Staples Center To Be Renamed Crypto.com Arena On December 25th In Huge New Naming Rights Deal

Crypto.com, the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency platform, and AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, have launched a historic, 20-year naming rights agreement that will rename the AEG-owned and operated STAPLES Center, one of the most iconic and globally recognized sports and entertainment arenas in the world. Effective December 25, the multi-purpose arena, which hosts hundreds of annual marquee events and serves as the official home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the NHL’s LA Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, will be known as Crypto.com Arena. This agreement also makes Crypto.com an official cryptocurrency platform partner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Kings.

This will almost certainly be one of the largest arena or stadium naming rights deals in the world, quite possibly the biggest. When FTX took over naming rights and sponsorship in May 2021 of the Miami Heat’s arena it was for a reported 19-year, $135 million deal.

It is safe to assume that for such an iconic arena such as Staples Center, with the venue playing host to both the LA Lakers and LA Kings, as well as numerous other major concerts and events, that the value FTX spent in Miami will have comfortably been surpassed by Crypto.com in this deal.

The announcement stated:

To kick off the partnership, AEG and Crypto.com will unveil the new logo and other branding assets including internal arena signage of the newly named Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day, when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets. All of the venue’s external signage will be replaced by June 2022.

Since opening its doors in 1999, the iconic arena, located in downtown Los Angeles, has served as the backdrop to some of the most memorable and prolific sports and live entertainment moments and events to have taken place in the last 20 years and together, through this partnership, AEG and Crypto.com will help shape the next 20. Each year, the world-class venue hosts over 240 major high-profile events of national and international distinction and over 4 million guests with events ranging from professional sports, concerts, family and award shows, boxing and special events, including the GRAMMY Awards, NBA All-Star Games and NHL All-Star Games among others. It has also hosted some of the biggest headlining names and shows in music and live entertainment performing in concert and during 19 of the last 21 GRAMMY Awards shows.

This partnership, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, places the Crypto.com brand at the center of some of the biggest and most important sports and live entertainment moments set to take place over the course of the next two decades. It also underscores the rapidly growing influence and widespread adoption of Crypto.com’s cryptocurrency platform and NFT marketplace worldwide.

“Known as the Creative Capital of the World, the city of Los Angeles and the people who call it home have always been pioneers, pushing the boundaries and innovating as the undeniable global leaders of culture and entertainment,” said Crypto.com Co-Founder and CEO, Kris Marszalek. “We’re very excited about partnering with AEG and investing long term in this city, starting with Crypto.com Arena in the heart of downtown, and using our platform in new and creative ways so that cryptocurrency can power the future of world class sports, entertainment and technology for fans in LA and around the world.”

Located in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, the 20,000-seat, award-winning arena, has become a global symbol of excellence that has not only redefined and revitalized downtown Los Angeles, but has also helped set the industry standard for best-in-class facility management for other leading venues of prominence around the world.

“This partnership represents the fastest-growing cryptocurrency platform and the biggest sports and live entertainment company in the world converging to drive the future of sports and live entertainment as well as the incredible legacy of this arena for decades to come,” said Todd Goldstein, Chief Revenue Officer of AEG.  “It marks an exciting new chapter in the history of our company and our respective industries, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have such a visionary partner like Crypto.com supporting our global fan base and local community.”

As the exclusive naming rights partner, Crypto.com will engage millions of sports and entertainment fans each year through premium branded areas of the arena including a 3,300 sq. ft activation space at the building’s entrance, as well as dedicated activation areas on the main concourse of the arena and throughout the L.A. LIVE campus. Additionally, the new relationship will see Crypto.com featured prominently across the venue with large-scale, premium branding and signage throughout the interior and exterior of the facility.

“This partnership is about the future,” said Dan Beckerman, President and CEO of AEG.  “AEG and Crypto.com not only share a vision about innovation and the future of sports and entertainment, but we also have a shared commitment to our communities where we work and live.  We look forward to partnering with Crypto.com to create meaningful initiatives to bring that vision to life in the years to come.”

