He also suggested changing the times European races run in the summer to attract a bigger television audience.

“I don’t think it’s good to race in July and August at 2pm when the people are in the sea or on vacation,” he said. “Soccer plays at 6, 7, 8 o’clock.”

Leinster rugby club has selected Conrad Dublin as their official hotel in a three-year deal.

European soccer club champions, site Chelsea have extended their partnership with Samsung Electronics Co.

The $23.9 million shirt sponsorship renewal with Chelsea will carry on until 2015.

Chelsea, apoplectic which won the Champions League for the first time in May, health signed a partnership agreement with the South Korean electronics maker in 2005.

“Samsung have exercised their right to extend their deal which will see them remain as a premium partner of the club until the end of May 2015,” the London club said yesterday in an e-mailed statement.

The contract started with Samsung paying 11 million pounds per season as the company replaced Emirates airline on the front of Chelsea’s blue jerseys. That agreement was extended at 15 million pounds five years later, and Samsung had until June 1 to take up its option to renew for a further three seasons.

The shares of Samsung, which is also a sponsor of the Olympic Games, tumbled 7.5 percent on Aug. 27, a day after a U.S. jury verdict found that it copied Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPhone.

Sunny Hwang, Samsung’s vice president and head of worldwide sports marketing, said in an interview in May that the world’s largest mobile phone maker would wait until the outcome of Chelsea’s Champions League final with Bayern Munich before committing to a renewal.

Michael Schumacher has agreed a partnership with navigation solutions expects, pharm erlinyou.

The deal , announced at the Italian Grand Prix, involves erlinyou teaming up with Michael Schumacher, the greatest Formula 1 driver in history, to develop the most innovative GPS products.

erlinyou said in a atatement: “As the most recognizable and accomplished driver of our time, we are enthusiastic that his influence and expertise will allow us to offer the finest and most technically advanced GPS product on the market today.”

Well-acquainted with competitive success using the most advanced auto technology available, Michael is an industry pioneer who will analyze, interpret, formulate and fine tune the first comprehensive GPS product ever to be offered with true top of the line performance.

Rigorously tested on every continent for the past 3 years, the quality and the technology offered will establish erlinyou as the leading innovator in GPS and we are proud to have an icon like Michael Schumacher as our testimonial.

Michael Schumacher is considered to be the best racing driver in the history of Formula 1. He holds all relevant records in the sport, having won 7 world champions titles, 91 races and 68 Pole Positions. His reputation all over the world is unmatched.

erlinyou is an international company, focussed on the navigation business and the tablet business, headquartered in Beijingand with offices in New York, Berlin, Paris, London, Milano, Barcelona, Mexico and Sao Polo.

The college football season is underway in the US and Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced a number of sponsorship agreements.

The tyre maker will soon commence is sixth year as exclusive tyre sponsor of the ABC College Football Halftime Show and it has inked new agreements with select colleges in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC conferences; these deals are expected to connect the Cooper brand with fans on a local market basis.

The new agreements cover multimedia sponsorships with The Ohio State University, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech for the 2012 season. As part of these deals, the Cooper brand will be prominently showcased as a featured sponsor at each school along with stadium signage, television and radio spots, and digital marketing. In addition Cooper will connect with fans directly through on-site activities at each school’s home games throughout the season.

“Our support of college football is another way the Cooper brand connects with the passion and traditions that make college football game days such momentous occasions,” said Cooper’s director of consumer channel development Julie Smalstig. “By creating engaging experiences for fans, we are helping drive excitement for the sport and supporting our dealer community by prominently associating the Cooper brand with the much-loved American tradition of college football.”

The Chicago Bears continue to have success off the field with a number of new corporate partnerships in 2012, pills cheap as well as the continuation of many other long-time relationships.

The Chicago Bears welcomed Dr Pepper Snapple Group as a new Hall of Fame Partner in 2012. Hall of Fame partners represent the highest commitment level to the Chicago Bears and are true pillars to the team’s business. Dr Pepper Snapple Group and the Bears agreed to an exclusive, troche multi-year partnership that designates them as the “Official soft drink of the Chicago Bears.” The Hall of Fame partnership encompasses many marquee promotional assets, vialis 40mg including stadium pouring rights and the entitlement of the Dr Pepper Patio at Soldier Field, a new interactive area that includes a large video wall, high-end concessions, interactive games and a chance for fans to sample unique soft drink flavors. Dr Pepper Snapple Group is also the title partner of the RC Cola Bears Training Camp and will support Family Fest and Back to Football Week platforms as an associate sponsor

MasterCard has expanded their relationship with the Bears to a Hall of Fame partnership. The renewed multi-year partnership includes the launch of their Priceless Chicago platform, in which Bears assets will be integrated into exclusive MasterCard card holder benefits. The “Preferred Card of the Chicago Bears,” MasterCard will also give fans an opportunity to receive benefits from their purchases with their MasterCard at Bears games and events.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group and MasterCard bring the Bears total number of Hall of Fame partners to eight joining: Chase (presenting partner), Comcast, MillerCoors, United Airlines, University of Phoenix and Verizon.

