UEFA Announces Bidding Process For Potential UEFA EURO 2028 Hosts

UEFA has announced that its member associations interested in hosting UEFA EURO 2028 have until March 2022 to declare their interest, with the appointment of the host(s) set to take place in September 2023

UEFA EURO 2028 is set to take place over 51 matches and feature 24 teams, as has been the case for the previous two tournaments. Joint bids are permitted, provided that the bidding countries are geographically compact.

Interested parties will need to provide 10 stadiums, with the following capacities:

  • Minimum of 1 stadium with at least 60,000 net seating capacity
  • Minimum of 1 stadium, preferably 2 stadiums, with at least 50,000 net seating capacity
  • Minimum of 4 stadiums with at least 40,000 net seating capacity
  • Minimum of 3 stadiums with at least 30,000 net seating capacity

The bidding timeline, which interested parties will need to follow, can be found here:

  • 23 March 2022 – Deadline for national associations to confirm their interest to bid
  • 30 March 2022 – Bid requirements are made available to the bidders
  • 5 April 2022 – Announcement of bidders by UEFA
  • 12 April 2023 – Final Bid dossier submission deadline
  • September 2023 – Appointment of host(s) of UEFA EURO 2028

In order to ensure compatibility with the competition’s sporting and commercial format, the automatic qualification of the host team(s) shall be guaranteed only for a single host or a maximum of two joint host associations, as always implemented in the past.

In case of more than two joint host associations, the automatic qualification of all the host teams cannot be guaranteed and shall be subject to a decision to be made in conjunction with decisions concerning the qualifying competition.

IMG Appoints Barney Francis Executive Vice President, Global Production

IMG has hired former Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis as Executive Vice President, Head of Global Production to lead IMG’s production business into a new era.

Francis, who will start in early November, is widely respected as a creative and innovative executive largely responsible for establishing Sky Sports as the leading UK sport broadcaster during his 20-year spell with the organization. As Managing Director, Francis grew the channel offering from 5 channels to 11, adding premium sports such as Formula 1, the Masters, The Open and NBA to the portfolio while also increasing the number of Premier League matches shown on Sky. He also oversaw continued technological innovation with developments in 3D, Ultra HD, virtual reality and the continued growth of Sky Sports’ digital, social and online presence.

“Barney is a transformative hire for our media business,” said Adam Kelly, Co-President of Media & Events at IMG. “As a key member of my leadership team, he will play a catalytic role in our strategic growth and development plans as we evolve our model to better empower rights holders to develop and deliver innovative, multiplatform content that engages fans directly. His pedigree, drive and exceptional reputation are undeniable, and we are excited to welcome him to IMG.”

“I’m proud to be joining the team at IMG at such a pivotal moment in the sports industry,” said Francis. “As consumption habits continue to change, the offering we’ll debut will help teams, leagues and federations reach new and existing fans in creative and compelling ways. IMG is the industry standard for sport production, and I’m really excited to join such an exceptional team.”

Prior to his role as Managing Director, Francis was Sky Sports’ Executive Producer for Football and Cricket, producing a range of live coverage, support programming and sport news content. His production credits include the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, the ICC Cricket World Cup and Test cricket.

Francis will collaborate closely with Graham Fry, Chairman of IMG’s production business, who, as previously announced, will be retiring at the end of 2022. 

Simon Massie-Taylor Appointed New Chief Executive Of Premiership Rugby

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY is delighted to confirm the appointment of Simon Massie-Taylor as their new Chief Executive.

This is a key moment for Premiership Rugby as the business moves to accelerate development of the full potential of the league, for the benefit of the players, the clubs and our fans. The Gallagher Premiership Rugby plan is to continue to build live TV and stadium audiences whilst significantly increasing the league’s digital presence, with investment in quality and digital fan engagement. These are key steps on the path to grow commercial revenues, for reinvestment back into the sport, ensuring the longer-term success of our clubs and players in the Premiership, in Europe, and on the world stage.

Simon’s experience places him strongly to lead Premiership Rugby in this phase, joining from the RFU where he is Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer. At the RFU, he was responsible for the organisation’s revenue-generating and marketing activities including broadcast, brand partnerships, fan engagement and digital and data transformation projects. Prior to the RFU, he was Commercial Director at the British Olympic Association and Commercial Director at Tough Mudder in New York.

