AC Milan Announce Banco BPM As First-Ever Official Shirt Sponsor For Women’s Team

Italian bank Banco BPM and AC Milan are delighted to announce a historic partnership, committing the brand to AC Milan Women front of shirt sponsorship on a multi-year deal. The brand’s commitment to women’s football was evident in September 2019, when Banco BPM kick-started the women’s season at their Milan headquarters.

This front of shirt sponsorship demonstrates AC Milan’s commitment to inclusive positioning and growth of the women’s game, supporting club ownership’s modern strategic vision to have the women’s team stand as their own financially and commercially independent entity, with a clearly defined identity – values and objectives that align seamlessly with the inclusive nature of BPM. The success of the women’s team over the last couple of seasons (finishing third twice and very nearly qualifying for the Champions League) has been received with immense pride by AC Milan ownership and the club is committed to building upon on-and-off field successes.

This partnership renewal is a strong example of AC Milan’s redefined partnership strategy, providing increased sponsorship inventory, thus greater potential for commercial partners moving forward.

The Banco BPM partnership builds on a community-driven association with AC Milan that will total 10 years upon conclusion of the renewal. With social conscience at the forefront of both brands, Banco BPM and AC Milan are important symbols within the city of Milan, placing a heavy emphasis on the development of grassroots football, driven via coaching clinics, and other social initiatives driven via Fondazione Milan.

“After having hosted the commencement party for AC Milan Women’s team last season” – commented Giuseppe Castagna, Banco BPM CEO, – “today we are proud to have our logo on the kit of these athletes whose hard work and dedication prove the importance of playing sport at such a high level. One of the objectives the Bank has set itself is to promote awareness of gender equality, supporting all-female activities and projects which valorize women and their human and professional expertise. This partnership with a great club like AC Milan allows us to accomplish our goal while sharing the values of sport: team spirit, passion and hard work as sport is synonymous with education, training, social responsibility and integration”.

“We watch the women’s team with immense pride at AC Milan and we are thrilled that one of our most valuable partners Banco BPM has made the commitment to support our vision for growth, becoming the team’s first independent shirt sponsor. The passion and professionalism that the Rossonere show every day is unmatched and, as a club that prides itself on inclusiveness and integrity, we at AC Milan are confident that this is just the beginning of great things to come, with the support of Banco BPM”. AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis

The Women’s First Team Captain, Valentina Giacinti, added: “Stepping out onto the pitch with our own identity and seeing first-hand the club’s commitment to the growth of our team and our game really does give us the confidence and belief that we can continue to succeed on-and-off the field. To see this level of commitment from not only Banco BPM but AC Milan at such a difficult time socially and financially really does speak volumes. This is a very exciting step and I am extremely proud to lead the team out wearing the new jersey”.

Formula E Sign “Long-Term” Partnership With German Free-To-Air Broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1

From Season 7, which starts in January 2021, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will become the only major international motorsport on free-to-air television in Germany, with ProSiebenSat.1 airing all races live as part of new long-term partnership.

The “ran”-racing-crew of SAT.1 will be on the ground at races bringing fans all the latest news and reaction from the paddock. High production programming will be presented by recognisable motorsport talent ensuring the excitement and unpredictable racing of Formula E is showcased to Germany’s passionate motorsport audience. To complement the live race programming, ProSiebenSat.1 and Formula E will develop non-live and ancillary electric mobility and motorsport content designed for the electric generation of technology-savvy and young, sustainability conscious viewers.

Germany is a priority market for Formula E and its ecosystem. Berlin is the only city to have featured on the calendar in every season and is currently hosting Formula E’s season finale of six races in nine days. Championship partners Allianz, BMW i, Bosch, DHL and HUGO BOSS are all German brands and four major German automotive manufacturers – Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche – compete for the series title.

This deal with ProSiebenSat.1 will allow more households to tune into Formula E to experience the energy, excitement and close quarter racing that the championship has become known for. Viewers will also discover more about the innovation that sits at the heart of the purpose-driven sport, founded to counteract climate change by accelerating the development and adoption of electric vehicles.

CHIEF MEDIA OFFICER AT FORMULA E – AARTI DABAS

“Germany is an important market for Formula E, our teams, manufacturers and partners. ProSiebenSat.1’s focus on delivering localised and high-quality coverage using diverse talent and innovative presentation will enable us to grow the reach, engagement and affinity for our sport. Our partnership with ProSiebenSat.1 will deepen our connections with Formula E fans in Germany through localised activities and custom content targeting the electric generation. As we enter our first season as an FIA World Championship this partnership will ensure Formula E reaches the broadest possible German audience.”

