BMC Switzerland will continue its sponsorship of UCI Pro Team BMC Racing through the 2016 season.

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz said the extension will allow the U.S.-registered ProTeam to continue its development and vision. “We are fortunate to have a partner like BMC Switzerland, which permits us to participate at the highest level of the sport,” Ochowicz said. “We have enjoyed a terrific partnership and plan to continue to provide BMC Switzerland with a viable outlet to test and showcase its bicycles in all of the world’s greatest races.”

Founded in 2006, Team BMC Racing has undergone a tremendous metamorphosis from its birth as a small team, which did not attract much attention from fans and media and to one of the world’s most popular teams, which not only has a very large legion of loyal fans, but which has also succeeded at engaging star riders such as Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, former World Champions Thor Hushovd and Alessandro Ballan, and Philippe Gilbert as part of their team roster.

BMC owner Andy Rihs finds the partnership between BMC Switzerland and Team BMC Racing to be a perfect match.

“Our best marketing strategy is to have the best cycling team in the world,” Rihs told Roadcycling.com. “I always say we are not doing it out of fun, but we have a lot of fun doing it. It’s mandatory if you want to be a big, growing brand in the cycling world.”

BMC Switzerland’s CEO Thomas Binggeli, added: “We want to have a positive image transfer from the success of the BMC Racing Team to the bicycle brand BMC,” Binggeli told Roadcycling.com and added “We also want to grow awareness of the BMC brand so it’s known worldwide as a Swiss bicycle manufacturing company. Additionally, we want to profit from the knowledge and experience we gain from the world’s best athletes, this enabling us to build the best bicycle of the world.”

by Ismail Uddin

Littelfuse, Inc., the global leader in circuit protection, has announced it will co-sponsor the No. 11 Mouser Electronics/Geico/KV Racing Technology Chevrolet Dallara driven by Indy Racing League champion Tony Kanaan at several events during the 2012 IZOD IndyCar race season.

Littelfuse and its distribution partner Mouser Electronics are co-sponsoring races in Indianapolis, Ind., (May 27), Fort Worth, Texas, (June 9), Qingdao, China, (August 19), and Sonoma, Calif., (August 26). In addition, Littelfuse will be present at the season finale race at Fontana, Calif., (September 15).

Littelfuse kicked off its IndyCar promotion this past weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Calif., April 15, 2012. KV Racing Technology driver Tony Kanaan finished fourth on the two-mile street circuit course, improving 15 positions after starting in the 19th position and earning 32 points in the championship tally. Kanaan clocked the fastest lap in the race with a time of 69.3541 seconds.

Gordon Hunter, President and CEO of Littelfuse , said: “The Indy racing series is a great opportunity for us to partner with Mouser Electronics and to build awareness of our brand as a global leader in circuit protection. Racing demands the very highest level of performance, durability, engineering ingenuity and safety. Our customers rely on us to meet these same requirements in protecting their products and brands. We are excited to engage with our customers and with the design engineering community in this truly thrilling environment.”

Littelfuse will be leveraging its sponsorship with a series of design-engineer focused events at its five sponsored races. The events include visiting with KV Racing’s pit crew and talking with engineers about auto racing technology.

“We’ve created a once-in-a-lifetime IndyCar experience,” said Hunter. “Along with attending the race, the weekend includes pit access, hospitality and exclusive conversations with the team engineers and crew members. The activities are designed to explore the many facets of the fascinating racecar engineering, along with how Littelfuse technology is connected to high performance circuit protection.”

by Ismail Uddin

NFL superstar Running-Back Arian Foster has inked a deal with Under Armour adding of to its roster of world-class athletes.

As part of the multiyear deal, Foster will be featured in 2012 national marketing campaigns for the brand’s innovative performance apparel, footwear and accessories.

Since signing as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2009, Foster has developed into a dynamic all-around running back and one of football’s most dominant skill-position players. In his breakout 2010 season, he led the league in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and touchdowns.

