Watford Sign American Airlines As Official Airline Partner

Watford Football Club is delighted to announce American Airlines as its Official Airline Partner for the 2019/20 season.

The partnership will enable the Hornets to engage with a significant number of American Airlines customers worldwide, with the football club’s own content and highlights being placed on the flight entertainment systems and in the on-flight magazine.

Furthermore, American Airlines will be able to engage with millions of football fans across the globe as part of the partnership with the Premier League team, with their branding on the club’s digital advertising, which can be seen in more than 193 countries.

Tom Lattig, Managing Director for EMEA Sales at American Airlines, said: “It is our shared purpose at American Airlines to connect people from all over the world on life’s journey. Whether we’re flying fans to a game or promoting the club’s highlights onboard our flights, our 130,000-strong team are delighted to be the Official Airline Partner of Watford Football Club.”

Watford FC Chairman Scott Duxbury added: “We’ve been delighted to meet Tom and his team in agreeing this partnership. It’s clear they have an ambition to be different and succeed in their industry, so our aims are similar in that respect. I hope this marks the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

16 European Leagues Extends Partnership With Data Providers Genius Sports, Sportradar And Stats Perform

On behalf of its members, The Association of European Professional Football Leagues and its data partners Genius Sports, Sportradar and Stats Perform are pleased to announce a second multi-league agreement for an additional three seasons ending in 2022, which marks the continuation of an initial cooperation that began in 2017.

The agreements now include sixteen (16) professional football leagues, as listed below:

  • The Austrian Bundesliga
  • Belgium Pro League
  • Czech Ligová Fotbalová Asociace
  • Danish Divisionsforeningen
  • Finnish Football League Association
  • Greek Super League
  • Israeli Professional Football League
  • Professional Football League of Kazakhstan
  • Latvian Football Virsliga
  • Dutch Eredivisie
  • Norwegian Toppfotball
  • Liga Portugal
  • Romanian Liga Profesionista de Fotbal
  • Serbian Super Liga
  • Swedish Föreningen Elitfotboll
  • Swiss Football League

The non-exclusive agreements give the sixteen leagues’ official betting data partners access to optimal, secure positions in-stadia for the live collection of fast data. This allows them to offer the most accurate and reliable data services to their betting operator customers.

Jacco Swart, Managing Director – European Leagues: “This partnership captures one of the key aims of the European Leagues when it comes to providing valuable and innovative services to our member leagues. The European Leagues are uniquely positioned to take advantage of opportunities such as these and we look forward to continuing to support the development of our members in relation to league business development. I’m delighted that we have not only being able to continue the relationship we have developed with these companies but that the number of leagues participating in this collective commercial project increased significantly which is the best proof that this approach functions.”

Steven Burton, Managing Director – Genius Sports, said: “This expanded partnership with the European Leagues outlines our commitment to providing sports with a fair and transparent return from betting on their games. Each of the leagues included in this agreement has control over how their data is collected and distributed, affording vital visibility to safeguard their competitions.”

David Lampitt, Managing Director Sports Partnerships – Sportradar: “Sportradar is very pleased to partner with the European Leagues given the progressive approach they have adopted for this deal. We view cooperation as key to the integrity, growth and sustainability of global sport, and we look forward to continuing to work together in an open, transparent and collaborative manner for the benefit of the leagues.”

Alex Rice, Chief Rights Officer – Stats Perform: “Stats Perform is delighted to continue and expand our official betting data partnership with European Leagues. The transparent and progressive approach taken by European Leagues, provides value and security for the member leagues and ensures the collection and distribution of high-quality fast data with the utmost integrity, for premium in-play betting experiences.”

The European Leagues look forward over the coming years to further deepening our relationship with Genius Sports, Sportradar, and Stats Perform in areas related to, for example, the protection and use of official league data in new and innovative ways.

MLS Partners With Second Spectrum On Advanced Tracking Data System

Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday a multi-year partnership with Second Spectrum, which becomes MLS’s first official advanced tracking data provider. Beginning with the 2020 season, Second Spectrum will put its proprietary optical tracking system to work for every MLS match.

As part of this process, Second Spectrum installed optical tracking systems in every MLS stadium during the offseason. Leveraging these cameras and a cloud-based analytics engine, Second Spectrum captures data on the location of every player, the referees, and the ball 25 times per second.

Second Spectrum uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to process the collected data, and can calculate a player’s speed, acceleration, deceleration, and shot velocity, as well as advanced statistics like passing probability and expected goals, in near real-time.

In addition to new statistical content that will be showcased throughout the season, fans will also see the new metrics and data visualizations come to life in new enhanced highlights that will be showcased throughout the season on MLSsoccer.com and the official MLS app.

