The Royal and Ancient (R&A) has announced Mastercard as a patron and the official card of the Open Championship.

The four-year deal will come into effect in 2012, where the 141st edition of the oldest and most prestigious Major, which is organised by the R&A, will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Afredo Gangotena, chief marketing officer at Mastercard, said: “We are immensely proud to become a global partner of the Open Championship and thrilled to have the chance to bring golf fans from across the world closer to the games.

“Our association with the Open Championship is a unique opportunity to offer our cardholders priceless access and experiences around the most historic tournament in golf.”

R&A director, Mike Tate, added: “We are delighted that Mastercard will become a patron and the official card of the Open Championship from 2012.  Mastercard’s expertise, commitment to heightening the fan experience and longstanding association with golf across the world make it a natural partner for the R&A and the Open Championship.”

The new partnership extends and expands the financial services company’s association with the sport of golf. Currently Mastercard sponsors several tournaments and organisations, including the PGA Tour and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and maintains relationships with golfers Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Camilo Villegas, Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker, Natalie Gulbis and five-times Open Championship winner and golfing legend Tom Watson.

The Open Championship 2011 gets underway on Thursday July 14 at Royal St George’s golf club in Sandwich, Kent, where 200,000 spectators are expected to attend over the course of the event, which has media exposure in 187 countries.

Suntech Power, the world’s largest solar module manufacturer, have agreed a three-year sponsorship deal of German Bundesliga soccer club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

The deal will see the company become Hoffenheim’s new main sponsor, which will enable Suntech’s logo to be placed on the club’s shirts. The deal is reportedly worth around US$6.25m per year.

Managing Director of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Jochen Rotthaus said: “Suntech is the market leader in a future-oriented industry. Solar energy will occupy us in the coming years and we are proud and delighted that Suntech chose to cooperate with 1899 Hoffenheim.”

Vedat Gürgeli, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Suntech, said: “For Suntech, the commitment with 1899 Hoffenheim is a further step to enhancing our extensive global brand to an even wider audience. With its sustained commitment to youth football, and as a professional, young and very ambitious first division side, Hoffenheim and Suntech share the same values ​​and we see great potential in this partnership.”

Alltech has signed up as the title sponsor of the World Equestrian Games for the third consecutive edition of the quadrennial International Equestrian Federation (FEI) event.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the governing body of soccer in the African country, has signed a five-year deal with telecommunications company Globacom.

The agreement, reportedly worth US$11.8m over the course of the contract, sees Globacom become the major sponsor of all of Nigeria’s national teams as well as the second and third levels of club football in the country, the Nigeria National League and the Nigeria Amateur League.

Additionally, Globacom will support Nigeria’s women’s league and serve as the presenting sponsor of the Federation Cup, Nigeria’s oldest cup competition.

Under terms of the agreement Globacom has acquired the right to associate its brands through various mediums with the activities of all of Nigeria’s national soccer teams.

Top English Premier League soccer club Arsenal FC have appointed Thomas Cook Sport as its official travel partner. The two-year partnership also enables the travel company to be the Club’s official team travel supplier and official supporters’ travel supplier.

Under the deal, Thomas Cook Sport will provide domestic and European travel for the Arsenal men’s and ladies’ first-teams. Supporters will also be able to benefit from travel to European fixtures and exclusive match break packages, comprising of a match ticket plus accommodation to domestic home games and European away games.

Furthermore, Thomas Cook Sport will offer an Arsenal Holiday Travel Club, entitling the Club’s supporters to receive exclusive deals on holidays bookable via Thomas Cook.

Vinai Venkatesham, Head of Global Partnerships at Arsenal FC, said: “On behalf of everyone at Arsenal we are delighted to be resuming an excellent relationship with Thomas Cook Sport as our travel partner.  Thomas Cook are a leader in sports travel and their commitment to our fans, players and everyone connected with the Club is vitally important as we look ahead to a successful campaign home and away in the 2011/2012 season.”

