The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced Makita has extended its commercial presence with Asian football for a further four years.

The Japanese power tool company, drugs | which has worked with the AFC since 2005, health has extended its commercial relationship with Asian football’s governing body through the AFC National Programme until 2016.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the extension of AFC’s sponsorship agreement with Makita, abortion ” said Zhang Jilong, Acting President of the AFC.

“Makita believed in the potential of Asian football and our alliance started in 2005.  Makita’s commitment is testimony to the great appeal of AFC tournaments as a superior marketing platform.

“Asian football has provided great value in recent years to its sponsors and I can assure Makita that AFC’s events will transport your brand throughout Asia and help in connecting with your customers.

“The advances currently being seen could not have been achieved without the support of our commercial partners and we hope that our relationship with Makita will allow football in our continent to continue to flourish.”

“We are proud to continue our partnership with AFC as we have been a part of Asian football family since 2005,” said Masahiko Goto, President of Makita Corporation

“We have been working hard to succeed together with Asian football for many years and we intend to continue working together with the Asian Football Confederation.”

The agreement was sealed by World Sport Group, the AFC’s exclusive marketing and media partner in conjunction with Dentsu, and Makita’s sponsorship includes all AFC national competitions including the AFC Asian Cup – Asia’s top sporting event – as well as the qualifying tournaments for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

“It is a great pleasure to renew our relationship with Makita on behalf of Asian football,” said Nick Mould, President, East Asia of World Sport Group, the AFC’s marketing partner.

“Since the beginning of their engagement with the AFC, Makita have been a proactive and innovative partner and we look forward to continuing to work closely together.”

Pukka Pies have extended their club partnership with national champions Leicester Ladies Hockey Club into a fifth consecutive year. 

Leicester Ladies completed an historic outdoor and indoor national title double last season and the sponsorship extension enables them to enjoy a solid platform from which to continue their dominance of the English game.

Pukka Pies Co-Managing Director Mr Tim Storer announced the contract extension at a special reception attended by Leicester’s four Great Britain Olympic squad members Crista Cullen, Anne Panter, Chloe Rogers, Hannah Macleod.

“During our five year partnership with Leicester Ladies, they have delivered tremendous success both on and off the field of play,” said Mr Storer. On the pitch they have established themselves as the number one club in England and represented the city of Leicester and their country with great distinction in European competition. They also do a fantastic job in the community, encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and participate actively in sport.”

Sarah Treanor, President of Leicester Ladies, said; “Without the involvement of Pukka Pies, Leicester Ladies would not be the club it is today. Quite simply, Pukka’s investment enables us to compete successfully at the highest level.  Their level of support is invaluable to us and also enables us to operate a club structure with 5 senior teams and hockey for all age groups from the age of 7.

Our partnership with Pukka Pies is famed throughout the hockey world.  We are affectionately known as the ‘Pukkas’ and our orange and black kits are unique within the game.”

Leicester and Great Britain star Crista Cullen said: “All the girls are extremely grateful for Pukka Pies invaluable support”. Their backing makes a real difference to everyone connected with the club”.  We have been fortunate enough to represent our country most years in venues as far away as Azerbaijan and for an amateur club that puts a huge strain on our resources”.  Having a sponsor of the caliber of Pukka pies enables the club to compete at the highest level”.

Pukka Pies manufacture over 60 million pies and savories a year from their headquarters in Leicestershire. Earlier this year they unveiled a new £7 million extension.

As well as their sponsorship of Leicester Ladies, they also sponsor the Pukka Pies England Supporters Band who will be shortly heading off to cheer on England in Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

The Harlem Globetrotters have continued their pursuit to conquer the Chinese market by signing their largest international sponsorship deal in the 86-year history of the team with Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy Industry (Group) CO. LT.

A manufacturing and distribution company of dairy products in the People’s Republic of China, viagra Mengniu will be the official marketing partner of the Harlem Globetrotters. The two companies will partner on the Globetrotters’ many year-round initiatives in China, including the upcoming multi-show China Tour, clinics in schools all throughout the country, and multiple, high-profile promotional visits.

