League Two alongside the exciting midweek competitions in the Carabao Cup and the Papa John’s Trophy.  By offering highlights across our platforms, via our channels and on demand on ITV Hub, we hope football fans will enjoy our EFL shows from next season.” 

Noah Beck Named Major League Soccer’s First ‘Social Playmaker’

Former MLS Academy and D1 player, with more than 45 million combined followers, to showcase League and sport, serve as mentor to young athletes in MLS NEXT.

Noah Beck, who developed as a player in the Real Salt Lake Academy and was a midfielder at the University of Portland before becoming a social media sensation over the last two years with a combined 45 million followers, has joined Major League Soccer in the new position of “Social Playmaker.”

The 20-year-old Beck, who played 19 games as a freshman at the University of Portland after attending Real Salt Lake Academy’s high school, will create original programming with MLS on TikTok, placing a spotlight on the players and clubs from around the League and reaching millions of fans across the world. His work will include “Beck’s Corner,” a weekly TikTok rundown with his take on MLS action. In addition, Beck will create pieces around the culture surrounding MLS and participate in special events and moments throughout the season.

Beck, who also played in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program and served as a celebrity guest coach in the 2021 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge in Los Angeles, is a passionate advocate for the game. In his role as Social Playmaker, Beck will also dedicate his time to working with MLS NEXT – the League’s youth player development initiative – where he will help mentor and inspire the next generation of soccer stars.

“I’m so excited to be partnering with MLS as their official Social Playmaker, and to continue to champion the league and sport I’ve played since I was three years old,” said Beck. “Not many people know the extent of my background with soccer, but it was my first love and has remained an important part of my life. My heart never left the pitch, so this partnership perfectly blends my passion for the game and my current career as a content creator. I hope to grow the league’s awareness with a young audience and inspire the next generation of MLS players.”

“Noah Beck is an incredibly talented creator with a highly engaged community who has a genuine love of soccer and deeply personal experience as a player in the sport,” said David Bruce, MLS’ Senior Vice President of Brand and Integrated Marketing. “Noah’s desire to use his platform to bring a bigger focus on the sport and league he loves is an enormous opportunity for us to continue to build the North American soccer movement. We’re extremely excited to be working with Noah and reach new audiences together.”

World Triathlon Enters The Blockchain Through Partnership With NFT Design Works

World Triathlon is pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with blockchain specialists NFT Design Works that will enhance the triathlon community’s engagement with the sport in exciting new digital realms.

The partnership will bring triathlon fans the opportunity to own and trade exclusive, unique digital moments in the sport for the first time, in the form of official Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).  NFT is a digital asset that exists on a blockchain. The blockchain serves as a public ledger, allowing anyone to verify the assets authenticity and ownership.

The deal will also help support the creation of new community-focussed triathlon events, giving triathlon a valuable early presence in the Web3 space that will enhance our fans’ experience through to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and beyond.

“Web3 is an exciting proposition with huge potential for sport and sports fans that is only just beginning to be explored. Over the past 30 years, triathlon has delivered some of the most iconic moments in world sport and now we will be able to bring them to life again and offer our huge global community the chance to enjoy those moments in an entirely new way,” said World Triathlon President and IOC Member, Marisol Casado.

“Triathlon has always been a pioneering sport, and this partnership is another example of our burning spirit of innovation. Just as it becomes increasingly difficult to predict what the digital world will look like in five or ten years’ time, it is increasingly important to be at the forefront of those changes, so we can grow and entertain triathlon fans around the world in new and interesting ways around the sport itself. That is what this partnership is all about.”

World Triathlon joins some of the world’s biggest sports organisations, including the NBA and NFL, and clubs including Paris St Germain and Manchester City, in entering the world of NFTs to enhance their fans experience.

Terry Daly, Head of Commercialisation at NFT Design Works added: “NFT Design Works has created a range of patented NFT products and systems over the last 12 months and we are really excited to be bringing these benefits to one of the world’s premier sports.

“Non Fungible Tokens are at the beginning of unlocking the potential of the Blockchain and what it can deliver to everyone who loves sport. With World Triathlon we will be on unlocking the power of the Triathlon communities through our range of innovative, high value experiences.”

Badminton England Appoints Sue Storey As CEO

Badminton England, the governing body for the country’s sixth largest sport, has today announced the appointment of Sue Storey as Chief Executive Officer.

Sue joins from Volleyball England, where she is currently Chief Executive. Whilst there, she provided leadership in the collaborative development of a new ten-year strategy, secured increased funding into the sport for performance athletes, improved commercial income and drove a huge increase in junior participation across the country.

With her focus on culture and people, she delivered a complete overhaul of the organisation, ensuring that the sport is now more engaged and transparent, putting the volleyball community at the heart of ongoing developments.

