PIF, PCP Capital Partners And RB Sports & Media Acquire Newcastle United Football Club

An investment group led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and also comprising PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media (the “Investment Group”), has completed the acquisition of 100% of Newcastle United Limited and Newcastle United Football Club Limited (“Newcastle United” or the “Club”) from St. James Holdings Limited.

All requisite approvals have been obtained from the English Premier League and the acquisition was completed on 7 October 2021.

The Investment Group is comprised of long-term, patient investors who have every confidence in the future success of the Club. Today’s announcement is the conclusion of a thorough and detailed process that has allowed the Investment Group to arrive at a deal that benefits all stakeholders and will leave Newcastle United well-placed to pursue a clear, long-term strategy.

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, will serve as Non-Executive Chairman of Newcastle United. Amanda Staveley, chief executive of PCP Capital Partners, will have one seat on the board. Jamie Reuben will also be a director of the Club, representing RB Sports & Media.

For PIF, one of the world’s most impactful investors, the acquisition is in line with its strategy of focusing on key sectors including Sports and Entertainment, and aligns with PIF’s mission to actively invest over the long term – in this case, to harness the Club’s potential and build upon the Club’s legacy.

Commenting on the agreement, His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, said: “We are extremely proud to become the new owners of Newcastle United, one of the most famous clubs in English football.

“We thank the Newcastle fans for their tremendously loyal support over the years and we are excited to work together with them.”

Amanda Staveley, Chief Executive Officer of PCP Capital Partners, said: “This is a long-term investment. We are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United.

“We intend to instill a united philosophy across the Club, establish a clear purpose, and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.

“Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe.”

Jamie Reuben of RB Sports & Media, said: “We look forward to a great future for Newcastle United. Newcastle is a fantastic city, which is why our family has been investing heavily in the area for many years. To become part of this great Club and its amazing fans is a privilege.

“We will build a true community Club, based upon our family’s knowledge of the city and in line with our plans that have been worked on closely with Newcastle City Council to deliver long-term sustainable growth for the area.”

Sports & Wellbeing Analytics Announces Renewal Of Partnerships With Harlequins And Gloucester Rugby

Sports & Wellbeing Analytics (SWA) is delighted to announce that Gallagher Premiership champions Harlequins and fellow top-flight club Gloucester Rugby have renewed their partnership for the duration of the 2021/2022 campaign.

The Premiership duo will implement SWA’s cutting edge PROTECHT solution across their senior playing squads after the pair successfully trialed the ground-breaking contact loading measurement tool throughout the 2020/21 campaign.

The partnerships represent a commitment from both Harlequins and Gloucester to using the most innovative scientific and technological solutions at their disposal to tackle the issue of head injuries in rugby union, whilst also improving player availability and performance.

Gallagher Premiership champions Harlequins have publicly credited the system with increasing player availability during their victorious 2020/21 season and helping them to reduce weekly contact loads of players by 40-60%, and in some cases by up to 90%. 

PROTECHT is an objective data surveillance system which precisely measure the frequency and intensity of any impact to a player’s head or body in training or in matches. Through a chip placed in a mouthguard, it is possible for coaches, managers, medics, physios and strength & conditioning staff to receive accurate measurements in real-time. This data then informs welfare protocols and allows contact load in training to be adjusted for optimum safety and performance standards.

Chris Turner, CEO at SWA, commented: “We’re delighted that Harlequins and Gloucester have committed to implementing our PROTECHT system across their elite sides for the duration of the 2021/22 season, following successful trials at both clubs last year.

“The data we’re able to generate from the system continues to surprise us, and the extent to which its player welfare benefits dovetail so closely with improved performance – as demonstrated so brilliantly by Quins last season – really excites us.

“We invite more clubs, leagues and governing bodies to adopt the technology to help protect the game and its players.”

Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple said: “We are delighted to extend our thriving partnership with SWA. It has been well publicised how beneficial and effective our work with PROTECHT has been for helping our Medical and Strength and Conditioning departments manage player workload, and we’ve seen a direct link to performance on the pitch.

