Baltimore Ravens Name DraftKings Official Daily Fantasy, Sports Betting And Free-to-Play Partner

The Baltimore Ravens and DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) announced Wednesday a new deal designating DraftKings as the Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner and an Official Sports Betting and Free-to-Play Partner of the team. As DraftKings’ first partner in the state of Maryland, the new deal marks DraftKings’ fifth active strategic agreement with an NFL team, further advancing DraftKings’ relationship with the league as an Official Sports Betting Partner and the Exclusive Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the NFL.

“With the start of the 2021 NFL season upon us, our latest designation with the Baltimore Ravens further exemplifies our commitment to fan engagement by way of the DraftKings experience,” said Ezra Kucharz, DraftKings’ Chief Business Officer. “The newly penned relationship offers something for every kind of sports fan and will allow them to engage with DraftKings’ digital content, free-to-play product, daily fantasy sports and, perhaps soon, sports betting, to ultimately bring them closer to the action alongside one of the top teams from the AFC North.” 

The new deal will feature DraftKings branding and custom content as part of the Baltimore Ravens’ weekly podcast, “The Lounge.” Expanding further into multi-media platforms,  DraftKings will also be named the title sponsor of Baltimore WBAL-1090 News Radio’s Gameday Insider pregame show and a presenting sponsor of the Ravens Wired video online content series, in addition to homepage takeovers on BaltimoreRavens.com, ahead of select games and events.

“This partnership reflects our continued commitment to delivering unique engagement experiences for our fans,” Ravens chief sales officer Kevin Rochlitz stated. “We’re proud to collaborate with an industry leader in DraftKings, and we look forward to seeing the innovative ways in which we’ll better connect with the Ravens fans across our many platforms.”

As part of the collaboration, DraftKings branding will be visible throughout M&T Bank Stadium, complete with a season-long suite. Additionally, the new deal offers exclusive gameday experiences, including away game trips, autographed merchandise, a Punt, Pass & Kick (PPK) event available to DraftKings customers through in-season daily fantasy and sportsbook contests, and a DraftKings-NFL Official Free-to-Play game.   

Professional Triathletes Organisation Partners With Story10 To Provide Global Video Distribution

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and Story10, the audience engagement network powered by SNTV, have agreed a partnership that will see Story10 distribute highlights, pre-and post-race reaction and venue profiling for The Collins Cup.

The Collins Cup, the PTO’s inaugural flagship event taking place on 28 August in Šamorín, Slovakia, is a new race format modelled after the Ryder Cup, pitting teams of International, European and USA athletes against each other. The event features 12 match-up races staggered 10-minutes apart, with a single athlete from each team going head-to-head-to-head over a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run.

The partnership will see Story10 generate exposure and awareness of The Collins Cup worldwide, showcasing the excitement, rivalry and personalities of the sport to their engaged global network of 1,200+ media outlets, across broadcast, digital and social. Leveraging Story10’s social partner network and bespoke PR services, PTO will also see its video content actively promoted to key markets and across some of the largest multi-sport channels in the world.

James Dobbs, Managing Director of Story10’s parent company SNTV said: “Perhaps more than any other sport, triathlon demonstrates the commitment, courage and desire of an athlete to compete and achieve. Amplifying this amazing event via Story10’s global network will ensure exposure and engagement for the PTO whilst delivering high quality sporting drama to our audiences worldwide. The success and growth of this event will provide a real platform for current and future triathletes and Story10 is excited to provide the international engagement that helps deliver that growth.”

Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer at PTO, said: “The Collins Cup is poised to be a hugely innovative and exciting new format in triathlon, and we are very excited to share it with a global audience. Story10 is perfectly positioned to ensure this event is seen by millions of people through their extensive network of over 1200 media outlets.”

Fuller’s Renews Partnership With Special Olympics GB

Fuller’s has renewed its partnership with Special Olympics GB for a further 12 months, with both organisations committed to building on the hugely successful existing partnership to help transform the lives of more people with an intellectual disability through sport.

Special Olympics GB is a non-profit organisation and the largest provider of year-round, sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics GB currently has 105 all ability, inclusive sports clubs covering 28 sports across England, Scotland and Wales and reaches over 10,000 athletes.

An Official Partner since 2018, Fuller’s has been a generous, proactive and creative partner to Special Olympics GB from raising much needed funds including donations from promotional Children’s menu items and Ale & Pie tasting boards to donations from customers through Pennies charitable giving. Fuller’s employees have also joined in the fundraising with initiatives from the Fuller’s football tournament and pub quizzes to recent national campaigns such as the Captain Tom 100 challenge.

