Exclusive: Webber Looks to Increase West Ham Fan Engagement with Lycamobile Deal

By Ismail Uddin

Barry Webber, pills Commercial Director of West Ham United, drugs has revealed their new partnership with Lycamobile will increase communication amongst its fans through their ‘Hammers Mobile’ sceme.

West Ham announced a significant deal with the largest global provider of low cost international mobile calls to become their Official Mobile Partner. This is Lycamobile’s first forage into football sponsorship.

Webber is looking to launch the ‘Hammers Mobile’ scheme soon.

“Both brands have a desire and passion to launch “Hammers Mobile”.  This will create a high impact communications tool across our key European markets.  We will be able to talk to our supporters in new and existing ways, cialis building in loyalty schemes and special offers to add additional value into the WHU community,” he told iSportconnect.

With a strong heritage in sports sponsorship, most notably in cricketing events, this new venture sees Lycamobile expand into the exciting world of premiership football for the first time.  Over the past six years, the organisation has invested over £1 million in consumer and sporting occasions and this partnership with a top flight football club provides a valuable platform for Lycamobile to further extend its reach into the community.

“The new partnership aligns two powerful brands in East London.  On one hand we are looking to create an awareness vehicle for the Lycamobile brand across the UK and Europe and on the other hand we will be creating a second vehicle to be used to increase fan engagement and loyalty to both brands.  We are talking about a platform which will offer supporters a market leading product that 52% of our support is eligible for,” Webber added.

Subaskaran Allirajah, Group Chairman and Founder, Lycamobile said in a statement: “At Lycamobile we are passionate about reaching out to our communities and we hold sports sponsorship close to our hearts as a way to do this. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for both Lycamobile and West Ham United. We are already looking at the possibility of engaging more closely with the West Ham United fans and season ticket holders. The partnership complements our mission to provide the cheapest telecommunications, financial, travel and entertainment products and services to communities in the UK at grass roots level.”

Webber also suggested there may be one more deal coming West Ham’s way soon.

“Yes, we have one more deal to announce.  This summer we have managed to secure the following new partners: Suremen/Lycamobile/Viagogo/Clive Christian and a couple of quid loans company.”

New Orleans Hornets Signs Two New Corporate Partners

With the new NBA season just upon us, hospital  New Orleans Hornets announced today that Pepsi and evamore have signed on as corporate partners.

With the addition of the two beverage partners, allergist the Hornets and the New Orleans Arena will have the opportunity to enhance the fan experience with new products, as well as lower price points for concessions.

“Since purchasing the Hornets, we have engaged our fans in several discussions to understand the modifications we can make to improve and enhance their game experience. Based on feedback we’ve received, variety, selection and pricing in regards to concessions were at the top of their list,” said Hornets Owner Tom Benson. “We have listened to their feedback and, in cooperation with SMG and Centerplate, feel we have taken great steps towards meeting those needs with our new partnerships with Pepsi and evamore.”

In addition to new products, the Hornets have also worked diligently with SMG and Centerplate to make several price reductions on concessions. One of the highlights includes dropping the price of 16-oz. draft beers from $8 to $6. On Friday nights, $5 16-oz. draft beers will be available to compliment the Hornets’ Friday Night 12-game Package, which is designed to give fans the opportunity to tip off the weekend with the excitement of an enhanced pre-game party with live music at Champions Square followed by a Hornets game.

Notable reductions also include a $.25 price cut on water, as well as reduced costs on hot dogs, and chicken wings. In addition to the reductions, prices have been frozen on several fan-favorite items, including nachos and chicken tenders. 

Pepsi will serve as the Official Soft Drink of the New Orleans Hornets and the New Orleans Arena as a full-line of Pepsi products, including Slice, Mountain Dew and several additional selections will be available to fans. evamore, a locally-owned and headquartered company, will be the Official Water of the Hornets and the New Orleans Arena. The naturally alkaline artesian water is bottled at the source, which comes from a protected artesian aquifer half a mile underground in Covington, La.

The New Orleans Hornets will host ‘Halloween at the Hive’ as they tip off the 2012-13 season against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 p.m. at the New Orleans Arena. 

Cheerios to Sponsor Richard Childress Racing in 2013

General Mills have extended their sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing and driver Jeff Burton in 2013 but will change the brand from Wheaties to Cheerios.

Cheerios will be on the hood of Burton’s No. 31 car for six races and then be an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season.

General Mills has been a sponsor at RCR since 2008. It also sponsored Burton for six races this season.

“General Mills … has been a great partner over the years so we’re proud to continue that relationship in 2013 with Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Chevrolet team,” team owner Richard Childress in a statement.

Burton, who has 21 career victories, is 19th in the series standings. He made the Chase for the Sprint Cup four times from 2006-2010 but has missed the Chase in each of the last two years.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with RCR and Jeff Burton in 2013,” Cheerios associate marketing director Meredith Tutterow said. “As a successful professional athlete committed to health and fitness, and an honest, hard-working husband and father, Jeff lives out the values that Cheerios represents.”