Simon Massie-Taylor said: “I’m very proud to be joining Premiership Rugby at such an exciting time for the Gallagher Premiership. Last season was an incredible one to watch as a fan, particularly the unforgettable final at Twickenham, and the current season has already provided some hugely entertaining rugby”.

“As we emerge out of the COVID period it’s an important time for our sport. I am looking forwards to investing behind our product, working together with the talented team at Premiership Rugby, our clubs, owners and investors.”

Andrew Higginson chairman of Premiership Rugby said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Simon Massie-Taylor as the new Chief Executive of Premiership Rugby.

“Simon’s deep knowledge of commercial matters, passion for and understanding of the sport makes him uniquely placed to support Premiership Rugby in becoming the most competitive and exciting rugby league in the world.”

Simon’s start date at Premiership Rugby will be confirmed in due course.

Commonwealth Games Revamps Strategy To Increase Benefits For Potential Host Cities

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has unveiled a new Strategic Roadmap at its 2021 General Assembly on the 11th of October, which provides potential future hosts and sports with the renewed flexibility to be innovative and creative in delivering the Commonwealth Games.

In a series of recommendations to increase hosting benefits and make the Games even more cost effective, whilst engaging new audiences, the Commonwealth Sport 2026-2030 Strategic Roadmap invites future hosts to explore innovative concepts, including co-hosting and mass participation event.

As part of an ongoing consultation with International Federations, there are ambitions for a revised Sport Programme to provide hosts with more flexibility to choose from a wider list of core sports. This will now include disciplines that have previously been listed as optional sports such as T20 Cricket, Beach Volleyball and 3×3 Basketball. This will allow hosts the ability to propose entirely new sports, relevant to their nation or culture, to enhance cultural showcasing and community engagement.

To provide a blueprint for flexibility and certainty, the recommendation from the CGF is for approximately 15 sports to feature at the Commonwealth Games. There will be flexibility with the maximum number of sports, with athletics and swimming proposed as the two compulsory sports. This is due to their historical place on the programme since 1930 and based on universality, participation, broadcasting, spectator interest, Para inclusion and gender balance.

Engagement will continue with Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) and International Federations over the coming months in line with the vision, intent and direction of the Roadmap.

The CGF will continue to work with future hosts to agree the minimum and maximum cap on athlete numbers, helping ensure that the size, scale and cost of the multi-sport event is continually optimised and carefully managed.

This will allow the host to generate maximum value, impact and legacy from staging the event, with this work supported by the Commonwealth Games Value Framework. Coupled with a strong proposition for prospective hosts, the roadmap will allow a more sustainable long-term agenda, with increased awareness of how sport and culture can positively impact communities. Amongst other approved recommendations, the Strategic Roadmap has outlined that:

  • An integrated Para sport programme must remain a key, focal part of the Games
  • Future potential hosts would be encouraged to consider alternative Athlete Village solutions, rather than being required to accommodate athletes in a new build environment or on a single site
  • International Federations would be encouraged to propose new innovations and sports/disciplines to drive growth and youth engagement
  • The Federation will continue to prioritise sustainability, social purpose and legacy planning as part of discussions with potential hosts
  • Hosts would be encouraged to consider mass participation events as part of their health and well-being programmes

The Strategic Roadmap was approved today by the Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) at the 2021 CGF General Assembly, which was held virtually.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “We are delighted to unveil our direction of travel with this new Strategic Roadmap, which I believe marks the start of an exciting new era for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Sport.

Our Games need to adapt, evolve and modernise to ensure we continue to maintain our relevance and prestige across the Commonwealth.

After a long period of hard work and consultation, incorporating the views and opinions of our membership and experts across the world, we are excited to move forwards with this Roadmap. I would like to thank all our 72 Commonwealth Games Associations for their support.

Our next step is to work closely with our International Federation partners to ensure they can contribute to the vision and direction of the Roadmap in order to underpin the future of the Games.”

SIS Takes Significant Investment In Australia’s RACELAB GLOBAL

SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-channel supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has announced a significant investment in RACELAB GLOBAL, the racing data science company.

The respected Australian supplier’s unique proprietary technologies enhance international wagering businesses by delivering innovative wagering products, including live PRO FORM™ informatics alongside its ODDS ENGINE™ technology suite that generates real-time, accurate fixed odds pricing.