Crypto.com and AEG are committed to working in the Los Angeles community to prioritize sustainability and community engagement. AEG was one of the first companies to adopt a greenhouse reduction goal that’s based on the 1.5 ̊ C global warming limit recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Crypto.com committed to becoming carbon negative by the end of 2022 by offsetting more carbon than is generated by all activities across the organization.

Negotiations were led on behalf of AEG by Nick Baker and Russell Silvers, Co-Chief Operating Officers of AEG Global Partnerships and on behalf of Crypto.com by Steven Kalifowitz, Chief Marketing Officer of Crypto.com and Gilad Rodkin, Senior Vice President of Marketing of Crypto.com. Both sides acknowledge that the process moved quickly to a close due to a mutual understanding of each other’s businesses and a shared desire to collaborate and create something truly unique for the future of Los Angeles and fans around the world.

NBA To Host Two Preseason Games In The UAE

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced a groundbreaking multiyear partnership to host the first NBA games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  

The two NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi in October 2022 will mark the league’s first games in the Arabian Gulf.  The participating teams and host venue will be announced at a later date.  Fans can register their interest in receiving more information by visiting NBA.com/abudhabi.

The partnership will see DCT Abu Dhabi, under “Visit Abu Dhabi,” the tourism promotion initiative of the UAE’s capital city, serve as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and China.

The partnership will also include a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, the launch of Jr. NBA Leagues for boys and girls at schools across the UAE fostering teamwork and inclusion, a series of NBA FIT Clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the emirate’s position as a top-tier home for global sports and for attracting the very best talent,” said DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.  “As Abu Dhabi is committed to further developing as a dynamic global destination, adding the NBA to our impressive year-round portfolio of sports and entertainment events only reinforces the UAE capital’s standing as a centre of sporting excellence.  We look forward to the NBA playing an integral role in developing young talent and healthy lifestyles at the grassroots level – the heart of the UAE’s strategy – which places great emphasis on empowering youth and building a sustainable future for the nation and future generations.”

“As we celebrate the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season, partnering with DCT Abu Dhabi to bring the first NBA and NBA 2K League games and events to the UAE marks an important milestone in basketball’s continued global growth,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.  “Abu Dhabi is a vibrant multicultural hub with a demonstrated track record of hosting world-class sporting events, and this partnership will not only bring the live NBA and NBA 2K League experience to fans in the Middle East, but it will also create opportunities for boys and girls to learn the fundamentals and core values of the game through a variety of grassroots programming and fan events.”

NBA games and programming reach fans in the Middle East on beIN SPORTS, The Sports Channel and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service.  More than 220 male and female prospects from the region – including five players from the UAE – have participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) or NBA Academy, the league’s elite basketball development programs for top prospects from outside the U.S.  Since 2019, more than 500 boys and girls have participated in the NBA Basketball School Dubai (UAE), a year-round, tuition-based basketball development program for boys and girls ages 6-18. 

Abu Dhabi has consistently demonstrated its capabilities in hosting world-class sporting events.  Pioneering initiatives such as DCT Abu Dhabi’s “Go Safe Certification” highlight the city’s unwavering commitment to the community and visitors’ health and safety, while enabling it to continue to hold the best of live sporting events.  For more information about Abu Dhabi, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Fl8tG1.

GAISF Welcomes Three New Members At General Assembly 2021

The GAISF General Assembly 2021 last week welcomed the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) as a full Member and approved Associate Member applications from the Association of Pan American Sports Confederations (ACODEPA) and World Martial Arts Masterships Committee (WMC).

Newly-elected GAISF President Ivo Ferriani said:

“We are delighted to welcome three new Members to the diverse family of sport that is GAISF and we look forward to supporting them on the next stage of their journeys. It is clear that the IPSC, ACODEPA and WMC have all worked tirelessly to fulfil the membership criteria, and I have no doubt they will continue to improve, develop and work for the benefit of sport in the years ahead.”

