US Youth Soccer, ambulance the largest youth sports organization in the nation, anesthetist have announced a new partnership with the Army National Guard.

As part of the agreement, clinic the National Guard will be the presenting sponsor of the storied US Youth Soccer National Championship Series at the Regional and National Championship levels. The Series involves more than 10,000 teams annually and crowns the 12 national champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups for boys and girls.

US Youth Soccer will also provide the National Guard an opportunity to utilize the new online education platform (education.usyouthsoccer.org) for leadership coursework in addition to access to other US Youth Soccer programing and channels to promote the National Guard’s focus on leadership principles and development.

“Our partnership with the National Guard highlights two important groups – our young athletes and the coaches that help shape these young athletes with their leadership, and the men and women who serve our country,” said Jim Cosgrove, US Youth Soccer executive director. “US Youth Soccer is comprised of more than 3 million youth players and 1 million adults engaged in the game. Not only are our members passionate about soccer and furthering their skills but they are a very loyal and patriotic group, and we are proud to partner with the National Guard to help showcase their impact to our members.”

The Army National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces and one of the longest enduring U.S. institutions, operating in all 50 states, D.C. and three U.S. territories.

Major Brian Creech, Chief of Army National Guard Marketing, said: “It is a very exciting opportunity for the Army National Guard to partner with US Youth Soccer and specifically the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series events where the nation’s finest are preparing and testing themselves against the best each year. With the outstanding dedicated membership of US Youth Soccer, our partnership is a great fit to communicate the great service, benefits and opportunities the National Guard has to offer current and future generations.”

by Ismail Uddin

BETDAQ has agreed an expanded sponsorship deal with Jockey Club Racecourses for 2012.

The six-figure deal involves 10 of the group’s 14 racecourses and includes a second year of support for midweek Flat racing at Kempton Park.

The BETDAQ Wednesday Winner Series at the all-weather floodlit racetrack lasts for 39 meetings, each featuring four BETDAQ races. It began this month and concludes on Wednesday 19 December.

Included in the deal is a £5,000 prize for the stable staff of the most successful trainer from the 156 races. Last year’s inaugural winners were Richard Hannon’s yard and a presentation was made at the fixture on Wednesday 8 February.

Aintree’s evening fixture in May will be sponsored by BETDAQ, while the betting exchange’s support for Haydock Park’s Apprentice Series between May and September, won by Ryan Clark in 2011, continues for a second year.

BETDAQ sponsorship banners will also be displayed at seven other tracks belonging to Jockey Club Racecourses – Carlisle, Exeter, Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Nottingham, Warwick and Wincanton.

Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We are delighted to have come to this agreement with a high profile betting exchange in BETDAQ which is demonstrating its continuing commitment to British horse racing. As a Group we can offer major partners the scale they are looking for and we look forward to an ongoing partnership.”

by Ismail Uddin

IndyCar have announced today it has entered into multi-year agreements with Discover Network and First Bankcard, shop a division of the First National Bank of Omaha, to offer a credit card program designed to provide rewards to fans of the sport.

IndyCar has also entered into an agreement with Segmint, Inc. to deliver the digital analytics for the IndyCar Discover credit card program.

IndyCar Discover credit card cardmembers can redeem accumulated reward points for exclusive experiences, including VIP access to Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 and breakfast with legends of the sport. Other rewards include race tickets, driver meet & greets, suite passes, and IndyCar merchandise.

There will be two card designs for cardmembers to choose from: a vintage look highlighting the start of the 1960 Indianapolis 500 or a modern look featuring the sleek 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series car.

Kevin O’Donnell, vice president of credit issuance at Discover, said: “With this agreement, Discover is able to help the premier open-wheel auto racing series in North America reach their fan base in a new, rewarding way. The IndyCar Discover credit card is designed to help drive cardmember loyalty by offering tailored card benefits and exclusive access to events that cardmembers care about most.”

“The partnership between IndyCar and First Bankcard will enhance the fan experience, allowing them to immerse themselves in the sport,” said Stephen F. Eulie, president of First Bankcard. “We are excited to offer this exclusive rewards card – the IndyCar Discover credit card – that will debut this season.”

IndyCar is working with its corporate partner lineup to provide exclusive discounts on products and services for IndyCar Discover credit card cardmembers.

“We are always looking for ways to bring our fans closer to the sport and provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at our events,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, IndyCar. “Not only does the IndyCarDiscover credit card provide an avenue to reward fans with unique experiences, it provides an additional platform for our other partners to provide benefits to our passionate fan base.”