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF 7SPORTS – STEFAN ZANT

“Electric mobility is an absolute future topic and the best example of our strategy of not only acquiring new rights but also building up innovative topics in the long-term. We have numerous plans for presenting and delivering sustainability and electric mobility beyond the mere racing season. The broadcast of Formula E on all platforms should be of interest to all advertising partners who want to engage in a sustainable environment.”

“RAN”-CHIEF SPORTS OFFICER – ALEXANDER ROSNER

“Formula E already offers thrilling racing at the highest level and will be an official FIA World Championship from 2021. Our ‘ran racing’ team is excited to be accompanying and shaping this fascinating path of sustainable formula motorsport in the long term and to giving Formula E – as the racing series of the future – a home on German free-to-air television.”

BHA Board Welcomes Julie Harrington As New Chief Executive

The BHA Board has chosen the Chief Executive of British Cycling, Julie Harrington, to be the new head of British horseracing’s governing body and regulator.

She will take over the post at the beginning of 2021 after nearly 4 years leading British Cycling, which has more than 160,000 grassroots members and is responsible for the elite team preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Julie Harrington is a former member of the BHA Board and was a senior executive with Northern Racing for 8 years, including a spell as Managing Director of Uttoxeter. She is one of the most experienced leaders in sport, with a strong background in consumer, operational and regulatory roles, and a clear understanding of the financial challenges facing participants.

As the Operations Director for the FA, she was responsible for Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park, the FA training facility. Her early career was with Whitbread Inns as Regional Marketing Director and then with British Airways as Retail Sector Director. She has been responsible for managing British Cycling’s relationship with HSBC UK, its leading sponsor and partner.

As Chief Executive of British Cycling, she has dealt with some significant regulatory challenges. The role has also involved engagement with UK Sport and Sport England over elite funding and growing participation, achieving its target for more than two million cyclists by 2020. It works closely with the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport and the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales through their national cycling bodies.

BHA Chair, Annamarie Phelps, commented:

“I am delighted that Julie is coming back to the BHA and to racing and the Board and I are looking forward to working closely with her. This is a vital leadership role for the organisation and British racing. Julie’s hands-on knowledge of horseracing, coupled with her governance and business experience, make her the ideal person to carry on with the task of restoring sustainable prosperity after the COVID crisis. We’ve got the right person, for the right job, at the right time.”

Julie Harrington said:

“I’m so excited to be coming home to racing and playing my part helping this great sport to achieve a prosperity from which everyone benefits. I know how important collaboration across racing has been over the past few months and I look forward to working with colleagues from all parts of the sport.

“The BHA and its team of dedicated officials do a great job in keeping racing safe, clean and fair. I am proud to take on this leadership role in such a well-regulated sport, which enriches the lives of horses and people, and has a special place at the centre of national life and our rural communities.”

Julie Harrington will join the BHA on January 4th after completing her notice period at British Cycling. Nick Rust continues to lead the BHA as it works with industry bodies on resumption and recovery. A revised  industry plan is due to be published shortly.

Annamarie added:

“Nick and his team are working closely with the RCA and The Horsemen’s Group to get racing through the next phase of COVID19, to  bring back the public, and support our owners and investors in the sport. There’ll be no let-up over the coming months and the sport will see a seamless transition to our new CEO. I want to thank all those at the BHA and the industry bodies who are working so hard and I’m confident that racing will continue to lead the way towards a full resumption of sport.”

Real Betis Announce Betway As New Shirt Sponsor

LaLiga side Real Betis have revealed that Betway will be their new main shirt sponsor from the beginning of the 2020/21 season in a couple of weeks’ time.

Current sponsor Easymarkets have opted to cancel their three-year deal with the club following only the first season, with the original contract set to expire in the summer of 2022.

Betway are also the front of shirt sponsor for West Ham United, and three other clubs in Spain – Deportivo Alaves, Levante and Leganes – plus a sponsor of Werder Bremen.