“Their gumshield technology is industry-leading when it comes to load management and managing player contact levels throughout the week.

“Player welfare is at the forefront of our thoughts at Harlequins, and with the risks that come with concussion in contact sport, our partnership with SWA helps us manage and mitigate risk with greater precision than ever.”

Alex Brown, Chief Operating Office at Gloucester Rugby, added: “We are really pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with PROTECHT and to be able to supply our players with industry leading mouthguards.

“The technology provided by PROTECHT is second-to-none, and the data that we are able to accurately monitor on a day-to-day basis means that we can manage the players’ contact levels in the week and during a game.

“With concussion management being a key focus across the sport, this partnership enables us to put player welfare at the forefront of everything we do.”

The announcement follows a 2020/21 season in which PROTECHT was used as part of a Premiership Rugby trial by Harlequins, Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers, with United Rugby Championship club Ospreys and Premier 15s side Bristol Bears Women also adopting the technology last season.

SWA were also commissioned by World Rugby and the RFU to complete a study of elite rugby to better understand the contact demands of training and matches.

SWA has also taken part in a recent study by the Premier League, which helped inform its new Heading in Training Guidance released in July, and remains engaged with individual clubs, leagues and governing bodies across the wider sports industry to encourage adoption of the solution, with the aim of improving player welfare and performance.

Discovery Sports Further Strengthens Winter Sports Offering In Build-Up To Beijing

Discovery Sports has agreed a new multi-year deal with Infront to bring a number of world-class Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) events to fans in more than 50 markets in Europe, reaffirming its status as the ‘Home of Winter Sports’.

Starting from the 2021-22 season, men’s and women’s FIS World Cup Events including every Alpine Ski World Cup race*; the Ski Jumping World Cup, Cross Country World Cup, Nordic Combined World Cup; and men’s and women’s Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Cup events, will be available to watch on Discovery’s platforms including Eurosport and discovery+** for the next five years, providing viewers with exciting live content each weekend through the winter.

The package of world-class winter sports rights also features the FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships in 2023 (France and Slovenia) and 2025 (Austria and Norway) along with the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in 2023 (Georgia) and 2025. The Biathlon World Team Challenge will also be shown along with Summer Grand Prix Ski Jumping annually until 2025.

As part of the 50-plus market agreement, Discovery Sports has secured exclusive access for all events in more than 40 markets, which further strengthens its multi-sport, direct-to-consumer offering through localised content and enhanced digital experiences within the ultimate fan-first, winter sports ecosystem. The deal completes an unrivalled skiing offer within the most comprehensive winter sports portfolio, which will provide fans with at least 1,000 hours of live content from the biggest winter events each year.

Andrew Georgiou, President of Sports, Discovery, said: “Eurosport has always been the home of winter sports, bringing fans the greatest choice of events and access to the sports they love. I’m delighted that Discovery Sports’ continued investment in the world’s greatest events and our renewed partnership with Infront will allow us to deliver every Alpine, Cross Country and Nordic Combined World Championships and World Cup race; every Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships and World Cup and more Ski Jumping events than anyone else, which will help us to unlock the power of winter sports as we build towards Beijing 2022.

“Our deep winter sports expertise and localised production combined with the immense scale and reach of Discovery’s European portfolio including via Eurosport and discovery+ means we can continue to use our world-class storytelling ability to bring fans closer to their heroes, delivering action from the most exciting winter sports to the widest possible audience.” 

Discovery is recognised for providing fans with the ultimate winter sports viewing experience, harnessing the best local experts, unrivalled insights and next generation immersive technology to bring fans closer to the action. The award-winning Eurosport Cube was credited with ‘redefining the Olympics viewing experience’ during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Discovery’s investment in technology means more innovations are set to be unveiled for fans in the build-up to Beijing 2022 as part of its year-round approach to winter sports storytelling.