As the season progresses this new tracking data will be integrated into MLS match broadcasts.

MLS club technical staffs will also use the new software to scout and track player performance. The Second Spectrum system will provide data visualization technology, customized reports, enhanced video tools and more for coaches, data scientists and video analysts.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with MLS and its teams,” Second Spectrum CEO Rajiv Maheswaran said in a statement. “The combination of our new technologies and capabilities with a forward-thinking organization like MLS creates an exciting future of continued growth and innovation together.”

The wide-ranging partnership encompasses all MLS matches, including Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, MLS Cup and the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, as well as Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup matches – the annual competitions between MLS and Liga MX.

“MLS’s partnership with Second Spectrum sets a new standard for innovation in player-tracking in soccer,” Chris Schlosser, MLS SVP of Media said in a league statement. “Along with Second Spectrum, MLS will deliver an enhanced new fan experience, bringing innovation to MLS content, while providing MLS clubs and technical staff with new tools to enhance player performance.”

“Five To Ten Years” For US To Become A Meaningful Formula 1 Market, Says CEO Carey

F1 CEO Chase Carey has said that it will take at least ‘Five to ten years’ for Formula 1 to become a meaningful market within the United States.

He also admitted there had been some frustration at the difficulty trying to bring a second F1 race to America with constant difficulties in attempting to secure a Miami Grand Prix.

“We knew the US was going to take time. On one level, yes, it is clearly taking longer than we would have hoped. I think it’s frustrating on one level because we’ve spent as much time and there seems to be always some degree of ongoing complexity,” Carey told Autosport.

“I think the reality is that the US for us, to really build it, it’s a five-year-plus timeframe. We said all along the US isn’t going to change our world in two to three years. The goal is really in five to ten years from now, the US becomes a meaningful market for us. In that context, 12 months it isn’t that big a deal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not frustrating as you continue to go through it.”

“I know the Penskes, I’ve had contact with the Penskes, I knew them before they bought Indianapolis. But again I probably wouldn’t comment on conversations. I’m aware of the interest,” Carey added, speaking about the possibility of attempting to move to Roger Penske’s recently acquired Indianapolis Motor Speedway instead of Miami.

“It’s obviously an iconic track for world racing. It’s part of the Triple Crown: Monaco, Le Mans and Indy. So it speaks to what that track means. It’s a special track for the motorsports world.”

HSBC To End Partnership With British Cycling Four Years Ahead Of Schedule

British Cycling and HSBC UK will end our partnership at the close of this Olympic and Paralympic year, concluding a project which has inspired millions of people across the country to get active by getting on their bikes.

The deal had been set for eight years, however, HSBC have opted to use the break clause that was involved in the contract.

In 2016, the partnership set an ambitious target of getting two million people cycling by the end of 2020 and we are on course to exceed that milestone.

Last year alone, some 525,000 people took part in our programmes HSBC UK Let’s Ride, HSBC UK Go Ride, HSBC UK Breeze and HSBC UK Ready Set Ride.

HSBC UK has decided to exercise a break clause in what was an eight-year partnership agreement due to a shift in UK marketing and partnership priorities.

Julie Harrington, chief executive of British Cycling, said: “On course to get over two million people cycling regularly, British Cycling’s partnership with HSBC UK has delivered lasting benefits for our sport and for communities up and down the country.

“We will part with HSBC UK as firm friends and, in the meantime, look forward to working with them to support our riders to achieve their best in Tokyo.

“Over the last 20 years, British Cycling has enjoyed extraordinary success – both in terms of winning on the global stage and in using that inspiration to encourage more people to cycle more often.

“We are an ambitious organisation with a proud tradition of setting and hitting big targets and we know that more people on bikes is the solution to many of society’s biggest challenges. As we look to 2021, we will be actively engaging the market to find a new partner to be part of the next stage of our exciting journey.”

Ian Stuart, chief executive of HSBC UK, said: “We are extremely proud of what our partnership has delivered over the last three years and excited about what it can achieve this year. When we set off on this journey together we wanted to get two million people cycling regularly and we’re on track to smash through that this year.

“We wanted this partnership to create a legacy and it has. It has changed the way we approach things as a company as we encourage our customers and our colleagues to make healthier and greener choices.

“2020 will be an exciting year for the sport, with Britain willing on our athletes to medals in Tokyo. It’s been a privilege to be involved in building the grassroots of a sport with such a fantastic future.”

Dutch Clubs Visit Spain To Study The Growth Of LaLiga

LaLiga has become a reference for other sporting competitions that want to study how the league and its clubs go about their business. Given its desire to support the global growth of football, LaLiga has an open policy towards sharing its methods with competitors. The latest example of this was a trip by clubs in the Netherlands’ first and second divisions and from the KNVB, the country’s football federation, to LaLiga Santander clubs SD Eibar, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.

