Caesars Sportsbook Teams Up with the Cleveland Cavaliers Ahead of Sports Betting’s Launch in Ohio

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) today announced a multi-year partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers to make Caesars Sportsbook an “Official Sports Betting Partner” and Caesars Entertainment the “Official Casino Partner” of the team. This partnership includes plans to open a best-in-class retail sportsbook on the street level inside the northwest atrium area of the team’s home venue, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

“We’re ready to welcome Ohio sports fans into the Caesars Sportsbook Empire, while also making history with our second sportsbook at an NBA arena,” said Chris Holdren, Co-President of Caesars Digital. “Building upon our already established roots with Scioto Downs in Columbus, we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Cavaliers at an exciting time in their franchise’s history. As we prepare to launch sports betting in Ohio later this year, this wide-ranging partnership enables us to connect with the Cavs passionate and highly engaged fanbase. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be a first-class venue providing an exciting atmosphere for sports betting and more.”

Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will have betting windows for cash wagering and combine custom VIP and hospitality experiences for Caesars Rewards members, along with on-site activations throughout the year. The approximately 10,355 square foot venue will feature a full-service bar and VIP lounge, an extensive menu, and wall-to-wall TV’s. The costs of these improvements will be paid for entirely by the Cavaliers and Caesars.

With construction starting soon, Caesars Sportsbook will be located on the street level inside the northwest atrium of the venue near the intersection of Huron Road and Ontario Street. The Sportsbook will be open year-round on both event and non-event days for both eligible fans with tickets to events and those without tickets who want to place wagers. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is expected to be open by the end of 2022, subject to regulatory and other necessary approvals and further details and renderings will be announced at a later time.

In addition, Caesars Sportsbook gains access to the use of official Cleveland Cavaliers logos and marks, broadcast and digital content across Cavs properties, as well as TV-visible in-game signage.

Caesars Sportsbook made sports history with the first-ever sportsbook at a professional sports venue in May of 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. and will soon be opening its doors to another Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona through a partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When mobile sports betting goes live in Ohio, sports fans will be able to download the Caesars Sportsbook app to make a bet anywhere in the Buckeye State. Caesars Sportsbook will have mobile market access via the Caesars Entertainment-owned Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Casino in Columbus. Caesars Sportsbook players can also earn Tier Credits and Reward Credits through the industry-leading customer loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, to unlock emperor-worthy experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to a wide range of hospitality assets and VIP experiences with the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Floki Spearheads Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN’s Crypto Charge

Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN is welcoming crypto meme coin Flokias a partner for the 2022 Formula One season. The deal, which will see Floki’s distinctive branding feature on the rear wing endplates of the C42 cars of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, will also see Floki partner Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Esports.

The new partnership will expand Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN’s presence in the world of decentralised finance, one of the fastest growing markets worldwide, while also continuing Floki’spromotional efforts that have seen the brand advertised in mainstream media, international transport networks, and some of the world’s top football clubs.

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN:

“Crypto and decentralised finance are some of the latest markets that have garnered attention in recent years, and they represent a huge potential area to grow business. We are proud to partner with Floki, one of the most innovative and engaging companies within this sector, for the 2022 season. Like Floki, we are innovators and we believe there can be a lot of overlap between our companies when it comes to principles and best practices, something we are very keen to explore.”

A spokesman for Floki commented:

“Alfa Romeo and Sauber Motorsport are iconic names in world of motorsport. With Guanyu Zhou making his Formula 1 debut in 2022 as the first ever Chinese driver in Formula One, alongside Valtteri Bottas, it is going to be an amazing season and Floki is proud to be a part of this historic moment. Both Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN and Flokiare committed to the pursuit of excellence that leads us to proudly partner with the team during the 2022 Formula 1 season.”

NHL, NHLPA, TikTok Announce Partnership

Today, the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and TikTok announced a new partnership to deliver original content and unique experiences to TikTok’s global community. The partnership will come to life in several ways, including in-ice branding and the introduction of the TikTok Tailgate Stage at two upcoming marquee outdoor NHL events – the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series™ on Feb. 26 in Nashville, Tenn. and the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ on March 13 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada – featuring performances by some of the TikTok community’s favorite artists.

The NHL and TikTok will work together to deliver exclusive content, including player fashion interviews, “Who Wore It Best” and “Get Dressed with the Best” segments, and other programming designed to showcase player personalities and personal styles.

