San Francisco 49ers Names MANSCAPED As Below-The Waist Grooming Partner

The San Francisco 49ers has signed an exclusive multi-year partnership with MANSCAPED, the leader in male below-the-waist grooming and hygiene.

As part of the deal, MANSCAPED will become the Official Below-The-Waist Grooming Partner of the San Francisco 49ers. Extending well beyond keeping 49ers players on top of their grooming game, this dynamic sponsorship entails highly curated brand integrations as well as surprise and delight elements that will enhance the fan experience.

Kevin Hilton, 49ers vice president of corporate partnerships said: “Anybody who followed our thrilling run to the Super Bowl last year knows that the 49ers are comfortable with close shaves so MANSCAPED will be a welcome addition to the 49ers family. MANSCAPED is changing the game of personal hygiene for men everywhere, and we are proud to partner together to highlight their brand with relevant connections to our fanbase.”

The center of the collaboration will come to life at Levi’s Stadium, the acclaimed home of the 49ers located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Recognized as one of the world’s foremost technological innovators among sports and entertainment venues, Levi’s Stadium will provide the perfect platform for an array of MANSCAPED brand integrations with the 49ers. Additional information on in-stadium placements and other promotional initiatives will be announced in conjunction with the team’s marketing plans for the 2020 NFL season.

Ryan Fiore, MANSCAPED’s vice president of marketing said: “MANSCAPED and the 49ers share the same passion for connecting with fans in an authentic, memorable and lasting way. We look forward to further exploring this like-minded vision together.”

This partnership follows MANSCAPED’s recent announcement of the brand’s multi-year exclusive sponsorship with UFC. These high-profile partnerships are a testament to MANCASPED’s dedication to carefully seeking out only the best partners in order to develop meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships that strategically elevate both parties.

Manchester City Renews Intel Sports Partnership

Manchester City and Intel Sports have announced a multi-year extension to their partnership.

In 2019, Manchester City installed Intel True View technology in the Etihad Stadium, with dozens of 5K Ultra HD cameras offering fans a way of watching the game they had never experienced before.

Over the course of the partnership so far, Intel True View clips and content have generated millions of views across City’s digital estate.

Nuria Tarre, Chief Marketing Officer of City Football Group, said: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Intel Sports. We are not surprised at what a popular addition to our content True View has quickly become. We entered our partnership in the spirit of collaboration and innovation and we have been delighted to hand fans control of how they view immersive highlights so quickly after installing True View. At a time when we are having to play behind closed doors, we are extremely pleased that Intel True View’s comprehensive perspectives showcase the experience of being in the Etihad Stadium. We are looking forward to more years of working and innovating together.”

James Carwana, GM of Intel Sports added: “Our relationship with Manchester City provides fans the ability to interact, control and experience the match in previously unimaginable ways. The club’s innovative approach to integrate True View immersive highlights at the Etihad Stadium has been a testament to its dedication to their fans. As we continue to develop our volumetric video technology, we’re delighted to team up with Manchester City in delivering fresh and engaging experiences to fans.”

AS Roma Signs Edison Energia As Energy Partner

AS Roma has signed Edison Energia as the club’s Official Energy Partner.

With the agreement, Edison will become the club’s energy provider – working on sustainable energy solutions throughout the club’s offices and stores in Italy.

Edison will work with the club to implement a number of sustainable energy solutions for both the club and its fans, including installations at the club’s training ground. Edison will also become part of the ‘Easy Mobility’ campaign the club launched in January 2020 – in order to help supporters get to the Stadio Olimpico on matchday in more efficient, safer and energy-efficient ways.

Francesco Calvo, the club’s Chief Operating Officer said: “We are incredibly proud to have signed this agreement with one of the main players in sustainable energy, not just in Italy but in Europe. Among the many reasons why the club wanted Edison Energia to join the family was the shared focus on sustainable energy solutions, along with the many great offers the partner can provide to our fans.”

Massimo Quaglini, administrator for Edison Energia said: “Edison Energia is putting its expertise at the disposal of the club and its fans, to create a ‘team’ that can make concrete strides towards building a sustainable future for all with a better quality of life.”

