English Premier League team Newcastle United FC have renewed their sponsorship deal with Puma.

The leading sportlifestyle brand has worked with the club since the 2010/11 season and the new agreement will see PUMA continue to work closely with the club as Official Kit Supplier..

Stuart Middlemiss, the club’s Head of Retail, said: “We’re delighted to have agreed an extension to our sponsorship deal with PUMA. The brand has an excellent reputation for quality and design, and their products for Newcastle United have been extremely popular with fans over the last two seasons.

“It’s a relationship we’re looking forward to building on in the 2012/13 campaign and beyond.”

Roger Harrison, PUMA UK Marketing Director, added: “We are very proud to announce the extension of our successful partnership with Newcastle United Football Club. Our football portfolio continues to grow from strength to strength and our relationship with the club remains a priority for the brand.

“Newcastle United fans are passionate about their club and their love of football reflects the PUMA brand’s own enjoyment and passion for the game. We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership and to supporting Newcastle United in their future successes.”

Manchester City could experience a sponsorship boom following winning the Premier League title after a 44-year period.

City has the potential to double its sponsorship earnings over the next five years thanks to winning the Premier League title, according to sport sponsorship experts.

Twitter was ablaze with activity during the game and QPR’s Joey Barton – who was sent off during the match – was for a time the top trending topic on the social network on Sunday.

Sponsorship experts are in agreement that securing the title will be a significant boon for the club’s sponsorship coffers, particular given that the Premiership has a four billion strong global audience.

Nigel Currie, director of sports marketing agency brandRapport, said: “With this Premiership win, Manchester City over the next five years can double their sponsorship earnings.”

Currie’s reasoning is largely based on the growth of the Premiership globally, and particularly in Asia.

A report commissioned by the Sport+Markt group in Germany said the global Premier League audience has now reached 3.9 billion, with the biggest market being Asia and Oceania, which registered 1.3 billion viewers.

Currie said there was a “big question mark” over whether Man City could secure the sponsorship crown but victory will give the club “a massive boost” in its earnings.

Angus McGougan, business director at FastTrack, added: “This gives Manchester City a great platform to go and engage with new audiences, as there is so much interest in the Premiership in Asia.”

Sponsorship experts also believe Manchester City’s bargaining chips will be improved following its new kit deal with Nike, which replaced Nike’s subsidiary Umbro as the club’s kit supplier. Manchester City also recently signed deals with social network Foursquare and Youtube.

Experts believe the marketing power of Nike will also help Man City boost its overall sponsorship earnings.

Manchester City is thought to earn up to £400m under its sponsorship agreement with Etihad Airways. 

The club’s other commercial partners include Electronic Arts, Thomas Cook Sport, Harvey Nichols, Amstel and Paddy Power.

Fifth Third Bancorp today announced a multi-year marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing, ed beginning this season with four races as the primary sponsor of Matt Kenseth’s No. 17 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

A similar number of races for the following years will be announced at a later date.

“Fifth Third Bank is excited to partner with Roush Fenway Racing and Matt Kenseth on this Sprint Cup Series sponsorship,” said Greg Carmichael, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Fifth Third Bancorp. “Our organizations share many common values including a focus on teamwork and a desire to challenge the status quo to be the best at what we do. We are looking forward to working with the Roush Fenway Racing organization, and Matt Kenseth, to help drive our business and build the Fifth Third Bank brand.”

The partnership between Fifth Third Bank and Roush Fenway Racing was announced today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte where the paint scheme for the Fifth Third Ford Fusion was also unveiled.

“Fifth Third Bank is a leader when it comes to banking and I’m thrilled to be driving the Fifth Third Bank Ford Fusion starting with the Sprint All Star Race,” said Roush Fenway Racing driver, and winner of the 2012 Daytona 500, Matt Kenseth. “I’m looking forward to introducing Fifth Third Bank to all our loyal NASCAR fans.”

Headquartered in Concord, NC, Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history having won five championships in NASCAR’s top three divisions and more than 400 races in drag racing, sports car and stock car racing.

“Roush Fenway Racing is excited to partner with Fifth Third Bank and help drive their business through a primary sponsorship of Matt Kenseth’s team. They are a well respected, innovative financial services organization with a long and rich history that shares our company’s passion for excellence and commitment to winning,” said Jack Roush, owner and founder of Roush Fenway Racing.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is has announced a renewal of their partnership with NIKE, Inc. 

The Oregon-based company is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. 

Nike has worked with the AFC since 2005 and has extended its commercial relationship with Asian football’s governing body as an official partner.

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

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

The agreement 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 and the AFC Club programme, which includes the fast-growing AFC Champions League.

