Time Warner Cable announced today that it has partnered with World Golf Champion, Ian Poulter, to launch it’s marketing campaign Enjoy Sports Better.

Poulter is an English professional golfer who is a member of the world’s top two professional golf tours, the U.S.-based PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has previously been ranked as high as number 5 in the world rankings. The partnership will feature Poulter in a national advertising campaign as well as appearances at golf tournaments and exclusive opportunities with customers in Time Warner Cable markets.

“We’re tremendously pleased to have Ian partner with us in support of our Enjoy Sports Better campaign,” said Jeffrey A. Hirsch, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Residential Services of Time Warner Cable. “He is widely regarded as one of the best putters in the game and without a doubt will also serve as an important voice for our customers who are passionate about all things golf.”

In the next few months, Time Warner Cable customers across its footprint can view a new Enjoy Sports Better commercial featuring Poulter and other top athletes. Additionally, customers will have the chance to meet and greet Poulter at golf tournaments where he will be competing.

“I am thrilled to begin the 2013 season with Time Warner Cable as my newest partner,” said Poulter. “We both value entertainment as a key component of life! I am looking forward to a long relationship with Time Warner Cable!”

Phoenix Racing announced Guy Roofing Inc. will sponsor its No. 1 Chevrolet in the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Feb. 23 and its No. 51 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500 Feb. 24.

The events at the historic, doctor high-banked 2.5-mile oval will mark the organization’s first NASCAR sponsorship endeavors.

Guy Roofing is a national full service residential, commercial, and industrial roofing contractor headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. They provide services in the 48 contiguous states. It is a family-owned corporation celebrating more than 40 years in business.

“NASCAR started as a small organization, and has grown into a long established national sport,” said Jeff Guy, vice-president of Guy Roofing. “With NASCAR series tracks in virtually all of the market areas where Guy Roofing provides our services, it made perfect sense for us to partner with Phoenix Racing. Stock car racing is an American tradition, in many cases passed down from generation to generation. As a third-generation family operated business, Guy Roofing values the commitment to excellence and quality that enable operations like NASCAR to withstand the test of time and continue to grow. It is that dedication that truly illustrates the American spirit.”

“Phoenix Racing is thrilled to have Guy Roofing partner with us for the races in Daytona,” said James Finch, team owner. “There’s not a better way for them to enter the NASCAR arena than to be part of those events. We’re excited for NASCAR fans to learn about their company and find out about the tremendous services that they offer.”

Canadian road racer Ben Young has announced a new partnership with UK-based KICK Energy Drink for the 2013 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike season.

KICK Energy Drink is owned by Global Brands Limited in the United Kingdom and distributed in the US by Streamwood, IL’s Dolce Beverage Company LLC. 

Canadian-based Young, just coming off of a successful debut in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship, and KICK Energy are both originally from the UK and share a passion to excel in the U.S. 

“We think that this is a great opportunity to get the KICK Energy name out there in a very cool environment and sport! We look forward fueling Ben’s continuing success and developing this partnership into something that can be expand down the road.” said Courtney Voss, Dolce Beverage Group, Marketing & PR Manager. 

KICK Energy Drink is one of the fastest growing products in its sector in Europe and debuted in the United States in 2011.

Young stated: “Because of what’s in KICK, and what isn’t, it’s the ideal energy drink for me and our crew to ‘Stay in the Game’ during each race weekend! I’m proud that the Dolce Beverage Company has placed their trust in me and the BYR team to kick-start KICK Energy Drink’s introduction to AMA Pro Road Racing’s fans and the motorcycling community.” 

Bryan Herta Autosport has announced today that Barracuda Networks will continue to be the primary sponsor for the team’s 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series No. 98 “Barracuda Racing” entry.

The Barracuda Networks sponsorship will again include primary branding on the car and all team equipment. The Honda-powered, allergist | No. 98 Dallara DW12 livery will be unveiled in the upcoming weeks, along with associate sponsor announcements.

