Bruin Sports Capital Acquires Sports Data And Marketing Agency Two Circles

Bruin Sports Capital (Bruin) today announced a deal with WPP to acquire Two Circles, the award-winning consumer data analytics, sports marketing, and technology practice. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and subject to regulatory approvals. WPP will continue to hold a minority stake in the company. 

Two Circles’ sophisticated, proprietary data-management platforms aggregate and analyse large volumes of consumer data to inform new business development strategies and state-of-the-art marketing programmes. Every year, Two Circles processes tens of billions of data points on sports fans globally, more than any other sports organisation, influencing how hundreds of millions of sports fans engage with sport.

The NFL, Premier League, UEFA, Formula 1 and Wimbledon are among the leagues, teams, tournaments and federations Two Circles works with globally. 

George Pyne, Founder, and CEO of Bruin Sports Capital said: “As we look to the future of the sports economy, everything we do will trace back to how well we can leverage consumer data intelligence to spur growth. Two Circles has been way ahead of the industry on this and has developed a new breed of agency that serves every business unit of a sports organization.  We are excited to have them formally join Bruin and look forward to working even more closely with their great team.”

Founded in 2011, Two Circles is a two-time Sport Agency of the Year (2014, 2017) and was named by the Sunday Times in 2018 as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The agency has grown to 180 employees in four offices – New York, Los Angeles, London, and Bern – who work with clients on four continents, including the top five sports properties by annual global revenue. 

This year Two Circles played a fundamental role in record attendances for a host of global events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and Open Championship, sponsorship rights growth, and subscription and consumption records for leading D2C media businesses. 

Gareth Balch, Two Circles Co-Founder and CEO, said: “The sports industry is moving from a B2B model to a direct-to-consumer model where growth will be centred around a direct relationship between sports and fans. Over the last eight years, we believe we have built proven models that can take sports properties on this journey. With Bruin’s backing, experience, and relationships in global sport, we have the perfect platform to enter the next phase of commercial growth – both for our clients and as an agency.”

Products and services provided by the business include ticketing, premium, sponsorship, stadium redevelopment, and subscriptions.  WPP’s continued investment in Two Circles will allow the agency’s clients to continue to have unrivaled access to WPP, its global network, and its brand clients. 

The news follows Bruin’s recent partnership with CVC Capital Partners and The Jordan Company who committed an initial $600m to Bruin to build high-performing, next-generation sports and entertainment enterprises.  

Two Circles has been affiliated with Bruin, since 2017, serving as the marketing arm for OverTier, a venture created by Bruin to operate NFL Game Pass, the league’s premium subscription service. OverTier initially operated NFL Game Pass throughout Europe, and after two years of record growth, the relationship expanded to 181 countries worldwide, in large part due to the marketing results of Two Circles.

EFL Appoint David Baldwin As Chief Executive

In a press release this afternoon the EFL have announced David Baldwin as their new Chief Executive.

This means that both the EFL and Premier League have appointed new CEO’s within the past week, after the Premier League confirmed that interim CEO Richard Masters would be moving into the role on a permanent basis.

The EFL say: The appointment was made by the EFL Board following a rigorous selection process led by Chairman Rick Parry.

David joins the EFL from Premier League club, Burnley FC, where he has been Chief Executive since 2015. He was previously CEO of Bradford City FC.

Commenting on the appointment, Rick Parry said: “We are pleased to welcome David Baldwin to the EFL. David has a deep and thorough understanding of the game in this country; he joins us with direct experience of running Clubs in the Premier League and the EFL, with an excellent reputation and proven ability to build and grow relationships.

“David was the outstanding candidate in a strong field. With his strong leadership skills and enthusiasm for League football, I have no doubt that we have found the right person to lead the organisation. It is quite clear from talking to David that he is excited to be joining the League and relishing the challenge ahead.

David Baldwin said: “The role of Chief Executive at the EFL is an exciting opportunity that I could not turn down. The EFL continues to play a pivotal role in the success of the football pyramid in this country and I am looking forward working with the Clubs, growing the competitions and ensuring we have a successful and sustainable League in the future.”

David will take up his position at the EFL in June 2020.

David Baldwin biography

David joined Burnley Football Club as Chief Operating Officer in November 2014 from his previous role as Chief Executive at Bradford City Football Club.

He arrived with the initial remit of managing the operational and commercial activities of daily life at Turf Moor.

In May 2015 David was appointed as Chief Executive.

He has since overseen the major off-field transformation of the club, including establishing new community partnerships, while the club secured the Championship title in 2016 to win promotion back to Premier League.

