One Week To Go: 2020 iSportconnect Hospitality Masterclass

We now have just seven days until our iSportconnect Hospitality Masterclass at Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds on the 5th of February!

The iSportconnect Hospitality Masterclass is in association with leading hospitality providers Sodexo and will provide key insights and learnings from experts within the hospitality sector and offer fantastic networking opportunities to all in attendance.

Headline speakers for the event will be Eric Clouse, Sr Vice President of Sales and Service at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jeanene Valentine, Director of Ticket Operations for Inter Miami CF, Dan Buckingham, Head of Clubhouses, Lounges and Spas at Virgin Atlantic and Oliver Wright, Head of Sales and Corporate Hospitality with Everton FC.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers representatives from Royal Ascot, Rokit Williams Racing, ACC Liverpool, Scottish FA, Harrogate Water and Forward Associates.

Some of the topics discussed on the day will include tiering the hospitality experience for fans and the latest developments within stadiums and arenas for facilities and hospitality.

For more details on the event please see here – https://www.isportconnect.com/event/2019-hospitality-masterclass/

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 ideas exchange and helping to introduce you to the right new connections.

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

Invitation Policy: The Hospitality 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

PUMA Joins Beach Soccer World Wide As Official Global Partner

PUMA and Beach Soccer World Wide, the major sports entity behind the creation and growth of beach soccer, have signed an agreement through which the leading sports apparel brand joins the world of beach soccer and becomes an Official Global Partner of BSWW.

The agreement between PUMA and Beach Soccer World Wide confirms the shared vision of beach soccer as a unique sport within the football family, capable of reaching audiences and communities no other sport can, in the context of a top-level, action-packed spectacle in whose DNA stunning skills, spectacular moves and flashy goals are ingrained.

Both PUMA and Beach Soccer World Wide share a global vision that transcends the sports sphere itself, also embracing fashion and lifestyle with a fresh, global and modern scope.

As of 2020, PUMA will not only supply the official balls for all BSWW competitions but will also provide uniforms BSWW officials and entertainment crew.

PUMA will also be granted brand visibility and activation rights at all BSWW events, with co-exclusivity on some assets together with the joint partner La Liga, as well as complete access to BSWW ambassadors for campaigns and promotions.

Teamsport’s Head of Sports Marketing, Manolo Schürmann, explained the innovative relationship between both brands. “In PUMA we believe that there should not be any football without PUMA, and no PUMA without football. And this is where beach soccer comes into scene. Beach Soccer is not only a part of football, but a unique sport in itself. And I think it is a great match between PUMA and Beach Soccer. Beach soccer requires a lot of skill and it is a very fast sport, just as we are Forever Faster as a Brand, always looking how to answer our consumer needs, always looking for innovation. This is why I think that this teaming up with Beach Soccer World Wide makes complete sense.”

In a similar vein, Beach Soccer World Wide president, Joan Cusco, highlighted the importance of this agreement. “PUMA and BSWW are a perfect fit for each other as we both share common goals and values. Teaming up with such a prestigious brand makes us really happy, and we are delighted that they have seen the true value of beach soccer and everything the sport can offer. I am sure that both parties will be truly satisfied with the outcome of this agreement, and we really look forward to keeping our bond into the future”.

Furthermore, PUMA is also an official partner of La Liga, and the signing of this agreement reinforces the relationship between the three entities, and the trust in beach soccer as a unique asset within the sports and footballing world.

McLaren Racing Announce Deal With FAI Aviation Group

McLaren Racing and FAI Aviation Group, Germany’s leading global provider of mission-critical aviation services, today announced a multi-year partnership beginning in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

FAI Aviation Group is a European pioneer in global high-end aircraft solutions headquartered at Nuremberg’s Albrecht Duerer International Airport. FAI’s experience spans across more than 30 years, offering a range of aviation services such as VIP charter, aircraft management, air ambulance and maintenance for government agencies, NGOs and HNWI’s.

As part of the partnership, FAI Aviation Group will be represented on the inside of the rear wing endplate of the McLaren MCL35 race car for the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing said: “The FAI Aviation Group is a perfect partner for McLaren Racing. Being trusted to provide services to NGO’s and several government agencies underlines the quality and professionalism of the company and its people. We are proud to welcome them as partners from the 2020 season.”