Prior to this Sue spent eight years at the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) for and made a significant contribution to improving safety, security and service at major sporting events across the UK and abroad. Sue has worked with top level football clubs in England and Wales and led the SGSA’s first ever partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Badminton England Chair, Mike Robinson, said: “Following a rigorous search process, I am thrilled to be able to welcome Sue as our new CEO. She brings not only great knowledge and understanding of what it takes to run a successful national governing body, but she also has a real passion for sport and for badminton in particular.

“Sue is a leader with vision, who puts people first and I know she will be a tremendous asset to Badminton England.  I am confident that under Sue’s leadership, we can unite the badminton community around a shared vision for our sport.

“This appointment and that of Morten Frost, ex-world number one, as Performance Director last week, are key to the future of our sport. There is a feeling of great excitement and optimism as we enter the new Olympic cycle and I look forward to working with them both.”

Sue Storey said: “It is an honour and a pleasure to take on the role of leading Badminton England as Chief Executive. I am passionate about sport and have worked tirelessly to improve the experience of sport for everyone.

“Badminton is a fantastic sport that I have been involved in for over 30 years, through four badminton playing kids, a badminton playing husband and an extended family who have played and volunteered for many decades. I was a club level player myself and still occasionally pick up a racquet to feed shuttles for my kids.

“I am very clear we need to work in a collaborative and engaged way with the badminton community to succeed in our ambitions. Together we will achieve the stated vision of becoming one of the nation’s most popular sports and consistently winning medals.”

Sue will take up her appointment on Monday 9 May 2022.

Mike Robinson added: “Badminton England would like to thank Pete Fitzboydon for stepping into the role of Interim Chief Executive, which he has performed since October last year. Pete will remain with us to ensure a smooth transition and provide a comprehensive handover. During his time, Pete has started to build the foundations for the future, including the development of our action plan following UK Sport’s review of our performance programme. The Board wishes Pete every success for the future.”

Vasco And 777 Partners Sign Memorandum Of Understanding For Vasco SAF

Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama and 777 Partners announce that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for an investment in Vasco da Gama’s football.

The non-binding proposal of the North American investment company is to invest R$700 million in exchange for a 70% interest in Vasco da Gama Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (“Vasco SAF”) to be incorporated. Including the R$700 million debt to be assumed by Vasco SAF, the offer values ​​SAF at R$1.7 billion, making this the largest transaction in the history of Brazilian football.

777 Partners agreed to provide CRVG with a BRL 70 million bridge loan, convertible into Vasco SAF shares at the closing of the transaction.

During a period of 90 days, 777 Partners will conduct a confirmatory due diligence in order to finalize the investment, which will still be subject to the approval of the CRVG partners at the General Meeting.

The transaction will help Vasco regain its leading role in Brazilian and international football. 777 Partners will act as a long-term strategic partner to enable Vasco’s ambitious plans and sustainable future.

Vasco SAF will be 777 Partners’ main investment in South America, and Vasco will use 777’s network of companies to modernize the club with access to new media technologies, broadcasting and data utilization for talent identification.

Josh Wander, Partner at 777 Partners; Jorge Salgado, President of Vasco da Gama and Juan Arciniegas, Director of Sports, Media and Entertainment at 777 Partners (Photo: Disclosure)

CRVG will transfer its football assets and will cede the right to use the São Januário stadium to SAF, while retaining ownership of its headquarters: Calabouço, Lagoa and Complexo de São Januário.

SAF will create conditions for Vasco’s football to recover its high sporting performance and for the long-term sustainability of CRVG, and the club will be able to increase its investments in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

“We are proud to announce the biggest deal in the history of Brazilian clubs. We worked tirelessly over the last few months to find a long-term partner, with financial and operational capacity, who shared our ambition to replace Vasco in his place as a football giant, in Brazil and in South America. future, winner, sustainable and debt-free, everything that our immense supporters want”, says Jorge Salgado, president of Vasco da Gama.

Among the many investments in sports, entertainment and media, 777 Partners recently acquired full ownership of Genoa CFC, Italy’s oldest football club, and also owns a considerable share of Sevilla FC, one of the most prestigious football clubs and successful in Spain.

“We are very excited and proud to have the opportunity to join Vasco da Gama’s incredible team,” said Josh Wander, Founder and Managing Partner of 777 Partners. “We have immense respect for Vasco’s rich history of success and his pioneering role in supporting social inclusion in Brazilian sport. We look forward to investing in a city with one of the best talent pools in the world, in a country that lives and breathes football, just like we do.”