The announcement follows Discovery Sports’ coverage of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 where it brought viewers across Europe every unmissable moment while breaking new audience reach and engagement records during the first streaming Olympics. Discovery served viewers with 1.3 billion minutes of Olympic content across its digital platforms and brought on three times more new paying subscribers to discovery+ and Eurosport’s subscription services than at Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. During Beijing 2022, the home of the Olympic Games in Europe will show every unmissable moment of a Winter Olympic Games across discovery+ in Europe for the first time**.

A Club-By-Club Sponsorship Overview Of The Gallagher Premiership

Connexi take a look at the sponsorship landscape across rugby’s Gallagher Premiership

The Gallagher Premiership is now in full swing with the first fixtures shaping what is set to be an exciting new season. When it comes to sponsorship, rugby has its own unique trends, differing from those seen and associated with football. Deals tend to be locally based and frequently created through a personal connection between the club and brand. A strong connection to the club and its supporters is important rather than simply promoting the brand. 

League Partners:

Gallagher, BT Sport, Channel 5, Gilbert, The Famous Grouse, Land Rover, CITIZEN, The Times

Bath Rugby – Dyson:

Dyson, a company which began in Bath, have been the title partner of Bath rugby since 2014. As a global company with local roots this is a perfect fit for both. The well-known brand is looking less so for exposure and more for the association. 

  • Front of Shirt = Dyson
  • Kit Manufacturer = Macron
  • Official Partners = Avon Protection, Bath Ales, Bendac Group, Compeed, Grant, Thatchers
  • Other Partners = CRX Compression, Dick Lovett Land Rover, Gieves & Hawkes, Nutrition X, Opro, Pol Roger, Vivomed, Novia, Royds Withy King, Lucknam Park

Bristol Bears – Ravenscroft:

Beginning in 2020, Bristol Bears is Ravenscroft’s entrance into the UK sports market. Bristol sport owner Stephen Landsdown is also a chairman of Ravenscroft. To enter with a personal connection is a safe option in rugby but this deal remains unique as it is only 1 of 2 financial sponsorships in the league. 

  • Front of Shirt = Ravenscroft
  • Kit Manufacturer = Umbro
  • Elite Partners = BS3 Services, Thatchers, RedRock, Blackstar Solutions, xledger, Lancer Scott, ne Appliances
  • Supporting Partners = UWE Bristol, Shock Doctor, Lucozade Sport, Wessex Garages, Good4U, XITEC, Tarka Springs, Kellaway, Langley House, Nexa Bristol, Camworth, Net World Sports

Exeter Chiefs – West Exe Business Park

After the longstanding connection which began in the 1994/95 season and became ‘the longest running main sponsorship relationship in the Premiership’ ended earlier this year, the club have recently placed West Exe Business Park on their shirt. Chief Executive and Chairman of Exeter Chiefs, Tony Rowe, has a personal connection with both the previous and new sponsors, as founder of SWComms and Owner of West Exe Business Park.

  • Front of Shirt = West Exe Business Park
  • Kit Manufacturer = Samurai Sportswear
  • Key Partners = SWComms, Bradfords Building Supplies, CENTRAX, St.Ewe Free Range Eggs, Heineken, Otter Brewery, Tolchards
  • Other Partners = Crew Clothing, Kensa Heat Pumps, Nuffield Health, Opro, Packexe, RGB Building Supplies, The Exeter, Thrifty, Troy, Drayton

Gloucester – BiGDUG:

Gloucester based shelving company, BiGDUG, takes over from Mitsubishi Motors as the front of shirt sponsor for the new season. A brand new partnership that has kept to the traditional rugby trend of local over global. 

  • Front of Shirt = BIGDUG
  • Kit Manufacturer = OXEN (Elite Pro Sports)
  • Key Partners = Stowford Press, EDF, Olbas, Malvern Tyres, Hartpury University and Hartpury College, EV Cargo, Karcher, ELONEX, Compeed, Laithwaites Wines.
  • Other Partners = Ssangyong, Mira Showers, Sportesse, Allstone Speedy Skips, BPE Solicitors, Raging Bull, Nutrition X, Opro, TMR Electrical Services, Hazlewoods, Cheltenham College, Smiths, Nuffield Health, First Solutions, WCD Group.