Siegfried Axtmann, Group Chairman and Founder, FAI Aviation Group said: “The partnership aligns two internationally recognised brands, leaders in their fields, both committed to excellence. We are very excited to become a partner of McLaren Racing enabling FAI to promote its services within the Formula 1 community.”

Teijin And Envision Virgin Racing Sign Multi-Year Partnership

Teijin Group and Envision Virgin Racing jointly announced today that they have agreed a multi-year sponsorship contract which will support the team’s participation in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. 

Headquartered in Japan with over 170 group companies worldwide, Teijin is a leading technology-driven global group, operating in the fields of high-performance materials including advanced fibres, plastics and composites, healthcare and IT businesses. 

Envision Virgin Racing has been competing in the all-electric Formula E race series since its inception, becoming one of the sport’s most successful teams with 11 wins and 26 podiums, and energising its ‘Race Against Climate Change’ initiative, while pursuing further sustainable mobility solutions. 

The Teijin Group and Envision Virgin Racing are now committed to exchanging know-how and complementing each other’s state-of-the-art technologies. In particular, the Teijin Group will develop high-performance materials and products that will help improve the comfort of Envision Virgin Racing drivers. In the future, Teijin will also explore new business opportunities through the development and provision of lightweight, high-performance automotive components, leveraging the freedom of design that will be required for next-generation automobiles. Teijin will also take the opportunity of this sponsorship agreement to raise awareness of the Teijin brand in related industries. 

“Through ceaseless evolution and ambition, we are aiming to be a company that supports the society of the future by creating new value,” said Jun Suzuki, president and CEO of Teijin Limited. He added: “By supporting Envision Virgin Racing, which competes in races with electric vehicles (EVs) as a means of raising awareness of global warming, we will develop technologies and accumulate the know-how and solution capabilities required for future EVs that satisfy ever-stricter environmental regulations.” 

The team’s Managing Director Sylvain Filippi commented: “Formula E is one of the most competitive motorsport series there is meaning any advantage that can be gained is crucial. To ensure we have this, Envision Virgin Racing aligns with like-minded, innovative, climate-focused brands and hence why we’re very excited to have The Teijin Group join our family. Being able to tap into their wealth of expertise and high-performance material and composite technologies will help us on track, whilst away from the track we’re looking forward to working together on our Race Against Climate Change programme.” 

Franz Jung, Chairman of the Board of Envision Virgin Racing, added: “Everyone is delighted to be welcoming The Teijin Group to the team, and for them to be joining our ever-growing list of world class partners, all of whom help us achieve the success we generate both on and off track.”

Japanese Olympic Committee Approves Bid For 2030 Winter Olympics

Japan’s Olympic Committee has approved a proposal from city Sapporo to bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

In a statement released after a meeting to decide on whether to allow the bid to host the games, the Japanese Olympic Committee said: “The Japanese Olympic Committee Executive Board today selected Sapporo City to represent Japan as a potential city to host the Olympic Winter Games 2030.”

“From November 8, 2019 to December 20, 2019, the JOC has invited cities interested in the 2030 bid whereby Sapporo City was the only city interested in participating in the process.

“The JOC will officially notify this decision to the International Olympic Committee within days.

“The JOC will continue to communicate closely with Sapporo City to promote the spirit of sport and the Olympic Movement in Japan.”

Sapporo becomes the latest city to register interest in hosting the competition, alongside Barcelona, Lillehammer and Salt Lake City.

PSG Team Up With CoinCasso And Launch Cryptocurrency On Socios.com

Paris Saint-Germain and cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinCasso have joined forces in a multi-year international partnership, with the virtual currency giant becoming an Official Partner of the Parisian club in all markets outside of France.

CoinCasso is a blockchain specialist and will now be in a position to capitalise on Paris Saint-Germain’s high profile in its key regions of Europe, Asia and the USA, where the company is hoping to establish itself as a benchmark platform.

