Tepper Sports & Entertainment And Fanatics Announce Long-Term, Omnichannel Retail Partnership

Fanatics, the global leader for licensed sports merchandise, and Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE) today announced an exclusive, long-term agreement to become the company’s official omnichannel retail partner. Under the new deal, Fanatics will operate both the e-commerce and physical retail experiences at Bank of America Stadium for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and Charlotte’s new MLS expansion franchise.

The teams’ enhanced online and mobile shopping platforms will be driven through Fanatics’ Cloud Commerce Platform (CCP), creating a rapid, seamless experience for fans whether shopping on desktop, phone or tablet, and will feature larger, hi-resolution product displays, frictionless checkout and the largest assortment of real-time products. The new Panthers online store, shop.panthers.com, is currently live and accessible by fans, while e-commerce for TSE’s new MLS expansion team will fall under Fanatics’ operation of MLSShop.com and all of the league’s online team shops.

“We are thrilled to partner with Fanatics to provide a seamless retail experience and a wider variety of products for fans of both the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte MLS franchises,” said Mark Hart, vice president & chief operating officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment. “Fanatics’ experience in the NFL and MLS provides good synergy across the Tepper Sports & Entertainment platforms and is yet another best-in-class partner for TSE and Bank of America Stadium.”

Fanatics will also oversee operations of all in-venue retail locations throughout Bank of America Stadium for both the Panthers and Charlotte’s expansion MLS team, including the official team store, kiosks and additional concourse shops. The blending of online and offline merchandise will create an omnichannel retail experience for fans on gameday and beyond, with a significantly expanded assortment of readily in-stock products, whether shopping online, via mobile phone or at the game. Additionally, over time the groups’ multi-channel relationship will allow Fanatics to create experiential retail touchpoints throughout the stadium across multiple technology infusions.

“Fanatics is proud to partner with David Tepper and his talented management team, who have a bold, progressive vision for both the Panthers and their new MLS franchise,” said Gary Gertzog, Fanatics President of Business Affairs. “We see an incredible opportunity to significantly elevate the entire end-to-end retail experience for fans through our connected, tech-infused e-commerce and physical retail offerings, which will be on full display regardless of shopping online, on your phone or at the game.”

Fanatics is the official e-commerce partner of both the NFL and MLS. The Panthers become Fanatics’ 25th NFL partner, nine of which are omnichannel deals, while Carolina’s new MLS team will mark the company’s 14th MLS omnichannel partner upon the brand’s launch on July 22. Fanatics has recently helped launch full e-commerce and in-venue retail operations for MLS expansion teams Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).

Member Insights: Why You‘re Not Retaining Fan Engagement And What You Should Do About It

Don’t you just hate it when you’re getting spammed with ads for products that have nothing to do with your interests? One of the greatest challenges in sports marketing today is sparking fan engagement through digital experiences tailored to the individual needs of the fans, StriveCloud‘s Jente Vanhaesebroeck looks at a recent example.

A great digital experience starts with delivering the right message at the right time and maybe even more important to the right person.

The same applies to esports fan engagement! In this article, we jump into the personalization hurdles of Swiss esports agency eStudios and their gaming tournament platform GameTurnier.

You’ll discover:

  • How personalization drives fan engagement
  • The role of data in crafting a frictionless fan experience
  • What kinds of different behaviors exist in the esports community
  • How eStudios overcame their community challenges through personalization

IOC Financial Support To Olympic Movement Hits $100 Million, Announces Virtual Festival With Airbnb

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already supported the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) with around USD 100 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis.

To date and as needed, USD 63 million have been allocated to IFs and USD 37 million to NOCs.

In addition, it has been confirmed today by the IOC Executive Board (EB) that the IOC will continue supporting the NOCs with the TOP Programme allocation amounting to USD 150 million payable by end of this year. Furthermore, the IOC is committed to ensuring funding for the IOC-Recognised Organisations.

The IOC, as the leader of the Olympic Movement, is playing a critical role in supporting its stakeholders during the COVID-19 outbreak. The organisation has swiftly delivered on its commitment to allocate an aid package programme for the Olympic Movement.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Movement is facing an unprecedented challenge. The IOC has to organise postponed Olympic Games for the first time ever, and has to help its stakeholders come through this global crisis. This new situation will need all our solidarity, creativity, determination and flexibility. We shall all need to make sacrifices and compromises. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. This situation requires every one of us to do our part, and this applies to all of us, including the IOC. We are glad to be able to help with our support programmes.”