At its heart, RACELAB has developed a quantitative modelling platform that accurately measures runner performance using a globally standardised format for all racing codes which is then applied with all relevant upcoming race statistics to generate market leading betting prices.

Richard Ames, SIS CEO and new Chair of RACELAB, said: “Our investment in RACELAB gives us instant access to a complementary suite of fantastic next generation technology products and services which will benefit all our current customers and will appeal to a good many more.

“SIS’ international and digital presence has been growing steadily in the last few years and this partnership will allow us to kick on further and faster, adding a range of market leading products across our full portfolio of international horse and greyhound racing. The customer relationships built up by the RACELAB team complement many of the relationships that have been worked on by SIS over the last few years.”

Newly appointed RACELAB CEO, Dr Eliot Forbes, said: “We are excited to be working with Richard and the SIS team, particularly in the many international markets where there are great opportunities for the racing industry’s key stakeholders. RACELAB’s technologies are transformative, enabling scale, accuracy and genuine innovation and partnering with SIS will allow RACELAB to expand quickly and gain wide distribution for our services.”

Shane Clarke, RACELAB founder and executive director, said: “RACELAB has successfully introduced a range of products and services, principally to the Australasian market. I am delighted that this partnership with SIS extends the reach of our company to a genuinely global basis, and I am sure the relationship will prove to be extremely productive in a very short timescale.”

Fulham FC Welcomes CRX Compression As Official Partner

Fulham Football Club is pleased to announce an exciting new two-year partnership with CRX Compression.  

CRX Compression specialise in providing athletes with premium, high-quality compression garments focused on improving recovery, preventing injury, and maximising performance.

Their medical grade compression garments will be worn by the Men’s, Women’s and Academy Team players throughout the term of the partnership.

Jon Don-Carolis, Sales Director said:

“We’re thrilled to be working with CRX Compression for the next two-seasons in a partnership that will positively impact the recovery and performance of our Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams.”

Jack Wright, Sales and Marketing Director at CRX Compression said, “We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with a club like Fulham. Our aim is to provide both men’s and women’s teams with the tools they need to enhance their recovery, injury prevention and performance.  

Fulham will provide us with a great platform to build awareness of CRX Compression whilst providing an educational platform for sportsmen and women participating in sporting activities at all levels on the benefits of using CRX compression garments daily as part of their general training and recovery protocols” 

Extreme E’s Season 1 Finale To Take Place In The UK

Extreme E, the sport for purpose electric off-road racing series, has today confirmed that its Season 1 finale, ‘the Jurassic X Prix’ will take place in Bovington, in the UK’s South Coast county of Dorset, on 18-19 December 2021.

Alejandro Agag, Extreme E Founder and CEO, said: “I’m very excited by this race location – our first event on UK soil. This move is a poignant shift in our mission to race in remote, far-away places to highlight the effects of climate change, as more increasingly, the issues we talk about are literally happening in our backyards so it felt like the right time to bring the spotlight home, and help the army reduce its own carbon footprint.

“The world needs to move forward when it comes to the combustion engine and many other practices, and what better way to symbolise that than with a Jurassic themed X Prix. Unless we push forward with climate and sustainability action, certain species risk becoming extinct, and that is something we simply cannot ignore any longer.”

Bovington is a well-known British Army military base and sits just off the Jurassic Coastline. Extreme E is working closely with the British Ministry of Defence and Army which has recently revealed its climate change and sustainability strategy. The strategy combines the mitigation of environmental impact whilst maintaining military output. It aims to do this by reducing emissions and scaling up the transition to renewables, thus contributing to the UK’s aim to be net zero by 2050. Efforts have started already with the Army piloting electric armoured vehicles and carbon efficient accommodation.

Major General Simon Hutchings OBE said: “The British Army prides itself on its ability to conduct operations in all environments, adapting and developing its skills as required.  The opportunity to work alongside Extreme E who are world leaders in electrification of vehicles and sustainable energy production is very exciting.  It will enable us to share innovative ideas which will allow the Army to continue to gain technology advantage globally, whilst also contributing to our climate and sustainability targets.” 