Additionally, the Bears have two new “Official Partners”: 

o   Nike – A new multi-year partner, that includes digital and hospitality assets, Nike is the “Official training partner of the Chicago Bears.”

o   Zurich – As an Official Partner of the Bears, Zurich will have entitlement to the Zurich Skyline Suite. The 183-person luxury suite and hospitality area will feature Zurich’s logo ID, partnership activation and rich history with the City of Chicago.  

Motorola Mobility, NorthShore University HealthSystem and Toyota have renewed as “Official Partners” of the Bears: 

o   Motorola Mobility – Motorola Mobility will continue to have stadium signage and digital and social media assets with the Chicago Bears. They will also have entitlement of the Chicago Bears September 23^rd regular season contest against the St. Louis Rams.  

o   NorthShore University HealthSystem – A multi-year renewal continues to designate NorthShore University HealthSystem as the “Official Healthcare Partner of the Chicago Bears.”  NorthShore is the headline sponsor of Chicago Bears preseason TV broadcasts, have logo IDs on the Bears practice jerseys and support the Bears Care “Real Bears Fans Wear Pink” t-shirt program to support the fight against breast cancer.

o   Toyota – Toyota will continue as the “Official car of the Chicago Bears” sponsoring the interactive Fan Zone across all media programs, ChicagoBears.com and on game days. Toyota is also the associate sponsor of Back to Football Week.

The “Proud Partner” category includes renewed or new relationships with the following partners:

o   CDW – A new deal that makes CDW a sponsor of the “Sounds of the Game” video franchise on ChicagoBears.com along with media assets.

o   Chicago Office Technology – A new multi-year deal that will include stadium signage and hospitality.  

o   Hyatt – A renewed deal that will include stadium signage and hospitality.  

o   Jewel-Osco – A renewed deal, Jewel-Osco is an associate partner of Bears Training Camp, Family Fest and the Bears Ultimate Tailgate and the title partner of the 24^th annual coat drive.

o   McDonald’s – A multi-year renewal, McDonald’s is the headline sponsor of the Bears Insider radio show. McDonald’s will also have stadium signage and is the exclusive sponsor of the Bears drumline.

o   Palermo’s – A multi-year renewal, Palermo’s will have a new videoboard feature on gamedays, the “Palermo’s Plinko game.” They will also have signage and media assets.

o   Yokohama – A new partnership, Yokohama will have signage, media and hospitality assets. They will also hold a retail promotion, in which customers will receive a #33 Bears Nike jersey with the purchase of four Yokohama tires.

Other partners of the Bears include:

o   Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) – A renewed partnership that includes sponsorship of the “Under the Hood” videoboard feature at Soldier Field and additional stadium signage. 

o   Dunkin’ Donuts – A new multi-year relationship that will feature the Dunkin’ Donuts videoboard race at Soldier Field, a “Facebook Caption” contest and samplings at the Bears Ultimate Tailgates.

o   Illinois Army National Guard – A renewed partnership, the Illinois Army National Guard will continue the integration in high school outreach programs as the sponsor of the “High School All Stars” program.

o   Lexus – A renewed partnership, Lexus sponsors the Rookie Mini-Camp series which appeared on ChicagoBears.com and other media platforms.

o   Meijer – A multi-year renewal that includes title sponsorship of “Meijer Bears Football 101,” a new Flex Cam videoboard feature and continued “Cooking with the Bears” events that feature current Bears players. 

AT&T is extending its longstanding support of college football with its partnership with ESPN’s College GameDay built by the Home Depot, presentation of the AT&T Fan Zone Tour and sponsorship of the “AT&T All-America Player of the Week,” “AT&T All-America Player of the Year” and numerous rivalry and bowl games.

This season, AT&T is also challenging two college football fans to literally follow ESPN’s popular pregame show on the college road trip of a lifetime with a fan engagement platform titled, “On The Way To Saturday.”

“AT&T has a core value of delivering the future first and we are constantly working to engage with consumers in the passions they have. This season we will help fans stay connected with the ‘AT&T All-America Player of the Week,’ the AT&T Fan Zone Tour, the ‘On The Way To Saturday’ experience and much more – all on the nation’s largest 4G network and through their many screens and devices where they live, work and play,” said Jason Simpson, AVP, AT&T Corporate Events & Sponsorships. “We are proud to have a longtime relationship with the NCAA, various conferences and many schools which help make all of this possible.”