The IFs are facing financial hardship due to the cancellation of sports events and the impact on the sporting calendar of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 being held in 2021. Due to the urgency of the situation, payments to IFs started in June 2020, and the programme is still continuing. The IOC’s support comes in different forms, and is decided after an assessment of needs and on a case-by-case basis.

THE IOC, THE IPC AND AIRBNB ANNOUNCE SUMMER FESTIVAL OF OLYMPIAN & PARALYMPIAN ONLINE EXPERIENCES

The IOC has also announced a new summer festival in association with new partners Airbnb.

– With the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 postponed until 2021, the IOC, the IPC and Airbnb will bring the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics online with a curated programme of activities hosted by athletes for the first time in history

– Bookings for the five-day event will open on 22 July, with more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences offered by Naomi Osaka, Yusra Mardini, Rui Hachimura, Allyson Felix, Lex Gillette, and others

– Fans who book will proudly support their heroes ahead of Tokyo 2020, as proceeds will provide valuable income to athlete hosts, now and beyond the festival, including some who are on the road to their Olympic and Paralympic dreams

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Worldwide Olympic Partner Airbnb are announcing a five-day summer festival featuring more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences hosted virtually by some of the world’s best athletes. The festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences will kick off on 24 July, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin, and is an opportunity for athletes to generate income while they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their sport with guests.

“The Olympic Games bring the whole world together and, whilst we will all have to wait one more year to celebrate in Tokyo, the Olympic flame continues to be the light at the end of the dark tunnel humankind is currently going through,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “It demonstrates that we are stronger together. This festival is a great platform to unite and inspire the world in the spirit of friendship and solidarity this summer. The IOC puts the athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and supports them at every stage of their journey. We are delighted to collaborate with Airbnb to provide innovative economic empowerment opportunities for Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the world.”

UK Sport And Sport England To Co-Commission Review Into Allegations Of Athlete Mistreatment In Gymnastics

“UK Sport and Sport England welcome and support the decision of British Gymnastics to step aside from the review it announced last week and have agreed to co-commission a fully independent review into the serious concerns raised by gymnasts.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders, including the British Athletes Commission (BAC) and the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), to develop the terms of reference and the structure of the review to ensure it has credibility and the confidence of all of those who have had the courage to come forward.

“Our immediate priority is to provide support for all those affected by these allegations. We are working with the BAC as it finalises its plans to assist gymnasts and others who have been impacted to raise their concerns and take part in the review. Further and full details of the support available will be published online as soon as possible.

“We appreciate this is an anxious time for many young gymnasts and their families and we intend to move swiftly to finalise and publish the details of the review.”

BRITISH GYMNASTICS STEP ASIDE TO REMOVE DOUBTS ABOUT REVIEW

At a Board meeting on Tuesday night British Gymnastics made the decision to step aside to allow UK Sport and Sport England to co-commission the Independent Review it first established following concerns raised by British gymnasts about mistreatment.

British Gymnastics originally announced the commissioning of a QC led Independent Review last week. However, to remove any doubt of the Review’s integrity or independence, British Gymnastics has asked that UK Sport and Sport England now co-commission it.

Commenting on the decision, Jane Allen, CEO of British Gymnastics, said: “It is vital the Review is unequivocally independent with full resources to effectively deal with concerns raised by gymnasts. In the past week, the complexities have increased, and it is clear to retain the trust of the gymnastics community we have decided to recuse ourselves from any management of the Review. Our priority is to learn the lessons and ensure the welfare of all those within gymnastics. By stepping aside, we hope the Review can now proceed unimpeded.”

The Review is intended to recognise the importance of the concerns raised and the determination of UK Sport and Sport England to jointly investigate those concerns, and ensure there are actions identified to bring about positive change,  by way of a process that is independent and impartial.

Pepsi Extends Partnership With Pakistan National Cricket Team

Pakistan Cricket Board and Pepsi today announced a one-year extension as principal partner of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team for all three formats. Pepsi and PCB have enjoyed a fruitful partnership for over two decades.

The partnership will run initially until 30 June 2021, during which period Pakistan will take on England in the upcoming Test and T20I series from 5 August and are then scheduled to feature in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, home series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, and away series against South Africa, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

Easy Paisa, Pakistan’s first mobile financial services platform, will be the associate partner of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team for the upcoming tour of England.

Director – Marketing & Franchise, PepsiCo Pakistan, Saad Munawar Khan: “We are proud to continue our much cherished journey with Pakistan cricket as the principal partner of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team.

“Pepsi, Pakistan cricket and our passionate supporters are all part of one family and we are very excited to see our champion cricketers taking the field and making us proud with stellar performances.”

