The Champions Tour and energy leader Constellation announced a five-year extension of the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship through 2017.

The announcement comes on the heels of the tournament’s first staging at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh and its move to a mid-summer date for the first time since 2006.

Constellation has been a title sponsor on the Champions Tour since 2003 and title sponsor of the SENIOR PLAYERS since 2007.

“The Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship is one of the premiere events on the Champions Tour, a tournament that consistently features exceptional golf and also generates significant contributions to worthy charitable institutions,” said Kenneth W. Cornew, chief executive officer and president of Constellation and executive vice president of Exelon, Constellation’s parent company. “We’re excited to be looking ahead to the 2013 tournament at the wonderful venue at Fox Chapel and to five more years of championship golf.”

Since 1992, the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS has generated more than $8 million for charity. In 2012, The First Tee of Greater Pittsburgh was the primary charitable beneficiary of the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS.

“Constellation has been a valuable partner and tremendous supporter of the Champions Tour since 2003 and has played an integral role in helping the SENIOR PLAYERS positively impact the communities in which the tournament has been staged since 2007,” said Champions Tour President Mike Stevens. “With today’s announcement, both with the extension of Constellation as title sponsor and Fox Chapel Golf Club as host venue, the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS will continue its positive influence throughout Western Pennsylvania and maintain its prestigious position on the Champions Tour schedule, a major championship.”

In 2012, the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS moved to a mid-summer date for the first time since 2006 and was held at historic Fox Chapel Golf Club for the first time. Designed by renowned architect Seth Raynor and opened in 1923, Fox Chapel proved to be a challenging test for the Champions Tour’s best as Joe Daley outlasted reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year Tom Lehman by one stroke to claim his first Champions Tour victory. Champions Tour players raved about both Fox Chapel’s design and conditioning during tournament week.

“We’re proud of our golf course and the response it received from the best players on the Champions Tour this past summer and are excited to serve as host venue for the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS through 2014,” said Fox Chapel Golf Club President Arthur M. Scully lll. “Fox Chapel Golf Club made a tremendous debut in 2012 and we look forward to even better events in 2013 and 2014, as well as investing the proceeds of the tournament into several wonderful charities that positively impact the lives of children and adults in Western Pennsylvania.”

Round Rock Express Baseball and Dell have reached a 10-year renewal agreement for naming rights to Dell Diamond stadium.

The ballpark, store which is home to the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, anesthetist has been the Express stadium naming rights partner since the franchise’s inception. The new agreement extends the venue’s name as Dell Diamond through the 2023 season, Express officials disclosed Thursday.

Round Rock-based Dell employs an estimated 12,000 workers in Central Texas.

Express officials said the ballpark is scheduled to undergo several upgrades this off-season. Most notable of the upcoming changes will be a new larger LED high-definition video scoreboard in left field. The nearly 100-by-43-foot structure will be complimented by LED HD video display panels stretching 100 feet along both the left- and right-field walls.

Tata Consultancy Services, the leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, has been named a New York Road Runners (NYRR) senior sponsor and the exclusive IT consulting sponsor for the 2012 ING New York City Marathon to be held on Sunday, November 4, 2012. 

This is the third consecutive year that TCS has sponsored all three major U.S. marathons, including the 2012Boston Marathon (April 16) and 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October 7).

At the ING New York City Marathon, TCS will serve as the inaugural presenting sponsor of the Marathon Lounge held at the Time Warner Center, a new initiative that will be open to the public throughout the Marathon weekend. The lounge will serve to provide visitors at the Time Warner Center with a slice of the Marathon experience including an interactive treadmill activity, pre-programmed with the marathon course, and a photo booth with backdrops of the course.  In addition, there will be large plasma TV screens with continuous coverage of the marathon, free Wi-Fi internet service and mobile charging stations in a comfortable lounge setting.  TCS is also the presenting sponsor of the Blue Line Lounge, the VIP finish line hospitality event, which will be held on marathon day at the Marathon Pavilion.

