MSG Sports And MSG Entertainment Announce Multi-Year Marketing Partnership With BetMGM

BetMGM Named an Official Sports Betting Partner of the Knicks, Rangers and Madison Square Garden Arena.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. and Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. announced today a multi-year marketing partnership with BetMGM, naming the sports betting and gaming entertainment company an Official Sports Betting Partner of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden Arena.

“We’re excited to be partnering with BetMGM – a leader in the sports betting and gaming entertainment industry – to bring them an unparalleled platform in sports and entertainment,” said Ron Skotarczak, Executive Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, MSG Entertainment. “MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment are made up of world-renowned brands that set industry standards for excellence, exposure and engagement– making us ideal partners to help drive sports betting’s continued growth.”

“We’re thrilled to see the BetMGM brand connected to a space as iconic as Madison Square Garden,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer, BetMGM. “New York is a critical state for BetMGM’s continued growth and I can’t think of a better way to begin our relationship with The Empire State than partnering with The World’s Most Famous Arena and their legendary team franchises.”

As part of the marketing partnership, BetMGM will receive substantial brand integration inside The Garden including courtside and ribbon LED signage, GardenVision features and basket stanchion signage at Knicks games, along with dasherboard signage and Zamboni branding at Rangers games. Additionally, BetMGM will be included in content across official Knicks and Rangers digital channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and BetMGM customers will receive special opportunities to participate in premium experiences at Knicks and Rangers games.

BetMGM will also be featured prominently on MSG Networks during live game coverage of the Knicks, Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders, highlighted by a virtual blue line during Rangers games and commercials spots during game telecasts. In addition, BetMGM will appear on digital boards outside of The Garden and MSG Networks, which are on display to the millions of people who walk by The Garden every day.

beIN SPORTS Acquires Exclusive Broadcasting Rights To XV World Padel Championship In 37 Territories And Is Appointed Global Sales Partner

beIN MEDIA GROUP (beIN), the global sports, entertainment and media group, and its flagship sports channel beIN SPORTS, have acquired the exclusive rights to the long-awaited XV World Padel Championship Qatar 2020across 37 territories spanning the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Asia-Pacific and North America. Viewers across four continents will be able to watch the world’s top talent go head-to-head exclusively on beIN, as it prepares to broadcast every Center Court set – including the semi-final and final – from Monday 15th to Saturday 20th November, 2021.

beIN has also been appointed the global sales partner for the World Padel Championship, responsible for selling the rights in markets outside of beIN’s own network. beIN now fulfils the role of global sales partner for each of the World Padel Championship, France’s Ligue 1 and the Turkish Süper Lig.

This inaugural Qatar edition of the increasingly popular sport is the first time the World Padel Championship will be held in the Middle East, and the Asian continent as a whole, which is seen as a key step in the development of Padel. Organised by the Qatar Tennis, Squash, and Badminton Federation – this year’s Championship will see 320 players from 16 nations battle it out at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Qatar.

Throughout the week, the round-robin sets – a format in which all contestants will oppose each other in turn – will be available on beIN SPORTS with expert commentary in Arabic, English, Spanish and French.

As the tournament progresses, the global network will host a dedicated Arabic and English studio for the semi-finals (19 Nov) and finals (20 Nov). beIN’s semi-finals coverage will commence at 13:30 MECCA for the Women’s Draw, airing the first serve at 14:00 MECCA with the next two matches directly following. The Men’s Draw semi-finals will start at 18:00 MECCA, with the jam-packed day of sports concluding around 22:00 MECCA. The coveted grand finals will then follow the same format, with the three Women’s Draw finals first at 13:30 MECCA (set starting at 14:00 MECCA) with the awards ceremony following, and the Men’s Draw at 18:00 MECCA.

Commenting on the broadcasting of the XV World Padel Championship Qatar 2020, Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, noted: “beIN’s acquisition of the World Padel Championship further demonstrates the unparalleled breadth of our sport portfolio, supported by our best-in-class analysis and programming. We are delighted to bring the power of padel to our audiences across four continents, right here from our beIN MENA headquarters in Qatar, and to grow global interest in this thriving sport. This is also yet another international sport tournament hosted by Qatar, as the country gears up to stage the biggest tournament in the world – the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM”.