“Barracuda Racing had an amazing 2012 season and we are looking forward to an even stronger one in 2013,” said Michael Perone, executive vice president and CMO at Barracuda Networks. “The sense of teamwork, drive and focus on innovation is unparalleled and we are proud to be the primary sponsor and share that with our customers and partners around the world.”

“Barracuda Networks has proven to be an ideal partner for Bryan Herta Autosport and our Barracuda Racing IndyCar,” commented Bryan Herta. “In 2012 we achieved many milestones together, and we plan to build on those successes on and off the track together. Barracuda is well known for their performance, reliability, and quality and we are proud to represent the brand for a second year in the IZOD IndyCar Series. I know I speak for everyone at BHA when I say we cannot wait for the 2013 season to begin.”

Barracuda Networks is a technology company that works with businesses to simplify their information technology (IT) processes and protect their networks, data and end–users. Barracuda Networks offers a wide range of products that protect organizations from email and Web threats, improve application delivery and network access, and backup and archive critical data.

 

Chris Sarbora has agreed a deal to wear Hazardous Racing protective clothing for his 2013 attempt at the Isle of Man TT.

Hazardous, cialis formed in 2012, herbal is an American-based leathers and apparel company dedicated to producing the highest-quality suits available, at the most affordable final cost to the racer. By reducing the cost of entry to high-grade protection, Hazardous hopes to increase the level of safety available for everyone – from the professional racer to the everyday street rider.

“Obviously, quality protective gear is important in all aspects of motorcycling, but it is never more important than on the Isle of Man, during a TT race,” Chris said. “I’m very excited to wear Hazardous this year not only because I believe in the company’s vision of quality gear for every rider, but also because I know that its founder’s idea of ‘quality gear’ is based in personal, real-world experience. I won’t be wearing the product of some engineering design committee; I’ll be wearing the product of a fellow racer’s years of expertise.”

“When it’s houses, trees and stone walls you’re streaking past instead of racing curbs and gravel traps, it’s important to be able to breathe easy and know that your gear fits you properly, isn’t going to affect your movement, and is going to stay together and do its job if the worst should happen,” he added.

Hazardous Racing has already made quite a splash on the national racing scene on both the west and east coasts, with a fast-growing presence in both AMA Pro as well as regional club races. With the addition of Chris to its team roster, Hazardous is thrilled to debut in Europe and on the world stage.

“There is no greater race than the Isle of Man TT,” commented company founder Matt Alexander, “and we think there is no greater opportunity to prove ourselves than in competition at that race. With Chris on the team we hope to spread the word that top-level safety doesn’t have to be exclusive.”

Unifi, ailment Inc., makers of the REPREVE brand of fibers, announced that REPREVE will be a first-time sponsor of X Games Aspen, which will take place Jan. 24 to 27, 2013.

As the recycling sponsor of X Games Aspen 2013, the goal is to raise awareness about the significance of recycling plastic bottles and choosing REPREVE-based products. REPREVE is made from recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles, and is an essential ingredient that makes fabrics and garments sustainable.

To help drive awareness, Elena Hight has teamed up with the REPREVE brand to help promote a greener lifestyle. Hight is best known for her progressive riding style and is a decorated X Games Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe medalist. As brand ambassador, Hight will help promote the importance of recycling and choosing products made with REPREVE.

“The X Games is an ideal event to showcase REPREVE, because the recycled fiber goes into many winter sports-related brands including Patagonia, The North Face and Polartec-based products,” said Roger Berrier, President and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc. “Together with Elena Hight and the X Games, we have a special opportunity to educate consumers on the importance of recycling and the innovative products produced from recycled plastics, providing consumers a new way to lighten their impact on the environment.”

“The environment plays such an important role in winter sports and we can help make a difference by recycling and choosing products made with REPREVE,” said Elena Hight. “Not many people know that REPREVE is a recycled ingredient that makes so many of the clothes we buy eco-friendly. It’s really cool to know that the bottles we recycle at X Games Aspen could actually end up in my clothes.”

