cough helvetica,sans-serif;”>The England and Wales Cricket Board have appointed Kingfisher Beer the headline sponsor for the National Club Championship for the next three years.

In recognition of the deal, the tournament will be renamed the Kingfisher Beer Cup.

The Kingfisher Beer Cup will continue to be open to both ECB Premier League clubs and lower league sides and offers a prize of £5,000 ($7,760) for its winners, the “Kingfisher Beer Cup national club champions”.

256 teams will compete in the knock out competition which was won by Shrewsbury Cricket Club last year. The first round will commence on April 29th with the cup running through until September. The final is scheduled for September 16th at a TBC First Class County ground.

Kingfisher has a longstanding association with international cricket and sponsored India’s tour of England earlier this year. This opportunity will see the beer brand broaden their links in the sport through a presence in the recreational form of the game.

Marketing Manager for Kingfisher Beer Europe, Laura Mitchell has explained Kingfisher’s involvement in the project.

“As India’s No. 1 beer, cricket has long been a core passion for Kingfisher in its home market. We are therefore excited to build the brand’s association with ECB recreational cricket and plan to drive investment into the sport through a number of fundraising initiatives for clubs through the Kingfisher Beer Cup. In addition to this, we are delighted to be able to offer the 2012 winning team £5,000 ($7,760) to invest in their club as they see fit. Good luck to all participating clubs”.

ECB Commercial Director, John Perera, offered the governing body’s take on the partnership.

“We are delighted to welcome Kingfisher Beer as sponsor of the National Club Championship which will now be known as the Kingfisher Beer Cup. It will be an excellent boost for the competition to have a sponsor that is committed to supporting cricket clubs at a recreational level and the valuable pairing of Kingfisher Beer and club cricket will benefit both sponsor and clubs across England and Wales”.

SPL Champions Rangers have retained long-term drink sponsors Coca-Cola and Powerade for a further two years.

The Glasgow based club have had a relationship with Coca-Cola for over ten years, sales and developed a partnership with the company’s Powerrade brand within that period. The former is the side’s official drinks supplier and the latter is the club’s official hydration partner.

The agreement is a multi-faceted one and will see Coca-Cola given particular promotional opportunities, cheap including access to the players and the Ibrox pitch.

Both parties have expressed their contentment with the decision.

The Regional Director of Coca-Cola Enterprises, capsule Alan Halliday, stated: “2012 will be a massive year for sport with UEFA Euro 2012 and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games coming to Great Britain. As part of our commitment to sport we are delighted to continue our partnership with one of the biggest clubs in Scottish football.”

Rangers Chief Operating Officer Ali Russell commented: “Rangers have formed a solid partnership with Coca-Cola Enterprises over the past decade and we are delighted to extend our relationship for another two years. The new deal benefits the club on and off the pitch as our supporters will be able to enjoy a range of promotions from Coke Zone while our players will benefit from Powerade’s hydration expertise”.

Respect Your Universe, Inc. (RYU) a recently launched premium high performance apparel line, have announced that it will become an official event sponsor for five UFC events beginning with UFC 141:Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem on Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

As an official UFC event sponsor, RYU will be visible in various elements throughout UFC events, including logo displays and live announcements during bouts, along with television promotions and placement on the UFC website. RYU’s presence on UFC.com will include rotating ads equating to tens of millions of impressions. In addition, RYU will have various items from its new apparel line available for purchase at UFCStore.com.

The four additional UFC events that will feature RYU in 2012 will be announced in the months ahead.

RYU President, John Wood, said: “We are excited to announce this opportunity with the UFC and are looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in 2012. The UFC is the fastest growing sports organization in the world. This agreement gives RYU a tremendous opportunity to reach the UFC’s loyal and rapidly-expanding fan base.”

All of the RYU apparel items and products have been produced from organic and/or recycled materials utilizing some of the best yarn and fabric suppliers in the world while achieving the performance attributes desired by Mixed Martial Arts fighters and the true everyday athlete.