XFL To Join With NFL On Innovation Opportunities To Advance The Game Of Football

The XFL has announced it will be collaborating with the NFL on select innovation programs to further expand the game of football and create increased opportunities for player development both on and off the field.

iSportConnect’s Ben Page: In my opinion, it is absolutely vital for both sides to work together, but particularly for the XFL if it wants to avoid the fate of its previous times in existence. However, it can’t be ruled out how important this also is for the NFL, as they are in desperate need of a feeder league, such as the NBA’s G-League equivalent. Having a prospering XFL will ensure that players who are coming into the NFL during the season have been playing competitively (rather than just training on practice squads), give opportunities for late developers who improve in their mid-late 20s and provide many more careers for players when they leave college, while also being another entertainment platform for the sport.

According to the XFL, health and safety will be a principal area of focus in both learning and innovation, with the league working with the NFL on forward thinking physical and mental fitness programs for players, the study of playing surfaces and equipment and the sharing of game trends and data.

 “We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the NFL in these important areas,” said  Dany Garcia, Co-Owner and Chairwoman of the XFL. “We are bringing forward an XFL that is progressive and forward-thinking when it comes to innovation, leveraging the newest technology to enhance gameday experience.  We have an open field for innovative rules to enhance in-game access.  Sharing insights and practices between the XFL and NFL will do a tremendous amount of good for the game of football and support the player ecosystem overall.”

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1495784760370778121?s=20&t=nNDcnhwqpn02ueQimkS70A

Additional avenues for collaboration may include international football development and scouting,  as well as officiating, including the testing of different game rules for player protection and enhanced overall play, and of different technologies to enhance officiating.

“The XFL has shown us that innovation is one of its core principles.  We are hopeful that this relationship will support further development and improvements in the game of football at all levels.” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

ATPI Unveils Strengthened Sales Team

Global travel management company, ATPI, has enhanced and expanded its UK-based sales team to best support clients in challenging times as the organisation primes for recovery and continued growth.

After being promoted to group commercial director in November last year, Katie Skitterall has kicked off 2022 with a wave of new hires and internal promotions to bolster the ATPI Group’s sales team.

Returning to the business are Julian Mills and Nikki Regan. Mills has been appointed to support on multinational sales efforts and strategic opportunities with the new role of Director of Corporate Sales, while Regan re-joins after two years working at American Express Global Business Travel to lead the commercial strategy in the UK taking on the position of Head of Group Commercial Strategy.

James Draper has been promoted to UK sales director after previously holding the role of head of sales – corporate, media & sports for three years, building on successful sales performance and ensuring the business is primed to continue to deal with increased sales volumes.

In addition, subject matter experts have been added in the fields of Commercial Support, Inside Sales, Global Implementation and Digital Services.

Adam Knights, regional managing director for Europe and the Middle East comments:

“ATPI has ambitious growth targets for the coming years and we strongly believe that by growing our exceptional commercial team globally, as quickly as possible post-pandemic, will support our goals. We are starting 2022 by ensuring that our team is primed for recovery.”

Operating from more than 100 offices worldwide, the ATPI Group has successful operations in corporate travel, corporate event management, online travel technology and travel management for a number of specialist key industries and groups. In late 2021, ATPI launched its sustainability division ATPI Halo – a carbon reduction, measurement and offset consultancy.

For further information on the ATPI Group, please visit www.atpi.com.

LinkedIn Announced As National Sponsor Of UEFA Women’s EURO England 2022

Today UEFA and The FA have announced LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, as the latest national sponsor of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, joining existing partners The LEGO Group, Pandora and Starling Bank. The tournament, which is due to be the biggest European women’s sporting event in history, will be hosted in England this summer from 6-31 July.

As a national sponsor of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, LinkedIn will spotlight the game’s female trailblazers who have supported one another on their path to professional success, inspiring everyone with their stories as it commits to ‘make work work for women.’

LinkedIn’s activations will demonstrate how the platform and its community can support women to achieve their goals, whatever their profession or industry, and drive content and conversations around women’s empowerment, leadership, wellbeing and diversity.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, Director of Marketing at UEFA, said:

“We are delighted to have LinkedIn join us as a national sponsor of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. The addition of this major brand further enhances what is already an extremely strong roster of commercial sponsors associated with the competition. This collaboration offers significant opportunities to further promote the competition through their platform and bring it to new audiences. We look forward to working together on what is set to be a record-breaking tournament that further grows the women’s game.”  

Ngaire Moyes, Vice President, Communications and Brand, International at LinkedIn said:

“At LinkedIn we’re championing a gender equal world that’s diverse and inclusive, and it’s a privilege to support UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 which actively shares and celebrates these values. The tournament is set to be a landmark event that will provide professional female footballers with a platform to showcase their remarkable talent and achievements. Off the field, we’re increasingly seeing sports professionals use LinkedIn to share interesting stories and insights into their careers, and we know how powerful they can be to encourage and inspire others.”

The announcement comes on the same day tournament organisers have launched the ‘Inspired By England 2022’ Instagram channel that will become the home to all inspiring stories and content from fans, sponsors, partners and community groups in the build up to the tournament and beyond. Join in the action and share your stories using @InspiredByEngland2022 and #WEURO2022.

