The NBA has agreed to a multi-year partnership with Europe’s leading online sports retailer, seek Kitbag, prostate to launch the league’s official online store for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Set to launch in September, NBAStore.eu will offer NBA-branded products from the league’s official merchandise partners, including adidas, Spalding, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Forever Collectibles. Fans will also be able to buy products, including personalized jerseys and graphic T-shirts.

The site will be available in English, French, Italian and Spanish, with further languages to be developed. Fans will be able to make purchases in local currency and will benefit from a centralized European distribution point saving on transit time and shipping costs. Local language customer service will also be available. Kitbag will collaborate with the NBA to manage in-event retail stores at upcoming events.

The Tour of Britain has announced that Chain Reaction Cycles will sponsor the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey at this year’s Tour of Britain.

Previous winners of the classification include World Road Race Champion Mark Cavendish and double Olympic Gold medallist Geraint Thomas.

Chain Reaction Cycles, vcialis 40mg the world’s largest online bike store, anesthetist will also become the Tour’s Official Online Cycle Retail Partner.

Grant Norris, herbal Event Manager at Chain Reaction Cycles said; “Chain Reaction Cycles is proud to support The Tour of Britain 2012 by sponsoring this year’s Points Jersey. With the nation excited in seeing the fruits of Team GB’s Olympic cycling success, it will be great to see the elites back in the saddle for the UK’s premier road race.”

Alastair Grant, Commercial Director of The Tour of Britain added: “We look forward to working with Chain Reaction Cycles going forward and are excited to have them on board for the 2012 event.  As ever the Points Jersey will be one of the most closely fought classifications, whose outcome will go down to the wire in Guildford on the final day.”

Dr. Pepper has renewed it’s deal to be the official soft drink of the next two Pac-12 title games.

The two-year deal allows for in-store and on-package marketing opportunities and a presence on the field. It also comes with a commitment to buy time on the Pac-12 group of networks, rolling out with a national feed and several regional ones.

Dr. Pepper was a “founding sponsor” of the first Pac-12 title game last year. It has had top-line sponsorships of the SEC and ACC title games, which are ongoing. It also sponsored the Big-12 title game, though that came to a halt in 2011.

Tony Jacobs, a senior vice president in marketing for the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, stated the Pac-12 relationship is a strong platform for attracting “new consumers in key Western markets and working with our retail partners in new ways that will drive excitement with shoppers.”

The Pac-12 takes a different tack than other conferences with its title game, playing it on the home field of the team with the best conference record instead of a neutral site.

US Youth Soccer, symptoms the largest youth sports organization in the nation, troche announced that YoCrunch, the nation’s leading yogurt with mix-in toppings, is an official sponsor.

The new partnership will highlight YoCrunch’s fun and delicious yogurts with toppings as an official snack for players, as well as provide US Youth Soccer coaches, administrators and parents with important information to ensure that snack time is more nutritious and hassle-free.

“Opting for a YoCrunch fruit parfait with granola after the big game is a healthy and fun way for players to get calcium and protein in a low-fat snack that also tastes great,” said YoCrunch Senior Director of Marketing Jeff Hunt. “Young athletes are looking for an edge on and off the field and we believe YoCrunch goes beyond the basic boring yogurt cup to give them a more nutritious snack with a kick.”

YoCrunch will reach the more than three million youth players and one million adults engaged with US Youth Soccer by providing helpful snacking resources including a snacking guide and team snack list available on USYouthSoccer.org. Special offers on YoCrunch products and an online soccer game will also be available on the site throughout the sponsorship.

“We are pleased to welcome YoCrunch as a US Youth Soccer sponsor,” said US Youth Soccer Executive Director Jim Cosgrove. “Not only are our members passionate about soccer and furthering their skills but they are also concerned about eating and staying healthy, and that’s why YoCrunch is such a great fit for us.”

ViaWest, one of the largest privately held data center, cloud computing and managed service providers in North America, have announced today they have become an official partner for the 2012 USA Pro Challenge, a multi-stage, elite bike race that takes place August 20-26 across the state of Colorado.

ViaWest is also the presenting partner of the Pro Challenge Founder’s Ride, a thirteen-mile, invitation-only bike ride starting and ending in Denver on August 26.

The 2012 Pro Challenge will encompass a 683-mile course through challenging altitudes, treacherous climbs and will feature more than 100 of the world’s best riders, including Levi Leipheimer, winner of the 2011 USA Pro Challenge, and Cadel Evans, winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Sixteen of the world’s best professional cycling teams will compete this year in a race that starts on August 20 in Durango and traverses twelve Colorado cities in seven stages before concluding in Denver on August 26.

“ViaWest has been a part of the Colorado community since our start in 1999,” states Roy Dimoff, Chairman and CEO of ViaWest. “The USA Pro Challenge brings many top athletes and spectators to Colorado to experience all our state has to offer. It is the premier cycling race in the nation and we are honored to participate as an official partner.”

American Association of Independent Professional Baseball team Kansas City T-Bones and CommunityAmerica Credit Union have announce they have reached a long-term extension of the naming rights to CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The stadium has been known as CommunityAmerica Ballpark ever since the T-Bones moved to Kansas City from Duluth, cough Minn., buy 10 years ago.

“Ten years ago, we could not have made up a better name for the ballpark,” said T-Bones President Adam Ehlert. “In practice, we could not have invented a better, stronger partner. CommunityAmerica Credit Union is very well-aligned with our values and focus, and most significantly, our fans really appreciate that. I am also tremendously proud of our staff — their daily dedication allowed our product to speak for itself. This really was a partnership that both parties were equally excited to continue.”

