Milan To Host FIFA’s Upcoming eClub World Cup

FIFA and Electronic Arts (EA) today announced the location of the FIFA eClub World Cup™, confirming that the world’s best 24 teams – who secured their berths after five rounds of exciting online qualification matches – will battle it out for the world title in Milan, Italy during 7-9 February.

The first champions of the new decade to be crowned by FIFA will be determined following the conclusion of a qualification process where 190 teams were narrowed down to 24.

For the first time ever, the FIFA eClub World Cup – the pinnacle event of club team-based competitive FIFA – will take place in Italy and see three Italian teams competing among the 24 qualified sides in Milan.

Italian sides Mkers, AS Roma and Team QLASH will battle it out against 21 other outfits from all over the world, including organisations and clubs from Mexico, Germany, England, Spain, France, Japan, USA and other countries.

Adrian Rölli, Head of eFootball at FIFA, said: “We are proud that over 190 teams from all over the world took part in this season’s qualification and we are beyond excited to find the world’s best team out of the top-class field of participating teams. The introduction of team-based 2v2 matches showed a new level of excitement and competitiveness at last year’s event and will undoubtedly spark huge emotions at this year’s tournament as well.”

 

European Tour Creates Bespoke Travel Platform For Members

Golf’s European Tour has created their very own bespoke platform for consumers to book all aspects of their golf trips in one place to drive new business.

The European Tour Destinations Travel Hub will allow consumers to select from one of the network’s 30 world class venues and organise all aspects of their trip, from tee times to flights, all via the dedicated portal which they can easily access from europeantourdestinations.com

Explaining the reasons behind the Travel Hub, recently appointed Co-head of European Tour Destinations, Stuart Gillett, commented: “Consumer research has indicated a great deal of trust and recognition in the European Tour brand, and as this continues to grow, so does the opportunity for destinations within our network to benefit commercially.

“We recognise the golf travel market is increasingly competitive, and as a network it is imperative that we take every opportunity to showcase our venues and drive new business in their direction.

“The Travel Hub provides an exciting new platform to do just that – one which takes full advantage of the strength of the European Tour brand, as well as the powerful association with many of the world’s finest golf destinations.”

The Travel Hub will bolster and complement the destinations’ existing direct sales channels as well as business generated through tour operators.

Monica Martinez, Head of Golf Sales at PGA Catalunya Resort, commented: “The introduction of the Travel Hub is extremely encouraging as we look into 2020. Our resort continues to grow its sales footprint globally, and this new venture will work hand in hand with our direct sales activity.

“What’s particularly appealing is the prospect of opening up a new market of European Tour fans we can welcome to the resort both this year and beyond, delivering tournament standard golf and a truly world class experience.”

European Tour Destinations Travel Hub launches on January 15th 2020 and will showcase its network of 30 world class destinations covering 19 countries and three continents.

PSV Eindhoven Sign Apparel Agreement With Puma, Bayern Extend Audi Deal

Bayern Munich and Audi have extended their current partnership for an extra four years until 2029.

The Bundesliga champions have been working together for 17 years, and have now extended their contract which was originally due to run until 30 June 2025.

FC Bayern München AG CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “I’m very happy about the early extension to our partnership with Audi. For FC Bayern, this agreement is an important strategic step into the future.

“FC Bayern and Audi have now been working together for more than one and a half decades in a way that is trustful, earnest and beneficial to both brands. Now it’s assured that this partnership will continue for almost 10 more years.”

Hildegard Wortmann, AUDI AG board member for Sales and Marketing: “FC Bayern fits perfectly with Audi’s strategic realignment. We want to be close to our fans, customers and potential customers. As the exclusive automobile partner of FC Bayern, we have the opportunity to present new concepts of mobility, electromobility and connectivity, and make them tangible.”

PSV Eindhoven have agreed a five-year deal with the German sports apparel company PUMA.