“I’m extremely excited to be able to join the Under Armour movement. As a player and a company, we have common ground,” said Foster. “They started from the ground up, and my story is very similar. They recognize that and share my enthusiasm for this relationship. I look forward to being a part of the Under Armour family for years to come.”

Foster joined the Texans practice squad in 2009 and saw his first action on special teams. After making an impact in the running game at the end of the season, he won the starting running back role at the beginning of the 2010 season. Since becoming the full-time starter, Foster has led the NFL in rushing yards per game (97.9), rushing touchdowns (26) and yards from scrimmage (4,061). He holds the team’s franchise record for most rushing yards in a single game and is only the sixth player in NFL history to surpass 1,500 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in the same season. As a focal point of their offense, Foster played a key role in the Texans return to the playoffs in 2011 where he rushed for 285 yards on 5.6 yards per carry in two playoff games.

“Arian’s rise to success is a testament to his hard work, determination and perseverance,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Global Brand and Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “Even though the odds were against him, he believed in himself and earned his place amongst the elite in professional football. That makes him a perfect fit for our brand.”

by Ismail Uddin

Gulf Oil LP announced that it is now the official electricity supplier to historic Fenway Park.

Through its Gulf Electricity division, malady the Gulf brand is “amping up” its decades- long relationship with the Boston Red Sox by now powering everything from Fenway’s famous lighting towers above the Green Monster to the team clubhouses, site concession stands, and everything in between.

“We are proud to deepen our relationship with our long time partners, the Boston Red Sox,” said Gulf Oil President Ron Sabia. “As each of our enterprises continues to innovate, it is fitting for Gulf to introduce its new electricity service to Massachusetts consumers first at Fenway.”

While Red Sox nation knows no boundaries, Gulf is not scheduled to begin electricity service in Massachusetts until later this year. Meanwhile, Gulf Electricity is currently providing power to residents and businesses in Connecticut. “We are using our expertise in sourcing and distributing energy efficiently to bring savings to consumers who want the best value from a company they can rely on,” said Gulf Oil Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Rick Dery.

Gulf’s relationship with the Red Sox and Fenway Park is decades old, and many loyal fans light up when they see the Gulf Oil logo in left field next to the “Fisk Pole.” In recognition of the longtime partnership, Gulf will appear in, and is sponsoring, the upcoming documentary Inside Fenway Park: An Icon At 100. The program was produced by National Geographic and is scheduled to debut on PBS stations across the country on March 26 and 27, 2012.

by Ismail Uddin

Telekom Srbija (Serbia) and the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) have signed a three-year sponsorship contract.

The deal relates to the TV rights for Cup matches on the Arena Sport pay-TV platform.

The operator also signed an agreement with the Community of Clubs of the Serbian Super League for TV coverage of the football competition.

“I am pleased to restore cooperation with Telekom Serbia. This is a new and effective way to reach Serbian football spectators, ambulance and fans. I believe this is just the first step in a better presentation and promotion of Serbian football, cheap ” said Tomislav Karadzic President of FSS.

FSS general secretary Zoran Lakovic believes that the signing of sponsorship agreements and cooperation with the Serbian football TV Arena sport will be a historic deal.

“The biggest clubs will benefit because it will increase the value of sponsorships each year and awards will be determined on the basis of investments,” he said.

by Ismail Uddin

 

Katin USA, a pioneer in the production of surf trunks since 1954, has been named an official supplier of the USA Water Polo Men’s National Team.

As part of the agreement Katin USA will provide Team USA with their legendary surf trunks in addition to a variety of workout and lifestyle clothing including khaki shorts, button-down shirts, compression tops, technical workout tees and more. In addition, Katin USA will host a fashion show fundraiser at one of their retail locations in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

The company will also be on hand at select events in 2012 offering product for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to USA Water Polo. USA Water Polo will be supporting Katin USA with a presence in a variety of locations, including: event signage, various social media, monthly e-newsletter and advertising placement in the organization’s quarterly magazine, SkipShot. 