Birmingham 2022 And CGF Partnerships Sign Deals With The Royal Mint And Royal Mail

Birmingham 2022 and CGF Partnerships have signed a licensing deal with The Royal Mint and Royal Mail to produce commemorative coins and stamps to mark the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham 2022 marks the third time the Games have been hosted in England in its ninety-two year history, and each of those Games have been commemorated through the release of collectable Royal Mail stamps and Royal Mint coins, anchoring this significant event in history and contributing to the celebration of the Commonwealth Games.

Both The Royal Mint and Royal Mail have been awarded exclusive rights as Official Licensees to create a series of Birmingham 2022 themed coins and stamps to celebrate and mark the global sports event, which takes place from 28 July to 8 August.

The special 50 pence piece takes inspiration from Birmingham’s bedrock of innovation, creativity and architecture. Designed by Natasha Preece of the Royal Mint, the coin features the iconic design of the Library of Birmingham. It was released as part of the Royal Mint’s 2022 Annual Sets on 4 January 2022, which includes a coin designed in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Birmingham 2022 collection features one main coin design, offered in a range of precious metals and will also include base metal designs featuring England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland coins and a Home Nations set.

Royal Mail has a rich history of issuing stamps to mark the Commonwealth Games being held in the UK. The Company has commemorated the British Empire Games 1925, Cardiff 1958, Edinburgh 1970, Edinburgh 1986, Manchester 2002 and most recently, Glasgow 2014 with Special Stamps as lasting souvenirs of the event for collectors and fans.Details and images of the Special Stamps being issued by Royal Mail will be announced closer to the launch of the Games in July.

Ian Reid, CEO at Birmingham 2022, said:

“These very special coins and stamps will be a perfect reminder of the excitement and thrill people will have by being part of Birmingham 2022. Both the Royal Mint and Royal Mail are organisations who have excellent international reputations, and the partnerships are a perfect fit for our incredible global event. The commemorative sets are a wonderful way to celebrate the Games and for the whole country to get involved in Birmingham 2022 and our festival of sport and culture!”

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, added:

“For over 1,100 years, The Royal Mint has been producing British coins that have recorded the passing of history and major events. We are thrilled to be able to show our support for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and have the opportunity to celebrate this exciting event on a commemorative coin.”

Matt Parkes, Director Stamps & Collectibles, Royal Mail commented:

“Royal Mail is delighted to be issuing these Special Stamps for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest multi-sport competitions in the world and the Special Stamp issue will be our lasting reminder of the occasion.”

David Leather, CEO of CGF Partnerships, said:

“We are very proud that the CGF and Birmingham 2022 will be working with the Royal Mint and Royal Mail to produce these special coins and stamps. It is a great way to mark the occasion, with the Games returning to England and hosted in Birmingham and the West Midlands for the first time. The commemorative sets will be a fantastic way to celebrate the Games and allows everyone to get involved in all the celebrations.”Both the commemorative coins and stamps will be available to buy in July, from post offices, the official Birmingham 2022 retail stores and online

Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Announces AutoNation As Event Supporter

South Florida Motorsports and AutoNation, America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, today announced a multi-year Event Supporter partnership surrounding the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.

In this latest announcement, AutoNation will benefit from prominent trackside signage at pivotal areas throughout the Miami International Autodrome track, including brand exposure on the roof of the Turn 18 grandstand. This corner should see a lot of action over the weekend, being at the end of the 2nd longest straight in Formula 1®.

In addition, the AutoNation DRVPNK Patio will include a private viewing deck in the Hard Rock Stadium for 100 all-inclusive VIP guest experiences per day. AutoNation will also have a strong footprint in the fan zone to activate their retail program and engage with tens of thousands of people throughout the weekend.

“Formula 1 has a remarkable presence with significant brand affinity. Once we learned that Formula 1 would come to South Florida, we knew we had to be a part of it and are excited to be an Event Supporter,” said Marc Cannon, AutoNation’s EVP and Chief Customer Experience Officer. “To have DRVPNK featured on our Cornerstone at Hard Rock Stadium speaks to our purpose and showcases our commitment to impact. AutoNation has raised over $30 million to drive out cancer, create awareness, and support critical research and we are well on our way to $35 million raised.”

“With more than 300 locations and 22,000 Associates across America, there are few automotive retailers to rival AutoNation and we are proud to bring their brand to life at the newest and most exciting major motorsport event in the country” said Jeremy Walls, Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer of Hard Rock Stadium & Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. “As a Cornerstone Partner of the Miami Dolphins, we have seen the ways in which AutoNation manage their partnerships, not only to raise brand awareness but also to have a lasting impact. We are proud supporters of their DRVPNK initiative and will be pleased to see the pink incorporated within our F1 campus in May.”