The historic agreement will include in-game activation and hospitality during shows throughout China, more than 60 school appearances in multiple provinces, a special six-player trading card series distributed at all school visits, and clinics teaching students basketball fundamentals, healthy living, and character development. Just last week, Globetrotter players began presenting school assemblies and clinics for the children of China, and they will continue to do so into early summer. Mengniu will also be part of the promotional efforts of the Globetrotters’ search for the franchise’s first-ever Chinese player.

“We are thrilled with the progress we are making in China, highlighted by this landmark partnership with Mengniu,” said Globetrotter CEO Kurt Schneider, who just spent a week in China witnessing first-hand the impact and success of Globetrotter clinics in multiple Beijing schools. “This is the most ambitious program ever undertaken by the Globetrotters, not only in China, but outside of the United States. We are committed to helping Mengniu demonstrate to thousands and thousands of students that fitness, healthy eating, and good character are the building blocks for personal growth. The Globetrotters are committed to growing their iconic brand in China for years. This is only the beginning of much more to come.”

The massive school outreach with Mengniu marks one of many Globetrotter programs in China. This summer, for the fourth time in the past three years, the Globetrotters will be touring in China. The Globetrotters are partnering with Oriental Rongsheng, one of China’s most elite art performance companies, to make the multiple city, multiple show July tour possible. All in all, the World’s Most Famous Team will be in-market with players a minimum of six times in 2012. Last year, the Globetrotters opened a satellite office in Beijing, ringing in a new millennium and expansion of the brand’s corporate outreach overseas.

Sponsored by Howard Johnson Hotels, Greyhound Lines, Spalding, and Russell Athletic, the Original Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 86th consecutive year in 2012, continuing a world-famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 120 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans—among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents—over more than eight thrilling decades.

Boston Celtics, locked in a battle for NBA’s Eastern Conference title have announced today a new sponsorship deal with Sun Life Financial.

 

Under the arrangement, the Celtics’ Courtside Club will be renamed the Sun Life Courtside Club.

 

As a naming rights partner, Sun Life’s brand will be prominently featured throughout the Sun Life Courtside Club, including entry and directional signage leading guests to the club and the club’s interior, as well as on staff uniforms and courtside tickets and passes required for club admission. Sun Life will also receive seat back signage on the first row courtside sideline seats for all Celtics home games, the opportunity to host customer events in the Courtside Club and courtside season tickets and club passes.

“We’re excited to renew our partnership with the Celtics,” said Sun Life Financial U.S. President Westley V. Thompson. “It combines the strength and stability of the Sun Life brand with one of the world’s most prestigious professional sports franchises, while providing us with a great opportunity to connect with a highly coveted audience and offer exclusive hospitality experiences to current and prospective customers and our employees.”

Sun Life will also receive additional promotional and marketing assets, including extensive presence in-arena through courtside signage, branded in-game promotions and features, 21 Sun Life Honorary Ball Kid Experiences and the rights to use Boston Celtics team marks and logos in external and internal marketing and advertising campaigns.

“We’re thrilled to build upon our successful partnership with Sun Life through unique activation both in the arena and online,” Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said. “The Sun Life Courtside Club provides a unique opportunity for generating awareness with our high value season ticket holders while providing a great business to business marketing platform.”

As a sponsor of Celtics.com, Sun Life will receive significant exposure on the site which is one of the most highly trafficked in professional sports, including presenting sponsorship of Celtics Minute, a daily video vignette. Celtics.com averages more than 8.5 million page views and 1.5 million unique visitors per month, for a total of 70 million page views each season.

Calvin Klein has signed an estimated $4 million deal with the Barclays Center arena, home of the Brooklyn Nets, to sponsor a 700-seat VIP area in a “Calvin Klein Courtside Club,” according to the New York Post.

 

Each seat will be decorated with the label’s black-and-white logo, in keeping with the stadium color scheme selected by Jay-Z, part owner of the Nets. Calvin Klein will also be a sponsor of one of four entrances to the arena along with EmblemHealth. But, naturally, the CK gate will be the most exclusive, with “Courtside Club” ticketholders riding an elevator stamped with the designer’s name in a “street to seat” branding strategy, thePost reported.