Luke Ozimski from CoinCasso said: “The cryptocurrency exchange market is both young and innovative. We are delighted to be one of the first specialists to reach out to the general public and team up with one of the most popular football clubs in the world. Paris Saint-Germain is an innovator, having been one of the first to engage with blockchain players back in 2018. Together we share a leading position that will allow us to showcase the quality of our service around the world.”

Marc Armstrong, Chief Partnerships Officer of Paris Saint-Germain, commented: “We are delighted to welcome CoinCasso into the Paris Saint-Germain partner family. The club continually strives to be an innovation leader and we are monitoring the development of cryptocurrency very closely, along with its potential to further enhance the experience enjoyed by our supporters across the world. This partnership with CoinCasso, will allow Paris Saint-Germain to further strengthen its position in this market.”

PSG have also signed another cryptocurrency fan token today, to choose an inspirational captain’s armband using $PSG fan tokens.

Each $PSG Fan Token will be priced at around €2 depending on the exchange rate of Chiliz $CHZ, the digital currency of Socios.com, at the time of purchase. Once acquired, $PSG Fan Tokens cannot be spent and can be used to take part in all votes on the app.

Marc Armstrong, of Paris Saint-Germain, said: “This is a very meaningful moment in the Paris Saint-Germain x Socios.com partnership history. Thanks to the launch of PSG Fan Token, our fans will now be able to drive important and symbolic decisions for the Club. As of today, the Club reinforce its proximity with fans, which is one of our main values.”

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO & Founder of Socios.com, said: “What better way to influence Thiago Silva and future leaders of the team, than with an inspirational message of support to go inside the captain’s armband.

“The message $PSG Fan Token holders choose in this vote will have the potential to inspire captain’s of Paris Saint-Germain for generations to come, creating a new legacy between the club and its fans. Building a stronger connection between the club and its fans is the raison d’etre of Socios.com. Thanks to $PSG Fan Tokens, supporters will be able to play a part in reshaping the identity of the club, while accessing some amazing rewards and experiences along the way.

“I look forward to the outcome of this first poll and hope it proves truly inspirational for Thiago and the future captains of Paris Saint-Germain.”

Infront Acquires Stake In AI Company Videocites

Infront has acquired a stake in Videocites, an AI-based video tracking and analytics company and will look to introduce the company’s technology and services to current and future rights partners. This includes content protection, media monitoring and content management.

The investment was led by Infront Lab, a new unit within the group which explores opportunities for intelligent solutions to challenges facing clients and partners in an agile and efficient manner.

Videocites’ unique fingerprinting technology uses visual properties within videos in order to immediately track all copies of live, on-demand and promotional content across all channels. This gives content owners deeper insight into consumer behaviour than traditional analytics, helping them to better understand their audience and influencers.

Moreover, the tool provides more detailed information on earned media value, a valuable indicator for sponsors to see the impact of their sponsorship. It also identifies pirate streams of on-demand and sports events, removing them immediately and substantially reducing the number of illegal broadcasts and lost views.

Christian Müller, Infront Senior Vice President People, Innovation & Corporate Services said: “Videocites’ technology can help gather intelligence for our partners whilst also protecting their content, solving two common issues currently facing the industry. This investment is a continuation of Infront Lab’s work with some of the world’s most exciting technology start-ups which has provided huge benefits to our clients.”

Eyal Arad, Videocites CEO said: “Videocites’ unique advantage comes from our Video-AI search engine that scales to any number of videos to track all copies immediately. It is immune to all existing video manipulations and is used to offer high-end content protection, true viewership and fan engagement metrics across numerous channels. The partnership with Infront Lab will allow us to introduce our technology and services to some of the world’s top sports properties, assuring rapid market penetration and significant growth.“

Connexi Turns The Lights On With Wigan Warriors And Utility Alliance Partnership

Utility Alliance and Wigan Warriors announce their partnership for the upcoming 2020 BETFRED Super League Season and the years to come.

The partnership will see Utility Alliance, one of the fastest-growing energy consultancies in the UK, positioned as the Club’s new Official Energy Partner.

This partnership will focus on improving energy efficiency in order to reduce usage and costs, Utility Alliance will be working very closely with the Club, its commercial network and local businesses to deliver mutually beneficial relationships which will add value to the whole community.