Moving forward, Fuller’s ambition is to build on the successes of the past three years and not only continue to raise money for Special Olympics GB and raise awareness of our amazing athletes, but also to build on its long-term view of becoming a truly inclusive employer with a blueprint in place for the recruitment of people with an intellectual disability embedded across the Fuller’s estate.

Commenting on the renewed partnership, Paul Richardson, Chair of Special Olympics GB said: “We are delighted, and hugely grateful that Fuller’s has decided to extend its partnership with Special Olympics GB for a further 12
months. Working with Fuller’s has proved to be a fantastic partnership for both sides and when we see its vision to celebrate individuality, create a world where everyone is respected and to welcome everyone into the Fuller’s family, we couldn’t ask for more. This truly demonstrates the fundamental impact our athletes and their successes and achievements have had on Fuller’s.

“With 94% of people with an intellectual disability NOT in paid employment this is a great step forward and one which we hope other forward-thinking companies will embrace. The last 18 months has been an incredibly difficult
time for those in the hospitality industry and for Fuller’s to continue with its commitment and support speaks volumes. Huge thanks to everyone at Fuller’s and all its customers who have supported Special Olympics GB to date. It is very much appreciated.”

Simon Emeny, Chief Executive Fuller’s said: “Special Olympics is all about inclusivity and so is hospitality. The connection with Special Olympics GB is a great way of introducing our teams to the possibilities that other people
have – yet which can go unnoticed. Public houses have always been a place for all – and with such a high proportion of people with an intellectual disability feeling socially excluded, we want to do our bit to address the issues. I’m delighted that we are continuing our partnership with Special Olympics GB for another year and I can’t wait to see where the partnership goes next.”

Genius Sports Appoints Former NFL Network And ESPN CEO As President, North America

Genius Sports Limited, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, today announced that Steve Bornstein will join the company in a newly created executive role of President, North America. Mr. Bornstein will lead the Company’s U.S. and Canadian activities, building on the existing team’s capabilities and relationships. He will assume the position with immediate effect.

Mr. Bornstein has held a range of prominent positions across the sports, media and advisory sectors. In particular, he brings extensive broadcast experience to Genius Sports, drawing on his over 20 years at ESPN and ABC, where in 1990 he became ESPN’s youngest president and CEO at age 38. At ESPN he oversaw the launch of ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPN Radio, ESPN Classic, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine, the ESPYs and the X-Games. He also created the network’s popular programming staples including: College GameDay, NFL PrimeTime, and Baseball Tonight.

Mr. Bornstein is also well-known for his time as President, CEO, and Founder of the NFL Network and Executive Vice President of Media where he oversaw the league’s media division and led negotiations on TV deals and sponsorships. He is a former Chairman of Activision Blizzard’s eSports division where he created professional leagues, and new ways to deliver best-in-class fan experiences across games, platforms, and geographies. He continues to act as a senior adviser to The Raine Group, a merchant bank advising and investing in technology, media and telecom.

As the head of the North American operations, Mr. Bornstein will optimize Genius Sports’ regional business infrastructure to position the Company for accelerated growth in existing and new areas, including streaming. This will include the sourcing and unlocking of value with new and existing sports partners, including the NFL, NCAA, NASCAR, NBA, and MLB. Additionally, Mr. Bornstein will work closely with the executive team to identify innovative and revenue accretive acquisition targets. He will also support the integration of recently acquired businesses, including Second Spectrum, which is the official data tracking and analytics provider of the EPL, NBA, and MLS.

“Steve is an accomplished, forward-thinking executive who brings more than 30 years of sports media experience,” said CEO Mark Locke. “As we continue to execute on our growth strategy North America, we look forward to benefitting from a visionary like Steve who played a major role in shaping the growth and success of iconic brands like ESPN and the NFL. As a leader, he exemplifies the values set out at Genius and will help us progress our culture of collaboration and innovation.”

“I am excited to join Genius Sports at this time in the company’s growth,” said Mr. Bornstein. “And I’m delighted to partner with Mark and his outstanding team as Genius demonstrates and deepens its commitment to drive real value for its partners in the U.S. and Canada. I can’t wait to get started.”

Earlier in his career, Steve also served as Corporate Vice President of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (1993), President of ABC Sports (1996), Chairman & CEO of ESPN (1998), and President of ABC, Inc. (1999), where he was responsible for all media assets at ABC/Disney.

Mr. Bornstein holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin. An active philanthropist, he is the founder & Chairman of The V Foundation which has raised more than $335 million for cancer research in the name of late college basketball coach and ESPN analyst Jim Valvano. A lifelong believer in sports as a force for good, he has served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.

Formula 1 Cancels 2021 Japanese Grand Prix

Formula 1 has announced that the 2021 Japanese Grand Prix has been cancelled, with race organisers citing “ongoing complexities” related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The race, which was also cancelled last year because of the coronavirus situation, was due to be held in mid-October, the third event in a planned triple header after the Russian Grand Prix and the rescheduled Turkish GP.