This culminated in David being awarded Premier League CEO of the Year in 2018 by fcbusiness.

Previously, as CEO and Director of Operations at Bradford City, he was in post as the club reached the League Cup Final and gained promotion, via the Play-Offs, to League One.

FIFA Release Statement After Filing Claims Against Sepp Blatter And Michel Platini

FIFA’s statement read: FIFA has today filed claims in the relevant Swiss courts against former FIFA President Joseph Blatter and former FIFA Vice-President Michel Platini, seeking restitution of the CHF 2 million unduly paid to Mr Platini back in February 2011.

This follows the unanimous resolution recently adopted by the FIFA Governance Committee in which it emphasised that FIFA was duty-bound to try to recover the funds illicitly paid by one former official to another. Even the Swiss Federal Supreme Court has confirmed that this CHF 2 million gift was to be viewed as an “undue payment”.

If and when successfully recovered, these funds (together with interest) will be fully channelled back into football development, which is where the money should have gone in the first place.

Sportradar Signs Exclusive Multi-Year Partnership with Korea Professional Football League

Sportradar, the leading global provider of sports data intelligence, today announced it has agreed to a multi-year exclusive global media rights distribution package with the Korea Professional Football League (K LEAGUE) that will see it become a strategic partner in further growing the international coverage for one of Asia’s top leagues.

The K LEAGUE’s popularity is surging. Beyond swelling fan attendance on matchdays, online viewership figures have also steadily grown over recent seasons. To capitalize on this, the league is actively exploring growth opportunities beyond South Korea to amplify its brand to a global audience.

With Sportradar’s industry-leading expertise and experience in handling global rights, the company will work closely with the K LEAGUE in developing a comprehensive commercial strategy to enhance its global distribution and coverage for its media and digital rights.

Under this multi-year exclusive deal, Sportradar will also be providing its specialized Intelligence & Investigation services, which will support the K LEAGUE in the protection of its intellectual property via anti-piracy and illegal streaming investigations.

Dylan Chuan, Sportradar’s Sales Director, Audiovisual, APAC, said: “Sportradar is thrilled to be working with the K LEAGUE on this landmark deal. The Korean market is a key focus area for us, and we believe our experience in working with leading sports franchises will form the basis of a successful partnership and further strengthen the K LEAGUE’s reputation and appeal to a global audience.”

Mr Yeon Sang CHO, General Manager, K LEAGUE added: “We are delighted to partner with Sportradar and believe this partnership will provide enriched possibilities and further awareness for the K LEAGUE. This is a comprehensive deal that looks to increase international exposure and improve our efforts in protecting the integrity of the K LEAGUE brand. By building up opportunities in sports media and marketing with Sportradar in a long-term partnership, we look forward to developing the continued growth of the K LEAGUE and reaching out to new audiences around the world.”

Sportradar currently works with over 100 sports leagues and federations around the world and has key partnerships in Asia with The CBA League, The Asian Football Confederation, Max Muay Thai and the Indian Super League.

Lagadère Reportedly Selling 75% Of Sports Agency And Release Statement On CAF Ruling

Lagadère Sports are reportedly to sell 75% of their sports agency for a fee reported to be in the region of €110 million.

The company today announced that it has received a bid from H.I.G. Capital, but said that the value “does not include the future value creation potential of the Group’s residual 25-per-cent interest in Lagardère Sports, or any potential gains from the Confederation of African Football agreement.”

Lagadère have also released a statement following the International Chamber of Commerce’s first ruling on their current dispute with the Confederation of African Football this past Friday.

CAF decided to permanently end their billion-dollar agreement nine years before its planned conclusion, which had seen the agency cover CAF’s media and sponsorship sales rights globally until 2028, and Lagadère are continuing to fight the decision.

The statement reads:

“Following the decision by CAF to unilaterally cancel its agency agreement with Lagardère Sports, Lagardère, in accordance with the contractual provisions, initiated emergency arbitration proceedings – aimed at keeping the contract in force pending the arbitration on merits – before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Geneva. 

On December 13th, while the emergency arbitrator rejected these interim measures, he did not rule on the merits of the case as this was not within his remits. Consequently, the outcome of the emergency proceedings does not in any way predetermine the outcome of any future arbitration on the merits of the case. 

Under these conditions, Lagardère will steadfastly continue as planned to proceed with the broader, more encompassing arbitration (arbitration on merits) to obtain compensation from CAF. 

Lagardère Sports is an established, respected company that has served CAF for many years with efficiency, loyalty and dedication, working collaboratively to grow African football and bringing the games to thousands of new fans each year. As such, the Lagardère group deems the actions of CAF to be unwarranted and will take all action at its disposal to defend its interests, mitigate the impact of any immediate harm to its business and protect the interests of its shareholders.”