Kirstie Wallace, Corporate Relationship Manager at Utility Alliance, said: “We are delighted to be involved with Wigan Warriors ahead of what promises to be an exciting season.

“We have spent a lot of time working behind the scenes with the executive team at Wigan, and we look forward to building up a mutually beneficial relationship moving forward.

“Wigan Warriors are one of the most iconic brands in rugby league, and to be linked with the club as their official energy partner is something which gives everyone connected with Utility Alliance a great deal of pride.”

Dan Burton, Commercial Director for Wigan Warriors “Utility Alliance, have demonstrated their expertise throughout this process, both in the form of leading industry experts as well as their excellent customer service culture which has been second to none.

“We look forward to working with Utility Alliance and welcoming them to the Club, where they will add tremendous value to our existing commercial partners as well as the wider business and education communities.

“I would also like to thank Rory Stewart-Richardson and Connexi, who have been a valuable partner throughout this process. Connexi provides us with the opportunity to engage in qualified discussions with brands, where as an active member within their innovative marketplace, we have benefited greatly from their data driven approach.

“Our relationship with Connexi presents an engaged environment which produces both mutually beneficial, and commercially relevant, discussions.”

FOX Sports And Concacaf Agree Exclusive Three-Year US English Language Rights Deal

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and major US network FOX Sports have penned an exclusive three-year English language rights agreement which begins this week with live coverage of the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.

The tournament – which kicks-off tomorrow – includes current FIFA Women’s World Champions USA, and fellow World Cup participants Canada and Jamaica, as they compete with Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti and St Kitts & Nevis for the two regional spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Continuing the road to Tokyo 2020, Fox Sports will also broadcast live the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifiers, taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico, in March.

This new multi-tournament agreement will see English language coverage of the Gold Cup – the region’s flagship men’s international competition – remain exclusively on Fox Sports for the next two competitions (2021 and 2023), continuing a hugely successful partnership that began in 2013.

FOX delivered first-class coverage of the 2019 Gold Cup last summer, including the Final between Mexico and USA which was FS1’s most watched non-World Cup game in the network’s history.

FOX Sports’ commitment to bringing Concacaf competitions to fans in the US also includes the next three editions of the region’s premier club competition: the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

This elite club knock-out tournament is the only official competition that features competitive matches between the region’s best club sides, including from MLS and Liga MX. It is also the only route for clubs in the region to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, the revamped format for which will include more clubs from this region, starting with the 2021 competition.

“FOX Sports is an excellent partner for Concacaf and we are extremely pleased they have invested in our rights across so many competitions, beginning with what should be an exciting Women’s Olympic Qualifiers,” said Concacaf President, Victor Montagliani. “They have an outstanding track record of delivering high-quality soccer coverage that reaches big audiences making this great news for fans, international teams across the region and clubs competing in our Champions League.”

“FOX Sports is excited to further its commitment to the sport of soccer through this new agreement with Concacaf,” said Mark Silverman, FOX Sports President, National Networks. “The U.S. Women’s National Team captivated a country with its World Cup victory last summer, and we’re honored to showcase this inspirational team once again as they begin their Olympic journey this week. Furthermore, we look forward to offering more men’s soccer, including the next two editions of the Gold Cup and the U.S. Men’s National Team Olympic Qualifiers.”

Sporting World Pays Tribute As Kobe Bryant And Daughter Gianna Die In Tragic Helicopter Crash

Legendary former NBA player Kobe Bryant has died following a helicopter crash in California on Sunday morning.

Bryant is regarded as one of the greatest NBA players of all time and is the league 4th highest point score ever.

He played all of his 20 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and became a figurehead for the league not just in America but all over the world.

Bryant was an extreme competitor and the sadness of his death has been felt across the entire sporting world, with tributes taking over social media throughout Sunday and Monday. His daughter, Gianna, an up-and-coming young player who had aspirations of playing in the WNBA, was tragically also lost in the crash.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement saying: “The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning.  He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary:  five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals.  But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.  He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”

He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three remaining daughters.