The new PUMA kit will be worn by all PSV’s teams from the junior, youth and academy sides to the respective adult teams and Esports athletes.

Frans Janssen: “We are proud that PUMA, with its global appeal, will be our official kit and training wear supplier. We are looking forward to being part of the PUMA family.”

“PUMA offers us a great opportunity of remaining authentic with ourselves and make use of the knowledge and expertise of one of the world’s most famous sports brands.”

FC Barcelona Topple Real Madrid To Reach The Top Of Deloitte’s Football Money League

FC Barcelona have reached the top of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League for the first time after bringing in €840.8 million of revenue for the 2018/19 season.

By doing so they have toppled LaLiga rivals Real Madrid, who finished in second place with €757.3 million, with Manchester United in third place.

Of the top ten, five are Premier League clubs, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea joining United. Tottenham’s inclusion sees them become the highest placed London side, mainly in thanks to making the Champions League Final, with Arsenal out of the top ten in eleventh place.

Barcelona’s revenue margin to second place was the highest ever seen in the report, say Deloitte, with the Catalan side producing €83.5 million more than Real Madrid during the season.

Of the revenue produced by the top 20 sides in the report (€9.3 billion), almost half came via money from broadcasting, with the figure at 44%. Close behind was commercial revenue which accounted for 40%, while the remaining 16% of revenue was produced from matchdays.

One particularly interesting statistic to come from the report is that only 25% of clubs in the top 20 have more followers on Instagram than their most followed player on the platform.

View the full report here: https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/sports-business-group/articles/deloitte-football-money-league.html

AIG And New Zealand All Blacks Will End Partnership After 2021

New Zealand Rugby have announced that their partnership with AIG will be ending following the conclusion of the deal in 2021.

This means that New Zealand Rugby will soon be commencing their search for a new partner in preparation for the end of that deal, part of the reasoning behind this announcement, said New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Robinson.

“We have enjoyed a hugely successful and mutually beneficial commercial partnership that has helped both AIG and NZR to strengthen our respective brands on the world stage. Through this partnership, NZR and the six national teams sponsored by AIG have been able to grow rugby’s presence in new and growing markets, with opportunities to play in new territories and introduce our teams to new fans all over the world,” Robinson commented.

“AIG was particularly active behind our teams achieving many significant milestones: the All Blacks playing their first ever Test match on United States soil with return fixtures in Chicago; a triple header featuring the Māori All Blacks and Black Ferns in Chicago; the Māori All Blacks playing in new cities in Canada, matches in Osaka and Tokyo, and a first-time South American tour to Brazil and Chile.

He added, “We will continue to work with AIG through another exciting period for our teams – with both the men’s and women’s sevens teams seeking gold at the Tokyo Olympics later in 2020, and the Black Ferns heading into the Rugby World Cup 2021 as defending champions and the tournament’s host nation.”

Daniel Glantz, AIG’s Global Head of Sponsorship and Strategic Partnerships, said: “We thank New Zealand Rugby for their partnership and are proud of our many accomplishments together. New Zealand Rugby’s staff and players have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence on and off the pitch, which has enhanced both of our brands and inspired rugby fans around the world.”

AIG’s sponsorship is currently scheduled to conclude at the end of 2021.

Team GB Partners With British Airways For Tokyo 2020

Team GB has appointed British Airways as its official airline partner ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer.

The airline will fly hundreds of athletes and support team, along with their equipment to and from the Games as part of the partnership, which also includes ParalympicsGB. British Airways has been supporting British Olympic athletes for over a decade, since the Beijing 2008 Games.

To mark the announcement, athletes from a range of sports officially launched the partnership at London Heathrow airport. Representing skateboarding, which is being introduced at the Olympic Games for the first time in Tokyo, was 11-year-old Sky Brown who is set to be GB’s youngest summer Olympian, athlete Dina Asher-Smith, and boxer Cheavon Clarke who hopes to represent Team GB.

