The St. Louis Rams have revealed a new partnership with UNEQUAL Technologies, anesthetist the leading provider of athletic protection gear fused with patented military-grade composites.

Rams players will be ‘armored-up’ with the full suite of Unequal’s EXO Skeleton products, doctor including girdles, rib protectors, Footbeds, and CRT – supplemental helmet protective pads, and insoles.

“Player safety is of paramount importance to the Rams and Unequal is integral to that initiative by providing us with the most advanced protection for our players,” said Rams chief revenue officer Bob Reif. “Our focus is to prevent injuries through innovative techniques, training and Unequal equipment. We’re proud to be the first team to partner with Unequal to safeguard all of our players with this game changing technology. And it helps that the players love it.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the St. Louis Rams on their upcoming season,” said Unequal chief executive officer Rob Vito. “They share our credo: be proactive rather than reactive to injury. Steve Young, an NFL Legend, said it best, ‘It would have been better if the players were wearing Unequal before they got injured.’ We applaud the Rams for being so progressive by equipping all of their players with Unequal as a preventive measure. This helps mitigate injury and keeps their first string playing longer, stronger and safer. And healthier players should result in more wins.”

Unequal’s EXO Skeleton, the first head-to-toe sports protection made with a military-grade, battle-tested composite, is now an official sponsor of the St. Louis Rams. EXO Skeleton for the body, CRT™ for the head, and Footbeds® for the feet have all been independently tested and shown to help reduce the effects of blunt force trauma.

Unequal will serve as the presenting sponsor of RAMS 360, a new program from the award-winning production team at the Rams Broadcasting Network that follows Rams players during the 36 hours leading up to Sunday games. From superstitions and rituals to training and recreation, RAMS 360 will provide Rams fans with an in-depth look into the lives of their favorite players.

Elektronikkonzern Hitachi wird exklusiver premiumPARTNER des Aufsteigers. Der Vertrag wurde mit Infront Sports & Media, adiposity dem Vermarktungspartner der Fortuna, geschlossen und hat eine Laufzeit von drei Jahren. Die Partnerschaft wurde heute im Rahmen einer Pressekonferenz bekannt gegeben. Schon am morgigen Samstag wird sich Hitachi anlässlich des Vorbereitungsspiels der Fortuna gegen den amtierenden portugiesischen Vizemeister und Pokalsieger Benfica Lissabon erstmals in der ESPRIT arena präsentieren.

Als premiumPARTNER steigt Hitachi auf der zweithöchsten Sponsorenebene von Fortuna Düsseldorf ein und profitiert dabei von umfassender Markenpräsenz rund um den Verein. Das durch Infront vermittelte Paket beinhaltet attraktive Werbeflächen in der ESPRIT arena – darunter Drehbanden sowie statische Banden im TV-relevanten Bereich. Darüber hinaus erhält das Unternehmen Promotionsmöglichkeiten rund um die Mannschaft sowie ein umfangreiches Ticket- und Hospitality-Kontingent.

Akira Shimizu, Geschäftsführender Direktor von Hitachi Europe, äußert sich dazu folgendermaßen: “Hitachi Europe verfügt über eine starke Präsenz in Düsseldorf, und wir fühlen uns mit Fortuna Düsseldorf verbunden, einem Verein, der in der Stadt großen Rückhalt genießt. Der Verein kehrte in dieser Saison verdientermaßen in die 1. Bundesliga zurück, und wir haben hohe Erwartungen, dass dadurch beim Lieblingssport der Deutschen frischer Wind einkehrt. Ich freue mich darauf, die Erfolge des Vereins mit den Erfolgen der Unternehmen der Hitachi Gruppe in Europa zu verknüpfen.”

Peter Frymuth, Vorstandsvorsitzender von Fortuna Düsseldorf, fügte hinzu: “Mit Hitachi konnte eines der weltweit größten Unternehmen für unseren aufstrebenden Verein gewonnen werden. Das langfristige Engagement über die Saison hinaus zeigt das enorme Vertrauen von Hitachi in unseren Verein und unsere Mannschaft. Die Popularität von Fortuna Düsseldorf und die starke mediale Aufmerksamkeit für die Bundesliga werden uns helfen, dieses Vertrauen zurückzuzahlen. Außerdem werden durch diese Partnerschaft die jahrelangen Bemühungen des vereinseigenen Japandesks positiv widergespiegelt – und dies in einer der größten japanischen Gemeinden Deutschlands.”