Rohit Sharma Becomes LaLiga’s First Brand Ambassador In India

LaLiga has made significant strides in terms of its presence in India by announcing two high-profile agreements today. The first is the appointment of international cricket ace Rohit Sharma as the first LaLiga brand ambassador in India, and the second is that LaLiga now has its first regional sponsor in the country, Dream11, the largest sports gaming platform in India.

With these two agreements, LaLiga takes a step forward with its presence in India and its bid to get closer to the local fans. With an office in New Delhi since 2017, LaLiga has its own staff based in the Indian capital working on nurturing the sport and building the LaLiga brand in the country. During these two years, LaLiga has worked on numerous ambitious projects in a variety of areas, such as the successful grassroots football development programme, LaLiga Football Schools; a pioneering broadcast partnership with Facebook to provide over 300 matches for free to fans on the Indian subcontinent; bringing one of LaLiga’s clubs, Girona FC, to India for the first time, and many more initiatives. The association with Rohit Sharma is yet another step in its bid to further the work on the growth which football is currently enjoying in India.

India is seen as a burgeoning football market with the Indian Super League growing in recent years and LaLiga, with their continued global expansion, are looking at growing within this market and establishing both the league and football as a key sport in India. By using key influencers such as Rohit Sharma, one of the world’s finest batsmen currently and a superstar with tremendous profile in India, it will be key to help the constant expansion and profile of LaLiga across the country.

Rohit, LaLiga’s new brand ambassador in India, said, “Football in India is undergoing growth and it’s heartening to see that it is no longer considered a sleeping giant in the country in this regard. Over the course of the past five years, we have witnessed significant growth in interest in football in India. Credit must be given to everyone who has contributed to this growth, including the fans.

“I am truly delighted to be associated with LaLiga. It’s encouraging to see the Spanish giant making inroads into the Indian football ecosystem through its grassroots programme and other projects. Personally, I see this as an interesting journey for me into the beautiful game together with LaLiga. I eagerly look forward to connecting with football fans in the country.”

Jose Antonio Cachaza (Managing Director, LaLiga India) and Rohit Sharma, LaLiga’s first ever brand ambassador in India

Thanks to the agreement with LaLiga, Dream11 – which has over 70 million users and offers football, cricket and basketball games, as well as other sports – will have an official LaLiga competition and football fans in India will be able to enjoy the clubs and stars of the Spanish league. Through this partnership, LaLiga furthers its commitment to digital innovation, and will now be able to reach a young, dynamic audience eager to enjoy the thrills and the passion of the best football in the world through Dream11’s fantasy game. The agreement, which extends to five seasons, also involves collaboration at other levels, such as on social media and the presence of the brand at LaLiga events in India. It is the second Indian brand to join forces with LaLiga, with BKT already a global sponsor of the competition.

Rohit, one of the world’s premier batsmen in the modern era and a self-confessed football fanatic, was unveiled before the local media at an event which took place in Mumbai, which also featured the presence of Jose Antonio Cachaza, LaLiga’s director for India. He is the first sportsman to hold this position, representing another step forward in LaLiga’s strategy in India and in its bid to get closer to local fans. The acclaimed sportsman, who will be one of the faces of LaLiga in India, perfectly represents the values that the Spanish competition stands for, including excellence, teamwork, authenticity, respect, commitment and passion. With his motivational and inspirational stature in the country as an individual and athlete, Rohit will help catalyse the growth of football and LaLiga in India.

Jose Antonio Cachaza, LaLiga’s director for India said, “India is a very important market for LaLiga from a global perspective. Since we came here in 2017, we’ve gained a better understanding of the pulse of the nation. Over the past two years, and after many ground-breaking initiatives, it is clear that India has a huge appetite for football. Rohit Sharma is the perfect example of this; as well as being one of the most renowned faces in Indian cricket, he is also an ardent football and LaLiga fan. In his persona on and off the field, Rohit embodies LaLiga’s values and principles. We are delighted to have him as LaLiga’s first ever non-footballing brand ambassador and as our representative in India.

 

European Tour to Launch Golf’s First ‘Esports Tour’

The European Tour, in partnership with esports specialists DreamHack and Topgolf Entertainment Group, has launched golf’s first esports series, the European eTour.

Starting at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA in January, the inaugural season-long eTour will feature six esports contests held at European Tour tournaments around the world.