In addition, Ali Jawad, powerlifter, Maisie Summers-Newton, Para swimmer and Alfie Hewett, wheelchair tennis player, were also in attendance and all hope to represent ParalympicsGB.

Dina Asher-Smith, current British record holder and 200m World Champion sprinter, said: “Tokyo 2020 is going to be so exciting for the nation with a new generation of athletes and additional sports being added. Every athlete dreams of returning home on that British Airways plane carrying gold, silver and bronze luggage with them!”

With a long-standing history in supporting national sporting events and teams, British Airways will ensure Great Britain’s medal hopefuls arrive in Japan refreshed and ready to perform at their best. The airline will fly hundreds of athletes back to the UK ready for a warm welcome at the end of the Games.

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “We’re so proud to be the official airline of Team GB and ParalympicsGB for the fourth consecutive Games. The Olympic and Paralympics Games always instil a sense of national pride and it’s an honour to fly the best of British talent in sport and be part of their journey – from start to finish.”

British Olympic Association CEO, Andy Anson, said: “British Airways is one of the most recognisable and prestigious brands in the world, so it is with great pride that we partner with them for the fourth consecutive Games.

“Tokyo 2020 promises to be an incredible event and securing a partnership of this calibre can only assist with our preparations ahead of the Games in July.”

WNBA And WNBPA Agree Groundbreaking New Long-Term Collective Bargaining Agreement

The WNBA have today announced that a brand collective bargaining agreement has been agreed with the WNBPA for eight years.

This latest WNBA CBA could now provide the groundwork for all female athletes in the United States to see salary increases within their professional leagues, and can be seen as a big moment for women’s sport to see such a large increase.

The new eight-year CBA, which commences with the 2020 season and runs through 2027, provides the foundation to chart a new course for women’s professional basketball. The 2020 CBA features significant investments by the league and its teams aimed directly at increasing player salary and compensation, improvements to the overall player experience, resources specifically designed with the professional female athlete in mind, as well as a commitment to implement an integrated marketing plan league-wide.

Foremost among the deal terms is a 53 percent increase in total cash compensation, consisting of base salary, additional performance bonuses, prize pools for newly created in-season competitions, and league and team marketing deals.  Under the new CBA, the league’s top players will be able to earn cash compensation in excess of $500,000, representing a more than tripling of the maximum compensation under the prior deal.  Other top players will have an opportunity to earn between $200,000 and $300,000.  And for the first time in WNBA history, the average cash compensation for players will exceed six figures, averaging nearly $130,000, resulting in an increase for all players from rookies to veterans.

Additional highlights include enhanced player experience with respect to travel and child care benefits, and expanded offseason career development opportunities.  The landmark agreement also features a more liberal free agency system, and a more robust and equitable revenue-sharing model based on league revenue growth.

“We approached these negotiations with a player-first agenda, and I am pleased that this agreement guarantees substantial increases in compensation and progressive benefits for the women of the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.  “I want to thank the players, led by WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike and the WNBPA Executive Committee, as well as WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson, for their hard work, innovative thinking and professionalism throughout the process.  I also want to thank the league’s Labor Relations Committee and Board of Governors for their investment, commitment and leadership as we look forward to working together to make the WNBA a sustainable and thriving business for generations of women’s basketball players to come.”

“Cathy Engelbert, the first WNBA Commissioner, brought her perspective as a former women’s basketball student-athlete, her experience as a business professional and her passion for the game to these negotiations,” said WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike.  “We found common ground in areas that confirmed the league’s and the players’ intentions to not only make meaningful improvements in working conditions and overall professional experience, but also to improve the business with strategic planning and intentional marketing that will keep the WNBA front and center year-round.”

“With cautious optimism and trusting the league’s renewed commitment and investment, the players demonstrated a willingness to ‘lean in’ themselves and show an even greater commitment and investment in the W,” described WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson. “There are significant gains all across the board in this new agreement, and everything is in place for our players and the league to thrive.”