Ralf Koslowski, Geschäftsführer Infront Germany, ergänzte: “Die Bundesliga ist deutschlandweit die reichweitenstärkste Plattform für Markenkommunikation und die Fussballfans freuen sich jetzt schon auf das Comeback von Fortuna Düsseldorf in der höchsten deutschen Spielklasse. Mit der ESPRIT arena verfügt Düsseldorf zudem über ein hochmodernes Stadion. Perfekte Voraussetzungen für Hitachi seine Markenbekanntheit im deutschen Markt weiter zu erhöhen. Diese erneut hochkarätige Sponsoren-Verpflichtung bestätigt einmal mehr die erfolgreiche Entwicklung des Vereins und den Weg, den wir gemeinsam in der Vermarktung eingeschlagen haben.”

Wie immer bei sportlichen Großereignissen versuchen Sponsoren, symptoms einen Teil des Glanzes der Medaillen auf das eigene Unternehmen zu lenken. BMW und Adidas ist dieses bei den Olympischen Spielen 2012 in London offenbar ganz gut gelungen. Sie schaffen es im deutschsprachigen Social Web in Sachen Bekanntheit auf das Treppchen. Doch nicht für alle Firmen hat sich das Investment in den Sport bisher auch ausgezahlt. Dies ist das Ergebnis des Online-Analyse-Tools Web-Analyzer.com, viagra das Suchbegriffe nicht nur quantitativ erfasst, doctor sondern auch nach ihrer Tonalität untersucht.

Während es in London in den einzelnen Disziplinen um Gold, Silber und Bronze geht, haben die Sponsoren des sportlichen Megaevents ihren ganz eigenen Dreiklang: Worldwide Olympic Partners, London 2012 Olympic Partners und London 2012 Olympic Supporters heißen die Abstufungen, mit denen klar gemacht wird, wie stark ein Unternehmen mit den Leistungen von Usain Bolt und Co. werben darf.

Dass es nicht unbedingt der höchsten Kategorie bedarf, um gute Bekanntheitswerte zu erzeugen, zeigen die beiden “London Partner” BMW und Adidas. Der Automobilhersteller und der Sportartikelfabrikant müssen sich im Zeitraum von der Eröffnungsfeier am 27. Juli bis heute mit mehr als 50.000 (BMW) beziehungsweise gut 23.000 Erwähnungen (Adidas) im Web 2.0 nur dem “Woldwide Olympic Partner” Samsung (80.000) geschlagen geben. Wie heißt es doch dieser Tage so oft unter den deutschen Athleten: “Silber ist das neue Gold”.

So landen die ebenfalls als Top-Sponsoren auftretenden US-Riesen McDonalds (9.000 Erwähnungen) und Coca Cola (7.000) weit hinter den Deutschen auf den Rängen sechs und sieben. Noch härter erwischt es den ebenfalls als Premium-Sponsor präsenten Uhrenhersteller Omega (Platz 15). Einziger Trost: Zumindest ist unter den insgesamt 618 Nennungen zu Omega im Social Web kein einziger Negativeintrag.

Die Top Ten: Über diese Olympia-Sponsoren wird im Social Web am meisten diskutiert. (Anzahl der gerundeten Social Media-Beiträge in Klammern) 1. Samsung (80.000) 2. BMW (50.000) 3. Adidas (23.000) 4. Acer (18.000) 5. Panasonic (17.000) 6. McDonalds (9.000) 7. Coca Cola (7.000) 8. BP (5.000) 9. Thomas Cook (5.000) 10. Cisco (4.000)

Web-Analyzer.com wurde vom Münchener Technologieexperten für semantische Internetanalysen, Valuescope, mit US-amerikanischen IT-Spezialisten für den deutschen Markt entwickelt.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has inked a strategic marketing partnership with Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets, marking Honda’s first-ever major sponsorship with a sports and entertainment venue on the East Coast.

Honda is the official vehicle of Barclays Center and Brooklyn Nets, becoming the 10th Founding Partner for Barclays Center, which opens on September 28.