Segmint will drive the digital analytics of the IndyCar Discover credit card program.

“Segmint’s unrivaled analytics framework provides the technology for this innovative collaboration and enables IndyCar to set a new sports marketing standard for successfully engaging fans, teams and sponsors,” said Rob Heiser, president and CEO of Segmint Inc.

by Ismail Uddin

Kroger Co has been named the latest corporate sponsor of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Houston Dynamo.

The Dynamo said Thursday that Kroger will be the Major League Soccer team’s official and exclusive retail grocery partner, a founding partner at BBVA Compass Stadium and a presenting sponsor of the Dynamo Skills Challenger, which is a grassroots youth soccer program.

The partnership also includes an agreement for Kroger and the Dynamo to implement neighborhood outreach programs and store promotions focusing on fighting hunger and supporting education.

The Dynamo’s new BBVA Compass Stadium is scheduled to open May 12. Other stadium sponsors include Methodist Hospital and Mazda.

by Ismail Uddin

MasterCard, one of the world’s leading payment system providers,is to remain an official partner of the UEFA Champions League for the new 2012–15 cycle and for the UEFA Super Cup in 2012, 2013 and 2014 after a deal was reached with UEFA.

The three-year deal will run until the end of the 2014/15 season and will see MasterCard continue to leverage the sponsorship through its exclusive product category: payment systems.

David Taylor, chief executive of UEFA Events SA, said: “We are very pleased to continue our relationship with MasterCard, one of the world’s premier global brands. The presence and active involvement of MasterCard has contributed to the great success of the UEFA Champions League – and will do so for the next three seasons. In return we expect to keep helping MasterCard create many priceless opportunities for millions of fans and card holders worldwide.”

Javier Perez, president of MasterCard Europe, added: “We are excited to renew our sponsorship with the UEFA Champions League, a relationship which dates back to 1994. Sponsorships represent a critical component of MasterCard’s global marketing approach, and we will continue to use this unique platform to further create business-building opportunities for our customer financial institutions and merchants, and thereby offer priceless experiences to MasterCard card holders around the world.

“Through sponsorship of this kind, MasterCard is proud to ‘bring the game to the people and the people to the game’, an ambition which is matched by our objective to make as many tickets available to MasterCard card holders.”

MasterCard joins Heineken, UniCredit and Ford as the fourth official partner for the competition’s 2012–15 cycle, in addition to adidas, the official supplier.

by Ismail Uddin

Pirelli has become the official tyre supplier for the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2012.

In confirming Pirelli’s involvement, cure Ratel said: “We are delighted to confirm a partnership with Pirelli as the official tyre supplier for the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship for the 2012 season.

“Pirelli have an unrivalled reputation in global motorsport and we are pleased that our teams in both GT1 and GT3 will benefit from the technical expertise and experience the company brings. Their recent success in helping to create competitive racing in Formula One through their innovative approach underlines that point.”

Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Paul Hembery said the company was looking forward to linking up with the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship for the coming season.

“We have a long and rich history in all categories of motorsport, particularly GT racing,” he said. “GT racing is an important segment for us as a number of our customers drive the vehicles which compete in the GT categories, particularly our premium customers so the relationship makes a lot of sense.

“Even though we are involved in Formula One, we have also had a major involvement in a number of other categories of motorsport for over 100 years.”

by Ismail Uddin

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has agreed an renewed deal with A.G. Barr that will see IRN-BRU remain as the official drink of Rugby League until the end of the 2013 season.

A.G. Barr have been partners of Rugby League since 2005 whilst IRN-BRU first became the sport’s Official Soft Drink in 2008.

The sponsorship covers all RFL central games – Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-finals and final, impotent Magic Weekend, pharmacy Stobart Super League Grand Final, purchase Northern Rail Cup final, Co-operative Championship finals and international fixtures – and gives all Stobart Super League clubs the opportunity to integrate with the ‘IRN-BRU Match Day Experience’.

IRN-BRU will also continue to sponsor Sky Sports’ coverage of Stobart Super League matches.

To celebrate the announcement IRN-BRU will be unveiling a special limited edition Big Rugby League can which will be available in stores from Monday.

RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer said: “I am delighted that IRN-BRU have extended their partnership and we look forward to working with them over the next two years.

“Our association with AG Barr and their world famous brands has been a long and successful one and the new special promotional can will take help raise the sport’s profile even further.”