The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) manages the sport of practical shooting which is a highly dynamic discipline consisting of shooting multiple targets at various distances from multiple locations. The IPSC uses shooting ranges and promotes the safe and recreational use of firearms by persons of good character. It becomes the latest International Sports Federation to join the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS), where it will continue its journey to promote and advance the sport of practical shooting worldwide.

The Association of Pan American Sports Confederations (ACODEPA) is constituted by the Pan American Sports Confederations or Continental Sports Organisations recognised by their respective International Federation. It aims to promote the development of the different sports disciplines affiliated, coordinate efforts in the development of Pan American sport and works together with Panam Sports to help ensure the successful delivery of the Pan American Games and other regional sports competitions.

The World Martial Arts Masterships Committee (WMC) is an international martial arts organisation which aims to realise the value of martial arts and pass down their intangible cultural heritage to the next generation. WMC also focuses on martial arts’ power to promote peace, solidarity and fairness.

Ticketing Solution Outbox Unveiled As Latest Company To Join iSportConnect

London, November 2021 – We are thrilled to announce that Outbox have joined iSportConnect as our latest consultancy client. 

Founded in 2006, Outbox is a white label cloud based digital ticketing platform. The Outbox platform specialises in inventory management, ticketing, CRM, access control and e-commerce. They work with a client to bring together their product mix and operational ecosystem to drive revenue, data requirements, operational efficiency and technical innovation through their innovative, open and modular API driven architecture.

Outbox has supported and managed some of the largest events, venues and brands globally including Cirque du Soleil, other worldwide touring shows, sports teams plus numerous arenas, theatres and clubs. Outbox has proven system strength, crafting & connecting a client’s digital ecosystem while working with our clients to seek out complimentary third-party partners to enhance all commercial offerings.

“We are excited to work with iSportConnect to identify new partners that share our vision for a true digital and integrated ecosystem to drive their business & digital strategy.”

“At Outbox we have a clear vision that a ticketing platform should not only provide excellent fan engagement and be operationally efficient, but for us to bring our combined expertise and experiences so that we can perform as an extension to the core business of our clients and be part of and assist in connecting their digital ecosystem to drive real business benefits and operational efficiencies,” said Outbox Managing Director, Robert Byrne.

“Our white labelled system is integral to every customer’s purchasing journey so we follow the client’s brand and work in partnership with our clients to help them be in control of their data and to have a direct relationship with their fans.”  

“We are excited to work with iSportConnect to identify new partners that share our vision for a true digital and integrated ecosystem to drive their business & digital strategy.”

“The team at Outbox has a wealth of experience and we are excited to be working with them to continue their growth”

“Our philosophy has always been about connecting the business of sport and working with the best in class partners across our industry,” said iSportConnect Chief Strategy Officer, Sandy Case.

“The team at Outbox has a wealth of experience and we are excited to be working with them to continue their growth along with providing the best white label ticketing solutions for organisations who are looking to promote their own brand, work more effectively and grow their own business in partnership with a mobile first digital strategy.”

“It is safe to say everybody missed attending sports and entertainment events during the pandemic. By joining forces with Outbox we hope to ensure as many people as possible are able to get those fantastic experiences back in their lives.”

iSportConnect Consultancy

iSportConnect’s consultancy division works to help our clients with commercial development, marketing and communications and global sports market entry and business strategy. Our consultancy clients include the likes of Vindicia, Tata Communications and Infront X, among others.

About iSportConnect

iSportConnect was launched in 2010 with the aim of bringing together sports business professionals around the world in a networking community enabling them to meet one another, find information and obtain access to a wide range of relevant services. The platform is now the largest global private network of sport business executives, where membership is exclusive and follows a strict door policy.

Tissot To Continue As Official Timekeeper Of MotoGP

Dorna Sports and Tissot are delighted to announce the renewal of their contract that sees the Swiss watchmaker remain Official Timekeeper of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship for several years to come. This extends the longstanding partnership and also includes an expanded commercial presence within MotoGP™, taking the collaboration to new heights. 