Honda has secured the entitlement for one of the clubs in the arena, Honda Club. Additionally, with Barclays Center emerging as the home of major college basketball on the East Coast, Honda will be the presenting sponsor of Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival college basketball tripleheader featuring Michigan vs. West Virginia,St. John’s vs. St. Francis of Brooklyn and Fordham vs. Princeton on Saturday, December 15.

Honda will have a fan-friendly interactive display on the arena’s main concourse. The sponsorship rights also include a major advertising presence via the unparalleled “Street-to-Seat” brand signage at all Barclays Center events, as well as exposure on radio during Brooklyn Nets games and in-arena signage during Nets games at Barclays Center.

“New York is undeniably an important region for Honda and the alliance with Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets is a great fit within our marketing efforts in the Northeast. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this landmark venue,” said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Barclays Center is an innovative venue that aligns well with the Honda brand and we’re looking forward to being a part of the action and excitement in Brooklyn.”

Barclays Center and Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, added: “We are thrilled that Honda is making such an important statement by selecting Barclays Center as its first-ever major partnership with a sports and entertainment arena on the East Coast. Honda is one of the most respected automobile companies in the world and we are delighted that it sees the value and exposure opportunities of forming a partnership with Barclays Center, one of the most anticipated venues in the country. Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets are proud to drive forward with such a world-class automobile company as we continue to bring top brands to Brooklyn.”

English league club, pills Huddersfield Town has agreed a new commercial partnership with Yorkshire-based Expect Distribution.

As part of the new partnership deal, arthritis Expect Distribution is planning to livery one of its lorries in Huddersfield Town colours. 

Huddersfield Town’s Commercial Director Sean Jarvis, cough said: “As every Huddersfield Town fan knows, our ten point pledge lies at the heart of everything we do and it is great to team up with another business that shares our core values. Expect prides itself on performance, reliability and trust and as such there is a lot of synergy between the two organisations. 

“Huddersfield Town is ‘The Yorkshire Club’ and we are delighted that another Yorkshire-based national firm has joined with us ahead of the new Championship season; it is a testament to the hard work we are putting in. 

“We have known Neil and the team at Expect Distribution for a long time and we are looking forward to furthering our working relationship over the coming years.” 

Expect Distribution offers a refreshing, dynamic approach to palletised distribution, warehousing and third party contract logistics. Working in both the commerce and industry sectors, they have won several awards for their quality of service. 

Expect Distribution’s Operations Director Neil Rushworth added: “After supporting the club for many years personally and as a business, I am thrilled for Expect Distribution to become an official partner of Huddersfield Town. 

“The Club is extremely progressive and ambitious and the partnership will provide Expect with some excellent business opportunities, whilst watching great Championship football. 

“The specially designed Town trailer will have a high impact on the roads of the UK and we can’t wait to get the wheels rolling.”

English League Two team Chesterfield FC will play in a newly-named stadium after Swedish firm Proact took over the stadium.

The Spireites left Saltergate, their home ground for 139 years, to move to the new purpose-build B2net stadium at Whittington Moor in the summer of 2010. B2net has now been acquired by Proact, and after two years the stadium now has a new name.

A statement explained: “Continuing its sponsorship and support of Chesterfield Football Club and the ongoing regeneration in Chesterfield, Proact UK and Chesterfield Football Club are proud to announce the rebrand of the former B2net Stadium to the Proact Stadium, in line with the start of the 2012/13 season.

“The rebrand to Proact UK follows on from the acquisition of local storage integrator and cloud provider B2net by Swedish owned firm Proact in April 2011.

“Both Proact UK and Chesterfield Football Club share similar values, in terms of their respective success, growth and of paving the way for a bright and dynamic future.”

Chesterfield chief executive Chris Turner added: “We’re looking forward to working with Proact. It’s the start of a bright new era for the club and it’s perhaps fitting that the stadium now has a new name.”

TaylorMade adidas Golf was today announced as the newest partner of Australia’s national golf championship, bronchi the Emirates Australian Open.

To be played at The Lakes Golf Club from 6 – 9 December 2012, TaylorMade will be the official golf ball at the Emirates Australian Open via a driving range sponsorship and provision of prizes for the Official Pro-Am and ‘Super Monday,’ where amateurs have the chance to play the championship course.

The TaylorMade brand will be promoted on the driving range and around the putting green throughout the tournament duration.