 

The $1 billion Barclays Center opens Sept. 28 with a gala; Calvin Klein, a branch of PVH Corp., generates $7.6 billion in annual worldwide sales, and joins other Barclays “founding” parters including Barclays, Cushman & Wakefield, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Coca-Cola and Ticketmaster.

 

The MSA British Rally Championship has announced that Gullivers Sports Travel has become its Official Travel Partner.

The tour operator will be responsible for providing travel and accommodation packages for fans and spectators, starting with Rally Yorkshire on the 28th and 29th September 2012. Gullivers Sports Travel will also have the ability to provide travel and accommodation solutions for competitors, teams, event officials and marshals.

Mark Taylor, MSA British Rally Championship Manager, said: “It’s great to have a company like Gullivers Sports Travel as one of our official partners as they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in providing travel and accommodation solutions for sports events, men and women.”

Alister Strahan, General Manager of Gullivers Sports Travel, said: “We are very much looking forward to working with the British Rally Championship and the opportunity to help fans get closer to the action. We have a wealth of experience spanning forty years across a variety of sporting events, and a full understanding of the needs of sporting travellers whether supporting or competing. This enables us to provide exceptional service both for the British Rally Championship and for the spectators.”

The partnership kicks off with the Final Round of the MSA British Rally Championships (BRC) taking place in Yorkshire in September. Spectator packages to this event (28th and 29th September 2012) go on sale at the end of May. Prices start from £145pp including two nights accommodation at the Grand Hotel Scarborough on B&B basis, and an Official Rally Pack containing an access pass to all BRC stages throughout the weekend and event programme.

 

Callaway have been announced as the major corporate sponsor of the  Junior Golf Tour beginning in 2013.

The vision of the late Larry Martin, the former Parkersburg Country Club head professional and Callaway representative, will be recognized at the Daniels resort during the players’ meeting for the first of 22 events on the Tour this year.

“Half of the field of 128 golfers will be playing their first Top-Flite event, so half of them probably never had the opportunity to meet Larry,” said Brad Ullman, the director of operations for the tour. “We’re going to have a moment of silence and talk about his obvious contributions to junior golf and golf as a whole in West Virginia.”

Martin began the Top-Flite Junior Tour – then known as the 7-Eleven Tour – in 1984, which provided an affordable avenue to play competitive golf for 54 golfers. Top-Flite took over official sponsorship in 1994, and in 2009, the Tour featured more than 290 golfers in separate events throughout the state.

Coincidentally, next year’s name change will occur on the 30th anniversary of the state’s largest junior golf tour.

Some of the state’s top golfers competed on this tour. Pat Carter, who has won the State Amateur 12 times, including a national-record 10 consecutive times, was the player of the year in the 15-16 year old division in 1984.

Other top golfers who have competed on the tour are three-time Amateur champions Tim Fisher and state high school medalists Aaron Barna, Marshall Hone, Brian Anania and Thadd Obecny.

Last year’s champions were George Bumgarner (17-18 year old division), Josh Bumgarner (15-16), Cale Wheeler (13-14), Colin Bowles (12-under), Brooke Bellomy (female).

English League team AFC Bournemouth has extended its contract with Beales Department Store to sponsor the club’s Saturday Soccer Club.

Beales has sponsored the weekly club, run by AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, for the last two seasons, and agreed to back the programme for another year earlier this month.

The Saturday Soccer Club, held at Iford Lane playing field every weekend from 9.30am to 11am, is hosted by AFC Bournemouth who offer all 7 to 12 year olds in the area the chance to take part in a variety of footballing activities.

The aim of the scheme is to provide coaching and activities to boys and girls free of charge, so financial backing is vital. AFC Bournemouth is delighted that Beales will continue to provide this funding for the next year. 

Head of the Community Sports Trust Steve Cuss said, “The support from Beales over the last two years has been absolutely tremendous. They have helped us to keep on delivering the soccer schools for free and I would like to thank them on behalf of all the children who turn up week in, week out.

“We are really looking forward to another year’s worth of soccer schools and hopefully reaching more kids over the course of the next 12 months.”

Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales Department Store, said, “This is the third year Beales have supported this programme and we are pleased to continue backing the Soccer School which benefits young people in the area.”