Harlequins – DHL:

DHL has a strong association with reigning champions Harlequins and have had a partnership since the 2012/13 season. In 2014/2015, DHL became the club’s main partner. The partnership has delivered success thus far, becoming a synonymous connection not only for the club but rugby in general.

  • Front of Shirt = DHL
  • Kit Manufacturer = Adidas
  • Official Partners = Refinitiv, Persil, Greene King, Lovell Rugby, Charles Stanley, Silverbug, Science in Sport
  • Other Partners = MJ Hudson, Philips, Aqua British, Blake Morgan, FlexiFleet, Opro, Thrifty

Leicester Tigers – Topps Tiles:

Topps Tiles continues as main sponsor of Leicester Tigers, cementing its connection for a 2nd season. They are not only a well-known national brand but also have strong connections to the city, including a national headquarters in Enderby in Leicestershire. 

  • Front of Shirt = Topps Tiles
  • Kit Manufacturer = Samurai Sportswear
  • Official Partners = Mattioli Woods, STIHL, The Nottingham Building Society, Breedon, Yodel, Global Payments, Hafele, Valeo Snack Foods, Biffa, Welford Investments, Westons Stowford Press, Toyo Tires, Clarity, Next, TDT Technology, De Montfort University, Everards, LUQEL, Nuffield Health, Marc Darcy, Opro, Levy
  • Other Partners = Pukka Pies, Burleighs, Fujifilm, Marcus De Footwear, Wattbike, Dragon SIgns, Knight Frank, The Turmeric Co, Actiph Water, Yakult, IMA Architects, NFU Mutual, Pulseroll, Hands Cleaners, PPL PRS

London Irish – Powerday:

This campaign sees the recycling and waste management company support London Irish for an 11th successive season. The connection goes further as Powerday’s owner is also president and owner of the rugby club, a trend that has grown to become common in rugby. 

  • Front of Shirt = Powerday
  • Kit Manufacturer = BLK
  • Elite Sponsors = Keltbray Group, PHD Group, VGC Group, UnitedUs, Cayman Islands, Reacton, Lions Prep, Just Clear, Curious, Turmec, Thames Materials Ltd, Durkan, The Lighthouse Club
  • Official Partners = Nutrition X, Opro, Prime Health, Foxhills, Clayton Hotels

Newcastle Falcons – Stelrad:

Stelrad Radiator Group, whose registered office is in Newcastle, have been partners of the Falcons since 2018. Seeing them through many highs and lows, including their promotion and return to the premiership last season.

  • Front of Shirt = Stelrad
  • Kit Manufacturer = Macron
  • Other Partners = Ward Hadaway, Hitachi Construction, Elm Group, NA College, Barbour, Nuffield Health, Greene King IPA, Bidfood, Northgate Vehicle Hire, iPRO Hydrate, Opro, Physique, Nutrition X, Pulman Group

Northampton Saints – Travis Perkins:

Northampton based Travis Perkins first became the club’s main sponsor in 2001. It was announced last month that the partnership will continue until at least 2025, “cementing the longest-ever relationship between an elite sport club and main shirt sponsor in the UK.”

  • Front of Shirt = Travis Perkins
  • Kit Manufacturer = Macron
  • Other Partners = Toolstation, Carlsberg, Church’s Shoes, Cinch, grs, Barclaycard, Clarity Sports, ELONEX, Michael James Jeweller, Mirus, PTS Training Academy, Redrow Homes, Spirit Hyundai, Stubhub, Warner’s Distillery, WIT Fitness, iPRO Sport, Nutrition X, 44 Dental Centre, Opro, Tompkins Knight & Son, Triad, 2XU.

Sale Sharks – AO:

Bolton based retailer AO takes over from UKFAST as the new front of shirt sponsor for Sale Sharks. Rugby is a game for the people and to associate themselves with a consumer electronics company is a great fit. 