As part of Hight’s collaboration with the REPREVE brand, she will be featured in a television advertisement showcasing the REPREVE brand fiber on ESPN during X Games Aspen. She will also be available at the REPREVE booth Sunday, Jan. 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for photo opportunities with fans.

The Ports of Auckland has been confirmed as a major sponsor for the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Auckland event, bronchi which takes place on Sunday 20 January 2013.

The race will be based on Auckland’s waterfront, erectile with a 1.9K swim from the Maritime Museum to the Viaduct Harbour, 90K cycle (including a traverse of the Auckland Harbour Bridge) and two-lap 21.1K run along the waterfront.

The Ports of Auckland welcomes the new event to the city, and particularly for the waterfront, as a valuable boost to both domestic and international visitor numbers.

“The Ports of Auckland strongly believes we have a role to play in supporting events that will help bring new money and visitors to our city and particularly to our waterfront, which we share with the community,” said Ports of Auckland CEO, Tony Gibson.

“We also understand the importance of health and fitness both in the community and with our own staff and contractors, many of whom are shift workers. We support the need for health and fitness among our staff and are offering staff the opportunity to enter teams into this event.

“The event sits alongside our naming rights sponsorship of the Round the Bays fun run, which we have recently renewed for a further three year term.”

Unveiled last July, as part of Ironman brand owner World Triathlon Corp’s (WTC’s) international expansion plans, Ironman 70.3 Auckland 2013 has been designated as the official Asia Pacific Championship.

The event provides an additional opportunity for athletes in the Asia Pacific region to qualify for the annual Ironman 70.3 World Championship at Las Vegas, USA. Entries for the inaugural IM 70.3 Auckland event opened on Tuesday 24 July.

Ironman 70.3 Auckland brings the Ironman series full circle back to Auckland. The city was the first international race venue chosen when the Ironman brand began its global growth in the mid-80’s. Today the Ironman brand continues to grow with more than 30 Ironman and 60 Ironman 70.3 races around the world each year; over 150,000 participants annually.

A mainstay in the Ironman series, Ironman New Zealand was staged in Auckland for 14 years, based at Mission Bay and then St Heliers, before moving to Taupo in 1999. The full distance race has attracted more than 22,000 participants, more than half from overseas.

Ironman 70.3 Auckland is expected to attract more than 1,200 professional and age group participants annually including a significant number of international athletes. The event will offer a professional prize purse of US$75,000, 1,500 professional points for the elite field and 45 age group qualifying slots for the Ironman World Championship 70.3.

Betting operators, Betfred and Totepool have inked deals with 31 Racecourse Media Group racetracks, plus Ascot, to provide pool betting services and on-course betting shops.

The courses include Cheltenham, Aintree, Newmarket, Epsom, York, Newbury, Goodwood, Sandown and Ascot, which will join RMG in June 2014. 

The pool betting arrangement means the on-course Totepool betting service will remain at those circuits until at least July 2018.

All on-course betting shops will now be operated by Betfred for the same term.

The deal ensures Betfred and Totepool’s portfolio of race sponsorship – including the Ebor, Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch – will continue across all the 32 courses.

RMG chief executive officer Richard FitzGerald said: “We are delighted to conclude these deals with Betfred and Totepool which guarantee and protect the future of pool betting and Totepool products at our racecourses until July 2018.

“The aim is to not only provide a first-class service for racegoers but also to grow the business for the benefit of the sport as a whole.”

Totepool managing director Phil Siers said: “Totepool has an exclusive seven-year UK licence and is committed to developing and improving its racecourse facilities, and customer service to Betfred’s high standards.

“Totepool will make a significant capital investment in the business and expects this investment to drive a high rate of return, and to quickly help Totepool and its partners deliver a flagship operation.”