European Soccer’s Governing body, UEFA, has signed a new six-year deal with adidas for the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup which will run until the end of the 2017/18 season.

The renewed deal will mean Adidas match balls will be used in all UEFA Champions League matches, from the play-offs onwards, with a new official match ball design for each season and a special match ball design for each knockout round of the UEFA Champions League leading up to the final.

The design of the official UEFA Europa League match ball is based on the official logo of the competition and the ball will be used from the group stage until the final.

adidas also will further promote the Champions League and Europa League through a series of initiatives, including supplying a high-performance product range worldwide, featuring the insignia of the Champions League and Europa League with Champions League corners set up in all adidas-own retail stores, offering insignia product ranges for the tournament

Other parts of the deal include Champions League match officials will sport a special kit incorporating the UEFA starball design. Adidas will also continue to supply official match balls for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final and the UEFA Futsal Cup finals.

David Taylor, CEO of UEFA Events, said: “We are very pleased that adidas has chosen to renew and further extend its agreement with UEFA for our European club football competitions. This extension proves the strength of our business relationship and ensures that adidas remains at the heart of European club football. Our continued collaboration will bring new opportunities for the promotion of the very best of European football to a worldwide audience.”

Herbert Hainer, CEO of the adidas Group, added: “Being associated with the biggest club tournaments in Europe – the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League – will allow us to further strengthen and extend our global football market leadership.”

Électricité de France (EDF) has decided against continuing its National Bike Week sponsorship as it looks to acclerate its activities ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, unhealthy | where it is a sustainability and energy partner.

An EDF Energy spokesperson said: “As an official partner of London 2012, EDF Energy is looking to refine its sponsorship activities ahead of the Olympic and Paralympics Games. As such we will not be continuing in our role as the title sponsor of Bike Week in 2012.

“As part of our wider Team Green Britain programme, the event has successfully promoted cycling as a low carbon form of transport to a wide audience.”

National Bike Week is now looking for a new sponsor for 2012 as it looks to boost the number of participants in the campaign, which last year attracted 420,000. The 2012 National Bike Week will run from June 16 until 24.

As part of the initiative, first staged in 1923, events are run aimed at the population in general rather than specific sections, in a bid to attract first time cyclists.

NBA’s Phoenix Suns have selected Phizzle, a leading digital marketing and media company as its mobile marketing provider for the 2011-2012 NBA Season.

Ben Davis, CEO of Phizzle, said: “We are extremely pleased to be the mobile marketing provider of choice for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were searching for a comprehensive mobile strategy to expand the relationship with their fan base. Phizzle’s mobile capabilities are the clear cut answer to their search. With the Phizzle technology, the Phoenix Suns now have access to the entire mobile ‘ecosystem’ permitting ‘real time’ dialogue.

Phizzle’s web-based platform, PhizzleMobile, delivers real-time mobile interactivity permitting the Phoenix Suns to track specific fan interests and provide more relevant and timely mobile campaigns. Through the Phizzle platform, the Suns plan to deploy a variety of text messaging campaigns that will provide fun and stimulating participatory audience experiences, including Text-2-Win promotions, Text-2-Vote polls and Text-2-Screen. Phizzle is also providing the Suns with a comprehensive set of mobile & SMS marketing tools that create integrated, multi-channel, mobile marketing programs for fans, event sponsors and local advertisers.

Livestrong have announced it has extended its partnership with the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon to 2020.

The economic impact of the partnership is projected to bring $120 million to Austin over 10 years. The 2012 Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Feb. 19.

Lance Armstrong, Livestrong founder and chairman, said: “I am looking forward to participating in the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon again in 2012. This is a great race with a challenging course and an even bigger purpose raising funds and awareness for cancer. I am especially proud to run with so many of my fellow cancer survivors who are showing this disease who’s boss by not just surviving, but thriving in the wake of adversity.”

Doug Ulman, Livestrong president and CEO, commented: “Livestrong is delighted about the commitment we’ve made to serve as the title partner of the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon through 2020. The impact of our commitment extends far beyond the race itself — to the City of Austin, Livestrong and cancer survivors around the world.”