  • Front of Shirt = AO
  • Kit Manufacturer = Macron
  • Official Partners = Bollington Insurance, DMR Jewellery, AJ Bell, C&C Insurance Brokers, CorpAcq, Morson Group, Printerland.co.uk, Acronis, BOL, Franklyn, 4th Utility, Roma
  • Other Partners = Adlington Welding Supplies, Amos, Assurant, ASSYSTEM, Bentley Manchester, Bespoke Moving Solutions, BMI The Alexandra Hospital, Bruce Jack Wines, Connectus, Clarity Sports, CVSL, HTF, David Lloyd Clubs, FilterMech, E.P. Muldoon, Greystone, Homes4U, inTec Business Solutions, iPRO Sport, Myerscough College, Oprom Redmoor Health, Ridley Thaw, Stantons of Stoke, Toast, The Mere, Toshiba, UK Biostores, Ultracell, University of Salford, VeCapital, Zen Office, Murray Metals, The Turmeric Co.

Saracens – City Index:

Newly promoted Saracens return to premiership rugby with trading platform City Index emblazoned across the front of their shirts. Whilst parent company StoneX sponsor the stadium. A partnership that is different to the traditional partnerships but shows that rugby is looking to be innovative with its new partnerships with new sectors.

  • Front of Shirt = City Index
  • Kit Manufacturer = Castore
  • Other Partners = Stone X, Shawbrook Bank, Acronis, Simba, Hy-Pro, JAXJOX, Zinc, Randstad, Greene King IPA, Alan Day Volkswagen, Clarity Sports, Lucozade Sport, Rentokill Initial, GBA, Optimum Nutrition, EMS, Harrogate Spring.

Wasps – Vodafone:

Leading technology communications company Vodafone recently extended their partnership with Wasps until the end of the 2023/24 season. Unlike other clubs they have taken a global approach and it has proved to be a success. 

  • Front of Shirt = Vodafone
  • Kit Manufacturer = Hummel
  • Other Partners = Dell Technologies, Wright Hassall, RSK, CWA, Hannafin, Ricoh, Heineken, Purity Brewing, Lear, Gullivers Sports Travel, Science in Sport, Robert Welch, Clements & Church, Oliverhorse, UT, Coventry 2021, Hottinger Group, Coventry Building Society, Indigo Fitness, The Wigley Group, Physique, 73 Media, Utility Team.

Worcester Warriors – Adam Hewitt:

Worcestershire-based motor and agricultural salvage company Adam Hewitt Ltd and Warriors have had a relationship for ten years, which expanded further when the company became Warriors’ Title Partner and Front of Shirt Sponsor for the 2020/21 season. A unique partnership that has a traditional rugby feel to it.  

  • Front of Shirt = Adam Hewitt
  • Kit Manufacturer = O’Neills
  • Other Partners = BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital, Blackpole Recycling, Bartercard, ctm Sports, Boardrm, BP Pulse, ELONEX, First Choice Utilities, Molson Coors, ebc Group, Three Pears, EXOL, Harrison Clark Rickerbys

SportAccord Summit Conference To Explore A ‘United Approach To Building Bridges’ In Ekaterinburg

Sport diplomacy, technology, virtual events, innovation and esports will be among the key topics tackled in a packed SportAccord Summit conference programme during the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

In announcing the theme of the conference as ‘A United Approach to Building Bridges in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport’, SportAccord has confirmed a series of unmissable addresses, panel sessions and presentations at the SportAccord Summit on Wednesday, 18 May 2022.

The SportAccord Summit will sit alongside SportAccord 2022’s other conference streams across the week of the highly anticipated gathering in Ekaterinburg, which will welcome global sport’s most influential decision-makers from 15-20 May 2022.

Numerous officials from International Sport Federations (IFs) will participate in the conference, alongside leading International and Russian figures from the sports governance, technology, and commercial sectors.

Expert speakers will explore topics as diverse as ‘The Power of Sport Diplomacy’, ‘New Approaches and Harnessing the Commercial Potential of Sport’, ‘Virtual Event Success Stories’, ‘How to Stay Connected and Engaged in a Changing Global Village’ and ‘Technology’s Role in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport’.