Danny Talbot, managing director of Thomas Cook Sport added: “It’s fantastic news that Thomas Cook Sport are once again teaming up with Arsenal Football Club, meaning we’re now the official travel partner for the Premier League’s top seven clubs from last season. This is true testament to our expertise, the hard work of our team and the fantastic customer service we provide, and we’re looking forward to once again picking up our great relationship with Arsenal Football Club and its fans.”   

The agreement brings to an end the Club’s relationship with Thomson Sport which began in the summer of 2010, mutually agreed due to a change in strategic and business direction for Thomson Sport.

Premier League soccer club Wigan Athletic have agreed a sponsorship deal with betting operator 12Bet, in what has been described as “the most lucrative shirt sponsorship in the club’s history.”

The deal, lasting for two years with an option of a third, will see12Bet’s logo on Wigan’s shirts, while the operator will also be an official betting partner of the club “maintaining a high profile brand presence in and around [Wigan’s home ground] the DW Stadium,” according to a club statement.

In May, 12Bet opted not to renew its sponsorship of Sevilla FC in Spain, although the company insisted this decision was unrelated to doubts over its application for a Spanish egaming licence.

It has been involved in a number of other sport-related tie-ins, sponsoring last year’s UK Snooker Championships and securing betting partnerships with other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United.

Rory Anderson, 12Bet’s European CEO, said the deal would “Give us great exposure both in the UK and globally, providing the perfect platform to promote our core proposition; in play football betting.”

The football club’s head of marketing, commercial and retail, Neil Ryan, added: “To have secured such a substantial fee from a high profile brand like 12Bet demonstrates clearly where the club is going.”

The operator was the subject of a bid by fellow Asia-focused operator Asian Logic last year, with terms agreed over the acquisition, although the buyout is yet to be formalised.

English Premier League soccer club Manchester City’s groundbreaking sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways on Friday has caused UEFA to pledge to investigate all major sponsorships involving top European clubs.

It has emerged over the weekend that the 10-year commercial partnership is thought to be worth as much as US$640m, with the agreement comprising naming rights for the club’s stadium, as well as shirt sponsorship. Etihad is the national airline of Abu Dhabi, whose ruler is the half-brother of City owner Sheikh Mansour.

Sceptics believe the deal is artificially inflated to aid City’s attempts to meet UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules but the club, which is expected to announce a significant financial loss in two months’ time, has insisted the deal was based on legitimate market values.

However, a UEFA spokesperson said on Sunday: “UEFA will use relevant experts to make assessments as to the fair value of any major sponsorship deals, using appropriate industry benchmarks.”

The spokesperson added: “These will then be considered by the Club Financial Control Panel, together with any relevant information the clubs present regarding the deals, when they assess the break-even requirements.”

Manchester City CEO Garry Cook said that there had already been conversations between the club and UEFA over meeting the new Financial Fair Play regulations.

Cook explained: “We have a very open dialogue with UEFA. We have had several meetings with UEFA about our plans and they are very supportive of Manchester City’s ambition. There are many football clubs who have the backdrop of regulation that is being placed into the world of football. We are no different to any other football club.”

After the announcement of the deal on Friday, Cook said: “In addition to delivering significant revenue at a key stage in the club’s evolution, the agreement creates exciting opportunities for our two organisations to co-operate more deeply commercially and on media and community initiatives in the future.” Etihad CEO James Hogan called the deal “a game-changing partnership agreement that redefines the traditional sports sponsorship paradigm”.

Top English Premier League soccer club Manchester City has increased its involvement with shirt sponsor Etihad Airways courtesy of a new stadium rights deal.

Reports suggest the deal will last between 10-15 years and is said to be worth US$240m.

Man City and Etihad confirmed the agreement at a press conference in Manchester today which will see the City of Manchester Stadium renamed to The Etihad Stadium.