PCB Director – Commercial, Babar Hamid: “Despite working with a backdrop of a challenging economic climate, I am delighted that we have reached an acceptable agreement with Pepsi to continue as a principal partner for, at least, the next 12 months.

“Pepsi has been our valued partner since the 1990s, during which period we have shared great on-field memories and we look forward to that continuing over the next 12-months. 

“This extension of the partnership not only reflects our relationship and understanding with Pepsi, but also indicates the value that they place on the profile and visibility that sponsoring the Pakistan men’s national cricket team brings.”

Track And Field Athletes Unite To Formally Establish Independent Athletics Association

Today marks the formal launch of The Athletics Association, an independent organization established for athletes, by athletes.

Formed in response to the calls from athletes worldwide for independent representation, the objective of The Athletics Association is to provide Track and Field athletes with a meaningful voice, to fight for stronger athletes’ rights, and to seek an athletes first approach to our sport.

The Athletics Association aims to engage in positive dialogue with the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, and their own athletes’ commission, but will of course hold World Athletics to account when necessary and challenge them if they are not acting in the best interest of the athletes.

The non-profit Athletics Association has been busy developing a number of support services and member benefits for athletes, including a hardship grant fund, training courses, and discounts on products. Details of the full annual membership package will be announced ahead of the full roll-out in January 2021.

The Athletics Association initial objectives:

1 – Lobby World Athletics and the Diamond League stakeholders regarding the changes to the Diamond League schedule that were announced for 2020. We will offer suggestions and alternatives that would include all stadium disciplines, and would benefit athletes and fans, as well as the long term interests of this diverse and wonderful sport.

2 – Gain a seat at the table with World Athletics to command real involvement and power when it comes to decision-making in the sport, as we look to amplify the voices of our members and athletes all over the world.

3 – Announce the Athletics Association’s welfare charter, highlighting our commitment to improving the conditions for athletes across a range of issues.

4 – Solidify our membership package that will begin in January 2021 and will offer access to courses on issues such as financial literacy and life after Athletics, and also discounts on products.

5 – Present World Athletics with innovative ideas for the growth of the sport.

The collective has launched with two-time Olympic and four-time World champion, Christian Taylor, as the inaugural president “I am very proud of the progress made by the members of the Athletics Association Board. Since its initial inception a lot of work has been put in to establish the right governance and long-term viability that is essential to do justice to the athletes we represent. It’s this that has attracted the commitment and support of the athletes on the Board. We have athletes from every continent, and a wide variety of disciplines; we are made up of Olympic and World champions, as well as world record holders and continental champions. “

“In addition to the board members, there are so many other athletes who have helped get us to this stage. World Athletics recently published a strategic plan, and athletes have been identified as key stakeholders. The Athletics Association provides a representative voice and a simple way for the sport’s governing body to follow through on their commitment. We are ready to contribute to the growth of the sport that we love, ensuring that athletes are part of the decision-making process.  This association is for the athletes, by the athletes, and we are determined to make a real difference. We firmly believe that we can affect positive change in our sport. We are ready for the challenge.”

The Athletics Association has also agreed to a strategic partnership with Global Athlete, a progressive athlete start-up movement aiming to inspire greater athlete representation in organisations across the world of sport. The partnership brings together two organisations with similar values to collaborate on projects, share insights and drive change that will ultimately benefit the athletes and the sport.

“Global Athlete is proud to be a partner with the Athletics Association. Establishing an independent association is a critical step in enhancing athletes’ rights. It is so important for athletes to have their own representation” said Rob Koehler, Global Athlete Director General.

“The sport of athletics needs to find a new and exciting path for success. This success can only be possible with real meaningful athlete engagement. Athletes have the desire to further grow the sport while at the same time ensuring the utmost care is given to athletes’ rights. Together we are stronger.” said Emma Coburn, The Athletics Association Vice-President.

The Athletics Association structure:

The Athletics Association Board is made up of representatives from every continent and comprises 24 athletes, including individual global champions: Christian Taylor (President) Emma Coburn (Vice-President), Allyson Felix, Ashton Eaton, Julius Yego, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tianna Bartoletta and Tom Walsh.

To see all the board members and their roles please visit our brand new website www.athleticsassociation.org and sign up and register to receive up-to-date information.

Extreme E And AFC Energy To Pioneer Zero Emission Vehicle Charging

Extreme E, the revolutionary new electric SUV off-road racing series, has announced it is embarking on a world-first collaboration with AFC Energy, with its pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero emission energy.

Extreme E is the first event organiser to utilise hydrogen fuel cell power generators for charging, and the decision supports Extreme E’s goal of being sustainable and creating minimal local impact on the environments in which it races. This innovative solution from AFC Energy offers a completely sustainable fuel production process. The system use water and sun to generate hydrogen power which will then be used to charge all the ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs off the grid. 