“With such a variety of topics on the agenda, the SportAccord Summit will provide a range of vital perspectives from different areas of the global sports movement,” Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF, said.

“From sport diplomacy to esports and future commercial strategies, the SportAccord Summit in Ekaterinburg will offer an essential snapshot of the most pertinent challenges and opportunities facing International Sport Federations and the sports industry as a whole.”

The SportAccord Summit is one of several conference streams at SportAccord 2022. The established CityAccord, HealthAccord, LawAccord and MediaAccord streams will be of interest to a broad range of stakeholders in sport.

As the only global sports industry event attended by all IFs and their stakeholders, SportAccord brings together organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, as well as top-level experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, the 19th edition of SportAccord’s flagship annual event. Organisations interested in becoming an official partner or exhibitor can contact SportAccord to discuss these investment opportunities by emailing sales@sportaccord.sport, with SportAccord also offering an interactive exhibition floorplan and 3-D flyover of the SportAccord 2022 exhibition space.

You can follow SportAccord’s portfolio of events via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, VK, and Instagram.

World Obstacle Officially Granted GAISF Observer Status

Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), the governing body for obstacle sports and related events also known as World Obstacle, has officially been granted Observer Status by the GAISF Council which convened in Lausanne on 27 September 2021.

International Sports Federations (IFs) with GAISF Observer Status are able to access the GAISF General Assembly and benefit from the GAISF network. The status has been designed as the first step on the road towards fulfilment of all criteria required for GAISF Membership.

GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said:

“I am delighted that the GAISF Council has granted Observer Status to World Obstacle. The decision is a clear reflection of the growth of obstacle sports worldwide, in addition to World Obstacle’s tireless efforts to promote these sports, its member federations and their athlete members. This is an exciting time for World Obstacle and we will do everything within our remit to help them develop as an IF and bring obstacle sports to even more people across the globe.”

World Obstacle President Ian Adamson said:

“We are honoured to be awarded Observer Status by GAISF. This is a critical step in the growth of the sport globally. On behalf of World Obstacle, I would like to thank GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli, the GAISF Council and the entire GAISF family for their guidance and support. With this important step, we are motivated to continue the development of obstacle sports for our national federation members and their communities.”

World Obstacle was formed in 2014 and formalised in 2018 to unify and develop obstacle sports worldwide. Disciplines include Ninja, Obstacle Course Racing and Adventure Racing. For more information about World Obstacle, please visit: https://www.worldobstacle.org/

ATP And Infosys Launch Revamped Stats Centre To Bring Fans Closer To The Game

The ATP and Infosys, the Digital Innovation Partner of the ATP Tour, have launched a suite of exciting match stats and analysis tools designed to bring fans, coaches and media closer to the action of men’s professional tennis.

From today, fans will be able to level up their experience of ATP Tour matches by layering on statistical insights from across more than 60 ATP Tour events each season. Delivered via an immersive and intuitive interface on ATPTour.com, Infosys will allow viewers to tap into the pulse of the match through real-time data and insights – helping to tell a richer story of the action on court and reveal game-changing moments. 

Over the past six years, Infosys has helped push the boundaries of the sport further through a suite of innovative solutions. These include popular data-led products such as the ATP Stats Leaderboards and ATP Second Screen for live insights, in addition to digitally driven solutions like the new ATP Tour fan app and Player Zone. New features launched today include: 

•    MatchBeats: 

Look deeper into the highs and lows of the match with point-by-point analysis studying shot speeds, rally lengths and auto-generated insights. Spot important trends using filters, from every winner to unforced errors.

•    Rally Analysis: 

Dissect how rallies happen and which ones create an impact. Identify the patterns of play that matter most and study performance in short, medium, and long rallies.

•    3D CourtVision: 

Re-live every point via an immersive 3D court experience that gives fans the best seat in the house. Analyse ball trajectory and key statistics from multiple viewing angles. 