Head of Marketing at A.G. Barr, Adrian Troy commented: “We are delighted to have extended our partnership with the RFL.

“Rugby League is a perfect fit for IRN-BRU and the partnership has proved to be a great success over the past three years. We are sure that 2012 will be another great season and that Rugby League fans will continue to support IRN-BRU.”

The extended deal with A.G. Barr was agreed in a week that saw Super League announce a partnership package with Heinz Big Soup worth a significant six-figure sum.

by Ismail Uddin

Betfair are to sponsor Brigadier Gerard night at Sandown on Thursday, link May 31.

The meeting is the richest evening card of the season, discount with £185,000 in prize money on offer and was won last year by 2010 Derby winner Workforce.

David Mackinnon, managing director of Sandown, said: “We are delighted that Betfair has agreed to sponsor the Brigadier Gerard Stakes meeting, our most prestigious evening meeting of the season, and indeed in the country, in terms of quality and prize money.”

by Ismail Uddin

After three years of successful presence in Formula 1, MIG the leading Swiss online trading bank specialized in Foreign Exchange, Bullion and CFD’s has decided to renew its partnership with the Mercedes GP Petronas F1 team lead by Ross Brawn, with the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher as driver along with Nico Rosberg.

MIG branding will feature on the F1 W03 race car, on the team race-suits and on the pit crew overalls and team clothing. The Formula 1 2012 season is set to start on March 18 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

MIG BANK’s commitment to Formula 1 started in 2009 as the bank was among the initial sponsors of the BRAWN GP Formula One Team which astonished the world in 2009 by winning the Formula One World Constructors’ Championship and one of its drivers, the World Drivers’ Championship. Since then, the team operates under the new name of Mercedes GP Petronas and has welcomed the seven-time world champion “Schumi” and his countryman Nico Rosberg gearing up for another potentially historic season under the technical command of Ross Brawn.

“We are extremely pleased today to renew our 2009 partnership with Mercedes-Benz. Driven by our common passion for performance and technology, this partnership reflects our forward looking spirit and illustrates our solidity, continuous growth and dynamism. Mercedes symbolizes quality and innovation, values we share and seek to exemplify globally. By renewing our partnership with Mercedes GP, we want to continue strengthening our brand and keep momentum building up on our successful track record”, said Hisham Mansour, CEO of MIG BANK.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas said: “As we continue our preparations for the start of the new Formula One season, we are delighted to announce the extension of our partnership with MIG BANK. After three successful years working together, MIG BANK have been able to utilise the global platform provided by the team and Formula One to raise their profile and strengthen their brand. We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship together over the coming seasons.“

With the recent opening of an office in Zurich and the upcoming global expansion, MIG BANK is spearheading further international expansion. While it enjoys the security and quality of a Swiss bank, it also want to share a vision of success through teamwork, technology, speed and innovation, values which match the core values of Formula 1.

by Ismail Uddin

Subway, drug the world’s largest restaurant chain, apoplectic has expanded its successful partnership with Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing from the primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for three races in 2011 to six races starting in 2012.

The multi-year partnership also includes four additional races as a major associate sponsor and becoming the Official Training Restaurant of Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing.

“Carl has been a fan of our brand and our sweet onion chicken teriyaki sandwich for a long time, medstore ” said Tony Pace, Sr. Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund. “He and Roush Fenway Racing are great partners and proven winners. We look forward to Carl chasing his goal of a championship in 2012.”

The first race this year for the No. 99 Subway Ford will be March 4 in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway; returning to the track March 25, at Auto Club Speedway; June 3, Dover International Speedway; July 7, Daytona International Speedway; Sept. 2, Atlanta Motor Speedway; and Oct. 7, at Talladega Superspeedway.

“The Subway restaurant brand and their Subway FRESH FIT menu provides me with the opportunity to promote my healthy, active lifestyle,” stated Edwards. “Subway sandwiches are the best tasting, most healthy food option that I can get on-the-go when I’m traveling,” continued Edwards.

Edwards will again be featured in the Subway restaurant advertising campaigns. The first new on-air ad with Edwards will run during the national television broadcast of the Daytona 500 (Feb. 26 on FOX).

“I am extremely pleased that Subway has expanded their relationship with Roush Fenway Racing,” said Jack Roush, co-owner, Roush Fenway Racing. “As a company, we promote a healthy lifestyle with our employees and in particular, our drivers and pit crew members. Having the Subway restaurant chain as our Official Training Restaurant is ideal.”

by Ismail Uddin