Behind The Scenes Of LaLiga’s Closed Doors Broadcast Innovations

LaLiga has resumed without fans in the stands due to health measures following the global COVID-19 pandemic. In anticipation of this, LaLiga spent two months between April and June developing technology that would help enhance its TV match broadcasts.

Through partnering with VIZRT and EA SPORTS the league created virtualised fans and crowd audio, creating the impression of full, lively stadiums while fans cannot physically attend.

LaLiga has been investing in match broadcast technologies for several years, through innovations such as volumetric video in the form of 360° replays, real-time statistics through its in-game video analysis tool Mediacoach, the installation of spider cams in more stadia than any other league and more. This commitment put the league in a strong position to meet the new challenge of behind-closed doors games.

As LaLiga’s Chief Communications Officer Joris Evers explained: “We have history in terms of being at the leading edge when it comes to our broadcasts. We’ve pioneered various technologies to make LaLiga look great on screens around the world and to give fans, wherever they are, the sense that they’re as close to the action as they can possibly be. Now, I think LaLiga is the only sports broadcast today around the world that offers this kind of viewing experience with the virtual audience as well as the virtual audio. It’s a big responsibility because millions watch LaLiga around the world in more than 180 countries.”

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Cazoo Announced As Aston Villa’s New Principal Partner

Aston Villa is delighted to announce a new multi-year partnership with Cazoo, the UK’s leading online car retailer and fastest-growing digital business, to become the Club’s principal partner.

The Cazoo branding will feature on the playing kits and training wear of all Club sides from the men’s first team down to the youngest academy age groups, including all Aston Villa Women sides, as their first team embark on an historic first season in the Women’s Super League.

And for the first time in many years the Club’s principal partner branding will also feature on all junior kits to be sold, which means that Villa’s younger fans will now be able to purchase and wear the same shirts as their heroes.

The partnership, part of an extensive marketing campaign by Cazoo to accelerate online car buying, will commence at the start of the 20/21 season and will also see Cazoo branding featured throughout Villa Park stadium, on official club merchandise and across the club’s website and media backdrops.

Cazoo is pioneering the shift to online car buying in the UK and since its launch last year, consumers have rapidly embraced buying and financing used cars entirely online from Cazoo and getting them delivered to their door in a convenient two-hour slot in the same way as buying any other product.

Cazoo owns and fully reconditions all its cars before offering them for sale and delivering them in as little as 72 hours. Every car comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee and comprehensive 90-day warranty and Cazoo has already sold and delivered thousands of cars to customers all across the UK.

Alex Chesterman OBE, Founder & CEO of Cazoo said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Aston Villa and supporting the Club’s men’s and women’s sides as well as their academy and charitable efforts. We are looking forward to next season and working closely with the Club as we make Cazoo a household name by reinventing the used car buying experience and providing the best selection, value, quality and convenience for UK car buyers.”

Nicola Ibbetson, Aston Villa Chief Commercial Officer, added: “We are immensely proud to have partnered with one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK and Cazoo’s commitment to a partnership with Aston Villa provides both parties with an opportunity to work together for many years to come.

“Alongside several planned activations and fan engagement activities, all generations of Villa fans will be able to wear replica shirts that faithfully resemble those of their on-pitch heroes with the Cazoo branding appearing on all replica kit.”

Liu Guoliang Appointed Chair Of Newly Formed World Table Tennis Council

World Table Tennis (WTT) is honoured to announce that Mr Liu Guoliang, President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, will become Chair of the newly formed WTT Council, taking overall leadership and responsibility for pioneering the future of table tennis.

Putting players and fans at the very heart of its mission, WTT was set up by the ITTF in August 2019, a milestone in the professionalisation reforms of the sport, to modernise its commercial business activities and realise the full potential of table tennis in order to compete and excel among the highest-profile sports in the world.

The WTT Council will ensure the healthy development of WTT and be at the helm of the future development of the sport. Therefore, a true leader in the industry is needed to take on the position and direct the journey towards a brighter future.

Liu Guoliang is an extremely well-respected leader within the global table tennis community, demonstrating the perfect calibre and richest of career achievements. Following a stellar playing career, in which he won gold medals at the Olympics and World Table Tennis Championships, Liu Guoliang has since overseen serial success as the head coach of the Chinese National Team and as the President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), the world’s most successful table tennis association.

WTT is highly honoured to welcome Liu Guoliang as Chair of the WTT Council. We believe that, by following his direction, the global table tennis community will strive for a common goal, driving the WTT Council as well as our sport to the next level.

