Discovery Acquires Exclusive Rights In Italy For Africa Cup Of Nations

Discovery Italia has acquired the exclusive rights to the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with fans able to stream all 52 matches live on discovery+ from 9th January 2022.

As part of a whole month of live football on discovery+, the two top AFCON teams will face off against one another in the final on 6th February 2022 at the Olembè Stadium in Yaoundè, the capital of Cameroon and the host nation.

In the agreement, brokered by the AGON agency, matches will be shown on discovery+, with key fixtures, including the final, also shown live on Eurosport, bringing the biggest game in African football to the widest possible audience in Italy.

The title holders Algeria made history by winning their second AFCON title in front of 75,000 fans in 2019 and ‘The Greens’ will be challenged by 23 other nations in six groups of four teams in the battle to retain their title. The first two nations in each group will qualify for the elimination phase, with the four best third-placed teams completing the round of 16.

There is a huge global interest in the Africa Cup of Nations that over the years has become more and more popular with fans from all over the world, aided by some of the best African players enjoying their club football in the main European leagues, including Serie A, with Napoli’s star players such as Kalidou Koulibaly, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Victor Osimhen, ‘Milanisti’ Ismaël Bennacer and Franck Kessie to Bologna’s Musa Barrow and Torino’s Wilfried Singo. There is also a plethora of the greatest African players involved in the 2021 AFCON currently playing in the Premier League such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez to name a few, as well as La Liga’s Youssef En-Nesyri and Ligue 1’s Achraf Hakimi.

“We are very pleased to host such a prestigious sport event on discovery+, further enhancing our premium sports offer, that represents content of absolute value for our subscribers. discovery+ will be the destination for all fans of this fascinating and iconic competition, brightened by the many champions performing in our Serie A league.

“It kicks off a huge year of sport on discovery+ Italia with some of the biggest events including the Australian Open tennis and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 following soon after, offering fans unrivalled streaming access to the widest range of world-class competitions.” said Alessandro Araimo, CEO of Discovery Italia.

“The status and prestige of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is clearly demonstrated by the demand of its continent from our media rights holders and partners. We are confident that the Cameroon edition will once again provide great entertainment to millions of football fans across the world. We welcome on board Discovery Italia, Eurosport and we are looking forward to a successful partnership in January and February 2022.” said CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba.

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on 9th January with Cameroon vs. Burkina Faso at 18:00 CET and Ethiopia vs. Cape Verde at 21:00 CET, with the final on Sunday 6th February, which will also be broadcast on Eurosport as well as streaming on discovery+.

WTA Suspends Tournaments In China Following Peng Shuai Case

The WTA have enforced a suspension of events and collaboration with China due to the ongoing Peng Shuai case in the country following her allegations against a high ranking official in the country.

WTA Chairman and CEO announced the decision in a statement last night, saying:

“When on November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai posted an allegation of sexual assault against a top Chinese government official, the Women’s Tennis Association recognized that Peng Shuai’s message had to be listened to and taken seriously. The players of the WTA, not to mention women around the world, deserve nothing less.

From that moment forward, Peng Shuai demonstrated the importance of speaking out, particularly when it comes to sexual assault, and especially when powerful people are involved. As Peng said in her post, “even if it is like an egg hitting a rock, or if I am like a moth drawn to the flame, inviting self-destruction, I will tell the truth about you.” She knew the dangers she would face, yet she went public anyway. I admire her strength and courage.

Since then, Peng’s message has been removed from the internet and discussion of this serious issue has been censored in China. Chinese officials have been provided the opportunity to cease this censorship, verifiably prove that Peng is free and able to speak without interference or intimidation, and investigate the allegation of sexual assault in a full, fair, and transparent manner. Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way. While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation. The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai’s sexual assault accusation.

None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.

As a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong. In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault. Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.

I have been gratified by the massive amount of international support the WTA has received for its position on this matter. To further protect Peng and many other women throughout the world, it is more urgent than ever for people to speak out. The WTA will do everything possible to protect its players. As we do so, I hope leaders around the world will continue to speak out so justice can be done for Peng, and all women, no matter the financial ramifications.