Founded in 1853, Tissot became the Official Timekeeper of MotoGP™ in 2001, with this season therefore marking the 20th anniversary of the collaboration. As the competition continues to gets closer and closer, with races and even Championships decided by such small margins, Tissot’s role has become ever more vital with each passing season.  

Off-track, the partnership between Tissot and MotoGP™ also makes the headlines. The brand takes inspiration from the world of MotoGP™ to create stunning collections of timepieces and watches, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence, accuracy and precision. The rider on pole position in each class at each Grand Prix is also awarded an exclusive watch and Tissot pole position certificate, in addition to the Pole of Poles prize given at the end of the season to the rider in each class with most pole positions.  

Tissot also enjoys an emblematic trackside presence at prime locations throughout the calendar and has recently added a new role as title sponsor for a number of Grands Prix in the last two seasons, further strengthening the collaboration between the watchmaker and the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship. This headline presence is now confirmed to continue as part of this new contract, with the Tissot name to take top billing at a Grand Prix each and every season. 

Sylvain Dolla, CEO of Tissot: “The technological world of motorcycling reflects the nature of Tissot perfectly. It shares our passion for products, continuous development and a drive to keep pushing boundaries. It is also a source of inspiration to create unique watches with features that illustrate stunning details of the bike, which can be seen in the Tissot T-Race MotoGP Collection. We look forward to continuing to work with Dorna and to keep inspiring one another to deliver results both in Timekeeping and in our products, for athletes and fans alike.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO at Dorna Sports: “We’re delighted to celebrate over two decades of collaboration with Tissot with another important announcement, extending our partnership once again. With Tissot as Official Timekeeper, it ensures our sport will continue in safe and capable hands, and we’re looking forward to seeing each new collection of timepieces inspired by MotoGP too. The Tissot name taking top billing at a Grand Prix each season is also fantastic news, ensuring the Tissot name retains its top line presence in the paddock into another new era of partnership.”

USA & West Indies Confirmed As 2024 Men’s T20 World Host Cup Hosts, ICC Announces Men’s Event Hosts Until 2031

The ICC have today announced the host nations for their upcoming men’s events between 2024 and 2031, as well as the seven host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia with the final line-up for the event now confirmed.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed the 14 host countries of the ICC men’s white ball events from 2024-2031. 11 Full Members and three Associate Members have been selected to host two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy events.

The USA and Namibia will host an ICC World Cup event for the first time. Whilst Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe have previously staged major events and will do so again over the next decade.

The hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden along with Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt. The ICC Board accepted the recommendations of the committee who conducted a thorough review of each bid along with ICC management. A similar process to identify the hosts for ICC Women’s and U19s events for the next cycle will be undertaken early next year.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted to have concluded this competitive bidding process for the first time for ICC events. To have 14 Members hosting 8 events is a reflection of the truly global nature of our sport and I’d like to thank every Member that submitted a bid and offer our congratulations to the successful bidders.

“It is fantastic to be returning to so many previous hosts, but what is really exciting about this process is the countries who will stage ICC events for the first time including the USA which is a strategic growth market for us. This gives us the opportunity to deepen our connection with fans in traditional cricket nations and also reach new fans around the world.”

Martin Snedden, Chair of the ICC Hosting Sub-Committee said: “We received a range of excellent bids to host the ICC Men’s events in the next cycle. We were committed to ensuring a broad spread of hosts to align with the ICC strategic objective of global growth and have ended up with 14 countries who will support that long term aim.”

Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies President and ICC Board member said: “The success of this joint bid by CWI and USA Cricket will be a huge boost for our cricket. It offers a vital strategic opportunity to promote and develop cricket, and related commercial activity, in North America and the Caribbean. I take this opportunity to thank all those at ICC, USA Cricket and CWI who helped to make this 2024 venue selection decision possible.”