ITTF To Allow Multi-City Hosts Of World Championship Events

The ITTF have revealed that they are in talks with the Chinese Table Tennis Association to allow multiple host-cities for the 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship Finals.

In a statement, the organisation says “This will enable greater TV coverage of more matches during the competition, as well as increased fan engagement over multiple host cities across the country, as has been witnessed in other major sports events, such as the FIFA and FIBA World Cups.”

ITTF CEO Steve Dainton said: “The philosophy of the new expanded World Table Tennis Championships Finals has always been focused on increasing the global footprint of our sport’s biggest event. This is a format that will eventually integrate all our members and maximise exposure of the event.

“By providing relevant content in multiple locations and engaging with a larger community / audience in the host country, the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals have a higher potential to ensure worldwide media coverage and achieve commercial success.

“Due to the popularity of the sport, we believe that China is the ideal place to implement this new concept. Discussions have already been initiated with CTTA and they seem very positive,” he added.

They have also decided to implement new Table Tennis Review technology that was successfully introduced of TTR at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.

Dainton commented: “With the tech trend already so prominent in sports, we felt it was important to implement a new technology that will ensure a fair competition for all the athletes, empowering them to challenge any decision made by the umpire. The benefits of using the TTR system are very positive and we can actually talk about an evolution of the sport of table tennis. We received very positive feedback from the players and we anticipate a major improvement in terms of the viewers’ experience going forwards.”

Announcement: 2020 iSportconnect Hospitality Masterclass – Inter Miami CF, Virgin Atlantic, Scottish FA Confirmed

iSportconnect are delighted to announce the first three speakers for our 2020 iSportconnect Hospitality Masterclass, in partnership with Sodexo, at Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds on the 5th of February.

We are delighted to be welcoming Jeanene Valentine, Director of Ticket Operations at Inter Miami CF, the new MLS franchise founded by David Beckham, across from the United States to join us.

Dan Buckingham, Head of Clubhouses, Lounges and Spas at Virgin Atlantic, alongside Chris Rawlings, Chief Commercial Officer of the Scottish Football Association.

Our event will cover a whole range of topics within the hospitality sector of sport and is set to be a fantastic day of events, with a number of panel discussions and presentations on the day.

More speakers to follow soon…

Jeanene Valentine

Jeanene graduated from University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Film & Television. After working in the film industry for a few years, she quickly changed her focus to sports and entertainment venues.

With over 20 years of ticketing experience, Jeanene quickly found her niche within the industry after assisting with the transition for the Los Angeles Philharmonic from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

She has managed seven venue/stadium transitions and openings. Most recently she collaborated with 3D Digital Venue and SeatGeek with the opening of Allianz Field, a 19,400-seat soccer specific stadium for Minnesota United FC. Currently, she is working on opening her eighth and ninth stadiums for David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team, Inter Miami CF.

Dan Buckingham

Dan looks after the global clubhouse lounge and Spa business for Virgin Atlantic, a key USP as part of their Upper Class experience. Renowned for their Lounges, Virgin Atlantic created some world firsts including the first Lounges to offer a la carte menus. With the announcement of the third runway at Heathrow and with a vision to become Britain’s second flag carrier, Dan is working on expanding, and creating new memorable experiences for their customers.

Chris Rawlings

Chris Rawlings has worked in the Commercial world of Sport since 1997, across Private and Public businesses, as well as working for a number of rights holders, including two Governing Bodies.

Chris Rawlings has operated in the Hospitality environment in a variety of capacities, including building and selling Hospitality Agencies, acquiring and delivering on Global Hospitality Sales Programmes (FIFA World Cup 2010), and the provision of hospitality offerings for stadium and non stadium owning organisations.

Chris Rawlings is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at The Scottish FA, who have recently completed the purchase of its National Stadium at Hampden Park.

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 2020 iSportconnect 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