KNVB Expertise, a research centre and consultancy group in Dutch football, organises a trip every year for a selection of clubs for them to develop and become even more professional. This year’s trip brought them to Spain’s Basque country, which despite being one of the country’s smallest regions boasts four LaLiga Santander clubs.

 

To help explain Spanish football’s off-the-pitch trends, Octavi Anoro, head of the LaLiga Global Network, gave a presentation on international strategy and Andrea Oriol, a LaLiga Global Network representative, spoke about the LaLiga initiatives in the Benelux market.

“The general feeling was very positive,” Oriol explained. “The group visited three Spanish clubs that are all based in a relatively small area, clubs that all have their own identity but that also share pride in their Basque heritage. Members of the expedition were really interested to hear about the clubs’ strategies for engaging with local communities and for standing out as unique. That’s something many clubs aspire towards.”

SD Eibar’s international growth
The group of Dutch directors began the visit at SD Eibar, which is currently taking part in its sixth consecutive LaLiga Santander season despite being one of the smallest club’s in the competition’s history. The delegation spent time at the club’s Ipurua Stadium to learn how Eibar has been able to defy the odds and establish itself at the top of Spanish football.

Among the standout topics were the club’s international expansion and sustainable investment. “The clubs were most surprised by the evolution we’ve had since we reached the top division, with the investment we’ve made to ensure the stadium is adequate for modern times and modern needs,” said SD Eibar’s director of communications Unai Artetxe. “The story of our capital increase in 2014, which led us to the point where we now have more than 11,000 shareholders from 69 different countries, also surprised and impressed our guests.”

To read the full article and subscribe to LaLiga’s Global Fútbol Newsletter, follow this link: https://newsletter.laliga.es/global-futbol/dutch-clubs-visit-spain-to-study-growth-of-laliga/rrss

Leicester Tigers Select Samurai In New Multi-Year Kit Deal

Premiership Rugby Club Leicester Tigers has selected Samurai Sportswear for all its match day, training & leisurewear kit in a three-year deal. Samurai will take over from current supplier Kukri from 1st July 2020. This will see all Leicester Tigers players, coaches and other club staff wearing kit designed and manufactured exclusively for the club by Samurai.

The deal includes an exclusive range of matchday replica, training & leisure wear for Leicester Tigers supporters. Samurai are already the kit suppliers for Leicester Tigers’ Wheelchair Rugby Team.

Speaking at the announcement of the deal, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Geordan Murphy said: “Working with Samurai is an incredible opportunity for Leicester Tigers to create a true club-wide mentality amongst players, staff, supporters and our wider community.

They are a proven and popular brand, used by professional and local community teams, both in the region and world-wide. We’re excited about the quality of their products and the level of visual customisation that Terry and his team are able to offer”.

To mark the start of the partnership, Geordan joined Samurai founder and Chief Executive Officer, Terry Sands, at Welford Road along with current players Dan Cole, Greg Bateman, Joe Heyes, and Noel Reid.

Leicester Tigers supporters will be able to get their hands on a variety of Samurai products at a special pre-launch event held during the club’s derby day home fixture against Northampton Saints on the weekend of 15th May 2020.

Samurai will be bringing their mobile stand to Welford Road to showcase products from their matchday, training and leisurewear range, giving fans the chance to feel, try on for size, and learn more about Samurai Sportswear.

Terry Sands, CEO of Samurai Sportswear, added: “Samurai are honoured to have been chosen by Leicester Tigers for this partnership, and we feel privileged to be involved with a club with Leicester’s playing heritage and history. We look forward to serving both the club professionals and supporters with our match day, training and leisure kit.”

HBA Media And Flo Sports Launch New OTT Horseracing Initiative

HBA Media and FloSports, an innovator in live sports streaming and original content, have entered into an exclusive agreement aimed at developing horseracing coverage through OTT platforms.

The new agreement starts with the world’s most valuable race – the $20 million Saudi Cup – on 29th February and extends through to March, taking in a further three global horseracing contests including the UK’s blue riband of jump racing – The Cheltenham Gold Cup.

HBA Media, working in partnership with fellow media agency, Racecourse Media Group, will facilitate the distribution of four premium live international horseracing events to the Flo Sports OTT subscriber platform:

·        Saudi Cup                                   29th February (12.00 – 13.00 ET)               Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

·        Dubai World Cup Carnival    7th March (06:30 – 11:00 ET)                       United Arab Emirates

·        Cheltenham Gold Cup           13th March (08:30 – 11:00 ET)                     United Kingdom

·        Golden Slipper                         21st March (22:00 – 03:00 ET)                     Australia

With the rapid rise of cord cutting and the surge in streaming live events, this agreement is at the heart of HBA Media’s wider strategy to aggregate premium international horseracing content and digitally distribute it through globally accessible platforms like FloSports.