But on Wednesday morning it was announced the race at the Suzuka circuit would not be going ahead.

A statement from Formula 1 read: “Following ongoing discussions with the promoter and authorities in Japan the decision has been taken by the Japanese government to cancel the race this season due to ongoing complexities of the pandemic in the country.

“Formula 1 is now working on the details of the revised calendar and will announce the final details in the coming weeks.

“Formula 1 has proven this year, and in 2020, that we can adapt and find solutions to the ongoing uncertainties and is excited by the level of interest in locations to host Formula 1 events this year and beyond.”

Bruno Fernandes Helps RealFevr Earn $1.5M In Revenue Via Sale Of Exclusive NFTs

RealFevr, a Portuguese startup specializing in fantasy football, made history by earning $1.5M in revenue through the sale of exclusive NFTs featuring the best moments of several world-class footballers, including Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and many others. The packs became available to the public on August 12th and – and in little more than 24 hours – all 75,000 were sold.

The Portuguese company, which has experienced exponential growth since its founding in 2015, achieved impressive results in this first pack drop: the available 5,000 ‘SUPER RARE’ packs sold out in just one minute, followed by 15,000 ‘RARE’ packs, which sold in less than four minutes, for a total of $1M in revenue. Following the sale of roughly 55,000 ‘BASIC’ packs, the company declared the first public pack drop closed, just 27 hours after opening.

The highlight of the ‘First Edition Drop’ features Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, with a Unique NFT created around the Portuguese international. Fernandes’ exclusive NFT celebrated a stellar volley he scored for Sporting CP in the 2017/2018 season. Keep your eyes peeled – an upcoming drop will feature a Unique NFT of Cristiano Ronaldo’s first official goal, when the football legend was a young Sporting CP prospect!

For RealFevr CEO Fred Antunes, the first drop “is a historic moment – not only for RealFevr – but also for Portugal. It is clear proof that Portuguese companies can compete internationally at the highest level and with impressive results. It is an honor to lead this team and we are not done yet. This is just one step on the long road we have envisioned and that motivates us to keep working hard.”

RealFevr-backed cryptocurrency $FEVR has also achieved big growth in the first weeks post-launch.

The NFT packs sale was facilitated through the FEVR token, a cryptocurrency which has achieved impressive results in the crypto market to date.

$FEVR was launched on July 8th on Polkastarter, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency “launchpads.” The initial public price was $0.0006 but $FEVR currently stands at around $0.01 – representing a growth in valuation of over 1,600%.

Its market capitalization is over $20M and, compared to other crypto projects launched in the summer of 2021, it is the second-best performing cryptocurrency in the market, in terms of investment returns.

Liverpool FC Launches New Partnership With ThinkMarkets

Liverpool FC has welcomed global online trading broker ThinkMarkets as its new official global trading partner.

With offices in London, Melbourne, Dubai and Tokyo, along with hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and South Africa, ThinkMarkets will work with the club to bring quick and easy access to a wide range of financial trading markets to Liverpool FC supporters across the world.

The global partnership will focus on bringing forward market access and game-changing technology, providing ThinkMarkets with a high-profile opportunity to promote its brand as well as its multi-asset trading products and innovative platforms.

The partnership will also provide ThinkMarkets with digital assets, club hospitality and matchday sponsorship to drive acquisition and leverage engagement opportunities for its clients, while reaching fans through exclusive experiences.

Matt Scammell, commercial director at Liverpool FC, said: “A leader in its field that fosters innovation and delivers on quality experiences, values that resonate deeply through the club, we are very happy to add ThinkMarkets as our newest partner.

“Our worldwide following will generate global exposure for ThinkMarkets, whilst their core markets benefit from tremendous numbers of Liverpool FC supporters. Through this new partnership, we look forward to working closely together in offering our fans activities and experiences to bring them even closer to the club.”

Nauman Anees, CEO and co-founder at ThinkMarkets, said: “ThinkMarkets is proud to be the official global trading partner of Liverpool FC and excited to bring global market access to Liverpool FC fans around the world. We look forward to exploring the synergies between trading and football strategy throughout our partnership.”

Established in 2010, ThinkMarkets delivers some of the industry’s most recognised trading solutions, including its best-in-class platform ThinkTrader.

BioSteel Named Official Sports Drink Of The Los Angeles Lakers

Today, BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. (“BioSteel”) marked another milestone in its mission to provide Clean. Healthy. Hydration. to the world, announcing a multi-year sponsorship as The Official Sports Drink of the Los Angeles Lakers. The sponsorship is the ninth in the past year for BioSteel as it continues to expand its U.S.  footprint with retailers and distribution partners, in addition to strengthening relationships with some of the most exciting teams, professional athletes and health-conscious consumers across North America.