“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with NYRR and their premiere property, the ING New York City Marathon,” said N. Chandrasekaran, chief executive officer and managing director for TCS. “I greatly admire each and every participant who has held themselves to one of the highest standards of excellence and exhibited an unwavering determination. As a company, we strive to maintain many of the same values that these participants represent.”

The company is expanding its relationship with the New York Road Runners and will also serve as an Official Sponsor of the New York Road Runner’s Youth Jamboree and Mighty Milers Youth Programs.  The Youth Jamboree is a free, all-day program that introduces children to running, jumping and throwing events while Mighty Milers is a youth in school running program to get kids moving and prevent obesity and illness.

This year’s marathon will feature 35 runners on Team TCS.  In addition, a number of TCS employees will be competing in the New York Road Runner’s Dash to the Finish 5K on Saturday, November 3, 2012.

“Through our partnerships with the three major marathons in the United States, we have been able to share our company-wide mission of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to well-being, excellence and achievement,” said Surya Kant, President, North America, UK and Europe for TCS. “These events, with their unifying nature, serve as a great platform for employee engagement and engagement with the wider community.”

In sponsoring these events and in keeping with TCS’ commitment to corporate sustainability, TCS will engage with runners, friends and family, and the broader community to share the company’s commitment to health and fitness, specifically in support of the education and prevention of diabetes. A growing problem, diabetes afflicts an estimated 346 million people worldwide and 8.3% of Americans. All proceeds raised by Team TCS at the ING New York City Marathon will go to theAmerican Diabetes Association. 

The Hertz Corporation and organizers for the Battle On The Midway announced today that Hertz will be an Official Sponsor of the Battle On The Midway.  

San Diego State University, coached by Steve Fisher who won an NCAA national title in 1989 will play the 2003 NCAA champions Syracuse University aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier on Friday, November 9 in the Battle On The Midway game.

“The Battle On The Midway will be an amazing game with two of the NCAA’s top teams going head to head on the aircraft carrier,” commented Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark P. Frissora.  “Our Hertz for Heroes program is dedicated to helping veterans and those return home from active military duty.  These brave men and women are true heroes and deserve our utmost thanks and appreciation.  Like those in the military, San Diego and Syracuse players are dedicated, hardworking and are driven to succeed, all qualities Hertz admires.”

Hertz’s sponsorship of The Battle On The Midway is part of its Hertz for Heroes program, a project initiated last Veteran’s Day by Hertz employees with military backgrounds.  In addition to sponsorship of the Battle On The Midway, Hertz is also donating a portion of each car rentalreservation booked on Hertz.com from November 11 through November 12, 2012 and a portion of every equipment rental contract opened between November 1 and November 11, 2012 to DAV.  Hertz for Heroes has logistical and distribution support from the 8500 member National Defense Transportation Association, (NDTA).  Formerly launched in 2011 with the donation of 40,000 free weekend rentals to vets returning home from overseas, Hertz for Heroes was expanded when the Company joined the White House’s Veteran’s Hiring Initiative, Joining Forces, led by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden.  

The Battle On The Midway is set for a 5:00 p.m. PST start and will be televised nationally by FOX Sports Net.  

Der Deutsche Tennis Bund (DTB) und Patrik Kühnen haben ihre Zusammenarbeit beendet. Der Davis Cup Teamchef teilte dem DTB am Mittwoch mit, abortion dass er seine Tätigkeit für den Verband nicht weiter fortsetzen werde. Der dreimalige Davis Cup Gewinner war seit 2002 Kapitän der deutschen Herrentennis-Nationalmannschaft.

“Sein Schritt kommt nicht überraschend, da sich in vielen Gesprächen mit Patrik Kühnen und den Spielern abgezeichnet hat, dass ein Neuanfang die beste Lösung für das deutsche Herrentennis ist”, betont DTB-Präsident Dr. Karl-Georg Altenburg.