Sportsbet.io Donate Bitcoin To Southampton FC Supporters In First-Of-A-Kind ‘Crypto Fan Fund’

Sportsbet.io has today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind ‘Crypto Fan Fund’; donating 2 Bitcoin (BTC) to its partner club Southampton FC. The fund will be used to deliver a series of fan-led initiatives across the 2021-22 season, and beyond. 

Throughout the season, the fund will be used to support the causes that matter most to fans. All decisions on how and where the fund is used will be made by Saints Voice, Southampton FC’s long-standing supporter panel, who will work closely with the club and with Sportsbet.io to determine how to make the greatest impact.

The donation of cryptocurrency in this way is a major first within elite sports partnerships. Unlike traditional fiat donations, the value of the fund can shift and increase in line with the market, allowing for the potential of greater investments in future seasons. Sportsbet.io will underwrite the fund for the value of 2BTC at the point of donation, guaranteeing the club access to at least the minimum value of the fund, plus any additional profits accrued from inflation.

Potential uses of the fund could include improvements to the matchday experience through to providing much-needed assistance to local venues impacted by COVID-19. Saints Voice can also decide to retain, or ‘HODL’, a portion of the fund to invest in future seasons, to capitalise on any increase in value.

Helen Edwards, Head of Responsible Gambling at Sportsbet.io said: “Supporters are the lifeblood of the game and continue to demonstrate their unrivalled passion and loyalty every matchday. As a valued partner of Southampton Football Club, it’s incredibly important that we engage with the dedicated Saints fans and support them too, in any way that we can. 

“The opportunity to use Bitcoin in such an innovative way by setting up this fan fund is incredibly powerful. We firmly believe the hype is real and cryptocurrency is here to stay, and are excited to see how the value of the fund could continue to rise, allowing for even greater investments for Saints fans and the wider community.”

Sarah Batters, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at Southampton FC said: “Covid had a major impact on our fans’ experience of a matchday last season. Thankfully things are getting back to normal and almost all our fans have returned, so we are delighted to offer our supporters the opportunity to make their match experience even better, this season and beyond.

Working in close collaboration with the fantastic representatives on our Saints Voice panel, with Sportsbet.io’s ‘Crypto Fan Fund’ we hope to build a closer bond with our supporters by tackling some of the causes that they consider most crucial and look forward to seeing how they ultimately choose to allocate this fund.”

The donation consolidates Sportsbet.io’s ongoing commitment as the main club sponsor of Southampton Football Club, and as a leader in the crypto community. The initiative is part of Sportsbet.io’s ‘Believe the Hype’ campaign, encouraging Saints to believe the hype around their club, and around cryptocurrency.

Primark Launches New Partnership With The NFL

Primark, the international fashion retailer, is excited to announce a brand-new partnership with the iconic NFL, kicking off in selected stores this week with a stylish athleisure menswear collection.

This exciting NFL collaboration reflects Primark’s growing offering for customers in sports merchandise and appeals to demand from the rising number of international NFL fans, who want to look great both on and off the field. The seven-piece collection includes jerseys, t-shirts and sweats representing some of the most popular NFL teams including the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. The Primark X NFL partnership will also include further collections across menswear, womenswear and kidswear launching in 2022, so the whole family can get involved and support their favourite team in style.

Primark’s Director of Licensing, Sarah Jackson said: “Primark’s collaboration with the NFL is an incredibly exciting milestone for us as we continue to grow our sports license offering. Our recent license launch with the NBA has been a huge hit with customers, and we know they are going to love our new NFL collection.

The NFL is an iconic global sports brand, and we can’t wait to offer customers this fun and exciting collection which looks great on and off the field.”

NFL’s Senior International Licensing Director, Salha Latif said: “We are excited to partner with Primark and expand our retail presence in fashion.  Our fans will be truly delighted with this stylish first offering and we look forward to the launch of future collections to build on the success.”

FC Barcelona To Use IMG For Southeast Asia Licensing Programme

Five-time UEFA Champions League winning football club FC Barcelona has appointed IMG as its master licensee in Southeast Asia to develop a consumer products programme for fans in the region.

Part of the club’s broader merchandising strategy and evolution into a global lifestyle brand, the multi-year deal will see IMG focus on lifestyle and fashion apparel, accessories, luggage and bags, gift and novelty, homeware and textiles, and digital and tech product categories.   