“It is a great pleasure to renew our relationship with Nike 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, Nike have been a proactive and innovative partner and we look forward to continuing to work closely together.”

Manchester City have announce that they have become the first Barclays Premier League club to partner with Foursquare, the location-based social network.

City supporters can now check into Foursquare at the Etihad Stadium, City Square, City Stores and official Heart of the City venues to take advantage of special Club offers on merchandise, food and drink. There’s also sharing of photos, tips and lists with fellow fans on where best to catch City in action on televised away-days.

To mark the start of the partnership, we are launching an Official MCFC Foursquare Badge – to be unveiled at our crucial clash with QPR – which will allow City supporters on Foursquare to unlock this Matchday Special from 12.00-15.00 on Sunday:

A free MCFC 2011/12 home shirt, courtesy of EA SPORTS: If you’re one of the first 30 people to unlock the Flash Special by checking in at City Square on Sunday from 12pm, show your unlocked Flash Special on your phone to staff at the EA SPORTS Blue Zone to receive your free shirt (sizing will be on a first-come-first-served basis).

City’s Foursquare page has already attracted over 16,000 followers, and the deal follows similar Partnership arrangements between the Club and other leading online and social media networks, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr – as part of our mission of providing the best and most innovative experience to our fans.

Richard Ayers from City’s digital team said, “Innovating with digital media has been a huge focus for us over the last year. We’re constantly striving to build more meaningful and rewarding relationships with fans, wherever they are in the world, and this deal is a fantastic addition to the City services. Foursquare’s a great company to work with and we’re delighted to be the first in football to offer our fans this service.”

Jonathan Crowley, Director of Media Partnerships for Foursquare, added: “We’re excited to partner with Manchester City as the first English Premier League team on foursquare.  It’s great that they’ll not only be engaging with fans at Etihad Stadium, but also helping U.S. fans find places to watch the games while rewarding them with discounts on official team gear.”

Beiersdorf AG (BEI) product Aquaphor, health a skin care lotion, and will be the new title sponsor of the New York City Triathlon as part of a three-year agreement with the sport’s most expensive Olympic-distance race. 

The new title sponsorship will help offset about $1.8 million in annual costs to stage the race, ailment according to Korff. That price rose about $250,000 this year to pay for staging costs, including service charges by the city’s police and parks departments, Korff said. In previous years, the city covered those fees. 

“People don’t come to New York for a very good experience, they come for an amazing experience,” Korff said in a telephone interview. “But amazing isn’t free.”

The event’s individual entry fee of $295 is about $50 higher than the cost of other triathlons twice the length.

After beginning with about 1,000 participants 11 years ago, the event has grown into one of the most in-demand triathlons in the world. More than 3,000 racers from 44 states and 10 countries are entered for this year’s edition on July 8, Korff said. 

“This is a sport that’s going to continue to grow over the next couple of years,” said Magnus Jonsson, Aquaphor’s director of marketing. “It gives the brand a certain edge that we can’t get with other endurance sports.”

Jonsson said the company will use the New York race as a testing ground for possible sponsorship of other triathlons.

The race’s popularity forced Korff to begin utilizing a lottery system for entrants in 2011 after the previous year’s race sold out in six minutes.

Competitors swim 9/10 of a mile (1,500 meters) in the Hudson River, bike 25 miles (40 kilometers) on the Henry Hudson Parkway and then run 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) across 72nd street before finishing in Central Park.

The title sponsorship with Aquaphor, whose U.S. headquarters is in Wilton, Connecticut, includes an option for a three-year renewal after 2014, Korff said. The company will also sponsor boxer Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, as she trains and competes in the event.

The event’s previous title sponsor, Nautica Enterprises Inc., chose not to renew its sponsorship after the 2011 race.

With a tense finale to the English Premier League season, Manchester United has settled a deal with office equipment supplier Epsom for an added three-year agreement.

Japan-headquartered Epson will continue as Manchester United’s official equipment supplier. Also advertising and hospitality will coninue at Old Trafford while supplying the Premier League champions with core office and front-of-house printing and imaging equipment until the end of the 2014/15 season.

A statement released by Epson said: “Having already benefitted from both increased customer interaction and engagement, as well as enhanced global brand awareness, Epson sees the relationship as a key initiative in enhancing its global visibility and business growth.”

“Epson is proud of the synergies between the two historic organizations and continuation of the partnership is a reflection of a shared commitment to performance and innovation.”

Epson general manager of global communications Ian Cameron commented: “We are delighted to have concluded this new agreement. This is an exciting partnership and we see it as an opportunity to strengthen connections with our customers around the world, particularly in emerging markets.”