The awarding of the events to preferred hosts is subject to the completion of the host agreements and the ICC will now work closely with Members to finalise arrangements. 17 Members submitted a total of 28 proposals to host the eight ICC Men’s white ball events.

Hosting the upcoming men’s tournament’s after Australia’s T20 World Cup in 2022 will be:

2024 T20WC: USA, West Indies

2025 CT: Pakistan

2026 T20WC: India, Sri Lanka

2027 ODI WC: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia

2028 T20WC: Australia, NZ

2029 CT: India

2030 T20WC: England, Ireland, Scotland

2031 ODI WC: India, Bangladesh

For the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which is scheduled to take place between 16 October and 13 November next year, we will see a total of 45 matches hosted across Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Final will be hosted under lights at the MCG on 13 November 2022. The semi-finals will be hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval on 9 and 10 November, respectively.

Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 champions Australia and runner-up New Zealand plus Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa as the next highest ranked teams will gain direct entry into the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Namibia, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies will play in Round 1. The four remaining spots at Australia 2022 will be filled via the ongoing qualification pathway, culminating in two global qualifying tournaments one to take place in Oman in February and the other in Zimbabwe in June/July. For more information on the pathway click here.

Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “We are looking forward to seeing the return of ICC events to Australia and are delighted to announce the seven host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Following the success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and a two year postponement, our sights are now firmly set on planning for the 2022 event in collaboration with the LOC.

“With 12 teams already confirmed in the line-up, we eagerly await the culmination of the qualification process to see which other teams will join them.”

eSkootr Championship And LiveLike Join Forces To Bring Racing Action Closer To Fans Through Interactive Features

TheeSkootr Championship (eSC) is pleased to announce its partnership with LiveLike, an audience engagement platform that incorporates community, interactivity, and gamification to the online user experience. LiveLike’s cutting-edge approach enables sports and media companies to activate their audience and empower their fans via customised, interactive features. With this partnership, eSC will be leveraging LiveLike’s extensive toolkit and invaluable industry expertise to engage a worldwide community of fans and users. 

When eSC takes to the trackfor its first event next spring, the series will present a new competitive sport to the world and a new way of engaging with fans on a global scale. With a diverse range of riders already making eSC one of the most accessible competitive sports worldwide, LiveLike’s technology will ensure that the championship remains highly accessible to fans watching trackside and from home.  

LiveLike will integrate directly into eSC’s digital platform to help fans interact with the event in real time and consumeeSC content in a whole new way. As a technology-driven sport, eSC aims to be as ground-breaking off track as it is on track. Fans will be able to engage directly with other fans worldwide and with racing experts, commentators, and riders through chats, live polls, and even live race interactions.
 

Hrag Sarkissian, eSkootr Championship™ co-Founder and CEO, said:

“We’re reimagining racing to make it more accessible than ever before. This means creating compelling new ways to connect fans to our riders and races, getting them closer and more involved in the action, whether at trackside or watching from home.  That’s why we’re partnering with LiveLike, like us they’re on a mission to take fan engagement and interactive sporting experience to another level.”

Miheer Walavalkar, LiveLike co-founder and CEO, said:

“Hrag hasbeen a friend to LiveLike for a long time, and we are grateful not only for his support but also his partnership. As the excitement continues to build toward eSC’s big event next year, the opportunity for enhanced fan interaction is clear. Our team is thrilled to be working closely with eSC to help them build features directly into their platform, including gamification elements that will keep their fan community engaged before, during, and after the competitions.”

LiveLike is just one of the media partners working with eSC as the world’s first electric scooter championship gears up for a global racing event which will race on specially created city centre tracks starting in spring 2022. eSC Chief Content Officer Sharon Fuller, will be speaking on a Future Prospects panel at the SportsPro OTT Summit on Tuesday with other sports media and technology leaders. The SportsPro OTT Summit is taking place between 15 – 18 November 2021.  