“We recognize the total commitment and training that goes into being an elite waterman,” said Robert Schmidt, president, Katin USA. “Katin USA is America’s surf company and the Olympic Games are the highest honor of an American athlete,” added Mac Beu, vice president, Katin USA.”

USA Water Polo CMO Jen Rottenberg, added: “Katin USA epitomizes the active, healthy, aquatic culture of the California lifestyle. We couldn’t think of a better company or brand to provide both lifestyle and dry land workout gear for the US Men’s Water Polo team – total synchronicity.”

by Ismail Uddin

Trans-Lux Corporation, a world leader in LED video display and LED lighting solutions, has entered into a sponsorship deal with Joe Gibbs Racing.

The sponsorship includes track appearances of the No. 18 Trans-Lux Toyota Camry driven by Joey Logano along with access to NFL football legend and NASCAR pioneer Joe Gibbs for various promotional initiatives. The new No. 18 Trans-Lux Camry will make its debut at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Royal Purple 300 race with Joey Logano behind the wheel.

The race is scheduled to be held March 24th, 2012 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. In the fall of 2012, the Trans-Lux car will move to the Sprint Cup Series with the No. 11 driven by Denny Hamlin.

J.M. Allain, President and CEO of Trans-Lux Corporation, said: “Our sponsorship with Joe Gibbs Racing is built on more of a business relationship than pure exposure to NASCAR’s tremendous consumer fan base. As we continue to energize the Trans-Lux brand with innovative LED solutions for video displays and lighting, our affiliation with Joe Gibbs Racing, and Joe himself plays well to our diverse range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales initiatives. This holds especially true relative to our Fair-Play brand of video displays and scoreboards for collegiate and high school sports venues.”

“Trans-Lux is the leader in their industry and we’re thrilled by our partnership with them,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We look forward to working hard to deliver for them both on the track and off.”

Joey Logano will be driving the No. 18 Trans-Lux Toyota this weekend in the Nationwide Series. Despite being the youngest full-time driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit at the age of just 21, Logano has built an impressive resume that includes becoming the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win a race on both the Nationwide and Cup levels of the sport. Logano has an incredible track record at Auto Club Speedway. In six career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the 2-mile Fontana, CA track, Logano has one win, four top-five finishes, and has been inside the top ten in all six of his races. In fact, his worst career finish in Fontana is seventh and he has run every lap of all six races. He won from the pole in 2009.

“An integral component in our new business plan is to be more than just a provider of LED technologies, but a true partner with industry leaders to deliver specific solutions to present and future needs. We believe our relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing gives us added visibility and access with business influencers that will help us cultivate new business opportunities,” said Mr. Allain.

by Ismail Uddin

Gargoyles Performance Eyewear has announced that Penske Racing driver and BKR team owner, discount Brad Keselowski is joining its growing team of professional athletes and brand ambassadors.

Keselowski, pill a contender for the 2012 Sprint Cup championship, viagra order will appear in Gargoyles advertising campaigns, in addition to working closely with the brand to advance its array of high-performance sunglasses.

A third generation racer following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Keselowski is no stranger to performance. Gargoyles’ performance attributes and commitment to creating cutting edge optics are a big part of the 2010 Nationwide Series Champion’s choice to work with the brand. The brand’s Mission Series Lenses incorporate image-intensifying technologies to provide clearer and sharper vision, without optical distortion.

“Gargoyles has a long history of supporting great racecar drivers and I’m thrilled that they have chosen me as an ambassador for their brand,” said Keselowski. “With a perfect mix of performance and style, Gargoyles sunglasses are ideal for when I’m at the race track and just out on the highway.”

Scott Sorensen, Gargoyles Brand Director, said: “Brad Keselowski is a great addition to the Gargoyles team. A third generation racer, Brad knows what it takes to be a high performer and recognizes those qualities in Gargoyles. When I think back to the past driving legends that Gargoyles has worked with, Brad is a perfect fit for our heritage and team.”