I very much regret it has come to this point. The tennis communities in China and Hong Kong are full of great people with whom we have worked for many years. They should be proud of their achievements, hospitality, and success. However, unless China takes the steps we have asked for, we cannot put our players and staff at risk by holding events in China. China’s leaders have left the WTA with no choice. I remain hopeful that our pleas will be heard and the Chinese authorities will take steps to legitimately address this issue.”

Liberty Signs As A-League Women Naming Rights Partner

The advance of women’s football has reached a new level with the signing of the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of the women’s league.

Non-bank lender Liberty will become the first naming rights partner of the newly rebranded A-League Women in a multi-million-dollar tie-up commencing with the start of the new season on Friday.

The multi-year deal recasts Australia’s two elite football competitions as partners at the top of the game, with the women’s Liberty A-League sitting alongside the Isuzu Ute A-League for the men.

The investment, which on a per-year basis sets a new benchmark for the women’s league, comes as interest in the game surges in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to be held in Australia and New Zealand. 

Liberty’s investment in the women’s competition is the latest milestone in the A-Leagues’ ambitious commercial development strategy, with the growth of women’s football at the heart of it.

The A-Leagues have already announced an expansion program for the Liberty A-League up to 12 teams by next season, and signed a ground-breaking pay deal that enshrines equal conditions for men and women.

Announcing the partnership with Liberty, A-Leagues Managing Director Danny Townsend said: “The A-Leagues is proud and excited to welcome Liberty as a new naming rights partner. The team shares our passion for football, for diversity and for empowering women to pursue their dreams.

“We have seen a significantly expanding interest in women’s football – from grassroots through to the Matildas. By investing in women’s professional football through Liberty A-League, we offer more pathways for emerging players, ensuring our world-class competition is truly sustainable”.

Interest in the game is surging ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Liberty CEO James Boyle said the company was delighted to further its support and involvement in Australian sport.

“Through the Liberty A-League we reaffirm our support for women in professional sport,” said Liberty CEO, James Boyle. “We are passionate about helping to provide the platform that women’s football deserves.”

“As a pioneer of financial inclusion, we support those who forge their own path, both on and off the field. The athletes currently playing in the Liberty A-League embody this spirit – they are the trailblazers at the top of their game.”

The partnership follows on from the Isuzu UTE A-League naming rights partnership for the men’s competition, with the 2021/22 season kicking off two weeks ago, as well as the recently unveiled content partnership with 10 ViacomCBS across both free-to-air and their new streaming service Paramount+.

The APL has also recently launched KEEPUP, the digital home of global football in Australia, which will be used as a key tool in expanding the coverage of the Liberty A-League. It also comes just ten months after the APL took over the running of Australia’s elite club competitions.

In another milestone, from Friday 3 December, the A-Leagues will unify its Facebook and Instagram channels, reinforcing its commitment to providing the best football fan experience across all Leagues. 

“This is an exciting and important moment for the game of football in Australia and for the growth of the women’s game in particular. At A-Leagues we want to see equality and equity across football, including fair access to facilities, coaching, pathways into the game. We know this is a work in progress, but the partnership with Liberty is a great step on the journey,” said Ant Hearne, Chief Commercial Officer.

The naming rights agreement with Liberty covers a broad range of marketing opportunities including player kit branding, signage and branding rights across all A-Leagues channels, digital content and activation rights at all A-League Women’s matches. 

Five Takeaways From Subscription Show 2021

This year’s Subscription Show, which took place on November 1 to 3 in New York, was an extra special occasion for us at Vindicia (and not just as sponsors of the event). After all these months of Zoom, there is no underestimating the pleasure of seeing our industry come together for some good old face-to-face networking. Colleagues, partners, clients, and competitors alike were eager to catch up and discover in-person what’s new and hot in subscriptions.

The city felt alive, the Vindicia booth was buzzing, and you could feel the excitement in the air. As we gear up for a new year, here are five key takeaways I learned at the Subscription Show:

1. Everyone is passionate about data

One topic is on everyone’s mind – data. Data is the key to learning about user patterns and behaviors, and that knowledge is what drives smarter subscriptions and bundles. At Vindicia, subscription intelligence is our expertise; after all, we’ve been gathering and analyzing it for 18 years.

“We know that data is the undercurrent that fuels the entire subscription journey, from acquisition to engagement and retention.”