Leeds United FC have announce that leading consumer technology company Harvard International will be the club’s new Official Secondary Shirt Sponsor for the 2012/13 Season.

 

Harvard International is a leading developer and supplier of consumer electrical goods for the digital markets. Harvard International has operated for more than 40 years in the global consumer electronic products market and its focus is very much on digital vision products targeting specific market opportunities such as the UK’s popular, free-to-air TV services.

 

Under the new agreement the company’s iLuv brand will feature on the home kit while the VIEW21 logo will appear on the Away and Third Kits.

 

Leeds United Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “We are delighted that we have expanded our relationship with Harvard International and that they will be our secondary shirt sponsor for the forthcoming season. The new agreement is further testament to the strength of our commercial partnership programme and how we pro-actively manage our partnerships with our sponsors.

 

“Over the course of last season we developed an excellent working relationship with the executive team at Harvard and it’s great that we can now further leverage the partnership with the VIEW21 brand and bring a range of exciting technology products and benefits to the Leeds United fanbase.”

 

Mike Ashley, CEO of Harvard International added: “After a successful first year, we are excited to be strengthening our relationship with Leeds United Football Club by becoming the Secondary Shirt Sponsor.

 

“As one of the biggest clubs outside of the Premier League and one of the best supported in Britain, we are confident that our partnership will continue to raise awareness of the iLuv brand to all of its tech-savvy supporters. Through this partnership, we will also promote our new brand, View21.

 

“View21 will bring the next generation of online Smarter TV entertainment and enjoyment into viewers’ living rooms and we are sure that the high profile exposure resulting from our sponsorship will ensure it is an instant hit. We are delighted in becoming part of the rich history of Leeds United Football Club and are looking forward to a successful season for both Leeds United and Harvard in the year ahead.”

 

iLuv Creative Technology, headquartered in New York, is the premier provider of the most comprehensive accessories line for the Apple and Smartphone markets, delivering innovative designs, and award-winning products for today’s discerning consumers.

sale helvetica, medstore sans-serif;”>STX, LLC, a global sporting goods leader, announced today a one-year deal with USILA Division III 2012 Player of the Year Sam Bradman.

As part of the deal, Bradman will represent STX at camps, clinics, tournaments and in-store events across the country and hold demo sessions at select events. Additionally, Bradman will play for Team STX in the LXM Pro, a lacrosse tour sponsored by STX, with fellow STX Pro-Athlete Kyle Harrison.

“Growing up using STX, most memorably the K18 line, it is a great honor to join the STX family,” said Bradman. “Being able to play with Kyle on Team STX in LXM Pro is a dream come true for me. I’m excited to join forces with such an innovative company and I can’t wait to get started.”

Bradman will also appear in the marketing campaign for the new 2013 products, including product videos, print and web ads as well as in store signage. There will also be a limited edition Sam Bradman Alliance 135 handle available this summer.

“Sam Bradman has distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete, as well as a proven lacrosse champion,” said Greg Tate, Men’s Marketing Manager for STX. “We’re very excited for Sam to join the STX family and look forward to him playing with Kyle Harrison on Team STX in the LXM Pro.”

Bradman, a senior midfielder for Salisbury University, was the USILA Division III 2012 Player of the Year, CAC 2012 Player of the Year and the only Division III player to be nominated for the 2012 Tewaaraton Award. The Canton, N.Y., native finished the 2012 season with 99 points and 71 goals. In addition, Bradman became the first player in DIII history to be named the Championship Games Most Outstanding Player in back-to-back years, while his school won its 10th title and second in a row. He was drafted in the first round for the MLL, but decided to play for LXM on Team STX instead.

“Obviously what Sam is able to do on the field is well documented. Player of the Year, two time Midfielder of the Year and two National Championships but off the field he’s a great fit for LXM as well,” added Xander Ritz CEO/CoFounder of LXM Pro. “He’s a student of the game and is excited about sharing his passion and knowledge with kids at LXM events throughout the year. His game and his personality make him a great fit for LXM and there is no question kids are going to be excited to see him play in LXM all year starting with our June 2nd event in Orange County, CA.”

Read MLL Commissioner David Gross exclusive interview here>>