The racing will be as exciting as ever with a course designed to include natural obstacles putting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 through its paces to crown the eventual winning combination of car, team and driver. Each team fields both a male and female driver who will complete a lap each with a Driver Switch built into the format. With points up for grabs throughout the race weekend, some of the best drivers in the world plus the instant speed of all-electric mobility, the concluding X Prix is set to be a showstopper.

Jenson Button, JBXE Team Principal said: “It is brilliant news that Extreme E’s Season finale will be held in the UK. I’ve been lucky enough to race on UK soil a number of times throughout my career and those memories will always be incredibly special to me.

“Heading off-road at Bovington will be a totally different experience but equally as special as I’ll be the one watching and supporting Kevin and Mikaela and the rest of the JBXE team as we push for a strong finish to the season. After back-to-back podiums, if we can carry that form into Sardinia and put ourselves in the mix for the final race then we could be in store for an amazing finish!”

Extreme E is a partner to the UN’s Race to Zero campaign as well as Count Us In, which challenges its fans to take steps which reduce their own carbon footprints. These collaborations are all focussed on tackling the global climate crisis and with road transport currently accounting for 75 per cent of the global emissions associated with transportation, accelerating the move to clean mobility by 2030, in line with government goals, is key to success. 

Nigel Topping, UK High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26, who also leads Race to Zero, said: “Extreme E provides an incredible platform for accelerating  the clean mobility transition and driving awareness for the climate solutions we can, and must all adopt. 

“The Jurassic X Prix follows COP26 and provides further opportunity for the UK to keep crucial momentum, which is imperative if we are to succeed in our goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. The shift to zero emission vehicles will hugely help reach that goal and Extreme E demonstrates the capabilities of electric vehicles, but also their associated technologies. It also uses the powerful platform of sport to engage its fanbase to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint.”    

Extreme E will continue with its Legacy Programme format which aims to leave long-lasting positive impact in each country in which it races, with exact details to be revealed in the weeks leading up to the end of year event. Not only that, the thought leadership workshops are set to continue, and will be available to view online after the event.

Three Cities In Discussions To Stage NFL Regular Season Games In Germany

The National Football League today confirmed that three cities are in discussions to host regular-season games in Germany.

The NFL, which has staged 29 games in London since 2007 and will play its 30th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (October 17), is aiming to find the most suitable partner city for a possible expansion of the International Series into Germany.

After an initial period in which expressions of interest were received from multiple cities, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich have been invited to proceed to the ‘candidate phase’ of the process. Those cities will now participate in deeper conversations about staging games in Germany.

“Regular-season games are a key part of continuing the development of our German fan base by creating more excitement for the sport and more connectivity with fans and communities,” said BRETT GOSPER, NFL Head of Europe and UK. “

“The strong interest we have received from German cities underlines what a fantastic opportunity this is for a host, ranging from the significant economic benefits and global exposure to the chance to become a hub for the growth of the NFL’s fan engagement, community and grassroots activities.

“As well as identifying a stadium that is fully capable of handling the logistics of an NFL game, we want to work with a host consortium that comprises local and regional government, stadium ownership, local stakeholders and potential commercial partners. We want this to be a long-term partnership.”

The NFL has enjoyed a number of strong years of fan growth in Germany, where it now has 19 million fans.  Weekly NFL television viewership on partners ProSieben and DAZN has grown by more than 20 percent annually since 2017, and millions of fans tuned in for Super Bowl LV in February, making it the third consecutive season of record German Super Bowl viewership. Germany is a leading market outside North America for NFL Shop sales, fantasy football participation and sales of the Madden NFL video game.

German-born players are making an increasing impact on the NFL, with fullback Jakob Johnson becoming a regular starter for the New England Patriots during the 2020 season and two other Germans currently in the NFL as part of the International Player Pathway program, David Bada (Washington) and Aaron Donkor (Seattle Seahawks). In recent seasons Sebastian Vollmer won two Super Bowls (XLIX and LI) as part of the Patriots offensive line that protected quarterback Tom Brady, while Björn Werner was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Big Ten Network Selects Sportradar To Refresh B1G+ Streaming Service

Sportradar, a leading global provider of sports entertainment products and services, and the Big Ten Network have partnered to relaunch B1G+, a direct-to-consumer subscription service for non-televised events powered by the Big Ten Network. The revitalized B1G+ includes approximately 1,500 live streams of Big Ten Olympic sports, as well as video-on-demand of basketball and football games that previously aired on linear channels.

