The National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise Houston Rockets have signed a mulit-year partnership with BBVA Compass.

The deal comes two months after the company signed a similar deal with new NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks, following on from parent company BBVA’s US$100 m-plus deal to sponsor the league, a four-year agreement which began in September.

The new deal for the banking group includes presenting sponsorship of the team’s ticket website, financial literacy programme and Spanish language website. It will also support the Rockets Partner Forum, a serious of business networking events.

BBVA US manager and president and chief executive of BBVA Compass, Manolo Sanchez stated: “As a proud member of the local Houston community, we are very pleased to be partnering with the Houston Rockets, an organization that provides its fans with a customer-friendly experience and shares our passion for being a strong community partner. The Houston community is passionate about sports so BBVA Compass wants to provide its basketball fans an opportunity to participate in what they love.”

Rockets chief executive Tad Brown added: “BBVA Compass aligns itself so well with our organisation’s goal of providing championship-calibre experiences to our customers. They have also shown a great commitment in improving local communities, which is paramount to our owner Leslie Alexander and our team.”

Indycar has signed a multi-year agreement with printing company Cenveo to become a sponsor of the series.

In addition, Indycar has also signed a print services contract, which will see the company provide the Indycar Series and its sponsors with ‘printing and visial communications, delivery solutions and fulfillment services’.

Cappy Childs, the president of sales, digital operations and logistics for Cenveo, stated: “We understand Indycar chief executive Randy Bernard’s call to action.

“Our ability to quickly understand the league’s growth and profitability goals is key to accelerating the entire communication process. We aim to deliver increased ROI for the league and extend strategic value to Izod IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams, tracks, suppliers and sponsors alike.”

Greg Gruning, vice president of sales for Indycar, added: “We are excited to be working with Cenveo to help us get closer to our fan base and our partners. Its manufacturing assets will allow us to focus on delivering the Indycar promise, worldwide.”

English Championship soccer club Hull City have named Cash Converters as their new main sponsors, replacing Totesport, in a deal believed to be worth more than US$1.6m.

The global second-hand goods exchange company have agreed a two-season deal with the club, with the option of a third year, and take over from bookmaker Tote which was recently purchased from the UK Government by fellow betting group Betfred.

Hull City chief executive Mark Maguire confirmed: “It is the biggest sponsorship deal in the club’s history in terms of the commercial gain. There was a lot of competition for a deal like this and it amounts to one of the biggest partnerships in the Championship. Cash Converters saw us as a very proactive club which is going forward and can help us develop their brand. They saw huge potential here and were impressed that we reach 250,000 kids each year through our community projects.

“It is also important for the club to be associated with an international brand and a growing company. Cash Converters are working in partnership with the ECB and the FA, so hopefully people will see this and be proud that we have beaten Premier League competition to strike a deal with a strong commercial partner that is a global and vibrant brand, whilst at the same time not compromising ourselves commercially.”

Reports in the local press suggest that Cash Converters’ sponsorship will see the Tigers receive some $800,000 during each of the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, with the possibility of an extension in 2013/14.

David Patrick, chief executive of Cash Converters UK, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of sponsoring the club as it looks to regain its place in the top flight of English football. We looked at a number of clubs in the Championship and the Premier League, but the stadium, supporters, new ownership and manager made Hull City the most appealing option by far.

“Cash Converters plans to work closely with the club and its supporters, to enhance the matchday experience and also offer fans the chance to win exclusive money-can’t-buy prizes. We hope the new partnership will prove a great success for the brand, the club and its excellent supporters, we’re very excited about it.”

Puma has announced a long-term extension to its partnership with Ferrari, unhealthy to serve as the official teamwear and racewear supplier of Scuderia Ferrari, designing and supplying competition apparel for the Formula One team’s pit crew and drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

In addition, the sports lifestyle brand will continue in its role as the official licensing partner for all Ferrari branded apparel and products and according to an official press release: “The partnership has become one of the most commercially valuable licensing relationships for both Puma and Ferrari, and the two companies have strengthened their relationship by developing a complete new collection which will be presented at the end of this year.”

Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of Ferrari S.p.A., stated: “We have enjoyed a very successful relationship with Puma over the past six years, and we are very happy that this will continue long term. Their commitment to product design, development and racewear technology is unrivalled in the industry, and they continue to impress us on all counts.  Clearly licensed apparel and footwear is a key business area for us, and it could not be in better hands.  We look forward to continue working with Puma for many years to come.”

Jochen Zeitz, chairman and chief executive of Puma AG, added: “We are delighted to continue and deepen our partnership with Ferrari. To extend a relationship with the most prestigious brand in the automotive industry and the most popular and successful team in Formula One is of great benefit to us both commercially and reputationally. The Ferrari licensed product development we have undertaken so far has been very successful, and the plans we have for the coming years are equally exciting. They are an ideal motorsport partner for us in every respect.”

In what it claims as ‘going green once again’, soccer’s world governing body FIFA has renewed a contract with solar specialists Yingli Green Energy to be an official sponsor of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil having successful partnered last year’s tournament.

Yingli became the first Chinese company and the first renewable energy company to agree a global deal with Fifa when sponsoring the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and they will be returning to the role for the 20th edition of soccer’s showpiece event.

Under the terms of the deal, Yingli will receive extensive ticketing and hospitality rights and perimeter advertising at World Cup matches, as well as being entitled to use official branding for the tournament in promotional campaigns. In addition, Yingli will also be working with Fifa and the local organising committee to develop the use of renewable energy in delivering the tournament.