We know that data is the undercurrent that fuels the entire subscription journey, from acquisition to engagement and retention (the topic of one of my speaker sessions), and we know how to use data to drive better e-commerce connections. It is incredibly exciting to be able to share in meaningful conversations about data, a subject that is so close to our own hearts.

2. Face-to-face is the winner, hands down

This year’s show was a hybrid mix of in-person and virtual events, and of course, safety is still a top priority. But there’s no getting around it – seeing people in the flesh is the absolute best way to connect and get to know one another. Being able to share a drink, sit down to a meal, look one another in the eye, and let the conversation flow was a truly special feeling, and one I hope will be repeated often. “New normal?” Nah, nothing beats face-to-face interactions.

3. E2E is not a dirty word

At this year’s show, I detected a shift in the way that the industry perceives the subscription experience. Instead of subscriptions just being a bunch of touchpoints, there is much discussion around “end-to-end” customer journeys. It is no longer enough to consider each part of the customer funnel separately or as its own unit.

“Now is a great opportunity to step back and zoom out from the day-to-day of what we do.”

Today it is vital to explore the horizontal journey the user takes along the entire lifetime of their subscription. Bottom line: a subscription is an ongoing relationship between user and brand, and the industry is starting to embrace this new concept of E2E.

4. Manhattan is back

What a sight for sore eyes. Manhattan is bouncing back big time from COVID hibernation, and it was very moving to see the city buzzing once again. The “big lights, big city” vibe is slowly returning, and with it everything we love about New York. That feeling definitely contributed to the amazing buzz of the show itself. Let’s keep it coming.

5. Zoom out

After a couple of years of incessant Zooming, one of the things that struck me at the show was that it’s now time to zoom out. Subscription products can be so complex, it is easy to get bogged down in details. But now is a great opportunity to step back and zoom out from the day-to-day of what we do, focus on the larger pain points of our customers, and how we can better understand them and build lasting relationships. Connecting with customers where they are right now is our biggest challenge.

Bonus takeaway: conquer with tech, but lead with your heart

If there is one thing that connecting with colleagues face to face has reminded me, it’s this: tech is the best means to an end, but it is not the end itself. Our business is essentially about people, and winning in the arena of relationships requires heart.

“Our customer’s success is our company’s success, not the other way around.”

That’s how we strive to operate at Vindicia: building personal connections, understanding our customers’ business needs, their internal challenges and what they need to excel in each billing cycle. Our customer’s success is our company’s success, not the other way around. Sometimes, a visit to an industry conference in NY is just what we need to re-energize around that commitment.

About The Author

Roy Barak is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Vindicia. With over a decade of experience in the financial planning and analysis aspects of the IT and telecommunication industries, Roy brings extensive expertise in pricing models, financial modeling, and working with senior management to transform existing business lines and generating new ones. Previously, Roy worked at Amdocs, Vindicia’s parent company. Here he held key financial positions that supported the establishment of an internal accelerator, which introduced half a dozen successful new offerings. Roy also worked with the Amdocs services sales arm in transforming commercial and pricing models.

UEFA Signs New Deal With IMG’s SPORT 24 Until 2023/24

Sport 24, IMG’s owned and operated 24/7 live sports channel for the inflight and in ship industry, has renewed its agreement with UEFA to broadcast the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for a further three years. The new deal includes the UEFA Super Cup, contested by the winners of the two main European club competitions and the new UEFA Europa Conference League which began this season.

Sport 24 and its sister channel Sport 24 Extra will broadcast extensive live coverage of every UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matchday until the 2023/2024 season, with over 170 hours shown live per season.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Marketing Director, commented: “UEFA is excited to renew our partnership with Sport 24 for the 2021-24 UEFA Club Competitions. Sport 24 continues to lead the way in delivering live sport on cruise liners and airlines and fans will be able to enjoy the best of European club football across its extensive network of in-ship and in-flight partners.”

Richard Wise, SVP, Content and Channels, IMG’s media business, said: “UEFA Champions League is the premier tournament for the world’s top clubs across Europe and, backed by the UEFA Europa and Europa Conference Leagues, gives airline and cruise line passengers an unbelievable offering of live football action.