Gargoyles revolutionized the eyewear industry in 1979 with the invention of the polycarbonate Toric lens, a technology that provides up to 210º of seamless, ballistic-rated impact-resistant and crystal-clear optics. Today, its unique blend of performance and style has helped make Gargoyles the preferred eyewear brand for the active people who need performance sunglasses for outdoor activities. Delivering cutting-edge technology and innovation, Gargoyles products are worn by top athletes and outdoorsmen who seek optimal clarity, comfort and durability to enhance daily living or mission-oriented pursuits.

GPIC have signed on as golden sponsors of the ITF Futures Tennis Tournament, to be held at the Bahrain Tennis Club (BTC) from March 26 to April 7.

The sponsorship signing took place at a special ceremony, which was attended by GPIC President Abdul Rahman Jawahery, BTC president Khamis Al Muqla and officials from both parties.

Al Muqla expressed gratitude to the company, especially Jawahery, for his continued backing of the club’s programmes.

The club’s president also thanked Power Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza and GPIC board chairman Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa who approved the sponsorship of this international event, and hopes for this support to continue in future editions.

The two-week tournament, to be held in Bahrain for the first time, is also being supported by Ithmaar Bank.

Other sponsors are the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF), the General Organisation for Youth and Sports, Sakana, Royal Hospital and Ahmadi Industries.

by Ismail Uddin

GNC Holdings, Inc., the nation’s largest specialty retailer of health and wellness products, has announced that it will be an official sponsor of the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, an annual fitness competition created and operated by CrossFit, Inc. where elite athletes compete for the crown of the Fittest on Earth(TM) and a piece of a $1 million purse.

The CrossFit Games, now in their sixth year, will be held July 13-15 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California and will broadcast worldwide on the ESPN network.

Open to competitors from around the world, the CrossFit Games have been named “one of the fastest growing sports in America,” by Forbes. The season kicked off with the Open, with nearly 70,000 competitors participating online and at CrossFit affiliated gyms worldwide. The top athletes and teams in each region from the Open will move onto the 17 worldwide Regionals. The best athletes and teams at Regionals will compete at the finals of the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, where a male and female champion are named and awarded $250,000 each.

“We are very proud to be the official vitamin and sports nutrition retailer of the CrossFit Games and are excited to actively participate on a global level,” said Jeff Hennion, EVP – Chief Marketing Officer & e-Commerce at GNC. “The passionate CrossFit community is a true representation of GNC’s Live Well platform and it’s an honor to help support athletes who live well every day.”

At the CrossFit Games, individuals and teams are faced with a wide variety of athletic challenges that may include, but are not limited to, Olympic lifts, gymnastics movements, running, powerlifting, rowing, rope climbs, swimming, kettle bell swings, obstacle courses, and much more. Part of being fit means being ready for the unknown and unknowable, so the workouts are constantly varied and never the same. Unlike other sports where athletes can tailor their training to the specific demands of the event or sport in which they compete, CrossFit Games competitors do not know the nature, duration, number, frequency or timing of the workouts they will be required to complete during the competition until shortly before each of the events begin. The most well-rounded athletes are the ones who succeed as CrossFit Games competitors.

In addition to sponsoring the Championship event, GNC will also support the CrossFit community throughout the season and participate in the 17 regional qualifying events around the world (U.S. – 10, Canada – 2, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Australia and Europe – 1 each), open events and grassroots efforts throughout the community.

“CrossFit is a thriving community where people are passionate about fitness and a healthy lifestyle, and we welcome GNC as a proud supporter of the community and the CrossFit Games,” said Jimi Letchford, Chief Marketing Officer, CrossFit, Inc. “We believe the Games are the ultimate test of fitness, and partners like GNC help support our search for the fittest man and woman on earth.”About GNC

GNC Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is a leading global specialty retailer of health and wellness products, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplement products, sports nutrition products and diet products, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GNC.”

by Ismail Uddin