Players will go head-to-head in the leading online and mobile golf game, World Golf Tour (WGT) by Topgolf, which is currently played by more than 20 million people worldwide. A long-time leader in online golf competitions, WGT by Topgolf offers the most photorealistic golf gaming experience giving players the opportunity to virtually play some of the most famous golf championship courses.  Topgolf is currently developing additional European Tour virtual venues to add to its portfolio of WGT golf courses.

The world’s best golf esports players will attempt to qualify for the live onsite events via an online tournament.  Eight players will then compete onsite at European Tour events in an exciting nine-hole knockout match play format, initially in two round robin groups, before straight knockout semi-finals and final.

The five tournament winners, along with three wildcards qualifiers, will then contest the season-ending finale at the European Tour’s own season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 19-22, 2020.

DreamHack will bring their extensive esports events and streaming production capabilities to create a premium experience. Fans will be able to enjoy extensive live coverage as well as bespoke ancillary content of all six European eTour events across a multitude of platforms, including broadcast, digital and social media.

The European Tour held its first esports event earlier this year with WGT and DreamHack. The inaugural European eTour Championship took place at the 2019 Made in Denmark, and the success of that tournament led to the development of this series of one-day events across the 2020 calendar.  The exclusivity of the European Tour’s esports experience amplifies the benefit of players participating in this event, and the ability to virtually be part of real world tournaments.

Rufus Hack, the European Tour’s Chief Content Officer, said: “The launch of the European eTour underlines the European Tour’s commitment to innovation and we believe this is an exciting opportunity for us to be leaders in a market that has huge growth potential. The esports industry allows the European Tour to engage with our existing audience in a different way and attract new fans outside of our traditional demographic through our broadcast and digital platforms. Our inaugural event in Denmark earlier this year gave a glimpse into the popularity of esports and we are looking forward to launching golf’s first esports Tour in 2020.”

Peter Nørrelund, CEO of DreamHack Sports Games, said: “We see a great future for sports games in esports. The combination of a good game and a strong Player in traditional sports is a winning recipe. World Golf Tour is a superior golf game and natural platform for golf esports, European Tour is one of the strongest brands in the world of sports and with our ability to create content, media products and build strong communities I am sure, that the European eTour will be a smashing success. I am thrilled with the partnership.”

YuChiang Chen, Topgolf Media President, said: “At Topgolf, we are constantly innovating around how we can connect people in meaningful ways and the competition of esports brings a large, diverse group of people together to share a common experience. WGT was always built to be a realistic simulation of golf; rewarding skill and mirroring the level of strategy, course management and mental toughness required to win in professional golf. The WGT players have been urging us to take this next step and we look forward to partnering with such innovative partners to further enhance the modern competition of golf and launch an unmatched esports tournament experience on WGT.”

The esports industry is one of the fastest growing media sectors with an audience of more than 380 million enthusiasts worldwide which is forecasted to surpass 1.6 billion by 2022. A majority of esports fans are in the 18-34 age demographic.

Historic New Ladies European Tour Event Announced In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has become renowned at breaking boundaries in sport, a trend which continues with today’s announcement of a fully sanctioned Ladies European Tour (LET) event set to take place in the Kingdom from the 19th to the 22nd March 2020. The tournament, which will carry a USD$1 million prize fund, will be staged in collaboration with Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation.

The event is a watershed moment for the country, and will mark the first time that professional female golfers have played competitively in the country, breaking new ground in its ongoing transformation as part of Vision 2030.

The 72-hole stroke play competition, which will be broadcast domestically and to more than 340 million homes across more than 55 countries worldwide, will inspire a new generation of golfers throughout the Kingdom. A field of 108 LET professionals will contest for one of the richest prizes on the LET Schedule at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, near Jeddah, on the country’s stunning Red Sea coast.

Commenting upon hosting the event for the first time and setting new precedents within the sport, His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “We are delighted to be creating history by hosting the inaugural ladies professional tournament in March. I hope the tournament will inspire many women to take up the great game of golf and awaken their interest in this wonderful sport. We warmly welcome all the players to the Kingdom and wish everyone a rewarding experience in our magical country.”

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, which is set within King Abdullah Economic City, also plays host to the European Tour’s Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. At the first staging in 2019, Major champion Dustin Johnson emerged victorious and the former World #1 will return to defend his title against a world-class field that also includes the likes of Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau and Henrik Stenson, in January.

“I am incredibly excited by this announcement and it is an honour for the Tour to be part of history in bringing the first-ever professional women’s golf event to Saudi Arabia,” said Ladies European Tour Acting CEO, Alexandra Armas. “Confirmation of adding Saudi Arabia to our schedule for 2020 is an exciting prospect for everyone at the Ladies European Tour and having seen the quality of the event staging for the Saudi International, I am sure this will be a fantastic experience for our players.”