“HBA Media is incredibly excited about the future opportunities OTT platforms can offer our clients and global sporting fans,” says Frank Sale, Managing Director of HBA Media.

“This initiative sees the launch our first ever OTT content partnership in America, albeit only short-term, and reinforces our commitment to leveraging new media platforms to unlock the considerable value that we believe premium horseracing content carries.

“FloSports is a world-leader in serving content to its passionate subscriber database. We look forward to working with them on this open-minded project and taking horseracing global.”

“FloSports is excited to partner with HBA Media on this opportunity,” says Mike Levy, FloSports, Vice President, Global Right Acquisition.

“Horseracing has a massive global audience and has been largely overlooked in the live sports streaming industry. We look forward to bringing this sport and these races to a global audience of horseracing fans.”

ANNOUNCEMENT: Sweden’s TV4 Media Confirmed To Speak At 2020 Broadcast Masterclass

iSportconnect are happy to announce our newest speaker for the upcoming 2020 Broadcast Masterclass.

We can also confirm that the 2020 Broadcast Masterclass will be taking place at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel on Thursday the 19th of March in London.

Johan Cederqvist, Head of Sports Channels and Sports Rights Acquisitions at Swedish company TV4 Media, is the latest speaker to be joining us for the event.

He joins Luis Vicente, Chief Executive Officer at ELEVEN SPORTS, and Paul Stimpson, EVP of Rights at DAZN, who have also been confirmed for the event.

We will be announcing more speakers very shortly, so keep your eyes peeled on iSportconnect.com and iSportconnect’s social media channels.

With a maximum of 150 invite-only delegates, iSportconnect provides a media/agency free opportunity to network with influential senior-level sports business executives. We are famous for our intimate and relaxed environment, encouraging the exchange of ideas and helping to introduce you to the right new connections.

To register your interest in attending the 2020 iSportconnect Broadcast Masterclass, please contact Theresa Muller at theresa@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: The Broadcast Masterclass is a complimentary event for iSportconnect members who are from governing bodies, sports teams, brands and broadcasters. There is no fee to become an iSportconnect member. No sports agencies, professional service providers & suppliers are allowed at our Masterclasses.

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact brandon@isportconnect.com

Hublot Becomes Official Partner Of UEFA Women’s EURO 2021

UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 has partnered with Hublot, where the watch brand will serve as one of the European tournament’s official partners, providing the now iconic Hublot electronic referee boards used by fourth officials to indicate additional time and substitutions.

“This is a wonderful time to be involved in women’s football and it is great to have found a like-minded partner in Hublot who share our goals and ambitions,” said UEFA’s head of women’s football, Nadine Kessler.

“With Hublot becoming an official partner and supporter of UEFA women’s football across our competitions and campaigns, including Together #WePlayStrong, we hope that this will help us to take our sport to a wider audience as well as strengthening our existing relationships with those who are already committed to playing football.”

The partnership will support women’s football at all levels. As a result, Hublot will become a main partner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the UEFA Women’s EURO, the UEFA Women’s Under-19 and Under-17 Championships and the UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO, as well as UEFA’s women’s football marketing platform Together #WePlayStrong, which is aimed at getting more girls and women to play football.

The deal with Hublot follows similarly groundbreaking partnerships with Nike, Visa and Esprit during the last 15 months. In 2017, UEFA undertook the unprecedented decision to unbundle women’s football rights from the men’s game.

“The appeal of women’s football is growing at an impressive rate and we are delighted to have such a prestigious brand as Hublot joining us as a partner, who are committed to promoting the women’s game,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA

“Agreeing partnerships with world famous brands like Hublot is exactly the kind of results we envisaged when we unbundled the rights from the men’s game over two years ago and is proof women’s football can be supported on its own merits.”

This season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final will take place in Vienna on 24 May, while the final of UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 will be held at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 August next year.

“This is a wonderful partnership and we are so excited to extend it to UEFA women’s football, and to be working together with UEFA across its competition profile. Football is the most exciting, most passionate game on the planet and the perfect match for Hublot,” said CEO Ricardo Guadalupe.

“Like UEFA, Hublot is obsessive about quality, has ambitious plans for the future and is proud to know a loyal fan base. It’s a match made in heaven! We couldn’t be more proud to partner UEFA and to be supporting the development of the beautiful game.”

Hublot’s new deal for UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 extends a long-standing partnership with European football’s governing body that started ahead of UEFA EURO 2008. Since then, the Swiss watch brand has been present at every UEFA EURO and will return this summer for UEFA EURO 2020, which will be held across 12 cities.