Member Insights: How The Pandemic Created A New Breed Of Virtual Event

Tickitto look at how Coronavirus has created the requirement to evolve into the virtual world for many in the event industry.

The COVID-19 lockdown has made virtual events necessary for many industries. Many people have had to give up cheering with crowds, meeting new people, and hanging out with their friends while still trying to enjoy the latest sporting events, concert tours, and live panels.

In some instances and for specific use cases, when executed properly, virtual events can be used as an alternative for the traditional in-person events. However, the technology comes with some limitations to be kept in mind.

We took the time to analyse the three main types of events that saw a surge during the pandemic and the experience of attending those virtually.  

Virtual Sport Matches 

Conference apps like Zoom and Discord are allowing people to watch games from the comfortable distance of their own homes. 

As Germany started lifting off restrictions, football games resumed behind closed doors. Borussia Dortmund Football Club fans joined in via a zoom session to watch their team play. We have also seen how Danish SuperLeague team AGF Aarhus made it possible for fans to join in and watch the match virtually. 

Even though the technology allowed fans to reconnect with their teams, the German Bundesliga game attendees commented that watching the match on the screen felt somewhat dull and isolating. Watching your favourite team from home can hardly compete with the experience of being in a sports arena filled with fans. Furthermore, the energy in sporting events is essential to their appeal. The crowd cheering for their team when they score or mingling with fellow supporters at the drinks queue during half-time are all essential elements of an event. 

Concerts and Festivals

With the help of streaming technology, many artists and musicians were able to reconnect with their audiences and took their performances to the virtual stage. Musicians like Pink, Coldplay, and John Legend found a way to perform for fans by using live streaming and social media. 

Virtual concert platforms became more relevant and saw a significant increase in fundraising as the industry began to recognise the value of connecting musicians with their fans regardless of the circumstances. Streaming tech companies are also partnering up with some of the biggest names in the industry. For example, Big Hit Entertainment, the label behind the global K-pop supergroup BTS, just partnered with streaming-tech company Kiswe to stream their concerts.

In any case, it is essential to mention that performances might become one dimensional when filtered through technology. No platform or home can mimic the acoustics of a concert hall along with the energy of people singing along and dancing together. 

Panel discussions 

Panel discussions with creators or various speakers are another popular event category during the lockdown. Since people can no longer attend panels, some companies are using strategies like real-time illustrators to spice up their discussion broadcasts. 

Both live and pre-recorded sessions are valid options for companies to bring these events to people trapped in their homes. With live sessions, audiences at home can still feel like they’re experiencing an event for the first time, which is ideal when discussions include breaking information, sports scores, or anything time-sensitive. On the other hand, pre-recorded sessions can be refined through technology to be high-quality entertainment with less downtime.

The real-time format of virtual panel discussions can be executed quite well as questions and answers that generally accompany those can be supported via the current tech platforms with features like raise your hand in Zoom and the Q&A feature. If needed, moderators can simply jump in and steer the conversation. However, virtual panels do hinder the opportunity for networking to some extent compared to real events.

Final Remarks

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but in this case, the necessity of social distancing forced us to adapt to a new normal. It has taught us to fully embrace the capabilities and drawbacks of modern communications systems and, along with them, cloud-based event platforms tools. What lies next is not adjusting to accept those events, but instead recognising that these are rather a temporary measure while restoring confidence to re-host and attend physical events during the recovery phase.

Meet The Member: “Current Scenario Provides The Sporting Industry A Good Opportunity To Accelerate Adoption Of Technology & Innovate” – JSW Sports CEO

iSportconnect spoke with Mustafa Ghouse, Chief Executive Officer, JSW Sports. JSW Sports, the sports vertical of the JSW Group, owns and operates franchises in three of India’s biggest leagues — IPL (Delhi Capitals), Indian Super League (Bengaluru FC) and Pro Kabaddi League (Haryana Steelers). The JSW Group has also led the establishment of the Inspire Institute of Sport, India’s first privately funded high-performance training centre for future Olympians, in Bellary, Karnataka.

How different and difficult it is going to be for the sporting realm in India amidst COVID19?