“Table tennis has enriched my life in so many ways and I have dedicated my life to this sport over many years. Therefore, I am immensely proud and honoured to have the opportunity to direct the WTT Council and help to make table tennis one of the leading sports in the world.” – Liu Guoliang, WTT Council Chair & CTTA President

“Liu Guoliang is an undisputed table tennis legend for what he has achieved both as a player, a coach and as President of the world’s leading national association, China. We are delighted to be welcoming him on board as Chair of the WTT Council. His CV speaks for itself and we firmly believe that he is the perfect man to help deliver success to WTT and to table tennis for many years to come.” – Khalil Al-Mohannadi, WTT Board Member & ITTF Deputy President

“For the success of WTT and table tennis as a whole, it is imperative that we have people of the highest order actively involved in shaping the future of our sport. The fact that Liu Guoliang is the most influential figure in table tennis, not only in China but around the globe, position him perfectly as Chair of the WTT Council. We certainly hope to take advantage of his reputation and influence for the global promotion of table tennis, making it especially appealing for the younger generations. The whole sports industry is in the shadow of the pandemic and we place our hope in Liu Guoliang to spark the future of our sport. This appointment is fantastic news for the entire table tennis family.” – Steve Dainton, WTT Board Member & ITTF CEO

World Athletics Announces New Partnership With Parkrun

World Athletics and parkrun Global Limited are delighted to announce a new partnership by which they will combine their resources to grow the sport of athletics and deliver good health and fitness outcomes for communities around the world.

Parkrun’s simple concept of offering an opportunity for anyone to participate in a free, weekly, organised 5km or 2km run at a local park has captured the imagination of communities around the world over the past 16 years.

From its roots at Bushy Park, Teddington in the United Kingdom in 2004, parkrun has expanded to 20 countries in the past 10 years, and now has more than three million participants globally.

World Athletics, which has 214 Member Federations, and parkrun will work together to encourage people around the world to get moving and keep moving by joining a local parkrun.

Parkrun will assist World Athletics to leave community health legacies in the host countries of World Athletics Series events by creating a series of permanent parkruns in the host cities and countries of world championship events, including the World Championships Oregon 2022 and Budapest 2023. To that end, World Athletics will facilitate government/city support for these events.

World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said parkrun’s purpose aligned perfectly with the sport’s global ambitions for the next four years.

“We have just approved a strategic plan that has the main objective of using the power and accessibility of athletics and our athletes to create a healthier and fitter world,” Ridgeon said.

“One of the ways we are doing this is by developing strong new partnerships where our common cause is to get the world moving. We know that many more people have taken up running during the lockdowns around the world, which makes sense because our sport is the most universal and accessible of all sports, and we want to encourage those people to keep up their new fitness routines as life returns to a more normal footing after the pandemic. Doing a weekly parkrun is an excellent way to stay motivated and find a local running community once mass events are possible again.

“We’re also determined to leave tangible community legacies in all of our future host cities and countries, and there is no better way to do that than by helping to improve the health of their citizens.”

Parkrun CEO Nick Pearson said both organisations were determined to get more people running for their health, fitness and enjoyment.

“This partnership offers parkrun a fantastic platform to demonstrate the role, relevance and value of community health and wellbeing initiatives and to highlight that sport and physical activity is accessible to all,” Pearson said. “It is exciting to see this approach embraced by World Athletics, and we look forward to working with stakeholders in the host countries of World Athletics Series events to support and develop a network of parkrun events.

“We believe that finding positive ways to connect grass roots and community activity with elite sport has multiple benefits and builds stronger sporting foundations and broader engagement. Exercise and physical activity is more accessible and sustainable where sports organisations collaborate and work towards mutual goals. Encouraging the social and community participants to engage with and experience a more competitive sporting environment will help to build a stronger sport and expose pathways to more sporting opportunities.”

How Fans Of LaLiga Clubs Are Making Their Presence Felt Inside The Stadiums

While games continue to be held behind closed doors, fans of LaLiga are following the action from home. But while fans are not attending the stadiums, LaLiga and its clubs have designed a range of different initiatives to ensure their support is still being felt.

From life-sized fan photos in the stands to applause being heard during the match, audio and visual elements have been used to help create a unique experience for the players and strengthen connections between clubs and their fans.

“It’s the time to be united and together,” the Elche CF communications department said of these campaigns. “Our fans are the driving force behind our club and we want them to be part of this exciting time.”

Elche CF’s fan photo initiative goes global
At Elche CF, more than 600 polypropylene, fireproof and hard-wearing templates were printed with fan photos and assembled inside the ground for the club’s first game after the return of the competition.

“Season-ticket holders were the first group to be given this option because we felt they had to have the chance to be close to the team,” the club noted. “Members of our supporters’ groups were also among the first to be informed and consulted on this initiative.”

“We’ve had many requests from football fans, in general, who want to be part of this. The idea was first launched by Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, with whom we’ve developed an excellent relationship off the back of this initiative…..

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Sportfive Agrees 3-Year Deal With Supponor

Sportfive, the global sports business agency, and Supponor, virtual advertising technology and solutions for live sports broadcasts, have agreed to extend their collaboration that has existed since 2017 by another three years.

