Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Boston Red Sox have signed an eight-year sponsorship extension with airline partner JetBlue.

Under the terms of the new multi-year agreement, the carrier will gain naming rights for the club’s new Spring Training ballpark under construction in Fort Myers, Florida, which will now be renamed JetBlue Park and is scheduled to open next year.

The extension, signed a year before the expiration of an existing three-year pact, will also include a designation for JetBlue as a Fenway Park Preservation Partner, a select group of larger Red Sox corporate partners playing significant roles in the 100th anniversary celebration of the ballpark in 2012. 

The relationship between the Red Sox and JetBlue soared as the economy rebounded, having signed their initial partnership in the midst of the lowest depths of the global economic recession.

Red Sox Executive Vice-President & COO Sam Kennedy stated: “They’ve been incredible partners, and they’re making a big commitment not only to Boston and Fenway, but Fort Myers and Lee County. We’re really pleased to have this partnership really bridge over both of our bases of operation.” 

Although financial terms were not disclosed, the previous deal saw JetBlue paying about US$1m per year on average, and the expanded rights in the new package inevitably will prompt a larger outlay.

The eight-year term is also longer than most other sponsorship deals for both JetBlue and the Red Sox.

An agreement was reached yesterday, tadalafil March 29, between Shell Oil Company, the PGA TOUR and the Houston Golf Association (HGA) on a five year extension of the Shell title sponsorship for the Shell Houston Open through the 2017 tournament.

Marvin Odum, President, Shell Oil Company, stated: “I am pleased and proud that Shell will continue to be the title sponsor of the Houston Open. To me, this is much more than just a golf tournament. It is an opportunity for us to give back to the city and citizens of Houston through charitable contributions.”

Since Shell became the tournament sponsor, the HGA has contributed more than US$50m to regional charities, with the Shell Houston Open, along with other golf-related fundraising activities by the HGA, generating $2,145,000 for charity, last year alone.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem added: “We are thrilled that Shell will continue its longstanding support of the Shell Houston Open. Shell has been a terrific partner of the PGA TOUR and Houston Golf Association and has contributed significantly to the tournament’s growth and charitable and economic impact in the Houston area.”

The Shell Houston Open is the 10th oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR and Shell has been the title sponsor since 1992, the third-longest running tournament sponsor on TOUR.

Steve Timms, president and CEO of the Houston Golf Association, said: “Shell Oil Company has given our event great stability and its support has enabled our organization to continue to positively impact the lives of young people every year.”

Scottish Premier League (SPL) soccer side Hibernian has secured a three-year title sponsorship deal from Crabbie’s, asthma The Ginger Expert, order  kicking off in the 2011-12 season.

Crabbie’s  is well known for brands such as Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, Crabbie’s Ginger Wine and John Crabbie’s Cloudy Ginger Beer as well as the Crabbie’s Nuts range.

The sponsorship agreement with Hibernian runs from July 2011 through to June 2014 and, as main club sponsor, Crabbie’s will feature on the Hibernian first team shirts from the start of next season.

Additionally, the brand will also benefit from branding on youth and Ladies teams, marketing, visibility and hospitality rights with the SPL side.

Scott Lindsay, Chief Executive, Hibernian FC said of the deal: “This is a fantastic, wide-ranging agreement for the Club in what remains a very challenging time for Scottish football and business.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with a brand that has so much shared heritage and history. As well as both being from Leith, the Club and the Crabbie’s brands share a culture of innovation, both have ambitious plans for the future, and we are convinced that this relationship will be beneficial for everyone associated with Hibernian and Crabbies. We look forward to a successful partnership in the coming years.”

“I would also like to record the Club’s thanks to McEwan Fraser, who leave as shirt sponsor at the end of this season, for all their support over the past couple of years. They will remain as part of the Hibernian Family moving forward, having agreed to stay on as a partner of the Club.”

John Halewood of Crabbie’s, added: “We are thrilled to be appointed as official sponsor of Hibernian FC.  We hope to become true supporters, not just a name on the shirt.

“As John Crabbie formulated his original ginger wine in Leith in Edinburgh, we are very excited to reignite the connection with its birthplace.  As brand owners we feel it is important to recognise the rich heritage of this unique brand and we hope that, alongside Hibernian, the Crabbie’s brand can grow and be successful over the coming seasons.”

Microsoft New Zealand has been appointed by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2011.

The event, buy played in New Zealand between September 9 and October 23 has secured the support of the worldwide leader in software services and solutions, ambulance which will supply its range of market-leading technology for Rugby’s showcase Tournament.

Under the terms of the agreement, try Microsoft’s technology will enhance the experience for Rugby fans around the world as well as those attending the Tournament. Leading software and cloud product services will be available to the Tournament’s key stakeholders including Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010, Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online.

In addition, another exciting enhancement will be the provision of Microsoft Silverlight technology which will provide a unique online viewing experience for fans around the world through a highly cost effective content distribution system.

RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset stated: “Rugby World Cup Limited is delighted to announce that Microsoft New Zealand has joined the impressive list of Sponsors for Rugby World Cup 2011. The appointment of a world leader in the software and technology field further underlines the enormous attraction and prestige of the Tournament in the global sporting calendar.

“We look forward to working with Microsoft to further the promotion of the Game as we count down to Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and what promises to be another memorable chapter in the Rugby World Cup success story.”