Although financial terms of the deal were not released, reports suggest it will be worth in advance of last year’s commitment to the World Cup in South Africa, valued at around US$40m.

Liangsheng Miao, the chairman and chief executive of Yingli Green Energy, said: “After our 2010 Fifa World Cup sponsorship, we saw a tremendous increase in our brand awareness and inquiries for our products. We were also very happy to see how our products brought smiles to the children in need by supplying our solar solutions for Fifa’s Football for Hope programme.

“Thus, we are thrilled to continue our sponsorship with Fifa by becoming an official sponsor of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil and to be an important renewable energy partner to the world’s most-watched single-sport event. We are excited to once again join hands with Fifa, to build a greener Fifa World Cup and a more sustainable future with affordable clean energy provided by the sun.”

Fifa marketing director Thierry Weil added: “We could not have organised the Fifa World Cup on the scale that we saw in 2010 without the support of sponsors such as Yingli Solar. Yingli Solar’s activities have had a wide geographical impact, from raising the awareness of the Fifa World Cup in their home market China, to providing solar expertise and products in rural parts of Africa as part of the “Football for Hope” programme. We view our agreement as a strategic long-term cooperation and I am delighted to welcome Yingli Solar on board as a committed sponsor of the 2014 Fifa World Cup.”

Newly bought National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Detroit Pistons has signed its first deal since Tom Goares US$325m takeover by renewing a contract with PNC Bank as its presenting sponsor.

Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank, a financial services group, takes its partnership with the Pistons into a fourth season in 2011/12 and will serve as the team’s official banking partner during the regular season and the playoffs.

Alan Ostfield, president and chief executive of the Pistons, said: “We are delighted to have PNC Bank extend its presenting sponsorship with the Detroit Pistons. PNC Bank has been a great partner of the team and our entire organisation and our relationship has grown throughout the years.

“Through the first three seasons we have developed a community-driven partnership with PNC Bank and we have proven that our relationship will go much farther than a simple promotional platform.”

Le Coq Sportif has signed a deal with Tour de France organisers ASO that will see the company sponsor the leader’s yellow jersey in cycling’s most prestigious stage race.

As part of the deal which will become active in 2012, the French sportswear manufacturer will supply sports clothing – including all prize jerseys – to all races organised by ASO, including the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana, Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix and the Criterium du Dauphine.

The brand will replace Nike, who have had a deal with ASO since 1996, having spent 20 years away from the Tour de France after the company first supplied equipment to the Tour in 1951, an association which ended in 1988.

A Le Coq Sportif spokesman described the new deal as “the perfect gift to celebrate the brand’s 130th anniversary.”

Nokia has signed a new multi-year agreement with the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to become an international partner of the series.

The deal with the mobile phone manufacturer was announced by WRC promoter North One Sport and will see Nokia’s technology and expertise thoroughly incorporated throughout the rallying series.

Nokia will also develop an exclusive mobile application, which, according to an official press release, will provide ‘access to video footage, live standings and car telemetry data. The app will help fans keep up to date with the performance of their favourite teams, and track their position on Nokia maps, as well as bringing the latest news, stories, and up-to-date information on the WRC calendar. ‘

Jerri DeVard, Nokia’s chief marketing officer, stated: “We are excited to be partnering with North One Sport on the World Rally Championship. This is a great opportunity for Nokia to connect people around the world with their passion for rally sports and Nokia will make the WRC experience more accessible and enjoyable on their mobile phones.”

Simon Long, North One Sport chief executive, added, “Nokia is one of the most respected, trusted and exciting brands in the world and we are looking forward to working with them on a variety of concepts to take our thrilling sport to its fans in innovative ways. The experience for the millions of people who attend WRC rallies annually is extremely important to us and we’re excited about the possibilities this new partnership creates.”

BNP Paribas, the French banking group, and its Turkish subsidiary, Türk Ekonomi Bankası (TEB), have agreed a three-year title sponsorship to the season-ending Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Championships in Istanbul.

Under terms of the three-year agreement which begins this year, the tournament will be officially titled as the TEB-BNP Paribas WTA Championships, with TEB-BNP Paribas also receiving on-court branding, broadcast and digital exposure plus official bank status at the tournament.

The TEB-BNP Paribas WTA Championships will feature the top eight players and the top four doubles teams in the WTA rankings competing for a share of the US$5m prize pot.

The latest deal is likely to be worth at least $2m a year and the WTA is already believed to have banked a significant mid-eight figure amount to hold the season-ending tournament in Turkey.

Varol Civil, chief executive of TEB, said: “By becoming the title sponsor of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, TEB is carrying forward the BNP Paribas Group’s global sports sponsorship policy. As well as enhancing the local and international impact of this major sports event, our sponsorship will contribute to the development of tennis in this country with the experience, knowledge and organisation ability brought by the WTA.

“In supporting women’s tennis at the highest level, we are also promoting the values of excellence and self-challenge which our group holds dear. We are looking forward to sharing in this outstanding event with the Turkish people who will, I am sure, give the most enthusiastic welcome to the elite athletes of women’s tennis.”

TEB are planning significant domestic activation in Turkey, while they and BNP Paribas will both receive international marketing and promotion across all WTA platforms, including digital and social media channels.

Stacey Allaster, chief executive of the WTA, added: “We are very excited and extremely proud to name TEB-BNP Paribas as the title sponsor of our year-end championships, the apex of our season, for the next three years. Our partnership with TEB-BNP Paribas is yet another example of how attractive women’s tennis is to sponsors.”