Miki Yamamoto, SVP of Licensing, IMG, commented: “FC Barcelona is one of the most recognised football clubs in the world and there’s huge untapped potential for brand extension in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, where football has always been extremely popular. This, combined with Barça fans’ unwavering passion for the club and desire to show support for their team, presents extensive licensing opportunities in the region.”

Barça Licensing and Merchandising (BLM) is working with leading companies like IMG to expand FC Barcelona’s lifestyle footprint and provide a 360-degree merchandising experience for Barça fans around the world. 

Cudos Partners With LDN UTD On ”All Access Gaming” At Samsung KX

Cloud monetisation application provider Cudos is partnering with purpose driven esports organisation LDN UTD at its latest event, “All Access Gaming”, at state-of-the-art venue Samsung KX, in partnership with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, on November 13th. 

LDN UTD will broadcast “All Access Gaming” live on Twitch to showcase health and wellbeing in esports,  with top UK streamers and talent participating. The event will be hosted by Chelcee Grimes (@chelceegrimes 72,000 followers) and joined by creators including  ItsHaber (@itshaber 409,600 followers), Itani (@itani 960,000 followers), and pop star Connor Ball (@thevampscon 2,658,300 followers), alongside others to be announced in due course. 

Top talent will go head to head in a Fifa22 challenge and compete to showcase who is the best. Interviews will occur throughout the event with the talent on the subject of their health and wellbeing journeys, and a panel discussion will conclude the event, allowing the audience at Samsung KX and the Twitch chat to ask top UK creators about their journeys. The event will be streamed live on Twitch, at twitch.tv/ldnutd. 

“Bringing Cudos into the LDN UTD family, starting with All Access Gaming, is an endorsement for the approach we are taking as a tech led purpose driven esports org. The NFT campaign launch received a fantastic response and we look forward to building out our roadmap with the support of the Cudos infrastructure and team.” said Oliver Weingarten, Founder and CEO of LDN UTD.  

As part of the partnership, Cudos will collaborate with LDN UTD to conduct an exciting bundle giveaway for the Twitch viewers watching the event on the 13th of November. This will be a Cudo Bundle consisting of a £100 in gaming vouchers, a controller signed by pop star Connor Ball, and an Xbox gaming console. 

Over $1 trillion is spent annually on IT hardware. Yet up to 50% of the time, this infrastructure is sat there either idle or turned off. Cudos allows its users to earn whilst renting this spare compute power through the Cudos Network. To read more about the Cudos ecosystem, our mission, and progress, then click here. 

The team is joined by world-class advisors, including the Ex-President of Sony Playstation, Chris Deering and the Director of Blockchain at AMD, Jörg Roskowetz, with the same unified objective: to make better use of the world’s computing power. 

The Cudos application allows users to monetise their spare compute power by upcycling it to better use with a mission to empower people and organisations to earn by contributing to the world’s computing and making it cheaper, more sustainable and more accessible.

Cudos is always keen to hear from distributed data centres and service providers, so get in touch if you are interested. Additionally, if you want to make the most of your CUDOS tokens, you can stake them on Cudos’ platform, help secure the network, and earn rewards. 

“Esports has exploded in growth globally over the past decade, and the team at LDN UTD are at the forefront of merging the billions of global gamers with the hyper scaling NFT market. The combination of gamification and blockchain play2earn will create new communities of web3 adoption. Furthermore, they share a similar ethos of using tech for good, with a portion of their platform revenues going to the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to support youth and community development in the heart of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities” ” commented Pete Hill, Vice President of Sales at Cudos. 

WTT Signs Landmark Broadcast Deal With China’s Streaming Giant MIGU

World Table Tennis (WTT) has today expanded its broadcast footprint across Mainland China and Macao through a ground-breaking agreement with MIGU, the streaming subsidiary of China Mobile, China’s leading telecommunications company. This four-year partnership signifies a major breakthrough for WTT in terms of media rights in the history of table tennis, further highlighting the sport’s remarkable growth and burgeoning market value in recent years.

As part of the strategic partnership, MIGU will become the exclusive media partner of WTT in China, with full media rights in Mainland China and Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as exclusive production rights using new technologies such as 4K, 8K, VR and AI. At the same time, both parties will jointly formulate and release a “5G smart venue guide for WTT events” to further promote the digitalisation of table tennis events through “5G + table tennis”. The unprecedented deal also includes the opportunity to leverage MIGU’s expertise in 4K, 8K, AI, VR, and 5G, plus further innovations that will be reflected in production and other areas of WTT Events.