Paul Muckleston, Managing Director, Microsoft New Zealand added: “Rugby World Cup 2011 is set to be the biggest international sporting event in New Zealand’s history, from both an economic and tourism point of view. The number of international visitors anticipated to attend the Tournament means as Kiwis this is our chance to showcase our country. Microsoft is very proud and excited to be involved.

“Our Microsoft colleagues in Rugby playing nations around the world are buzzing about the sponsorship, and we look forward to providing a memorable and uniquely Kiwi experience to all those visiting New Zealand. The Tournament will have access to some of our latest technology, such as Silverlight, that will enable fans who are unable to travel to New Zealand to view matches and match highlights online.”

France’s highest tier of rugby union, allergy the Top 14, has unveiled British car manufacturer Land Rover as a new partner of the league.

Land Rover will  now become the official car partner for the title playoffs that take place once the league season has finished and under the terms of the deal, the company’s famous logo will be visible within the chosen stadiums for the semi-finals and finals. 

Land Rover is already heavily involved within rugby union worldwide having last year announced that they were to be an official partner of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.

In addition,, the four-wheel drive specialists back the English national team and Premiership rugby, as well as sponsoring the last three British and Irish Lions tours to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The title sponsor of the University boat race between Oxford and Cambridge, vcialis 40mg Xchanging will end its backing of the annual race when the current contract expires next year.

By the time the contract runs out, herbal the outsourcing company will have sponsored the race for the eight years. 

Xchanging, which runs accounting, personnel, and technology functions for companies, issued a profits warning last month – sending its share price plunging.

David Searle, executive director of The Boat Race Company, said: “We are now focused on finding a new title sponsor for the event from 2013.

“Given the success of the race and its growing TV, radio and online audience around the world – reaching more than 200 countries – we are confident of securing another partner wanting to help us take the event forward.”

It has been confirmed that Bridgestone India Private Limited, a subsidiary of leading tyre & rubber manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation, has signed up as the associate sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Mumbai Indians.

Bridgestone will be the sponsor Mumbai Indians starting with season 4 of IPL and will continue to be associated with them until 2014. During the tournament the Bridgestone logo, which highlights the slogan “Your journey, Our passion”, will be exhibited on the non-leading arm of Indians’ team jersey.

Announcing the partnership, Bridgestone India Managing Director H Tanigawa said: “Bridgestone believes in innovation and passion which are in tandem with the Mumbai Indians spirit and enthusiasm to be the best. As it’s our debut in the IPL, we believe that Mumbai Indians are a perfect fit for us to partner.

“With the IPL buzz, we are confident that this tie up will offer a huge platform for Brand Bridgestone through on-ground cricket action and magnify the impact by reaching out to a larger audience. We as a company would like to strengthen our involvement in India’s most watched sport and be a part of the victory, we are sure Mumbai Indians will achieve this IPL”

Bridgestone has been one of the most popular brands on the F1 circuit and has an enviable track record in supporting Motorsports globally. It has however, been replaced by Pirelli as the F1 tyre from ther 2011 season.

This is the first time that the brand is associating with cricket in the country and has handpicked Mumbai Indians for the association. The announcement of Bridgestone as co-sponsor follows on from one made earlier of two wheeler giant Hero Honda being inducted as the main sponsor of the Mumbai Indians franchise.

An announcement was made yesterday, prostate March 28, by Major League Lacrosse (MLL) confirming that Sports Authority Inc. has become an official partner of the league.

Under terms of the agreement, Sports Authority will become the exclusive national sporting goods retailer of MLL, as well as title sponsor for all 40 games that are televised either on ESPN2 or through syndication.

The deal is estimated to push an annual sum of seven figures is a multi-year agreement, which will make Sports Authority easily the most dominant sponsor presence across the six-team outdoor league.

The retailer also will be the presenting sponsor of the league’s weekly 30-minute magazine show and apps for the iPhone and Android networks.

German Bundesliga soccer club FC Schalke 04 have secured a sponsorship renewal with Bayerischen Landesbank (BayernLB) for the 2011/12 season.

Under the terms of the renewed partnership, generic BayernLB will own one of the club’s stadium boxes that provides catering facilities for up to ten match-day visitors.

A low six figure sum was touted in the local press, ampoule although no specific valuation of the deal has been given.

The Munich-based bank’s attempt to support the city’s ailing second Bundesliga team 1860 Munich was vetoed by the Bavarian State Government. As a result, BayernLB has taken the decision to expand its operations in the North Rhine-Westphalia region through FC Schalke to accompany the bank’s wider marketing campaign.

The Russian Football Union (RFS) has secured an extension of a long-term sponsorship deal with the Russian wing of beverage group Efes.

Stary Melnik, an Efes brand, has been named an official sponsor of the Russian national soccer team, a status that previously had only been enjoyed by non-Russian beers.

The Istanbul-based beverage group’s Russian brand has been a sponsor of the RFS since 2001, with Stary Melnik beginning their relationship with the association the following year.

Evrim Hizaler, marketing director of Efes Russia, said: “We are pleased to work with the Russian Football Union and the Russian national team, who hold the sporting hopes and ambitions of millions of fans. We hope the team continues to delight the fans during the qualifying rounds of Uefa Euro 2012. We all want to see the success of our team.”

While expressing his happiness at the continuation of Efes’ sponsorship despite “complexities associated with the legislation of the Russian Federation,” RFS commercial director Boris Onikul declined to reveal how much the new contract is worth.

Dick Advocaat, head coach of the Russian national team, added: “It is very important to have a loyal sponsor like Stary Melnik. We look forward to supporting the company. To be honest, I do not drink beer but the players say they like it!”