As well as confirming the historic tournament, Golf Saudi today announced it is working with several LET stars in order to promote golf to domestic audiences and to enhance the visibility of Saudi’s golf development programme and its golf tourism offer internationally. The UK’s Carly Booth, Amy Boulden and Rachel Drummond, and Swedish pair Camilla Lennarth and Isabella Deilert will each wear the Golf Saudi logo as ambassadors of the programme.

Looking ahead to the inaugural LET event, three-time Tour winner and Golf Saudi Ambassador, Carly Booth said: “I’m looking forward to being part of history with the other ladies on the tour and of course to competing over the Royal Greens course. I have visited Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions and been lucky enough to spend some time teaching local women and girls how to play; they have been so enthusiastic and I am sure that seeing professional golfers compete in their country will inspire them to take up the game and strive for their dreams.”

The 2020 event will showcase Saudi Arabia’s natural assets, as well as prioritising the country’s drive to increase golf participation significantly in the years to come. The Kingdom already has a strong track record when it comes to staging high-level sporting fixtures, including major football, boxing, motorsport and equestrian events.

New Zealand Join Australian Bid, South Korea And South Africa Withdraw From Race To Host 2023 Women’s World Cup

Australia’s bid has been strengthened by the addition of New Zealand to produce a combined bid between the two nations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

But South Korea have joined South Africa in withdrawing from the race to host the tournament this week.

South Africa withdrew from the race to host the competition earlier this week and have now been joined by the Koreans, who had possibly been hoping to host a combined tournament between themselves and North Korea.

However, with North Korea appearing unlikely to join forces with their southern counterparts, South Korea believe they cannot go forward on their own.

Australia and New Zealand hosted the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and have had their bid for the women’s FIFA World Cup approved by six Australian states already, with Australian Federal Minister for Youth and Sport, the Hon. Richard Colbeck, saying the Australian Government is committed to the joint bid which is a logical and compelling response to the expanded 32-nation format that will be introduced in 2023.

“Our Bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 strongly aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to inspire more girls and women to participate in sport and increase their physical activity for better health and wellbeing,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Australia and New Zealand have a successful history of both staging and co-hosting major international sporting events. We have the infrastructure, expertise and enthusiasm to co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and I wish FFA and New Zealand Football every success.”

New Zealand Minister for Sport and Recreation, Grant Robertson, said the joint Bid is an unprecedented opportunity for the two countries to showcase their commitment to women’s sport and continue to track records of successfully hosting major sporting events.

“New Zealand and Australia are both countries that champion and celebrate women’s sport, and it has been no surprise to see the football community, stadia, host cities and states across our two countries embrace this bid,” Minister Robertson said.

“We know New Zealand and Australia can work as a team to deliver something unique and world class, while also creating a legacy for women and for football in our countries and across Asia and Oceania.”

 

Inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Praised by Global Sport’s Stakeholders

SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli led the praise of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 as the inaugural event drew to a close yesterday at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center in Florida.

Offering his closing remarks at the end of an engaging conference program, Chiulli expressed his thanks to Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO, as well as the event’s attendees, speakers and partners.

“This has been a very important occasion to meet, talk and learn,” Chiulli, who is also President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), said. “Fort Lauderdale is a marvellous place and we have been made to feel very much at home. My main takeaway from this event will be the atmosphere here in Fort Lauderdale. The discussions have been open and constructive and this is how friendships are built and consolidated.”

SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt joined Chiulli in thanking José Rodriguez of the Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Local Organizing Committee, as well as the event’s Gold Partners: Florida Sports Foundation, Greater Fort Lauderdale and Panam Sports.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed towards this inaugural event,” Hatt said. “I would also like to express my sincere thanks to nearly 550 people, representing 70 nationalities, who have come from across Pan America and also from around the world to help get this event off the ground.”

Leading sports stakeholders, influencers and decision-makers also lined up to hail the impact of the inaugural event, with the conference program focusing on the topic of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’.

Neven Iván Ilic Álvarez, President of Panam Sports and an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member, said after his conference presentation: “I want to thank the organisers of this wonderful event and we will support the event in the future in any way we can.”

Nadia Comăneci, the legendary five-time Olympic gymnastics gold medal-winner, who also featured as a conference speaker, added: “I believe we have seen here at Regional SportAccord that doors are always open to discuss improvements in sport and I hope this is the start of an amazing opportunity for the future.”

Attention will now turn to the next event on the calendar – the highly anticipated 18th annual SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit from 19-24 April 2020 in Beijing, China.