“The Choice Of Our Stadium For Another European Competition Final Is A Source Of Pride”

Just a few months ago it looked like the planned 2020 Champions League Final in Istanbul would not be occurring, however, thankfully football organisations around Europe have been able to get plans in place to host a special one off Champions League tournament for the final 8 teams over the next two weeks in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, so iSportconnect spoke to Luís Filipe Vieira, President of Benfica, whose home stadium Estádio da Luz, will host the final.

How pleased are you that UEFA have been able to come to the decision and that Lisbon will be hosting the final champions league tournament later this month?

For Portugal and Lisbon, this decision recognizes the way our country has managed to deal with this serious pandemic and the quality of the sports and hotel infrastructures existing in our country. Portugal is a tourist destination of excellence that guarantees quality and safety at all levels. For Benfica, the choice of our stadium for another European competition final, the third since its inauguration some 17 years ago, is a source of pride and confirms the prestige of Estádio da Luz.

“The return of national and international competitions reinforces the confidence that we will be able to overcome this difficult time”

Do you think it was important to make sure these games were staged to preserve the integrity of the competition going forward?

By ensuring the completion of the final games of this year’s Champions League, the losses that this pandemic caused at all levels were minimised as much as possible. It is important for the integrity of the competition, even with the games behind closed doors, to complete this year’s edition so that in September when the new edition commences, the previous year would be fully decided.  

The Estádio da Luz last hosted the UEFA Champions League final in 2014.

How important is the role that sport can play in boosting the morale of the general public during such a difficult time as this as we have been experiencing all over the world?

Sport and football in particular have played an absolutely decisive role so that the community gradually feels that life begins to return to normal. Still, a very conditioned normality is certain, but the return of this passion that cuts across all social strata, the return of national and international competitions reinforces the confidence that we will be able to overcome this difficult time and return as much as possible to the life we ​​had.

What are some of the ways you have been trying to keep your massive fanbase at Benfica engaged over the past couple of months?

Even at the height of the pandemic and confinement, we kept the club’s communication channels producing daily content and information for our supporters, including the various ongoing solidarity actions, how athletes managed their daily lives, training at home, and a lot of communication involving coaches and athletes.

“The Choice Of Our Stadium For Another European Competition Final Is A Source Of Pride”

It was tireless daily work, which in some cases, even increased the knowledge about the internal life of the club and its idols for the millions of Benfica fans around the world.

Do you think there are any lasting changes we might see in sport as a result of the Covid-19 crisis?

It is still too early to make a very rigorous analysis and evaluation. But at different levels, there are some changes that are certainly here to stay, for example, the new rule of allowing five substitutions per game per team. Some consider that, like other methods, is able to increase the competitive levels of the teams over the ninety minutes. For us we will wait and see what happens in the future.

Williams Racing Confirms Umbro UK As Official Team Kit Supplier

Williams Racing is pleased to announce a new long-term partnership with Umbro UK. The English sports brand will be the Official Team Kit Supplier from the start of the 2021 season, when the double-diamond of Umbro will be worn by the team.

This announcement comes ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend. Silverstone is a track familiar to Umbro, having been with the team for the 1987 British Grand Prix which saw Nigel Mansell hunt down his Williams teammate Nelson Piquet to take a famous victory at the iconic circuit. As homage to this, the Umbro logo will feature on the front wing end plate of the FW43 this weekend.

Umbro will join Williams Racing with nearly a hundred years of experience in developing performance products for elite teams. The brand’s extensive experience, its pioneering approach to developing kit and rigorous testing methods mean Umbro is ready to support Williams and the unique demands the team will face at each stage of the season from 2021 onwards.

Tim Hunt, Commercial and Marketing Director of Williams Racing commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Umbro back to the Williams commercial family. It’s been a long time since our association in 1987 but in that time, Umbro have established themselves as a globally recognised brand in sport. Both Williams and Umbro have a rich history and proudly sit as iconic British brands who share the same fighting spirit and I am excited by the opportunity that this new partnership brings.”

Sam Lucas, Head of Sports Sponsorship – Umbro UK, commented: “We are extremely excited to be back in partnership with Williams Racing. The demands of Formula One go way beyond the cars on track, with performance at the heart of everything. As a brand, Umbro prides itself on producing the best kit to meet the demands of elite sport. With our experience in this area, we are excited to bring this to Williams Racing and play a part in the teams’ pursuit of success.”

“Umbro’s approach has always been a pioneering one, when it comes to the kit we develop. We have a proven track record in performance sports apparel and aim to achieve the same with our recent rugby partnership. This is no different to Williams Racing and their innovation on and off track, so we are looking forward to working together as of next season.”