“We are also delighted to be taking our partnership with UEFA to the 10-year mark having started broadcasting their competitions back in 2015. Our in-flight football offering has never been stronger, and these deals highlight our commitment to football fans worldwide.”

Sport 24 is available on Panasonic’s market-leading live television service, which is broadcast via satellite globally. Launched in 2012, both Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra are produced from IMG’s production HQ at Stockley Park, near London’s Heathrow Airport. Sport 24 also shows live action from the Premier League, European and Asian World Cup Qualifiers, NFL, NBA, NHL, golf’s Majors, tennis’ Grand Slams plus much more.

Manchester United Co-Chairman Avram Glazer Acquires Franchise In UAE T20 Cricket League

Manchester United Co-Chairman, Avram Glazer, has completed the acquisition of a franchise in the UAE T20 Cricket League.

Glazer led the acquisition as Chairman of Lancer Capital, which is making its first investment into international cricket via the newly established UAE T20 League.

Glazer has been the Co-Chairman of Manchester United since 2005 and he is also an owner of NFL Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Avram Glazer, Chairman of Lancer Capital LLC said:

“I am very excited to be a part of UAE T20 at its formation. UAE T20 promises to be a world class event that will be transformative to the growth of cricket in the Emirates.”

Khalid Al Zarooni, UAE T20 League Chairman and Vice Chairman Emirates Cricket Board, said:

“I am very excited to welcome Mr. Glazer to the UAE T20 Family. To have a partner who has invested into sports properties with a long-term perspective is a testament to the strength of the UAE T20 League’s business model and its value proposition to fans and its stakeholders, and an ode to the UAE as the destination of choice for global sports events.”

Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary Emirates Cricket Board, said:

“We are extremely pleased that a legendary sports owner like Avie Glazer has chosen to partner with the UAE T20 League. This is a resounding thumbs up to the unique opportunity that the UAE T20 League offers to experienced and established sports business owners. Our partnership with Lancer Capital will enable us to combine fans of the two widely followed sports – football and cricket – in a never done before manner”

Everton Announces Partnership With I8.BET

Everton Football Club has further expanded its international partnership portfolio by signing up i8.BET as a new commercial partner.

The deal will see i8.BET become the Club’s exclusive Official Betting Partner in Asia, as the gaming brand continues to expand its trusted and innovative platform in the online betting market across Asia and beyond.

As part of the partnership, i8.BET branding will be visible on matchdays across Goodison Park and on the Club’s online platforms in Asia, in line with age and territory restrictions. The company will also have access to imagery of the Everton squad for their commercial activities.

The regional agreement supports Everton’s international growth strategy with the partnership offering the Club a chance to further extend its reach into commercial markets in Asia.

Darren Wang, CMO at i8.BET, said “In line with our global tagline of “Choose The Best”, we are excited to exclusively partner with such an iconic Premier League team as Everton Football Club; a partnership that will see us working with the club on a number of exciting and innovative initiatives and promotions in key brand territories in support of our ongoing brand expansion and trust building efforts.”

i8.BET will use Everton’s name and brand extensively in marketing activity across Asia, where they have a presence in several important and largely populated territories.

How We Want To Use Teqball’s Global Growth To Have A Lasting Social Impact

In a new Member Insights piece, FITEQ (The International Teqball Federation) discuss how they are looking to create a lasting impact with society as the federation continues to grow.

Since the outset, the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) has sought to use the power of sport to have a lasting social impact. For the world’s fastest growing sport, established just under a decade ago, this means supporting the communities and environments that are most in need.

FITEQ Head of Diplomatic Relations and CSR Gergely Murányi explains, “We have developed a range of CSR and sustainability projects and collaborated with leading international organisations to ensure the governing body for teqball and para-teqball engages its global community on critical issues, such as supporting refugees and acting on climate change.”

“FITEQ developed a train the trainer initiative to ensure a long term legacy of young refugees being able to learn about and practice teqball to this day.”

It efforts to support refugees from conflict areas, as well as individuals from disadvantaged communities, began in the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, back in 2017. It was here that the organisation partnered with Peace and Sport to contribute to their Live Together programme. FITEQ developed a train the trainer initiative to ensure a long term legacy of young refugees being able to learn about and practice teqball to this day.