Through the multi-channel sponsorship, BioSteel will support the 17-time NBA champions’ performance with Clean. Healthy. Hydration., and the BioSteel brand and products will have a year-round presence on and off the court. This includes BioSteel Sports Drink on the Lakers team bench and integration of the BioSteel brand into the team bench set ups, locker room displays and in-arena signage.

“Fans worldwide know the Lakers as one of the most entertaining and storied franchises in all of sports, and we’re excited they’ve chosen BioSteel as their team’s official sports drink,” said Michael Cammalleri, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of BioSteel. “Spending the first part of my NHL career in LA, I take great pride in seeing this come full circle. We look forward to providing the Lakers with Clean. Healthy. Hydration. and to expanding on our message of providing a better for you product to athletes and consumers across the U.S.”

“We are committed to providing our players with the products and tools needed to improve their performance,” said Lakers President of Business Operations Tim Harris. “With quality clean ingredients and sustainable packaging, BioSteel leads the way in supporting the health and wellness of athletes, which makes them a perfect sponsor for our team. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Lakers.”

Founded in 2009 by Michael Cammalleri and business partner John Celenza, BioSteel has achieved a reputation for being the hydration product of choice for professional athletes looking for a healthy alternative. The brand is committed to using premium ingredients, maintaining product transparency and delivering essential nutrients needed to support physical activity. Each electrolyte-packed sports drink comes in an eco-friendly 16.7 fl oz Tetra Pak. The range of delicious flavors includes Mixed Berry, Blue Raspberry, White Freeze, Rainbow Twist and Peach Mango to keep consumers hydrated throughout the day.

OneFootball To Live Stream 2021 DFL Supercup On TikTok In Brazil

What was successfully tested by the Deutsche Fußball-Liga (DFL) back in 2019, can now be experienced by football fans for the very first time: the 2021 DFL Supercup between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München will be broadcast in a “vertical video” format with OneFootball bringing the innovation to fans in Brazil.

After becoming the first football league to test 9:16 picture formats, which are optimised and primarily intended for use on smartphones and social media, the DFL is taking innovation one step further with selected broadcast partners, who will live stream Tuesday’s DFL Supercup match-up on their respective TikTok channels. The special 9:16 broadcast will be produced by nine cameras and a separate directorial team from the DFL.

As the exclusive broadcaster of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in Brazil, OneFootball is joining the DFL innovation showcase by bringing the live action to its TikTok channel in Brazil.

Nikolaus von Doetinchem, VP OTT & Media Rights at OneFootball: “Innovation is at the heart of OneFootball’s business strategy, and we always strive to improve the user experience. As user behaviour is evolving and the consumption of live football on mobile devices continuously increases, it was only a matter of time before dedicated 9:16 live broadcasts were tested and implemented. We are extremely pleased to be part of the DFL innovation showcase in partnership with TikTok in Brazil. We look forward to analysing the users’ feedback and data, which will be a first indicator of what the future holds for this technology in football.”

The 9:16 broadcast on OneFootball’s TikTok channel will be offered in addition to the regular 16:9 widescreen ratio broadcast on the OneFootball platform, which is live streamed for free in Brazil.

beIN Sports Partners With PTO For Live Collins Cup Coverage Across MENA, USA & CANADA

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and beIN SPORTS have agreed a partnership that will see The Collins Cup screened live and on demand in the USA, Canada, and 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS.

The Collins Cup is the PTO’s inaugural flagship event taking place on 28th August in Šamorín, near Bratislava, Slovakia and is a new race format modelled after the Ryder Cup, which will see teams of International, European and USA athletes pitted against one another and put on display the excitement, rivalry, drama and personalities of the sport of triathlon.

As part of the multi-regional deal the entire Collins Cup broadcast of over 7 hours will be broadcast live on beIN SPORTS across the Middle East and North Africa, USA and Canada in addition to an hour-long highlights programme of the race action from The Collins Cup. beIN SPORTS will also air the PTO’s 2-part Beyond Human documentary produced by Noah Media Group, which follows the journeys of three of the biggest names in the sport – Lionel Sanders (Team Internationals), Sebastien Kienle (Team Europe) and Heather Jackson (Team US) in their quest to see who rules triathlon.

A beIN MEDIA GROUP spokesperson said: “The Collins Cup will be fantastic entertainment for triathlon fans, so we are thrilled to bring this unique competition to our subscribers in the United States, Canada, and across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer at PTO, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with beIN SPORTS  in Middle East, North Africa, USA and Canada to showcase The Collins Cup live as well as our behind the scenes documentary.”