The impact from COVID-19 is being felt across the board and sports is no exception. In fact, the sporting industry relies heavily on events and therefore, there would be a definite financial impact that would be felt throughout the sector. Besides the impact on professional sports leagues and Olympic sports, there is a massive group of allied industries, semi-professional and amateur athletes, grounds staff and other professionals who have been impacted by the pause in sporting activity. To use an example, the Sports Good Manufacturing Industry is massive in India and a significant portion of the products are exported (bats, footballs etc). This industry alone does business of close to $1 billion annually an employs 500,000 people. Given the extent of India’s lockdown, it’ll be key for the industry as a whole to address these aspects as we move towards some sense of normalcy. I do not think we can really say sports is well and truly back until the maidans (fields) in Mumbai and Kolkata are back with kids playing cricket and football all over.

So yes, it is going to very different for sure, but it also provides the industry a good opportunity to accelerate adoption of technology and innovate in terms of improving the sporting experience for everyone involved.

How drastic has been the impact on your business as IPL/PKL may get cancelled this year as JSW Sports owns franchises in these leagues?

There will be a definite impact on business due to the postponement/cancelling of events. Globally, there are reports that sponsorship rights-fees are expected to fall around 37% year-on-year. While it is too early for us to be able to quantify this in exact terms, we are bracing for a 25-30% impact on our topline for this year. This would, of course, be subject to how the situation normalises over the coming months. For instance, all our conversations with the leagues we are involved with seem to suggest that there is a possibility for the IPL, PKL and ISL to go ahead in some form this year. So while it is almost certain that it won’t be like a regular season, the finer details of how the matches do go ahead, what sort of travel, staff and spectator restrictions are in place etc will all play a role in sponsor interest and consequently, on the financial conditions of the franchises.

What are the brands JSW Sports teams currently work with? How do you narrow down on brands you want to be associated with?

At JSW Sports, we work with 80+ brands from different segments across our sporting properties, which include the 3 franchises (across cricket, football and kabaddi), our roster of Olympic talents and the Inspire Institute of Sport- the High Performance Training Centre we’ve led the establishment of. Through our assets, we feel that we are well positioned in the Indian sports ecosystem to cater to a range of brand marketing needs. For example, we’ve been able to drive some milestone partnerships with Kia Motors, for their first sports marketing association in India through Bengaluru FC, and Bridgestone, an IOC TOP Sponsor, who have partnered with the Track & Field Program at IIS part of their CSR initiative. The common thread across all our sports properties is a focus on professionalising sport in India and developing young sporting talent for the nation. We’ve found that brands looking to reach the aspirational youth of India find such partnerships very effective. Similarly, with non-cricket sports getting more attention in India and more Indians becoming competitive at the world stage, we’ve seen a lot of interest from brands wanting to associate with our Olympic talent.

We know Bengaluru FC is one of the top teams in ISL. What is the future of football in India? Like LaLiga is being broadcast on Facebook, you reckon the ISL can follow suit?

Bengaluru FC was started with a hope to bring about a change in the way football teams are run in India and the journey so far has been extremely satisfying for us. That being said, football is a long-term play for us as management and we’re working on building on a strong foundation that we have been able to set so far through strategic partnerships such as the one we signed with Rangers FC last year. On the broadcast plans and mediums, that is a call for the league to make. The broadcast partner is a key stakeholder in any league and I think Star has done a great job in helping ISL get the visibility it has through its broadcast platforms and Hotstar. As franchise owners, we are in constant touch with the league management and would welcome any move which can unlock value for the league and its teams.

Any plans of venturing into eSports? Is the eSports scene growing in India?

eSports is an interesting space we’re observing closely. Online gaming platforms have seen incredible growth and this has accelerated even more during the past few months. India’s demographic advantage, increasing disposable household incomes and access to data and internet make the online gaming and eSports market an attractive proposition and while we aren’t planning on entering the space at this moment, it is an area we are keeping a close eye on for the future.

DFL Awards Domestic Live Rights Of Bundesliga To Sky And DAZN Until 2025

The German Football League (DFL) has agreed to award the domestic live rights to the German Bundesliga, from 2021-22 to 2024-25, to pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland and OTT streaming service DAZN, according to The Associated Press.