Hisense And Paris Saint-Germain Announce Global Partnership

Internationally renowned football club Paris Saint-Germain today announces leading consumer electronics and home appliances company, Hisense as their latest global sponsor in a multi-year partnership.

Hisense has been creating award winning TVs, consumer electronics and home appliances sold globally over the last 50 years. This new partnership will highlight Hisense’s mission to enhance the viewing experience for football fans around the world and will see them working alongside the club to showcase their range of products.

With ground-breaking technology in TV and home appliances, Hisense is perfectly positioned to enable the best home viewing experience for Paris Saint-Germain fans.  As well as seeing the Hisense brand and product range showcased to huge audiences in the Parc des Princes stadium and around the world, via broadcast, digital and social channels, the partnership will also see Hisense provide a wide range of innovative products to the club to support its needs across its various facilities, including its new training centre.

Alex Zhu, the president of Hisense International, said, “We are excited to team up with Paris Saint-Germain, one of the most successful and fastest growing clubs in the world. They have always pursued breakthroughs in technology and innovation in everything that they do, which coincides perfectly with Hisense’s mission of “pursuing scientific and technological innovation and bringing happiness to millions of families”. We believe that through this partnership, we can create the best possible at home viewing experience for Paris Saint-Germain and its fans throughout the world.”

Marc Armstrong, Chief Partnerships Officer at Paris Saint-Germain commented : “We are delighted to welcome Hisense to the Paris Saint-Germain family and to be partnering with such a world-leading consumer electronics and home appliances company. It will provide an excellent opportunity to reach and interact with our fans across the world via the creation of powerful experiences and opportunities and we look forward to helping Hisense achieve its global ambitions.”

Sébastien WASELS, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Paris Saint-Germain added, “We are proud to be working with such a leading global brand from Asia Pacific. This is a meaningful partnership for the club, demonstrating our growing commitment to the region. We are looking forward to bringing the Paris Saint-Germain experience into more people’s homes around the world. Together with Hisense, we will also come closer to our fans in China where the Hisense headquarters are located.”

Today’s announcement builds on Hisense’s continued commitment to sport through sponsorship of major sporting properties around the globe, including the partnership with the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2016, Formula One Red Bull racing and Australia Open. The sponsorship celebrates Hisense’s presence on the world stage, with the products exported to over 160 countries and regions.  

Paris Saint-Germain and Hisense have been at the forefront of innovation in recent years, with the two brands now working together to bring high quality entertainment into people’s homes.

Member Insights: FFP Has Proven To Be A Successful Model, Despite Loss Of Case To Manchester City

Following the latest loss of a Financial Fair Play case by UEFA against Manchester City, and with the entire footballing community suffering greatly from the lack of revenue provided by supporters in stadiums, Chris Alexander, former CFO at Chelsea Football Club, views the model as a success, despite the latest setback to UEFA.

A number of commentators have been quick to predict the end of FFP in light of the Manchester City case ruling and the Covid 19 crisis. This is extremely unlikely to be the outcome although undoubtedly rule changes will seek to close perceived loopholes in the regulations.

“Non-payment of debt between clubs had always been an issue until the arrival of FFP. This is a problem that has virtually disappeared.”

UEFA’s FFP rules were introduced in June 2010 so have now been in existence for over 10 years. UEFA’s stated principles and objectives for introducing the rules are as follows:

  • to improve the economic and financial capability of the clubs, increasing their transparency and credibility;
  • to place the necessary importance on the protection of creditors and to ensure that clubs settle their liabilities with employees, social/tax authorities and other clubs punctually;
  • to introduce more discipline and rationality in club football finances; 
  • to encourage clubs to operate on the basis of their own revenues;
  • to encourage responsible spending for the long-term benefit of football;
  • to protect the long-term viability and sustainability of European club football.

It is evident that the regulations have had a significant impact on how clubs behave. In particular the cumulative net profits/losses from club in the top European leagues have moved from a loss of €1.67bn in 2011 to a profit of €140m in 2018, an improvement of €1.8bn. 

Non-payment of debt between clubs had always been an issue until the arrival of FFP. This is a problem that has virtually disappeared, one of the less trumpeted successes of the regime.

Adoption of FFP rules at the European level has also been swiftly followed by similar rule implementation at the FAPL and EFL level in the English game.