The No. 31 team gets the majority of its season sponsorship from Caterpillar.

Brazilian Club Gremio Looking to Sell Naming Rights to Stadium

Brazilian soccer club Grêmio “is close to selling the naming-rights” to its new stadium to Chinese bank ICBC Bank, diagnosis according to PLACAR.

Representatives of the “largest bank in China” arrived in Brazil on Monday to conclude the negotiations. Grêmio President Eduardo Antonini confirmed that “the agreement is close to being signed.” The executives from both parties “are only negotiating a couple small details.” Indications are that the club “will receive approximately” R$34M ($16.7M) annually in the deal. Grêmio “is also working on a deal” with adidas, which could become the new kit supplier of the team.

Swiss Milk Brand Emmi Extends FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Sponsorship

Emmi, link Switzerland’s leading milk processor, sales has extended its international sponsorship involvement in the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.

The new contract directly follows the current one, running from the 2013/14 to the 2015/16 season. It was closed with Infront Sports & Media. The international sports marketing company markets the advertising and sponsorship rights to the majority of FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events on a collective basis.

After the successful initial three years of sponsorship, the extension of the involvement was a logical next step for Emmi as part of its sustainable brand communications and international marketing approach. The agreement entitles Emmi to be at the heart of the action during the most important FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Norway – including prestigious races such as Adelboden, Wengen or Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Nicole Laager, Group Brand Manager of the Emmi Group, said: “The impact of our involvement in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in terms of worldwide visibility has completely fulfilled our expectations. The feedback we received in regards to this sponsorship further underlined that the association between our brand and this winter sports series is being made. Infront’s approach in allocating and implementing the sponsorship has contributed to this effect and builds an ideal base for us to move forward on this successful path and strengthen the connection between our brand and the series.”  

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “Competitive skiing has a long heritage in Emmi’s home country Switzerland – a fact that further supports the authenticity of the company’s brand communication in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup environment. The serial character of the competition, its attractive audience demographics as well as its wide reach with more than three billion cumulative viewers ensures that Emmi effectively reaches its target groups in Central Europe and other key skiing markets.”

The agreement is based on a clearly structured and consistent marketing concept for the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup that Infront introduced in 2009. It provides seven international partners per race with high visibility at clearly defined sections along the ski run. This high level of exclusivity, combined with a consistent venue dressing along all the races, further contributes to the impact of each sponsor’s brand messages onsite as well as on the TV screens worldwide. The Emmi brand will be visible on banners and boards in prime locations of the course, within the start and finish areas as well as on athlete’s bib numbers.

Ainscough Becomes Wigan Warriors New Shirt Sponsor

Rugby League’s Wigan Warriors have announced a new shirt sponsorship partnership with Ainscough Crane Hire part of Group Ainscough.

Ainscough are a national based company and the two-year contract will see the company name on the left shoulder of both the home and away shirts for the First Team in 2013 and 2014.

Ainscough Crane Hire is the largest lifting service company in the UK operating from 28 strategic locations with the Head Office based locally at Standish.

The company operate over 460 cranes, serve over 4,500 customers and employ over 1,000 staff making them the largest mobile crane provider in the UK and one of the largest in the world.

Speaking about the Partnership Gareth Jones from Ainscough said: “Wigan Warriors are the biggest name in Rugby League and one of the most successful in club history. They have a strong following and local heritage and history like ourselves. Therefore it seemed natural to take the similarities between both organisations and join forces for the next few years. Warriors, like ourselves have ambitious plans for 2013-14 and we look forward to working with them especially in the community and wish Shaun Wane and his side all the very best for the 2013 season.”

Wigan Warriors Sales Director Geoff Warburton added: “We are thrilled to welcome Ainscough Crane Hire on board as a new shirt sponsor for the forthcoming season. It is always pleasing to attract new businesses to become involved with us and we look forward to welcoming the management, staff and clients of Ainscough to the DW Stadium from February and into forging a long term relationship with them as we have with many other of our partners.”

SRU Looking to Sell Murrayfield Stadium Naming Rights

Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) chiefs are looking to cash-in in a naming rights sponsorship deal for the historic Murrayfield Stadium.

Negotiations with commercial parties are already under way as the governing body seeks to pay off a £13m debt.

Mark Dodson, SRU chief executive, believes it could be a valuable source of income.

“The single biggest piece of our inventory is our national stadium, we would like to see if we can monetise that,” he said.

“We’re looking at trying to bring money in across our inventory.”

Dobson released a four-year plan in June this year and increasing revenue was one of the targets he set.

And renaming the 67,200-seater venue is one option that Dobson is keen to assess.

“We want to be sympathetic about how we do it. We want to get the right price for it, it would be crazy for us not to look at using our single biggest piece of inventory to drive revenue.