Table tennis fans in China can now enjoy all WTT events on MIGU Video, China Mobile Mo Bai He and other MIGU platforms. They can look forward to the much anticipated and prestigious 2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, USA, starting on 23 November.

The relationship will build on the mammoth success of the Chinese team at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where Table Tennis broke all viewing and social records inside China.

WTT Council Chair and President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association Liu Guoliang, said: “Table tennis is one of the most popular sports in China. This partnership with China Mobile MIGU will deliver more table tennis content to fans in China, so that they can watch their national heroes and favourite stars in action, anytime, anywhere.”

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Group CEO and WTT Director Steve Dainton said: “This is a significant deal for WTT as it’s the largest deal to date in China for table tennis with such a big player in the sports broadcasting world. Through this partnership with China Mobile MIGU, WTT will be established as one of the powerhouse sports properties in China through their growing platform and, at the same time, enables us to continue with our long-term partners. We look forward to working with MIGU to welcome the new era of table tennis to our Chinese fans.”

China has long been a dominant force in table tennis, with Olympic champions Ma Long and Chen Meng currently spearheading the country’s charge on the global stage.

Fan interest in table tennis in China remains high, with the 2020 GlobalWebIndex study indicating that there are 250 million avid fans in the country, 67% of whom are millennials or younger. WTT and MIGU will work closely together to increase the volume of fans and convert them into WTT fans on MIGU’s platform.

General Manager of China Mobile MIGU Liu Xin said: “As the world’s largest communication operator, China Mobile seeks to actively build a ubiquitous and integrated computing network, develop digital intelligence innovation, and promote 5G for the public, industries and scale development. As a digital content expert under China Mobile, MIGU is committed to creating a better life for all through culture + technology. Through this partnership with WTT, we perfectly integrate exciting table tennis content with China Mobile’s extensive user base, cutting edge technology and rich experience in event operation. Together, we will work towards the digital transformation of the table tennis industry, convey China’s sporting spirit and prowess, and realise the dream of being a sports powerhouse.”

IMG manages the global distribution of broadcast rights for all WTT events and TV production coverage. 

Liebherr Continues Long-Standing Partnership Of World Table Tennis Championship

World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial arm of the ITTF Group, is delighted to announce that Liebherr will again line up as a brand partner of the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals.

Liebherr has partnered with the World Table Tennis Championships since 2003 and will join the prestigious event where the star-studded field featuring the world’s best players compete to lift the coveted trophies to become World Champions.

Liebherr is a globally operating family-owned technology company that offers products and services for many industries, including construction and domestic appliances. They have been a significant supporter of table tennis for over 20 years and the title sponsor for many top-tier ITTF events, including the World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany (2017), Halmstad, Sweden (2018) and Budapest, Hungary (2019).

With the 2020 World Table Tennis Championships impacted by the pandemic, fans and players await the 2021 World Championships Finals with much anticipation.

The event will occur in the Americas for the first time at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, from 23 to 29 November 2021.

It is also the first of its kind in the new format of the World Table Tennis Championships. It will feature 128 players in singles and 64 pairs in each of the doubles competitions competing in a straight knockout format for the right to be crowned world champions.

Andreas BÖHM, Managing Director of Liebherr-International AG, said: “We are delighted to be involved in sponsoring the World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Houston. The USA is an important market for Liebherr, and we look forward to seeing the best players in the world competing at the top level again as well as showcasing our brand and products through on-site and digital activations with the ITTF Group and Event Organisers.”

Jonny COWAN, Europe General Manager of World Table Tennis, said: “We are very proud of our long-term relationship with Liebherr, including the strength in brand partnership created over many years at multiple World Championships. We look forward to taking the event to the USA for the first time and activating with the Liebherr team both in-market and globally through our media, social, and digital reach.”

Odds On Compliance Announces Sports Marketing Expert Ashley Dabb As Director Of Marketing & Business Development

Odds On Compliance, the industry-leading technology and consultancy firm specializing in sports betting, iGaming and gambling compliance and regulatory frameworks in the USA and abroad, has announced the appointment of marketing expert Ashley Dabb as Director of Marketing & Business Development with immediate effect. Dabb brings over a decade of  sports marketing experience to Odds On Compliance that includes eight years with MLS team the Philadelphia Union where she was Vice President, Marketing & Communications; three years as the Chief Marketing Officer with the National Lacrosse League; and two years running communications for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Dabb is currently a Professor of Sports Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and she will combine her teaching position at Saint Joseph’s University with her role with Odds On Compliance for the foreseeable future.