•    Stroke Summary: 

Gain insight into player performance and success rate across different stroke types such as forehands, backhands, lobs and volleys.

•    Stats: 

Rank stats according to their influence on the outcome of a match. Understand if break points won mattered more than net points, or double faults turned the tide more than aces.

Daniele Sanò, ATP Chief Business Officer, said: “As an organisation we are constantly looking for new ways to make the experience of our sport more compelling. Tennis is incredibly data-rich and Infosys has both the technological expertise and passion for tennis to bring it to life in an intuitive way. We are excited for fans to interact with these new features and look forward to future digital innovation together with Infosys.”

Sumit Virmani, Chief Marketing Officer, Infosys, said: “The revamped stats centre is another significant landmark as we navigate into the seventh year of our successful journey with the ATP. The application of digital technologies is now becoming increasingly important in sport and business. As strategic partners in the digital roadmap and vision for the ATP, we are delighted to jointly bring innovative experiences to the world of tennis to further amplify the experience of fans, coaches, and other stakeholders of the game across the globe.”

Burnley FC Strengthens Off-Field Management Team With Four New Appointments

Burnley Football Club has strengthened its off-field management and operations team with key appointments in four newly created positions.

The new roles are headlined by the appointment of Russell Ball as the club’s Head of Matchday Operations, reporting to Executive Chairman Alan Pace and overseeing the club’s interaction with supporters, commercial partners, and the local community at Turf Moor.

Ball, who has over 25 years of board-level experience in real estate, has acted as an advisor to Burnley FC’s owners ALK Capital since taking over the club in December 2020. He has personally overseen stadium improvements including the multimillion-pound investment in new hospitality facilities within the North Stand and the continued introduction of state-of-the-art technology at Turf Moor. He will commence his new role immediately and play a key role in the board’s vision to modernise and improve the Turf Moor matchday experience, whilst retaining its unique atmosphere.

The club’s commitment to improving the supporter experience for all fans is also boosted by the appointment of Harriet Harbidge as Burnley FC’s first-ever Fan Experience Manager.

Harbidge, who is from the local area and a graduate of the University of Central Lancashire, will lead all existing supporter services functions and joins the club from Premier League champions Manchester City. She previously served as Burnley FC’s Supporter Liaison Officer from 2016 to 2019.

As part of the continued efforts to professionalise women’s football at the club, Burnley FC Women is also proud to announce the appointment of Lola Ogunbote as its first Business Lead, overseeing all aspects of Burnley FC Women, including personnel, budgets, and day-to-day football club operations.

Ogunbote joins the Clarets whilst serving as the Executive Director of Goals for Girls, a US Non-Profit that unites girls through football to lead community change. A qualified FA coach, she previously worked in China as the Director of Football at Beijing Royal School and was an international community coach for Arsenal FC in Australia, South Africa, and Mozambique.

The club also welcomes Gurpri Bains as its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead, further strengthening Burnley’s FC’s One Club for All ethos.

Bains will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the club’s EDI strategy and arrives at Burnley from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. With a mixed skillset and background in arts participation and community engagement, she is also an FA qualified coach and has previous experience in football with the Aston Villa Foundation.

Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley FC, said: “I am delighted to complete these four key appointments, as the next stage in our long-term growth plan for the club.

“I look forward to working with Russell, Harriet, Lola and Gurpri as part of our expanding management and operations team at Turf Moor. This is an exciting time to join the club as we continue moving forward both on and off the pitch.”

Applied Nutrition Signs Two-Year Deal With Fulham Football Club

Fulham FC is pleased to announce Applied Nutrition as its Official Sports Nutrition Supplier.

The UK’s fastest growing sports nutrition brand will be used by the men’s first team, women’s team and academy sides to fuel pre-match preparations and assist with recovery. 

The products supplied to Fulham will include several of Applied’s ‘Informed Sport’ registered products such as ‘Critical Whey’ Protein, ‘Recovery’, Velocity gels and ‘Critical Mass’ along with it’s new ‘Endurance’ range which is aimed at endurance and professional athletes. 