Compliance with the rules is high as the sanctions for non-compliance are serious. European competition bans and substantial financial penalties are regular events. 

UEFA will move on, seek to close any perceived loopholes through rule changes and FFP is likely to be with us for the foreseeable future.

Clubs have been forced to review their financial models and find smarter ways to manage rather than relying uniquely on wealthy benefactors. Investment in youth development and infrastructure have been used as alternative strategies and clubs such as Chelsea FC have also been very successful developing and selling on talent no longer required at significant profit.

UEFA has not been slow to amend and develop the rules with revisions already having been issued in 2012, 2015 and 2018. Following the developing Covid 19 crisis, UEFA were quick to make appropriate rule changes. The financial years ending in 2020 and 2021 are to be viewed as a single reporting period and losses directly attributable to the pandemic can be adjusted for in the calculations allowing clubs to exceed the €30m over three period loss limits.

CAS’s ruling in favour of Manchester City reversing UEFA’s two-year ban will undoubtedly be a disappointment for UEFA. However, it needs to be viewed in the context of the significant impact FFP has had on Club behaviour over the past decade. UEFA will move on, seek to close any perceived loopholes through rule changes and FFP is likely to be with us for the foreseeable future.

New Talking Sport Webinar Series Launches With Broadcast Special

The second series of the Talking Sport webinar series will get underway on Thursday, August 13th (3pm GMT), with an episode dedicated to the future of the sports broadcast industry.

The panel will bring together a leading group of sports media executives, including ELEVEN Executive Chairman Marc Watson, Dhaval Ponda of Tata Communications and Andy Goldberg, Director at CBS Sports.

The session will be moderated by Mark Bishop of Vindicia and presented by Sid Kohli. 

The panel will discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the sports media business, the future value of sports media rights and new opportunities for innovation, in what will be a wide ranging conversation. 

To register to watch the session for FREE, click here. 

Talking Sport is dedicated to looking at how the sports business industry tackles the global pandemic and builds for the future. Eleven Sports and iSportconnect will partner for a total of six webinar episodes over the coming months.

SportAccord Gold Partner FISU Marks Three-Year Countdown to the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games

SportAccord has confirmed the International University Sports Federation (FISU), as a Gold Partner for the 19th edition of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit taking place in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Today’s announcement is especially exciting as tomorrow marks the three-year countdown to the start of the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games in the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia.

As a SportAccord 2021 Gold Partner, FISU is playing a key role in supporting preparations for the sports industry’s most influential global gathering at the IEC Ekaterinburg-Expo from 23-28 May next year. For FISU, SportAccord 2021 will provide a timely signpost in the build-up to the FISU World University Games. The FISU World University Games are the largest global multi-sports events for university athletes and the Ekaterinburg 2023 edition will take place from 8-19 August 2023, about seven months after the winter edition that will be held in Lake Placid, USA, in January the same year.

The city was awarded the World University Games following a unanimous vote by the FISU Executive Committee a year ago, underlining the sporting pedigree of a dynamic destination that bridges the continents of Europe and Asia. As part of its growing portfolio of international sports events, Ekaterinburg hosted FIFA World Cup 2018 matches and the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships, and will also stage games during the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

Situated on the banks on the Iset River, Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth-largest city by population, and is a hotspot for tourism and business, as well as sport, as the home to numerous professional teams.

“When Ekaterinburg was awarded the World University Games, FISU described the city as one of Russia’s most vibrant hubs, and we agree with those sentiments,” SportAccord Managing Director, Nis Hatt says.

“Ekaterinburg is a wonderful city that has sport at its heart and will provide plenty of attractions and interests to keep delegates entertained and engaged for what I’m sure will be an outstanding SportAccord next year. Today is a significant milestone for our valued Gold Partner, and we wish our friends at FISU well as their preparations ramp up ahead of the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games.”

FISU President, Oleg Matytsin said: “FISU is pleased to continue the partnership with SportAccord, one of the most important events in the world of international sports. As a founding member of GAISF and an active member of ARISF, the International University Sports Federation continues to strengthen its position within the international sports movement and looks to lead the way in many areas. Moreover, this next edition of SportAccord will be special for us, as it is being held in the host city of our summer edition of the FISU World University Games in 2023.”

The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. As the only global sports industry event attended by all International Sport Federations and their stakeholders, SportAccord also 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 2021 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 2021 exhibition space.