Not only will this process emit zero greenhouse emissions, its only by-product will be water, which will be utilised elsewhere on-site.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “This collaboration with AFC Energy is a game changer, not just for Extreme E, but also to the wider sports and events industry which could also benefit greatly from using this innovative, zero emission charging technology.

“AFC Energy is the leading provider of Alkaline Fuel Cell systems for the generation of clean energy. It has developed a wide range of technologies to enable sustainable off-grid power generation, which is easily transportable, offers high efficiency, and emits water, which we can utilise elsewhere in site, as its only by-product. 

“In everything we do around this championship we are focussed on being sustainable and supporting the environment, whilst also being innovative. It is fantastic that Extreme E is leading the way in motorsport when it comes to sustainable solutions like this. Motorsport is often associated with a high detrimental footprint on the environment through event infrastructures, but we are trying to change that, and this collaboration with AFC Energy is a huge step in the right direction.”

AFC Energy has engineered a bespoke H-PowerTM fuel cell system for Extreme E, which has been designed with a clear specification and focus on sustainable innovation.

Adam Bond, Chief Executive Officer at AFC Energy, said “We are honoured to have been selected by Extreme E in such a world class motor racing championship, designed to highlight not only the true potential of electric vehicle SUVs in some of the harshest environments on Earth, but also the need to raise public awareness of the debilitating impact climate change is having on our ecosystems. 

“The H-PowerTM system will showcase to a global audience exactly how Hydrogen can be used as a viable alternative to incumbent diesel generations in the remotest and harshest of environments.” 

Professional Triathletes Organisation Announces Appointment Of Chris Kermode As Vice Chairman

The Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced that it has appointed Chris Kermode as its Vice Chairman and member of the Board of Directors.

Chris started his career as a journeyman tennis professional from 1985-1988, after which he held a number of leadership positions in tennis. From 2013-2019, Chris served as Executive Chairman and President of the Association of Tennis Professionals.

As the head of the ATP, Chris was responsible for promoting global tennis to the next generation of fans and attracting new audiences with innovative broadcasts and formats. Under his leadership, he transformed the ATP’s season-ending World Tour Finals at the London O2 Arena into the largest and most successful indoor tennis event in the world and launched the Next Gen Finals to showcase the world’s top tennis professionals aged under 21. During Kermode’s tenure at the ATP, the amount of prize money paid in men’s professional tennis increased more than 70%.

Charles Adamo, Executive Chairman of the PTO commented, “We are very fortunate to have Chris come on board as Vice Chairman of the PTO. From his start as a professional player, Chris has experienced the formation of the ATP Tour in 1988, when tennis professionals sought to have a greater say in the growth and direction of their sport–the position professional triathlon finds itself in today. Chris rose to lead the ATP and helped fuel unprecedented growth in prize money and revenues in professional tennis. We are privileged he has agreed to devote his talents and experience to triathlon and the PTO.”

Kermode stated “The PTO business model and the triathlon market is compelling, and I am excited about helping the PTO achieve its goals. The PTO has many similarities to professional tennis which began to boom once the professionals started to act together to promote the sport and engage and expand their fan base. Given the decline in participation in sports like tennis and golf and the growth in triathlon, cycling and other endurance sports, professional triathlon has enormous potential to develop into a mainstream sport.

“This will require a unified front from the professionals and aligned interests with the commercial partners. That is why the unique ownership structure of the PTO, where the professionals and Crankstart Investments have equal interests in the success of the venture, is so valuable and why I am confident that the PTO can be the catalyst that turns triathlon into more of a mainstream sport.”

Rachael Joyce, Co-President of the PTO, stated, “It is a real pleasure to have Chris join the PTO in a leadership capacity. His background as a professional tennis player and business leader will address both the interests of professional triathletes and the commercial concerns of the organisation. It is a tribute to the PTO business model and the sport of triathlon that we have been able to attract someone of the calibre of Chris to help the PTO grow and thrive.”

Senegal And IOC Agree To Postpone Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 To 2026

President Macky Sall’s proposal was welcomed by IOC President Thomas Bach, following in-depth discussions on the subject. This postponement meets the requirement of responsibility and the concern for efficiency imposed by current circumstances.

The postponement of Dakar 2022 allows the IOC, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Federations (IFs) to better plan their activities, which have been strongly affected by the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, by the subsequent postponements of major international sports events, and by the operational and financial consequences of the global health crisis.