As the Club’s Official Sports Nutrition Supplier, the Applied Nutrition brand will feature within the stadium on matchdays and across the Club’s digital platforms.

Available in over 70 countries worldwide, Applied Nutrition products are produced at a full in-house manufacturing facility to ensure the highest levels of quality and trust.

Fulham FC’s’ Nutritionist, Matthew Westmoreland commented:

“It’s our aim to provide our players with the best possible platform to excel and we are doing exactly that with our new partnership with Applied Nutrition. They will support us by providing a wide range of great tasting and fully certified nutrition products that will be available to our men’s, women’s and academy team players to aid recovery and improve performance.”

Applied Nutrition COO, Steven Granite added:

“Applied Nutrition are delighted to become the Official Sports Nutrition Supplier of such a prestigious club as Fulham. They’re doing great in the league this year under Marco Silva and we’re looking forward to working with the performance team to keep the players fueled and further develop our offering in the professional sports market. Our range of Informed Sports tested products continues to grow and appeals to more and more professional athletes and teams across the world.” 

Last week, Fulham also announced a partnership with UTL Group for the next three seasons.

As part of the deal the Club will work with UTL Group to help streamline and improve its business processes around printing.

UTL Group has engaged their partner Epson, to upgrade Fulham FC’s portfolio of print equipment both at the Club’s Motspur Park training facility and stadium, Craven Cottage. Epson was chosen because of their productivity, resilience, and focus on sustainability.

Red Bull And Honda To Collaborate On Motorsport Activities Beyond F1

While their race-winning Formula 1 partnership will come to an end at the close of this year’s World Championship, Red Bull and Honda are pleased to announce that they will race on together in the wider world of motorsport, through an exciting new collaboration.

The diversification agreement will see the Red Bull group of companies and Honda work together on a variety of motorsport activities, encompassing the transition of power unit development from Honda to Red Bull Powertrains, young driver development, marketing and branding initiatives, as well as competitive activity across a range of motorsport disciplines.

In Formula 1, Red Bull Powertrains will have the right to use Honda IP relating to the Power Unit from 2022. Whilst Honda will support Red Bull Powertrains through the assembly of power units, the provision of trackside engineering support and race operation assistance in 2022, from 2023, RBPT will take responsibility for all manufacturing and servicing of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s engines. Additionally, to ensure team continuity, there will be a transfer of Honda Racing Development UK employees to Red Bull Powertrains.

Beyond Formula 1, Red Bull and Honda will continue to work together on their respective young driver programmes. The Red Bull Junior Team and Honda Formula Dream Project will partner to further grow motorsport in Japan, with the ultimate goal of promoting new generations of Japanese drivers to the highest levels of global motorsport, as has happened with Yuki Tsunoda in Formula 1.

Red Bull and Honda will also expand their cooperation to create a joint presence in various forms of motorsport, in other sports and wider activities in order to broaden the reach of both brands and in particular promote Honda’s innovative mobility products to a broader audience and help the company achieve its stated aim of achieving carbon neutrality throughout its operations.

Quote from Koji Watanabe, Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said: “I’m glad that we have reached an agreement with Red Bull Group covering all the details of the IP rights for the F1 Power Unit and in this way, Honda can still contribute to the motor racing world. We are now working hard to strengthen HRC’s structure, so that it can ensure our fans will be able to continue to enjoy Honda’s role in all types of motorsport.”

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Honda CEO and Team Principal said: “Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda has been enormously successful and while our relationship in Formula 1 is changing, neither of us wish for that to be the end of the story. We are very pleased that our ambitious and exciting Red Bull Powertrains project will be strongly supported by Honda, technically and operationally, in 2022 and this will help ensure that Red Bull’s transition to the status of chassis and power unit manufacturer is seamless. Equally as exciting is the news that our collaboration with Honda will extend to a variety of motorsport activities, from driver development to other racing disciplines and even across the wider sporting world. This stretch of Honda’s Formula 1 voyage is coming to an end but together we are embarking on a new and fascinating journey.”