Sportfive virtual advertising creates additional, highly effective and high-quality TV-relevant advertising inventory within the Bundesliga games. The sponsors and advertisers benefit from the reach and worldwide attention of one of the top leagues worldwide. The range of the Bundesliga has recently been boosted again, as the first and only European top league has successfully restarted. The possibilities of digitally fading advertising banners is particularly important for global and regional sponsorship partnerships outside the German-speaking market.

Over the past two seasons, Supponor’s proprietary technology platform has proven to be a reliable and authentic modification of regular broadcasting that enables virtual multiplication of gang advertising space for multiple international markets. This results in a wide range of opportunities for advertising partners such as the individual approach of target groups in different regions and the possibility of rights holders to acquire different partners per region. The focus markets for addressing target groups and playing out customized feeds are the USA, China, Thailand, Japan and EMEA. In the TV signal for DACH, the LED bands can be seen as they can be seen in the stadium, while the advertising space outside DACH is blended with individual content.

Philipp Hasenbein, COO at Sportfive, said: “We are proud that we were able to bring innovations into the industry together with our partners. The technology enables brands and rights holders to create additional added value. The innovative use of cam carpets underlines our role as a driver of innovation. We support our partner associations in promoting their positioning in the respective target markets and in reaching their target groups with country-specific advertising messages. ”

James B Gambrell, CEO at Supponor, said: “We are happy to extend our partnership with Sportfive as proof of the strong collaboration that we have built. The announcement of our expanded collaboration comes at a time when interaction with the audience is more important than ever, and virtual advertising technology can be the key to improved fan engagement and interaction with sponsors, leagues, and clubs. We look forward to working with them and expanding our partnership beyond Germany by distributing virtual solutions in live sports worldwide. ”

MCC Appoints Clare Connor CBE As First-Ever Female President

Former England captain Clare Connor is set to become the first-ever female president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in its 233-year history.

The announcement was made following an annual general meeting on Wednesday, 24 June, held online. The former England all-rounder featured in 111 internationals, scoring 1,604 runs and taking 104 wickets across formats. She was named the captain of her side in 2000 and held the position until her retirement from international cricket in 2006. She also led her side to a historic Ashes win in 2005.

The present MCC president, Kumar Sangakkara, who was appointed last for one-year tenure, has been invited to hold the position for another 12-month period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Connor will replace the Sri Lankan on 1 October next year.

The former England skipper, who is currently the managing director of women’s cricket of England and Wales Cricket Board, said: “I am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC. Cricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege.

“We often need to look back to see how far we’ve come. I made my first visit to Lord’s as a starry-eyed, cricket-obsessed nine-year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room. Times have changed. Now I find myself entrusted with this remarkable opportunity, the opportunity to play a part in helping MCC, cricket’s most influential club, to thrive and grow in an even more modern and inclusive future.

“MCC does wonderful work for communities in the UK and overseas. It stages the most uplifting events. It brings people together. And as we take small steps to emerge from this uncertain and difficult time, we are going to need the power of sport and strong sporting organisations like the MCC more than ever. I really am very proud to have been asked to be its next president.”

Australia And New Zealand To Host The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Australia and New Zealand were awarded the rights to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with the FIFA Council voting to send the tournament to Asia-Pacific for the first time.

Following on from the astounding success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France and the subsequent unanimous decision by the FIFA Council, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the first edition to feature 32 teams and it will also be the first to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand and across two confederations (AFC and OFC).

Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou said the successful bid was an enormous opportunity to grow football in the region.. He added, “FIFA today has made not one, but two countries very happy. Our pledge to the FIFA family is that no stone will be left unturned to produce the best World Cup and grow the women’s game globally and in the Asia-Pacific region.”

New Zealand Football Federation president Johanna Wood said:  “Chris and I and the whole bidding team are extremely delighted with the result. We’ve always said with this bid, that it is as one and making history and creating opportunities.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issued a joint statement: “Its a landmark decision for both sides of the Tasman as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19. The 2023 event will be the largest, and no doubt the best, Women’s World Cup that has ever been staged.”

Amazon Buys Naming Rights To Seattle’s KeyArena

Amazon has bought the naming rights to Seattle’s KeyArena and will change the name to Climate Pledge Arena.

Amazon announced its Climate Pledge initiative last year as the company promised to become net carbon neutral by 2040.

The 18,100-seat venue is undergoing a $930 million reconstruction project and will be home to Seattle’s new NHL team and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, with a scheduled opening in Summer 2021.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. “We’ve secured naming rights to the historic arena previously known as KeyArena. Instead of naming it after Amazon, we’re calling it Climate Pledge Arena as a regular reminder of the importance of fighting climate change. We look forward to working together with Oak View Group, a new Climate Pledge signatory, and NHL Seattle to inspire global climate action.”

The arena’s location in the lower Queen Anne neighborhood is just blocks from Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle and other offices for Google, Facebook, Apple, and more. The naming rights are part of expansion of the company’s footprints in sports as previously it has struck several streaming deals.