Sportradar is fuelling the relaunch by providing its technology and data-driven OTT solutions to help the Big Ten Network manage the OTT backend, all OTT frontends (including web, mobile, and connected TV apps), UX/UI design, as well as third-party integration. The result is an end-to-end OTT fan solution featuring a comprehensive library of historical content, shoulder programming, on-demand content, Olympic sports, and women’s sports that offers viewers extensive opportunities to customize and personalize the manner in which they follow and support their favorite Big Ten programs. 

Sportradar U.S. CEO Arne Rees said: “Today’s sports audience expects an experience that is highly personalized and tailored to their unique interests. Using our technology and data-driven OTT solutions, which have been developed and refined over the last 15 years, the Big Ten Network now has the flexibility it needs to meet and exceed viewer demands. We look forward to working closely with the Big Ten Network and helping them deliver an innovative product to their fans now and in the future.”

B1G+ streams hundreds of non-televised live events via subscription and features exclusive behind-the-scenes video, game highlights, original programming, and press conferences from 28 men’s and women’s sports across the Big Ten Conference, with additional coverage from conference postseason tournaments and events. The network schedule annually features more than 800 women’s events in the sports of basketball, ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, field hockey, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Michael Calderon, Big Ten Network senior vice president of programming and digital media said: “From our perspective, the goal of B1G+ is to deliver a best-in-class experience for Big Ten fans viewing live events, archived games and original programming highlighting their favorite schools and teams. Thanks to Sportradar’s platform, technology and solution-oriented mindset, we believe the refreshed B1G+ will serve as a destination for college sports fans across the country as they follow one of the nation’s premier collegiate conferences.”

As pioneers in combining the power of live sports data and video, as well as experts in offering insights into fan behavior, Sportradar delivers personalized, targeted content to engage audiences and enhance awareness around any sport or product. With its market data and industry expertise, Sportradar is uniquely positioned to provide custom monetization solutions to rights holders through a combination of advertising, subscription, retail, and sponsorship.

Santini Signs Five-Year Deal With A.S.O. To Supply Official Jerseys For Tour De France

Santini Cycling Wear and A.S.O. are delighted to announce a new agreement making the Italian brand official partner to the Tour de France from 2022 to supply the prestigious Yellow Jersey and the other official jerseys for the elite multi-stage road race.  The sponsorship deal also includes the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and L’Étape du Tour.

Monica Santini: “This agreement shines out in the portfolio of partnerships our company has built up over its 50-plus years in the professional cycling world.”

From 2022, the Santini Cycling Wear story will be inextricably linked with that of the King of the Grand Tours: the Italian company has been announced as official partner to the Tour de France. The new deal with A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organization) means Santini will now supply the leader jerseys for the Grande Boucle, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and the amateur riders competing in the L’Étape du Tour.

“Signing this agreement was a hugely emotional experience for us and we are genuinely thrilled to announce this partnership with the Tour de France,” commented Santini Cycling Wear CEO Monica Santini. “It marks the continuation of a relationship with A.S.O. [that] begun with the sponsorship of La Vuelta and followed on with the Deutschland Tour. Now we have also added the most important race on the international cycling calendar to our tally.”

The announcement marks the start of a glittering chapter in the story that Santini has been writing since 1965 thanks to the constant commitment of Pietro Santini, his daughters Monica and Paola, and the Italian company’s entire team. Santini’s research and innovation consistently produces superior quality technical wear designed to meet the exacting needs of pro and amateur cyclists alike as well as supporting the leading international cycling events.

As with the rest of its products, Santini will be making all of official jerseys worn by the Tour de France leaders as well as the women’s edition of the Grande Boucle at its facility in Lallio, just outside Bergamo, Italy, guaranteeing these elite athletes the very finest in Italian quality.   

The company will also be making the official replica jerseys that will be on sale to the public as well as the jerseys worn by the amateur riders during the L’Étape du Tour.

Yann Le Moenner, A.S.O. CEO commented: “We are glad and proud to welcome Santini on the Tour de France. A new chapter has opened itself for the leader jerseys of La Grande Boucle thanks to this historic brand of cycling equipment. It will offer high-performance products with creative designs to both the elite of world cycling and the regular amateur riders who will once again be present on all the events organized by A.S.O.”

The agreement is for five years.