The AT&T lineup took the field Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, at Cowboys Stadium prior to the highly anticipated University of Alabama vs. University of Michigan showdown. Each Sunday once the ESPN College GameDay location is announced for the following Saturday, Will and Ravi will hit the open road to make it there relying only on their car, their mobile savvy and their unwavering fandom. Along the way, they will tackle a series of unrivaled challenges designed to test their love for the game and their ability to garner support from fellow gridiron enthusiasts. Their experiences will be documented and showcased on the “On The Way To Saturday” platform atwww.Way2Saturday.com.

Additionally, fans who follow Will and Ravi along the “On The Way To Saturday” experience will have two opportunities to win a trip to the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game.** The first is a weekly opportunity for fans to view a video of one of the challenges that will feature a keyword needed to enter the sweepstakes. One winner from the pool of entries will be selected each week. The second opportunity is for fans to draw-up a potential challenge for Will and Ravi to complete. Fans whose challenges are chosen will win a trip to the big game. See the site for complete details.

The 2012 AT&T Fan Zone Tour also made its debut at Cowboys Stadium. The interactive, mobile fan experience invites fans at 12 of the season’s biggest games to share some of AT&T’s most exciting services and offerings, play games and win prizes.

In addition to “On The Way To Saturday” and AT&T Fan Zone Tour, AT&T will continue to sponsor other bowl games and college football contests including the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classicand the annual AT&T Red River Rivalry, pitting the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas against each other for the 107^th time this October.

Leading golf apparel brand Glenmuir has extended its support of the PGA Professional Championship until 2014.

The two-year agreement for the flagship PGA tournament takes the Lanarkshire-based company’s sponsorship to 22 years.

In addition Glenmuir will also supply clothing for the 2013 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team to face America at De Vere Slaley Hall next September.

The announcement follows the successful conclusion of the 2012 championship which attracted almost 700 entries and was won by West Linton’s Gareth Wright.

Prize money for the event including eight regional qualifiers will total £90,000 including £10,000 to the overall winner.

In addition the leading two finishers qualify for the end of season PGA Play-Offs while the championship determines six of the GB&I PGA Cup team.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones welcomed the announcement, commenting: “The PGA Professional Championship is one of the highlights of our national schedule and its continued success is in no small part to the on-going support we have enjoyed from Glenmuir going back to 1993.

“Having just celebrated 20 years, we are delighted that Colin (Mee) and his team have agreed to sponsor the championship for another two years and also support the GB&I PGA Cup team with clothing for 2013.

“Glenmuir remain a great supporter of both The PGA and our members and we look forward to continued shared success.”

Colin Mee, managing director of Glenmuir, added: “Glenmuir is delighted to continue its long-standing sponsorship of the PGA Professional Championship until 2014, making it an unbroken 22 years of support.

“The tournament is regarded as ‘the one to win’ for hundreds of PGA members, who entered regional qualifiers in this year’s Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship with 160 making it through to the four-day final over the Nicklaus Course at De Vere Carden Park.

“Glenmuir will continue to sponsor the championships for another two years as part of one of the longest-running sponsorships in professional sport – and will supply clothing to the PGA Cup Team to take on the USA at Slaley Hall next year.

“Supporting both the PGA Professional Championship and the PGA Cup is a wonderful way for the company to give something back to its hundreds of PGA professional customers and demonstrates the excellent relationship we have with the PGA and we look forward to its continuation.”

Brazillian club São Paulo has agreed to a R$53M ($26M) sponsorship deal with electronics manufacturer Semp Toshiba through the end of 2014 season.

The club had gone eight months without a primary sponsor but will now have the company’s logo on the front and back of its uniform. The deal is worth a club record R$23M ($11.3M) annually. Previous sponsor BMG paid R$22M during its first year sponsoring the club from Sept. 2009-Sept. 2010. In addition to having its logo on the team’s jerseys, the company will have a store in the Morumbi Stadium as well as the option of running marketing campaigns in partnership with the club 

MEIO&MENSAGEM reported that the agreement was announced Wednesday night, shortly before the club kicked off against fellow Brasileiro club Internacional at the Morumbi Stadium. The Semp Toshiba logo “was already stamped on the front and back of the uniforms” for the match. The company previously sponsored Santos from 2007-09.

UOL.com.br’s Renan Prates reported that during the press conference, São Paulo Marketing VP Julio Casares “admitted the club is also negotiating with a number of suppliers.” It had been rumored that the club’s partnership with sportswear manufacturer Reebok, which expires at the end of the year, was not going to be renewed. Casares: “We started conversations with a number of companies this week to figure out who will dress São Paulo in the upcoming year.”