The growth in the value of Bundesliga broadcast rights has ended under a four-year deal secured as the media industry grapples with the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Comcast Corp.-owned Sky and the DAZN streaming service will pay less than the 4.64 billion euros (around $5.2 billion) generated in the 2017-21 agreements, people with knowledge of the deals reported The Associated Press.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deals ahead of the German league organization.

The top games will be on Sky, which has the rights to 200 matches on Saturdays.

DAZN, which currently sub-licenses around 40 games from Eurosport, will be able to show 106 games across Fridays and Sundays from the 2021-22 season after securing a package in the auction with the league.

Dentsu Partners Global Esports Federation To Promote Esports Business

Dentsu has signed a strategic partnership with the Global Esports Federation with the aim to promote the global development of the growing eSports business.

The strategic partnership will focus on joint efforts to develop new marketing programs and eSports events. In collaboration with JeSU, Dentsu will lend its expertise and experience to collaborate with various game publishers, commercial partners and various International Organizations to further elevate the credibility, legitimacy and prestige for eSports.

Chris Chan, President, Global Esports Federation said: “We are certain that this strategic partnership will strengthen the future prospects of the GEF, expanding the vital work that the team has already established. We look to Dentsu for their expertise to bring together the best of eSports and sport, further fulfilling our mission to elevate eSports and the world’s eSports ecosystem.”

The GEF was launched in December 2019, in Singapore, to establish the voice and authority for the worldwide eSports movement. The federation brings together diverse leaders from eSports, a well as more traditional sporting organizations and athletes, with the vision to create a sustainable ecosystem for eSports. Tencent is the Founding Global Partner of the GEF, and from Japan, the Japan eSports Union (JeSU) is a member of the federation.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 To Welcome Nine Different Sports

More diverse, more exciting, more fun! The multi sports European Championships 2022 will welcome athletes from nine different sports to the city of Munich as they battle it out for medals between 11 and 21 August. Joining athletics, gymnastics, rowing, cycling and triathlon on the schedule will be sport climbing, canoe sprint, table tennis and beach volleyball.

The Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community Horst Seehofer says: “Munich provides world-class conditions for elite international sport, which will be demonstrated in 2022 when this city plays host to the European Championships. This is a huge opportunity for sport in general and a tremendous event for the public. I am extremely pleased about this decision as the Federal Minister, but also as a sports enthusiast. Therefore, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone coming to Munich for this event.”

Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian State Minster of the Interior, for Sport and Integration: “This is going to be a big deal and an amazing sports festival. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the Olympic sports venues filled with new life. I believe in the concept of sustainability, the sporting standards and the range of sports represented in this event. Who else has nine European Championships in such diverse disciplines at one location? I am certain that these championships will set a precedent and serve as a model for future competitions throughout Europe.”

In late April, Munich city council gave the green light for the European Championships to be expanded to nine sports – instead of the original seven – while maintaining the same budget.

Dieter Reiter, Lord Mayor of the City of Munich: “I am delighted that we have been able to add even more sports than initially planned for the European Championships 2022: beach volleyball, sport climbing, table tennis and canoe sprint athletes will now also be competing for European Championship titles. Exactly 50 years after the 1972 Olympics, a top-class, vibrant and diverse sporting spectacle will once again take place in Munich. I am already looking forward to exciting, fair competitions in nine sports.”

“We are happy and proud to host the European Championships in a wide range of Olympic sports during what is set to be a very special anniversary year. This diverse festival of sport will thrill both visitors from throughout Europe as well as the local population here in Munich – that is our aspiration and the goal we are working hard to achieve,” explains Marion Schöne, CEO of the Olympic Park Munich.

Exactly fifty years after welcoming the Summer Olympic Games, the Olympic Park Munich is set to celebrate another major sporting event. The European Championships will be the largest event to take place in the Olympic Park since the 1972 Summer Olympics. 4,400 athletes from across Europe will descend on the city to compete in 158 medal events across nine sports.