Following the success of the project in Jordan, FITEQ launched its own global programme under the banner of Table of Peace. This was launched in Djibouti in February 2021 with tables donated to three UNHCR refugee camps. According to Murányi, the long-term strategy of Table of Peace is “to engage young people in sporting activities to help give them an escape from the daily challenges they face, whilst also teaching them transferrable skills and key values such as teamwork, inclusivity and integrity.”

In addition to donating tables, FITEQ is implementing the programme around the concept of training the trainers that has proven to be effective in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. After the launch in Djibouti, FITEQ has already implemented the programme across four different continents, despite the ongoing travel restrictions related to COVID-19.

Whilst very much now a global phenomenon, teqball was born and bred in Budapest, Hungary, which remains the home of FITEQ to this day. With its close ties to the country, and with a strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian Government, FITEQ was honoured to donate its award-winning Teq tables to 69 schools in the most underdeveloped regions of the country.

However, the federation very much maintains an international focus and, in partnership with the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, teqball has been part of a series of diplomatic donations in over 20 countries during the last three years. In countries such as China, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Palestine and Qatar, table donations were made to orphanages, schools, universities, and municipalities, with intention being for the sport to contribute to a healthy, active and more peaceful future for societies around the world. 

Also on the on international stage, FITEQ teamed up with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations earlier this year to promote the #OneHumanity campaign to teqball’s 5+ million social media followers.

Turning to FITEQ’s focus on sustainability, the governing body is a passionate advocate for the sports industry being a role model for wider society. Murányi noted, “In recent years, the world has gained a better understanding of the urgent need to act on climate change. A significant part of this important shift in mind-set can be attributed to young people. It is their future, and their children’s future, that we have a duty to protect. But to do so effectively, we have no time to waste and we must act now.

“Also on the on international stage, FITEQ teamed up with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations earlier this year to promote the #OneHumanity campaign to teqball’s 5+ million social media followers.”

As a sports organisation with a global reach, FITEQ has an obligation to use its platform to build awareness of climate change and communicate clear and simple steps that can make a real difference.”

FITEQ is a UN Sports for Climate Action Framework Signatory and recently reinforced its commitment to climate action by joining the UN Race to Zero campaign. In its bid to reach net zero as an organisation and at all of its events, as well as supporting its 121 National Federations to do the same, FITEQ launched a Sustainable Development Handbook earlier this year. 

The handbook outlines specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are directly relevant to the sport and provides clear guidance on FITEQ’s ambition in each area. The handbook then proposes practical solutions that its stakeholders can adopt and implement to ensure they are a part of the teqball family’s overall contribution to the SDGs. 

“FITEQ is not asking for major investment”, Murányi explains, “but if everyone starts small it can make a substantial difference. Start small, or start big – it’s entirely up to you. But make sure to start somewhere.”

The message from FITEQ is loud and clear – everyone can contribute. Teqball is growing exponentially from a sporting perspective, with thousands of new players and fans joining the global community every day. At FITEQ, using this growth to have a wider impact on society will always be a key priority.

England Athletics And Roster Athletics Launch New Partnership

We are delighted to be partnering with Roster Athletics to provide a new, innovative digital platform which will help transform competition for our sport. 

This new collaboration will see us adopting the full suite of products available on the Roster Athletics competition management platform for all our Championships, moving forward, including their brand new online entry system.

In addition to using the system for our own Championships, we are delighted to be able to offer full use of the system to all our affiliated clubs, events promoters, and associations. Organisations affiliated with us can start using the Roster system today and benefit from the following features:

  • Online athlete entry
  • Setting up events, schedules, start lists
  • Automated seeding and qualification
  • An automated connection to timing systems for results (FinishLynx)
  • A fully connected consumer app for athletes, spectators and coaches to follow results in real time
  • A meet management app, allowing live input of field results

This will provide a user-friendly system that can be used by individuals at all levels of the sport regardless of their technical capabilities.

“Over the last three years we have done extensive research into the development of online entry systems and competition management systems, specifically relating to track and field,” said Nicky Kellett, Digital Project Manager at England Athletics. “Following the success of our trials with Roster Athletics’ competition management platform during the last year, including at the 2021 Manchester International, and England Athletics U17 and U15 Combined Events Championships, incorporating the European Athletics Combined Events Challenge, we are delighted to be partnering with Roster.”