Etihad, a state-owned airline in Abu Dhabi, already pays US$3.7m a year to put its logo on Man City’s shirts, and the club’s connections to the United Arab Emirates don’t stop there.

On Thursday, Etihad enhanced its club sponsorship with the unveiling of a specially liveried A330-200 aircraft. The new “Blue Moon Rising” livery marks the start of double daily flights between Manchester and Abu Dhabi, effective from August 1.

Garry Cook, CEO of Manchester City Football Club, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Etihad Airways through this comprehensive partnership agreement. Most importantly, in addition to delivering significant revenue at a key stage in the Club’s evolution, the agreement creates exciting opportunities for our two organisations to cooperate more deeply commercially and on media and community initiatives in the future.”

James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “This is a game-changing partnership agreement that redefines the traditional sports sponsorship paradigm. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for two iconic brands that share the same vision to promote far-reaching global awareness and business growth.

“Etihad’s work with Manchester City Football Club has already yielded a significant return on our investment and we are thrilled to build on our relationship. Their well-established name and loyal fan base have allowed us to tap into a new and increasing global audience. In addition to being a sensible alignment for our brand from a business perspective, it is also one that we can get very excited about, especially at a time when MCFC’s winning attitude is bringing increased success for the team on the national and international stage.”

Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought the Blues in September 2008, pumping money into the club, culminating most recently in Man City winning its first major trophy since 1976 with last season’s FA Cup.

The club renegotiated with Manchester City Council in October, allowing the naming rights to City of Manchester Stadium to be sold in a bid for additional revenue sources.

The stadium was originally built for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and is still officially called the City of Manchester Stadium.

The club moved there from Maine Road in 2003, signing a 250-year agreement which saw a percentage of match-day income paid into the town hall coffers.

City and the council reached a new agreement last year which sees the town hall receive a set amount, regardless of attendances at the 47,500 capacity stadium.

It is understood the council will also benefit from the naming rights deal.

German Bundesliga soccer club Borussia Mönchengladbach have secured local German brewery Bitburger as an official beer partner of German side, Borussia Mönchengladbach until 2016.

According to Sponsors.de, the deal is worth around US$1.2 m annually, and will enable Bitburger to receive exclusive bar rights. They will also gain substantial television advertising and their logo will feature around the team’s Borussia-Park stadium.

Previous beer partner Jever had reportedly negotiated an amicable release from their contract, which was due to run until the end of the 2013/14 season.

The Bitburger brewery was founded in 1817, and today Bitburger Pils is the most widely available draft beer in Germany. The company continue a history of sports sponsorship that has seen them partner the German Football Federation as well as over 400 sporting and cultural events annually.

FIFA have announced that pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed a deal to add to the world soccer governing body’s sponsorship portfolio for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. This announcement signals the completion of FIFA’s global sponsorship sales for the event.

Johnson & Johnson becomes the Official Healthcare Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup, with exclusive rights to activate across their Consumer, Medical Devices & Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical sectors.

The agreement secures extensive global marketing rights for the company, including the right to associate their brands with the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 in promotion and advertising activities all over the world.

Thierry Weil, FIFA Marketing Director, said: “Having a global, broadly based and trusted company like Johnson & Johnson as a FIFA World Cup Sponsor is a great asset for FIFA and we are honoured to welcome them on board. To have completed our global sponsorship sales three years before the event is truly remarkable and a source of great pride for FIFA.”

Johnson & Johnson corporate vice president Brian Perkins added: “The FIFA World Cup unites people of all cultures, ages and socioeconomic levels like no other event, and we’re excited to tap into this passion and reach to further impact health and wellness around the world.”

The company now joins fellow FIFA second-tier sponsors Budweiser, Castrol, Continental, McDonald’s and Yingli Solar as well as Brazilian brands Oi, Seara and Yingli Solar.

There are now just three National Supporters slots remaining in FIFA’s three-tier sponsorship structure for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, reserved for domestic companies based in the Brazilian market.