Despite the size of the event, the European Championships 2022 will focus on environmental sustainability. No new infrastructure will be built for the Championships in order to minimise the impact on the city and the region. The proximity of the venues to each other and the excellent public transport links between the Olympic Park, the city centre and the surrounding area will contribute to creating a green European Championships in 2022.

Football Federation Australia And Fox Sports Agree New Broadcast Deal

Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Fox Sports Australia (Fox Sports) tonight confirmed they had reached agreement on a new broadcast deal that will see football broadcast on Fox Sports through to the end of July 2021.

The agreement ensures that the remainder of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season will resume on 16 July and be completed as planned.

Australia’s final four FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Round 2 Asian Qualifiers will be shown on Fox Sports, while Socceroos and Westfield Matildas friendly international matches will be aired on the network through to 31 July 2021.

The A-League 2020/21 and Westfield W-League 2020/21 seasons will also be shown on Fox Sports.

FFA Chief Executive Officer James Johnson acknowledged Foxtel and Fox Sports for their collaboration during the negotiation, noting that the deal will help to provide the certainty football requires.

“I would like to thank Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany and Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell for their continued support for Australian football,” Johnson said.

“The pandemic has created uncertainty and accelerated disruption to the sports media sector and to football here in Australia and abroad – this new agreement adjusts to this new reality, secures the immediate future of football in Australia and provides flexibility for FFA to lay a foundation to transition into a new world for Australian professional football.

“The deal will see the professional game – for women and men – reactivated, and ensures that football is at the heart of all our thinking in the future.

“It will also provide immediate certainty for clubs, players, coaches, officials and, most importantly, fans, for the remainder of the current Hyundai A-League season, as well as the next.

“We are equally as pleased to have secured the next season for the Westfield W-League to ensure we can continue to drive interest and growth in women’s football in Australia,” he said.

Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (APFCA) Chairman Paul Lederer also thanked Foxtel, Fox Sports and FFA for successfully concluding their discussions.

“Fox Sports has been an outstanding partner of the Hyundai A-League and the Westfield W-League and we are pleased that this partnership will continue until the 2020/21 season,” Lederer said.

“This deal ensures that our fans and members will be able to enjoy the exciting conclusion to the current Hyundai A-League season, and look forward to the next A-League and Westfield W-League seasons.”

FFA CEO James Johnson added that a key feature of the new broadcast deal includes a shift in the timing of the next A-League season, with the 2020/21 season now commencing in December 2020 and concluding in July 2021.

“The shift in the timing of the next A-League season is a strategic decision to enhance the alignment of our top tier professional men’s league with the grassroots playing season of the largest community sport in the country,” Johnson explained.

“There are numerous benefits to this, including better aligning the competition pyramid of Australian football to facilitate enhanced football outcomes like a modern domestic transfer system, and enabling deeper engagement with our vast grassroots football community at the precise time our many participants are most engaged in our great game.

“Despite challenging times, this deal will help us continue the process of transforming our professional leagues and move the sport towards an exciting future.”

Free-to-air broadcast partner ABC TV will continue to broadcast one A-League and Westfield W-League match per week through to the end of July 2021, along with FFA-controlled Socceroos and Westfield Matildas matches.

The new agreement will no longer see the FFA Cup broadcast on Fox Sports and FFA will consider innovative new broadcast arrangements for the only truly national Cup competition in Australian sport.

“The FFA Cup is unique in the Australian sporting landscape and connects the grassroots and National Premier Leagues with the Hyundai A-League. We will be forever grateful to Foxtel and Fox Sports for sharing our vision to create this special competition in the first place. We are excited for the future of the FFA Cup and will make further announcements about its future direction in due course,” Johnson concluded.

Peter Campbell, Head of Fox Sports said: “We want to be there for football fans and we are pleased to have a new agreement that supports the completion of the 2019/20 A-League season and provides certainty for FFA, clubs, players and supporters to begin planning and to get excited for next season.

“This new deal also provides us with the opportunity to work with FFA over the next year as they reset and reenergize the professional game in Australia and explore the best possible range of future broadcast options for the game.

“Football has been through a challenging period and we are excited to have the W-League, Socceroos, Matildas back on Fox Sports and for the A-League restart on 16 July, every game live and ad-break free during play.”