“The advanced functionality and features on the Roster Athletics’ competition management platform make running competitions easier, more efficient and less time consuming for all organisers,” added Andy Day, Teams and Competitions Manager at England Athletics.

“Being one of the largest and most prominent athletics federations in the world, we are thrilled to launch this partnership with England Athletics,” said Christian Birk, founder and CEO at Roster Athletics. “England Athletics is digitally forward-thinking and very professional about their ambitions. We look forward to collaborating together to transform the sport,” he added.

Fenway Sports Group Reaches Agreement To Take Controlling Interest Of NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a global sports, marketing, media, entertainment, and real estate company, today announced that FSG has entered into an agreement to acquire controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. The deal, which is subject to approval by the National Hockey League (NHL) Board of Governors, is expected to close before the end of the year.

As part of the transaction, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will remain part of the ownership group and will be closely aligned with FSG. Lemieux, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will continue his role guiding hockey operations for the organization. In addition, continuity of leadership will be maintained among the club’s senior management team of CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall, and Head Coach Mike Sullivan.

Mario Lemieux said:

“We want Penguins fans to know that we would only enter a partnership of this magnitude with leaders who share our values. Over the years, we have been approached multiple times by various groups interested in purchasing the team but never found the right fit. In FSG, however, we met an experienced group of leaders with a passion to win championships and a vision that aligns with ours. Just as importantly, they have at their core a stewardship philosophy rooted in local community impact and investment. It is a winning combination. 

“As this new chapter begins, I am happy to tell you that Ron and I will both remain part of the ownership group. For the past 22 years, we have shared a special bond that allowed us to work so well together, keep the team in Pittsburgh, build a new arena and bring home three Stanley Cups.

“This is a new beginning, not the end of an era. I will continue to be active and involved with the team long-term, helping to oversee and guide the operation just as I always have. In addition to continuing my role, there will be a continuity of leadership with the club’s senior management under CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, and General Manager Ron Hextall, who will all remain in their positions. 

“I have been fortunate to be part of the Penguins organization for more than half my life and have had the unique privilege of your incredible fan support as a player and owner. Thank you for being on this journey with me and our entire organization. Together with our new partners, we will work tirelessly to continue to make you proud and bring another Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh.”

FSG Chairman Tom Werner said, “The Pittsburgh Penguins are a premier National Hockey League franchise with a very strong organization, a terrific history and a vibrant, passionate fan base. We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable Penguins’ tradition of championships and exciting play.

“We are particularly excited to welcome Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle to FSG and have the utmost respect for all they have done to build the Penguins into the perennially successful franchise we know today. We look forward to working with Mario, Ron and the entire Penguins front office team.”

Lemieux and Burkle, who purchased the team in 1999, enjoyed a 22-year partnership that delivered three Stanley Cups and the construction of PPG Paints Arena, a multi-purpose venue which opened in August 2010 and is considered one of the top facilities in North America. Under their leadership, the Penguins have consistently led the NHL in local TV ratings, social media, sponsorships, and community and youth hockey investments, while selling out more than 600 straight games.

“As the Penguins enter a new chapter, I will continue to be as active and engaged with the team as I always have been and look forward to continuing to build on our success with our incoming partners at FSG,” Lemieux said. “They have an organizational philosophy that mirrors the approach that worked so well for Ron and me over the past 22 years.”

“Mario and I came in together, and we are excited to become a part of the new ownership group,” Burkle said. “The Pittsburgh Penguins will be in good hands with FSG, and Mario and I are here to support them, committed as much as we’ve always been to the success of the franchise.”

“Fenway Sports Group brings everything we could ask for in an ownership partner to help continue the historic success of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Morehouse. “They understand what the Penguins mean to Pittsburgh, and they bring to us the latest in cutting-edge sports research, data analytics, player training and performance, real estate development, and organizational excellence. This combination is a truly exciting partnership that positions our club at the forefront of the future of professional sports and allows us to build upon what Ron and Mario created.”

Bank of America served as financial advisor to FSG, and Citi served as financial advisor to the Penguins on the transaction. Shearman & Sterling served as legal advisor to FSG, while Reed Smith served as legal advisor to the Penguins.