“I am very pleased to welcome Ashley to Odds On Compliance, bringing extensive experience, knowledge and contacts to Odds On at an exciting time of our development,” announced Eric Frank, CEO and Founder of Odds On Compliance. “Ashley is a well-respected marketing expert who will help Odds On develop our brand messaging and go-to-market promotional strategies, for both our tech arm and the consultancy service. I would like to thank Saint Joseph’s University for giving Ashley the flexibility to add Odds On to her schedule, and am looking forward to working with her and our whole team as we build out our marketing plans in more detail.

“I am delighted to be joining Odds On Compliance at such a time of critical growth for the business,” added Dabb. “Eric [Frank] and Eric Weiss (Odds On Compliance Vice President, Technical Compliance), are creating the market leading business focused on compliance and regulatory frameworks in the gaming industry, so this is an exciting time to join the Odds On team. I also want to thank Saint Joe’s for allowing me to continue to  bring more real-world and industry experience to the classroom to continue to enrich the students’ learning.”

Dabb is currently a Visiting Sports Marketing Professor at Saint Joseph’s University where she teaches sports marketing, esports marketing, sports selling and sales to graduate and undergraduate students, and works with industry professionals to place Saint Joseph’s University’s best and brightest as student interns. Prior to joining Saint Joseph’s, Dabb served as the Senior Communications Manager for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and as the Chief Marketing Officer for the National Lacrosse League (NLL). She joined the NLL after nearly a decade with the Philadelphia Union, Major League Soccer’s 16th franchise, where she served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University (B.S.), Neumann University (M.S.), and Rutgers Law School (J.D.), Dabb has been recognized for her outstanding achievements as a recipient of the Leaders 40 Under 40 Marketing and Communications award in 2017, and in 2018 was named on the Forbes list of Women to Watch.

beIN SPORTS France And Ligue Nationale De Handball Extend Partnership Until 2026

Ligue Nationale de Handball (LNH) and beIN SPORTS France have today extended their broadcasting agreement for 3 additional seasons. With the current deal due to expire in 2023, the new agreement means that the partnership which began in 2014 will continue until at least 2026.

As part of their agreement, beIN SPORTS and the LNH will jointly provide comprehensive coverage of all men’s professional handball competitions. beIN SPORTS will produce three games a round from the Liqui Moly StarLigue*, as well as broadcasting the matches on beIN’s premium channels.

Additionally, LNH will manage production of the remaining matches** which will be accessible via the lnh.fr platform.

News of the renewal of the agreement comes just months after the French men’s and women’s teams secured handball gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, meaning beIN SPORTS viewers will get to enjoy many of France’s Olympians in action across their platforms.

Florent Houzot, Director of Programs and On Air at beIN SPORTS France: “We are delighted to continue this emblematic partnership with the LNH until 2026. Since 2014, beIN SPORTS has been supporting the development of the clubs, league and more widely the sport across France. Together, through reflections, innovations but also realistic objectives, we have been able to enhance the championship within a long-term strategy. With qualified editorial treatment and exemplary production, but also by providing coverage of the championship to as many people as possible, we position ourselves as a true partner of the rights holder, as with each of our acquisitions. This partnership also allows beIN SPORTS to significantly consolidate its premium omnisport offering to the viewers.”

David Tebib, President of the LNH: “In a world of sport where TV rights agreements are frequently called into question, the constant scope extension of our agreements is a formidable signal. It provides professional men’s handball with the visibility it needs to continue and accelerate its development. It also reflects a mutual trust that has grown steadily since the arrival of beIN SPORTS by our side in 2014. With our official broadcaster, we can see the future in a big way, and work in close consultation on the possible creation of a common OTT offer, in order to guarantee fans an ever richer hand pro experience, adapted to changes in the consumption of sport in the media. “

This deal further strengthens beIN SPORTS’ long-term and leading position in France. beIN SPORTS’ incredible rights portfolio in France includes the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, other European leagues and African football, the FIFA World Cup 2022, Wimbledon and WTA tennis, the NBA, NFL, the rugby European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup; alongside a variety of other handball, swimming, rugby, boxing, e-sports rights and much more.