John Conley, race director for the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, added: “The relationship that began last year between the Austin Marathon and Livestrong was inspiring and laid an exceptional basis to expand the partnership; it will only take off from here over the next nine years. We have an opportunity to create an even more competitive and attractive marathon for our runners while we extend the Livestrong and Austin Marathon brands at both the local and international levels. If you thought last year’s event was good, just wait until February 19.”

Since its inception in 1992, the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon has generated more than $150 million for the local Austin economy and $6 million for Austin non-profits. In its more than 20-year history, nearly 150,000 runners from all 50-states and more than 40 nations have crossed the finish line to earn the Austin Marathon a place as the 23rd largest marathon in the United States.

Livestrong is the brand of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, created in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action against the world’s leading cause of death.

Queensland Reds, order 2011 Super 15 champions, order have signed a new two-year deal with nutritional supplement supplier Musashi Performance Nutrition.

Musashi ‘will assist the the Australian rugby team in energising, apoplectic refuelling and recovering after training sessions and matches.

Reds strength and conditioning coach Damian Marsh, said: “Musashi have an extensive range of trusted sports nutrition products that will serve to optimise the performance of the players during training and games. The supplements will be strategically used to aid recovery and repair of the players’ bodies after taxing physical exertion.”

Musashi regional business head Owen Nelson added: “Musashi has 25 years experience in the innovation and development of supplements and sports nutrition products. We look forward to assisting the Reds in their bid for continued success over the next two Super Rugby seasons.”

Major League Soccer (MLS) team, doctor Houston Dynamo, site have secured a new namings right sponsor for its stadium in the shape of BBVA Compass Bank.

Although financial terms were not disclosed, pill the deal is reportedly for 10 years and $20 million.

The stadium, which is under construction on the east side of downtown Houston, near the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, is scheduled to open May 12.

Seating capacity is 22,000. In addition to Dynamo home games, it will also serve as a stadium for Texas Southern University football, as well as a venue for entertainment and other sports.

BBVA Compass Stadium becomes Major League Soccer’s 14th soccer-specific venue with a naming rights partner.

The Dynamo said the city of Houston has already benefitted from the stadium’s development with 1,500 construction and related job, with another 300 jobs anticipated once the venue.

It’s projected the stadium will generate $32 million for the local economy while jump-starting the revitalization of the area east of downtown, where a new light rail line is already under construction.

A central component of the Dynamo and BBVA Compass agreement calls for the creation and implementation of a newly developed “Building a Better Houston” campaign. Through this initiative, both organizations have committed to making a difference in the neighborhoods surrounding the new stadium. The campaign will initially focus on four programs carried out one per week in the days leading up to the stadium’s opening. These will include programs focused on educating school children, encouraging physical fitness, sustaining the environment, and revitalizing Houston’s East End.

For the past seven years, allergist bwin, a leader in online sports betting, has been a heavy presence at MotoGP events across the globe, attaining visibility before thousands of fans.

bwin have continued this partnership by agreeing a deal with Dorna Sports, the governing body of MotoGP for the title sponsorship at Jerez and Brno for another two years. bwin will also have a highly visible presence at the Misano, Mugello and Silverstone Grands Prix.

The bwin brand will be prominent at each circuit with banners on the track, the pit lane and starting line. Branding will also be included on the podium, in the press conference areas and on interview backdrops, with special LED advertising reinforcing the brand’s image the Grands Prix where it is the title sponsor and underlining the importance of innovation and technology to the bwin philosophy.

Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO at bwin.party digital entertainment plc, said: “We are proud to announce the extension of our partnership with MotoGP for another two seasons. MotoGP has become one of the most exciting sports events over the years and fits perfectly with the bwin brand. Hundreds of millions of television viewers follow the thrilling MotoGP races every year.”

Dorna’s Managing Director Pau Serracanta added: “The partnership between bwin and MotoGP over the past seven years has always been associated with reliability, innovation and growth. We are looking forward to racing on together in the upcoming seasons.”