TaylorMade will also conduct a number of activities during the event week including product demonstrations, providing consumers with the opportunity to trial their clubs and putters, and (pre event) a consumer promotion providing the opportunity to play in the championship pro-am with a PGA Tour Professional.

“The Emirates Australian Open will provide TaylorMade with a unique opportunity to engage directly with both consumers and professionals at Australia’s most prestigious championship,” said Jane Price, Marketing Manager from TaylorMade-adidas Golf Pacific.

“The Emirates Australian Open is the perfect opportunity for TaylorMade Golf to interact with Australian professional golf at the top level, and we look forward to working with them in 2012.”

Price also said the partnership was an important component to the company’s strategy in 2012, and they looked forward to leveraging the opportunity through increased consumer promotion and engagement at, and in the lead up to, the tournament.

“We look forward to engaging directly with the golfing community at the Emirates Australian Open, where we can offer consumers fun interaction and money-can’t-buy experiences with our products and TaylorMade adidas Golf Tour Professional staff,” Jane Price said.

An industry leader in performance technologies, TaylorMade’s staff players include Australians Jason Day, Mathew Goggin, Marcus Fraser, Greg Norman and John Senden.

The 2012 Emirates Australian Open will be played at the Lakes Golf Club from 6 – 9 December, 2012 and will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia.

The European Triathlon Union and Nirvana Europe Ltd have announced a joint agreement which will see Nirvana Europe operate as the Official Travel Partner of the European Triathlon Union.

The agreement will run until the end of 2013 and will see Nirvana provide a consistent standard of cost effectiveness and excellence in travel, drugs accommodation and logistics to the European Triathlon Union.

These services will be offered by Nirvana to all European National Federations and Local Organising Committees of ETU events throughout 2013.

Nirvana will provide access to information through multi-lingual web pages to assist customers and to promote any event and online booking facilities.

Renato Bertrandi, discount ETU President, said: “ETU is very pleased to reach agreement with Nirvana in what we believe is a win-win contract. ETU aims to develop relationships with premium partners and to make long-term agreements with them. Nirvana is one of those partners.”

Ken Morris, Managing Director of Nirvana Europe, added: “We are absolutely delighted to sign this contract with ETU, not just for commercial reasons, but also as a sign of commitment to the sport of triathlon, which has had such a brilliant few days in London.”

The Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur 2012 has announced a partnership with Swiss watch brand Rado as the official watch partner.

Through the partnership, Rado is targeting an audience who enjoys an active lifestyle and appreciates the aesthetics of design and materials in Rado watches.

The association with tennis is seen as a perfect embodiment of the key values of Rado and its products, including relentless determination, the pushing of boundaries, precision, and uncompromising attention to detail.

Through the partnership, the Rado brand will be visible through its timekeeping equipment, advertising and highlights in the various points of sale during the tournament.

Rado’s association with tennis goes back 20 years as it has sponsored several tennis tournaments since the 1990’s.

Recently, the watch brand also announced that it signed on British tennis champion Andy Murray as its ambassador.

Players in the Malaysian Open, to be held at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, will be competing for prize money of US$947,750.

Welsh Premier League club Bangor City FC have announced a major three-year sponsorship deal with award-winning booksellers The Book People.   

Under the terms of the agreement, prostate the Citizens’ new stadium at Nantporth will now be known as the Book People Stadium. The Book People’s logo will also be featured on the club’s kit and the bookseller will be advertised throughout the ground.   

The Book People has had a warehouse and customer service centre based in Bangor since 2002. Announcing the deal, prostate the Book People’s chairman Ted Smart said: ‘This is a brilliant opportunity for the football club, clinic | the Book People and the local community in Bangor. The Book People has always been extremely community focused and we felt this was a fantastic opportunity to give something back to a community we are proud to be part of.’ 

The deal will be in place for the first match of the 2012/13 season on Friday 17 August when Bangor City will take on Connah’s Quay Nomads (KO 7.30pm).   

Bangor City Chairman Dilwyn Jones said, “We welcome this new partnership with the Book People – a business which has played a significant role in the local economy for the past ten years. 

At tough times for business, we particularly appreciate the valuable investment that the Book People is making in Bangor City FC, and we look forward to repaying the confidence shown in us.”