Manchester United’s commercial director Richard Arnold added: “We are delighted to continue the relationship with Epson and to further develop the shared benefits it brings. Like Manchester United, Epson is a global brand and its innovation in new technologies keeps it at the forefront of its industry.”

The World Air Sports Federation (FAI), ampoule has agreed a long term partnership with the prestigious Swiss watch company Breitling.

Breitling, doctor a renowned brand whose headquarters are in Grenchen, find Switzerland, will become the first ever Global Partner of the FAI and will carry the status of the Official Watch of the federation.

Théodore Schneider, Breitling President, stated: “We are delighted to partner with the FAI as we share the same values. Our involvement with aeronautics has always been part of our history and we will do our best to write a successful story together.” 

John Grubbström, FAI President, added: “Breitling is a highly respected brand and we are very proud to be associated with such an historic company. We strongly believe in a partnership with Breitling as a Global Partner and will be delighted to cooperate with Breitling in consolidating its presence within the international aeronautics community.” 

“FAI is entering a new era in air sports management. Our relationship with an innovative and dynamic company such as Breitling is a perfect match for both partners.” 

Rights will include a general presence in FAI Category 1 events as well as a series of dedicated sole & exclusive programmes designed exclusively for Breitling.

GAC Group has extended its sponsorship with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) by also sponsoring the World Team Cup in 2013.

Title sponsors of the 2011 World Championships and of the current World Tour, unhealthy the GAC GROUP will also be the sponsor for the World Team Cup in 2013.

The event will be staged in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, medicine the home of the company; the full name being the Guangzhou Automobile Company.

It will be the first time that the event has been staged in China, the country that has dominated the competition since its inauguration in 1990.

The Japanese city of Hokkaido was the host for the first staging of the tournament; the following year in 1991, the home was Barcelona in Spain, with a three year break ensuing, before Nmes in France staged proceedings in 1994.

One year later the tournament moved Atlanta in the United States before returning to the calendar in 2007 in the German city of Magdeburg, with the policy of holding the competition every two years being introduced.

In 2009 the tournament was staged in Linz, Austria and in 2011 once again in Magdeburg.

However, the was an exception to the biennial policy; following a special request made by the United Arab Emirates Table Tennis Association, the World Team Cup Classic was held in 2010 in Dubai.

The proposed dates for the GAC Group World Team Cup in Guangzhou are Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st March 2013.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Danica Patrick has signed a multi-year endorsement deal to represent the Coke Zero brand.

The Coca-Cola Racing Family, established in 1998, has boasted some of the biggest names in motorsports, including past champions Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and reigning champ, Tony Stewart. Patrick, who will run 10 Sprint Cup races in 2012 as part of Stewart-Haas Racing, will sport the Coke Zero logo on her firesuit and her No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. She will appear in a series of vignettes premiering during the Coke Zero 400, will be featured in marketing executions such as retail point of sale materials and will make personal appearances on behalf of the Coke Zero brand.

“Joining the Coca-Cola Racing Family is one of the really cool things that’s happened so far in my career. I’m a Coke Zero drinker and fan, so with this partnership, I really get to have it all,” said Patrick. “I’m really excited about working with Coke Zero for a lot of reasons, but the idea of having my image at retail stores next to guys like Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman and the rest of the Coca-Cola Racing Family is amazing.”

Two of Patrick’s first roles as a Coke Zero spokesperson will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. In addition to competing in the Coca-Cola 600, Patrick will collaborate with actress Brooklyn Decker to promote the summer blockbuster, “Battleship,” which Coke Zero is partnering with Universal Pictures to promote. Patrick will not race in the Coke Zero 400, but she will participate in activities surrounding the event and serve as a special correspondent, giving fans a sneak peek behind the scenes via the Coke Zero Twitter account at one of the year’s most exciting races.

Sharon Byers, senior vice president of sports and entertainment marketing partnerships, The Coca-Cola Company, said: “Danica is a talented driver, a fierce competitor, and an always-relevant personality in the world of motorsports, and we’re excited to welcome her to the Coke Zero brand and the Coca-Cola Racing Family. The Coke Zero brand has seen consistently strong growth since it launched, and to maintain that success, we need to bring new consumers to the franchise. We believe partnering with one of the most relevant and talked about athletes in motorsports—and one who embodies the brand’s ‘enjoy everything’ spirit — will help us do just that.”

Patrick debuted in the IRL IndyCar Series in 2005 where she finished the season at 12th overall on the way to earning Rookie of the Year honors. In 2008, she became the first woman to win an IRL IndyCar Series race with her victory at the Indy Japan 300. She joined the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 for a part-time schedule and finished fourth in the 2011 Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – the best finish by a woman in a NASCAR top-circuit.