“TikTok is an extremely influential entertainment platform with a growing audience of Gen Z users,” said Heidi Browning, NHL Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer. “While highlights are among our most engaging content, through this partnership, we hope to reach the broader TikTok community with exclusive content that captures the amazing fan experience at NHL games and tentpole events, player lifestyle videos, and concerts and global livestreams.”

With 12.2 billion global views, it’s undeniable that TikTok loves #Hockey. The @NHL on TikTok has steadily grown its account to 1.7 million followers, and team accounts on the platform have amassed more than 546 million views around the world. Content like trick shots, behind the scenes and off-the-rink activities, and anything to do with sports and pets are favorites of the community.

“As the digital media landscape has continued to grow and evolve, it’s clear that TikTok has established itself as a premiere platform to connect with fans around the world,” said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director. “We are excited to help showcase the style, interests and engaging personalities of our Players to a large and diverse audience through this exciting partnership.”

Music and entertainment are key components to the partnership, with the NHL and TikTok collaborating on musical artists for tentpole NHL events, including the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL Stadium Series™ and the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™.

Some of the TikTok community’s favorite artists will perform at the TikTok Tailgate Stage, which will become a signature feature of the partnership. Country music star Walker Hayes, who made noise on TikTok last year with his smash hit “Fancy Like,” will kick off the music collaboration with a pre-game show at the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 26. Propelled by the TikTok community, Hayes’ “Fancy Like” became the biggest country song of 2021 after making a TikTok with his daughter. The original video has now racked up over 32 million views, with “Fancy Like” topping multiple sales and streaming charts, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnering Walker Hayes his first-ever GRAMMY Award nomination as an artist for Best Country Song. His performance will be exclusively livestreamed on the @NHL’s TikTok account on Feb. 26 at 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT for music and hockey fans globally.

“Sports content is evolving; fans on TikTok want to see an authentic and multi-dimensional side of the athletes, leagues, teams, and games they love,” said Daniel Habashi, GM, TikTok Canada “We’re lucky to work with partners like the NHL and NHLPA who recognize this and want to bring music and fashion into the fold – two verticals that are both integral to TikTok and extremely popular with our global community.”

The Nashville Predators will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning outdoors in the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series™ at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on TNT, SN360, and TVA Sports.

The 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ outdoor game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, March 13, at 4 p.m. ET will be broadcast live on TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

UEFA And World Tourism Organization Partner Around Shared Values Of Sport And Tourism

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) today announced their partnership around shared values and a common vision for the future.

The leaders of both organisations met today at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, to agree to jointly promote the benefits of sport and sports tourism for development and opportunity for all, including young people. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin recognised the values shared by tourism and football, both people-led sectors with the capacity to promote understanding, friendship and solidarity and drive social and economic change.

Looking ahead, both UEFA and the UNWTO will work to deliver a lasting legacy across Europe. UEFA will join the UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit, designed to give young people a say in the future of the sector and to give them the skills and knowledge needed to lead tourism forward.

Shared objectives

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism. And tourism and football, as the world’s most popular sport, uniquely complement each other. Sporting events, such as the UEFA EURO and the UEFA Women’s EURO, are making an exceptional contribution to tourism in the host countries.

“Even more important is that football offers teams and supporters a chance to travel across the continent, discover new destinations and learn more about different cultures. I cannot think of a better way to learn more about each other, grow together rather than drift apart.”

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added: “Tourism and football are natural partners. They bring joy to many millions, but their benefits go far beyond vacations or single matches. Working with UEFA, UNWTO will build on their potential to celebrate our shared humanity, foster friendship across borders and create experiences and opportunities for people everywhere.”

Jobs and education

Under the new partnership, UEFA and the UNWTO will work together to grow sports tourism across Europe, including through facilitating travel and mobility and through promoting the opportunities for jobs and education this can bring. The two organisations will also jointly champion sustainability within sports and tourism, in line with the wider United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development and UEFA Sustainability Strategy 2030.

The cooperation agreement emphasises the far-reaching impact of both tourism and sport, with both touching on almost every part of economies and societies, in Europe and globally. The two sectors are leading employers and champions of youth empowerment and gender equality. Furthermore, under the guidance of UEFA and the UNWTO, both sectors are working hard to meet their climate action responsibilities.