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Kansas City T-Bones,” said Lisa Ginter, CommunityAmerica Credit Union Chief Operating Officer. “More than just a naming rights sponsorship, CommunityAmerica Ballpark clearly demonstrates our commitment to providing our community with affordable family-friendly entertainment. We believe this sponsorship brings more awareness to Kansas Citians that they can — and should— be members of our Credit Union to benefit from our sincere approach to helping them succeed financially. For that reason and more, we consider this a homerun for both organizations.”

South Korea’s leading carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday that it has clinched a two-year sponsorship deal with French football club Olympique Lyonnais as part of its efforts to strengthen sports marketing in Europe.

Under the agreement, Hyundai will be allowed to attach its corporate logos on players’ jerseys and display its brand images on the walls of the team’s stadium and vehicles, said the company. It will carry out other marketing promotions such as test-drive events with the team.

Hyundai is set to replace Betclic as the new main sponsor of the team, although, it is pertinent to mention here that the deal signed with the new company amounts to 5 million Euros per season whereas Betclic were paying 7 million Euros to the club as part of the deal, the reason behind the drop being the recent financial crunch.

After signing the new deal, the jubilant President of Hyundai Motor France, Deok-Jeong IM, was quoted saying, “We are pleased to realize the national sporting commitments of Hyundai Motor Company” and “Olympique Lyonnais is a major team in Ligue 1 having won seven championship titles in France. OL isa dynamic club with real ambition-values we share”.

Lucas Oil-owned MavTV signed an exclusive deal with International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to be the title sponsor for the final race of the 2012 IndyCar Championship Season.

The 500-mile event will be run on the super-fast banks of Auto Club Speedway at Fontana in Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 15 where average lap speeds top 200 mph, the network said. The 250-lap event looks destined to be the place where this year’s points battle will finally be settled and the 2012 IndyCar champion crowned. Currently heading the IndyCar points championship are Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves with three-time (and reigning 2012 Indy 500 Champ) Dario Franchitti in contention.

The upcoming race is the first of a three-year event title sponsor agreement between MavTV and ISC.

MavTV president Bob Patison said in a release: “We couldn’t be more pleased with this opportunity to promote our network’s ‘American Real’ brand with a classic 500-mile IndyCar race at one of the most exciting superspeedways in the United States.”

The prime time Saturday night “IZOD INDYCAR MAVTV 500,” presented by Lucas Oil, will air nationally at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports Network.

The Australian Football League has announced Gillette as the Official Partner of the AFL Trade Period and the Official Partner of the AFL Grand Final Sprint.

Gillette has a long-standing affiliation with sport and is one of the earliest brands to venture into the area of sports marketing.  The company has been associated with top-tier athletes and sports since the brand was established.

The partnership will come to life via integrated marketing campaigns, and the first of which will see Gillette’s sponsorship of the revamped Trade Period.

AFL General Manager Commercial Operations Darren Birch said: “Gillette has developed a reputation as a leader in sports marketing through some very successful partnerships with sporting bodies and individual athletes across the globe.”

“Over the last five years, order Gillette has brought to life the AFL Grand Final Sprint and I’m pleased to say they will continue this support as an official partner until 2013. 

“In addition, therapy AFL Trade Period will benefit from Gillette’s support for the next two years.  This comes at a time when the trade period promises to generate high levels of interest throughout the football industry.” 

P&G Australia & New Zealand Managing Director Maile Carnegie added: “After five successful years of sponsoring the Gillette AFL Grand Final Sprint, we’re delighted for the Gillette brand to become an official sponsor of the AFL.

“Gillette and the AFL share a rich history in the hearts of sports lovers across Australia. Gillette’s longstanding brand commitment of catering to the unique needs of men – helping them to look, feel and be their best every day, fits strongly with the AFL’s aim to be the best it can be on and off the field.

“This common commitment is a great foundation for an enduring and far-reaching partnership. This is truly a natural fit and a powerful marketing platform for both brands,” Carnegie said.

As Australia’s most attended sport, the AFL is a powerhouse for the Gillette brand. With over 7 million people attending games, 3.8 million website visits and approximately 4.8 million average weekly TV viewers, the AFL partnership will help Gillette engage with a significant number of their consumers on a daily basis.

Insurance, case retirement and investment group LV= has agreed a new tennis sponsorship with Statoli Masters.

LV= is now an associate sponsor of the IMG-owned Statoil Masters Tennis, view the prestigious legends event, which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall this December.  As part of the deal, LV= will also be the sponsor of Hawk-Eye line calls and Speed of Service.

Claire Jeromson, LV= Head of Sponsorship commented: “We are delighted to have a major involvement in the Statoil Masters Tennis. This further expands our sponsorship portfolio and gives us new areas to work in to supplement our existing programmes in rugby and cricket.”

Charlie Grave, Managing Director of Sponsorship at IMG Tennis added: “We are thrilled to welcome LV= into our family of sponsors for the Statoil Masters Tennis. LV= is a prestigious company and has a great track record of supporting UK sport and we are delighted to be able to introduce them into the world of tennis.”

The Statoil Masters Tennis brings together many of the greatest tennis players of all time to compete in a special setting. John McEnroe, Goran Ivanisevic, Pat Cash and Tim Henman have already signed up to play in the 2012 event. Now in its 16th year, the tournament is part of the global ATP Champions Tour and features former World No.1 tennis players, Grand Slam champions and defeated finalists, and Davis Cup winners.

Leading sports and entertainment agency brandRapport, is retained by LV= to work on the different sponsorship programmes. The agency has been involved in the negotiations and sponsorship strategy and will handle the PR, event management, hospitality and other support activity.  IMG, the global sports, fashion and media company, owns and runs the Statoil Masters Tennis.