“It depends on how you pitch and what goes in the package, but it’s millions of pounds a year.”

Heavy Haulage to Title Sponsor Tekno Autosport at V8 Supercars Abu Dhabi Event

Tekno Autosports has signed transport and haulage company Heavy Haulage Australia (HHA) as title sponsor for the Abu Dhabi event at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend. 

The two-car team has run without a major sponsor in the 2013 V8 Supercars, having to settle for one-off event deals. Abu Dhabi will be the first time this season that both Tekno Commodores will display the same sponsored livery. 

HHA is a newcomer to V8 Supercars having made its debut in motorsport sponsorship at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 with Shae Davies in the Porsche Carrera Cup. 

According to the team, “the Abu Dhabi event partnership aims to test the effectiveness of involvement with V8 Supercar team sponsorship.” 

“The V8’s fit with our target market, indicating that an involvement in the sport will complement our other marketing projects,” said founder and managing director of Heavy Haulage Australia, Jon Kelly. 

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to test the water and accurately measure results.” 

Tekno Autosports drivers Jonathon Webb and Michael Patrizi are 14th and 21st respectively in the championship, with Webb coming off the back of a season-best second place in Saturday’s Gold Coast 600 race. 

“We are pleased to announce our newly formed event partnership with HHA, a company that displays the same passion for quality as the Tekno Group,” said Tekno CEO Kobe Webb. 

“We will endeavor to ensure our performance on and off track in Abu Dhabi successfully meets HHA’s objectives of sponsorship, and look forward to the prospect of extending our partnership to the 2013 season and beyond.”

Nascar Continues to Go Green with Green Earth Deal

Florida-based Green Earth Technologies (GET) joined the stable of Official NASCAR Green Partners.

GET’s G-CLEAN pressure washers and environment-safe cleaning products and degreasers for concrete, home siding and outdoor mold and mildew stain removal, will offer NASCAR fans a green alternative to use on their homes.

Since its 2008 launch, NASCAR Green and its stakeholders have helped fans discover the substantial improvements and technological advancements made to reduce the sport’s impact on the environment. NASCAR fans are more than 20 times more likely than non-fans to associate NASCAR as being environmentally responsible and are twice as likely as non-fans to describe their own households as very green – always looking for new ways to positively impact the environment (source: Toluna, custom environment-related study, 2012).

“NASCAR is synonymous with high performance and partnering with them will allow us to reach millions of consumers who desire to keep their homes clean and green without giving up product performance or value,” said Jeffrey Loch, President and CMO of Green Earth Technologies. “We are proud to deliver American-made environment-safe outdoor cleaning solutions and we look forward to having a growing presence in the sport.”

In 2012, GET established a partnership with the U.S. Environment Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment program (DfE), certifying its products as effective and safer for human health and the environment. Earlier this year, NASCAR entered into a broad, voluntary collaboration with the EPA to raise awareness about the benefits of green products and solutions that have earned the DfE label.

“Our NASCAR Green platform has been dedicated to integrating environmentally sound practices within the sport because it is the right thing to do for our fans, our business and our planet,” said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales officer. “Through its cutting-edge development of environment-safe consumer goods, Green Earth Technologies has positioned itself as an innovator in the green marketplace. We will work together to create additional ways to reduce our sports’ impact on the environment.”

GET’s presence in the sport will expand across NASCAR Home Tracks, including participation in the NASCAR Home Tracks Contingency program. GET’s G-CLEAN logo will be featured on-track with a decal on each entry in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Additionally, Green Earth Technologies signage will be prominently featured at Home Track racetracks across the country.

“This is a great opportunity for Green Earth Technologies to reach our core fans,” said Bob Duvall, NASCAR director of business development, weekly & touring. “We are proud to be able to incorporate NASCAR Green into every level of our sport — from grassroots races to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.” 

HotelPlanner.com Becomes Official Hotel Booking Partner of Liberty Bowl

HotelPlanner.com, the leading provider of online services to the global group sales market, has been selected to be the Official Hotel Booking Partner of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

HotelPlanner.com will work directly with the Bowl’s official sponsor hotels to provide out of town fans attending the 2012 and 2013 AutoZone Liberty Bowl games with the convenience of making hotel room reservations online. Individual fans and groups will have the opportunity to make their hotel reservations through HotelPlanner.com.

“We’re proud to partner with HotelPlanner.com to offer our traveling fans their expertise,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “HotelPlanner.com will provide the visitors to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl an easy and convenient means of booking their hotel rooms.”

Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner.com, added: “We’re proud to be selected as the hotel booking provider of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. We look forward to providing great service to the fans attending the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and enhancing their bowl travel experience. Our job is to make the reservation process easy, efficient and provide multiple options for hotel accommodations at the best possible rates.”

HotelPlanner.com has an outstanding track record of experience working with professional, college, and youth sports organizations including MLB’s New York Yankees, the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and Washington Redskins, the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, and the Florida Panthers of the NHL.