DemandScience Becomes Official Marketing Partner Of The PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR and DemandScience, a global B2B data company that partners with customers to upgrade their sales pipelines, today announced a multi-year partnership naming DemandScience the “Official B2B Sales Pipeline Generation Sponsor of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions” through 2026.

DemandScience branding will be integrated across key broadcast segments during NBC Sports coverage of The Honda Classic, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Valspar Championship, WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play, Valero Texas Open, BMW Championship and TOUR Championship. DemandScience will activate this new relationship by having a presence in programming throughout PGA TOUR media properties, aligning with PGA TOUR players and hosting customers at PGA TOUR events.

“We’re excited to welcome DemandScience and its global B2B expertise to the PGA TOUR,” said Brian Oliver, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President Marketing & Corporate Partnerships. “We’re thrilled with DemandScience’s commitment to First Tee and growing the sport of golf.”

DemandScience Chair and CEO Peter Cannone said, “Joining the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions as an Official Marketing Partner brings the DemandScience brand in front of the most valuable audience in sports. The PGA TOUR audience of B2B sales and marketing professionals and C-suite decision-makers are a perfect match with our customer base.”

“This is a natural partnership for us. Every golfer knows the importance of having the right data at the right time in order to succeed – and that’s what we do for our customers every day,” Cannone concluded.

Demand Science will also be a Trustee of First Tee, a youth development organization supported by the TOUR. With programs in all 50 states and select international locations, First Tee has empowered millions of kids and teen to build their strength of character through golf.

RealFevr Launch New NFT Collector ‘Dropbook’

Many of us will have spent much of our childhood collecting sticker albums from our favourite football tournaments and leagues, but as we move to more of a digital existence, what will be the future of this?

RealFevr, the first fully licensed football video NFT marketplace, have launched an innovative way of collecting: The NFT Collector’s Dropbook, which can be better described as an NFT digital “sticker” album. With this new feature, owners of the NFTs can complete collections from each drop and earn rewards by doing it.

RealFevr have taken a big step towards creating a fully gamified ecosystem, delivering something that no other project has yet delivered in the NFT industry: The Collector Dropbook. By launching the First Edition, they are providing a completely new way of collecting NFTs and strengthening a position as industry innovators.

So what will be part of this dropbook?

There will be one specific Dropbook for each NFT pack drop and every Dropbook must be filled with NFTs from its respective collection. For the time being, you can already complete the First Edition Dropbook:

Dropbook Moments

To fully complete a Dropbook collection, you will have to continuously add your owned moments to the corresponding slots. There will be three different states to represent the availability of your moments:

– Not Available
– Available to Add
– Added and Locked

Not Available

If you don’t own a specific NFT in your collection, the moment slot will appear as not available in the Dropbook. In this case, you will be able to click on the “BUY ON MARKETPLACE” button in case you wish to purchase it right away.

Available to Add

If you already own the NFT in your collection but you have not added it yet to the Dropbook, you will be able to do so by clicking on the “ADD TO DROPBOOK” button.

If you decide to add an NFT to a Dropbook, you will be locking it until the mentioned date. Although the NFT might be locked to a Dropbook, you will still be able to use it in the FEVR Battle Arena P2E game and it will be accounted for staking pools NFT requirements.

Added and Locked

If you have already added and locked your NFT to the corresponding Dropbook, you are set and ready to continue your journey as a collector!

Dropbook Progress

Once you open one of your Dropbooks, you will be able to check your total collection progress, as well as the progress you have made in each rarity tier.

Dropbook Rewards

There would be no gamification without a rewards system and this is the final touch RealFevr are currently adding to this.

By making progress in the completion of each rarity tier of your Dropbooks, you will unlock multiple milestones that will grant you amazing rewards. The higher the rarity tier, the more valuable these rewards will be and they are composed of:

Experience Points (XP)
FEVR Tokens
Allowlist System

Experience Points

These experience points will contribute towards your profile level increasing. In other words, you need to accumulate XP in order to keep leveling up and improve your collector status. The full XP leaderboard system is under development and will be coming soon to RealFevr.

FEVR Tokens

The amount of $FEVR you will receive will vary according to the tier section of the Dropbook.

Allowlist System

When you complete one of the tiers, your wallet will be able awarded as Allowlisted and it will grant you priority access to upcoming initiatives.

While it is important to discuss how promising the future looks like, this vision depends on the ongoing work of the present to become a reality. Being aware of this small, but vital detail is the bridge that unites the reality with our vision.

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.”