Der DTB wird nun auf Basis eines klaren Anforderungsprofils Gespräche mit geeigneten Kandidaten für die Position des deutschen Davis Cup Kapitäns führen. Eine besondere Rolle wird dabei auch die Erweiterung des Tätigkeitsbereichs auf den Nachwuchs spielen. “Wir werden jetzt schnellstmöglich die Gespräche aufnehmen und rechnen mit einer Entscheidung noch vor Weihnachten”, so Altenburg. “Patrik Kühnen möchte ich für sein großes Engagement in den zurückliegenden Jahren ganz herzlich danken. Er hat sich nicht nur als Spieler, sondern auch als Teamchef der deutschen Herrentennis-Nationalmannschaft um das deutsche Tennis verdient gemacht.”

French cycling team, hospital FDJ have been dealt a blow after title sponsor BigMat decided not to renew its sponsorship deal with the UCI Pro team for next season.

The French building materials distributor came on board as sub-sponsor at the beginning of 2012 after having initially entered into talks with the Garmin team.

A Française des Jeux spokesman told L’Équipe that BigMat’s decision was not linked to the sport’s much-publicised doping problems but was due to the global economic crisis.

“This contract was signed with BigMat International and not with BigMat France, pills and it wasn’t able to be renewed due to the current economic situation of its foreign subsidiaries,” said Frédéric Riou. “The recent scandals in cycling have nothing to do with this decision.”

Française des Jeux, the French national lottery, agreed a new four-year deal with Marc Madiot’s team at the end of 2011, and Riou said that BigMat’s withdrawal would not affect the team’s future.

“In concrete terms, this won’t have any effect on the cycling team, which will continue next season under the sole name of FDJ, while remaining open to finding another co-sponsor for 2014,” Riou said.

The BigMat name is not leaving cycling completely, however. The French branch of the company’s sponsorship ofBigMat-Auber 93 will continue until the end of 2013.

Mavericks Invitational, the world’s premier big wave surf contest, has announced that GoPro has signed on as the presenting sponsor.

GoPro, maker of the world’s most versatile cameras and producer of some of today’s most engaging content, has made a two-year commitment to the contest.

“GoPro is a great fit,” said contest director and Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark. “GoPro started right here in Half Moon Bay by surfers and for surfers. We’ve watched them grow over the years through their unique ability to connect the public with action sports. We?re really excited to work together.”

Started in Half Moon Bay, California, GoPro makes the world’s most versatile cameras, enabling people to capture immersive and engaging footage of themselves during their favorite activities. 

“We are stoked to be part of Mavericks Invitational as it recognizes the world’s top big-wave surfers charging one of the most famous big waves on the planet,” said Paul Crandell, vice president of marketing for GoPro. “GoPro was created close to Mavericks. In fact, the harbor near Mavericks is where our founder Nick Woodman would do camera and water housing tests. So, the event also means a lot to us because these are our friends and neighbors who are behind this event. And with the GoPro camera onboard, we’re looking forward to providing people around the world with a unique perspective and idea of what it is like to drop in and ride at Mavericks.”

Mavericks Invitational organizers are preparing for the opening of the contest window, which starts on November 9, 2012, and runs though March 31, 2013.

Gaelic Athletic Association team Cork GAA are searching for a new sponsor after telecommunications company, O2 announced it was not going to renew it’s sponsorship of the club.

O2’s deal, which had been in place to cover football and hurling since 1998, won’t be renewed into 2013.

A joint statement from the Cork county board and O2 yesterday confirmed that their sponsorship partnership will conclude when the contract ends on December 31st, 2012 – and with that begins the search to find a replacement.

“We are obviously very sorry to lose O2 as sponsors of Cork GAA, after 15 mutually successful years,” said Cork chairman Bob Ryan.

“The county board officers, our hurling and football Players, our team managements and our supporters have enjoyed an excellent relationship with O2, and with its executives and representatives.

“We wish to thank them for their partnership and generous support over the years. We are currently in negotiations with a number of interested parties about the sponsorship of Cork GAA from 2013 onwards.”

Eugene Mitchell, marketing director at O2, said: “We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with the Cork county board since 1998, during which time we have shared in many memorable moments and achievements by the footballers and hurlers, including 26 national and 46 Munster titles.

“On behalf of O2, we wish continued good fortune to all Cork teams and their loyal fans for the future.”