At the same time, it allows Senegal to carry on the excellent preparations for the Youth Olympic Games. The two leaders, who praised the progress made so far, have jointly renewed their confidence in Dakar 2022 President Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, IOC Member in Senegal, and both remain fully committed to the great success of these Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever to be organised in Africa.

The IOC and Senegal understand that this news will be disappointing for many young athletes. Both parties can only appeal to their understanding. This agreement results from the large scale of the operational challenges which the IOC, the NOCs and the IFs are facing following the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. With this in mind, the IOC will continue to offer all IFs and NOC Continental Associations the full content of the educational programmes of the Youth Olympic Games. This will allow for the objectives of this very important and much-appreciated component of the YOG to be maintained through the many events organised between now and 2026, in particular during the Continental Youth Games.

“This amicable agreement illustrates the mutual trust between Senegal and the IOC. I would like to express my sincere thanks to President Macky Sall, a great friend and supporter of the Olympic Movement, for this exceptional relationship of trust and quality. For all these reasons, I am sure that, together, we will organise fantastic Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 for Senegal, the entire African continent and all the young athletes of the world,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“I would like to reiterate that the IOC has my full support for the organisation of the Youth Olympic Games, postponed to 2026. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my confidence in the Executive Board and welcome the commitment of its teams, working side by side with us, to make Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event in Africa, a successful and memorable occasion”, said President Macky Sall.

The agreement was approved today by the IOC Executive Board, and will be submitted to the IOC Session for ratification this Friday, 17 July 2020.

WAVE.tv And IMG Sign Content Partnership Deal

WAVE.tv, the sports entertainment company for today’s fan, today announced a strategic partnership with IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The deal will see WAVE.tv’s portfolio of digital media brands distribute content from IMG owned and represented sports properties including Euroleague Basketball, Edge Sport and World’s Strongest Man, across Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

The agreement will dramatically increase the volume of traditional and non-traditional sports programming available on WAVE.tv’s media brands, including ‘WAVE TV,’ ‘Benchmob,’ ‘The Pump,’ ‘Buckets,’ ‘No Limits,’ and more. It will also create new direct and programmatic advertising revenue for both parties, while providing IMG’s properties with a steady stream of organic coverage and engagement with Gen Z and Millennial audiences.

In addition to distributing IMG sports content, WAVE.tv will take ownership of direct and programmatic sales related to the deal.

“Sports is this universal language that connects people from all over the world and creates authentic experiences for fans,” said Brian Verne, co-founder and CEO, WAVE.tv. “We continually seek fandoms to bring content and awareness to all genres of sports for today’s fan. Partnering with IMG allows us to continue to celebrate these unique moments and fandoms on a substantial scale and provide fans with an even larger community and sense of belonging. This is just the beginning of a bright and exciting future for us all.”

This new deal broadens and strengthens an already successful relationship built between the two companies over the last 18 months, which began with distributing World’s Strongest Man (WSM) across ‘WAVE TV,’ ‘Highlights WAVE,’ ‘Greatest Highlights,’ and WSM-focused Snap show ‘The Pump.’ The partnership was a way to test how WAVE.tv fans would respond to the non-traditional sport and gauge the viability of The Pump as a new standalone media brand. In a 12-month period, WSM content generated more than 345 million views, and the Pump now has a dedicated fanbase and is one of the company’s top performing properties.

Rebecca Levin, Director, Media at IMG, said: “While working together on World’s Strongest Man, we quickly realized that WAVE.tv and its digital platforms provide a unique opportunity for our brands to engage with today’s sports fans in entertaining new ways. Storytelling and creating memorable experiences are at the core of what we both do, and we’re excited to be providing more content and access for fans than ever before as we extend our partnership to include other IMG properties.”

In building a modern-day sports entertainment company, WAVE.tv has become the 4th largest sports media entity in the US and fastest growing overall, globally (per Shareablee.) Generating over 3.2 billion monthly views, WAVE.tv has over 60 million followers and subscribers, reaching over 200 million sports fans each month.

“This deal is a real sign of the times where IMG and WAVE.tv were able to combine forces and jointly focus on a massive shift that’s happening in the sports media landscape. The modern sports fan (18-34) consumes 90-95% of their sports content on core and emerging social media platforms. Digital native fans are taking over the sports world and they’re unlike any fans we’ve ever seen” said Greg Bobolo, SVP Strategy & Partnerships, WAVE.tv. “I’m thrilled to be able to work with such an esteemed company as IMG to develop and distribute programming for this next generation of sports fans. This is a one-of-a-kind and incredibly strong marketing partnership that has already delivered over 600 million views on pace to surpass 1 billion this year and it’s just getting started.”