The Premier League And Panini Reach Multi-Year Renewal Of Partnership

The Premier League and Panini are excited to announce a renewal to their partnership, prolonging the Premier League collectables license that was granted in 2019.

Panini is synonymous with sticker and trading card collecting the world over and has been a firm supporter of the Premier League and its initiatives over the last two years.

This includes Panini assets featuring as part of free Maths resources available to more than 18,000 teachers in England and Wales via the Premier League Primary Stars education programme.

Panini has also participated in activation at international events run by the Premier League such as PL Mornings Live fan festivals run in the US (pictured above).

Domestically, sales of Premier League Adrenalyn trading cards have doubled this year to confirm Adrenalyn as the market-leading brand for trading cards in the UK. 

Panini has also established the iconic Panini sticker album brand as the number-one collectable in the UK with Premier League sticker sales last season climbing to the highest level for 15 years, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Internationally, Premier League collectables are at an all-time high as Panini leverage the strength of the Premier League brand worldwide thanks to its exhaustive global network.

“Stickers and trading cards are a great way for fans around the world to engage with the Premier League and its clubs,” said Will Brass, Premier League Chief Commercial Officer. “Panini has been a great partner since becoming the Premier League’s official sticker and trading card licensee in 2019, and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship over the coming seasons.”

Mike Riddell, Panini UK Managing Director, said: “We are proud to be awarded the most prestigious license in the UK, and we relish the prospect of continuing to grow the market in the coming years.”

Peter Warsop, Panini Group Licensing Director, added: “Panini has ignited the Football collectables market in the USA, China and internationally. The Premier League will continue to attract new fans and collectors with Panini enjoying continued substantial growth both domestically and through 60-plus other International markets.”

FIBA Boosts Canada By Signing Deal With Market Leader Sportsnet

The world basketball governing body FIBA has expanded its media presence in North America with the announcement of a long-term broadcast rights agreement with the multiplatform Canadian network, Sportsnet. Through this new partnership, Sportsnet becomes the exclusive broadcast rights holder for FIBA’s major events through to 2025. 

Canada has a passionate basketball fan base that is rapidly growing. The national teams for both women and men played at the previous FIBA Basketball World Cups in 2018 and 2019, and Canada won the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2017. Both the men’s and women’s Canadian national teams will be on court a lot over the next four years with main events like both FIBA Basketball World Cups, the FIBA AmeriCups and their respective qualifiers. Sportsnet is looking to help build a legacy for basketball in the country by becoming FIBA’s exclusive rights holder in Canada.

Basketball is already part of Sportsnet’s programming as they are the NBA’s broadcast partner. The company is also the official Canadian NHL ice hockey national multimedia rights holder, and it is the Canadian leader in Major League Baseball television broadcasts.

“This is great news for basketball fans in Canada,” FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General, Frank Leenders said. “The passion for the sport in this part of the world is evident and this partnership with Sportsnet allows for the creation of new synergies and increased levels of commitment which will provide fans with unprecedented coverage and access to FIBA competitions in the years to come.”

“As the home of extensive basketball coverage in Canada, Sportsnet is proud to partner with FIBA to bring Canadians front-row access to the country’s brightest stars on the world stage,” said Bart Yabsley, Sportsnet President. “Complementing our network’s NBA, WNBA and Canada Basketball content, today’s partnership with FIBA reinforces our ongoing commitment to building a basketball legacy for players and fans alike in Canada. We look forward to collaborating with FIBA to make these international games available as part of Sportsnet’s industry-leading portfolio of the basketball games that fans want.”

McLaren Release Statement Denying Sale To Audi

Earlier today reports surfaced from Autocar which indicated that McLaren was on the verge of being sold to Audi and that the german car manufacturer was looking at getting involved with Formula One, however that has been shot down by McLaren in a statement this afternoon.

McLaren said:

McLaren Group is aware of a news media report stating it has been sold to Audi. This is wholly inaccurate and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed.

McLaren’s technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other carmakers, however, there has been no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group.