PSV Eindhoven Asks Fans For Feedback On Potential Betting Sponsorship

Dutch football club PSV Eindhoven has called upon its season-ticket holders to offer feedback on the potential for future commercial partnerships between the team and an online gambling company, according to SBC News.

The football club had sent out letters to its fans requesting their views on gambling promotions, with a potential deal estimated to be worth between €1 million and €1.5 million per year.

Harrie Timmermans, the chairman of the PSV Supporters’ Association, commented on the consultation: “We have had internal discussions about this. It’s a bit of a grey area. This will soon be legal and will bring money to the club, but it is too easy to regard everything that brings in money as desirable.”

It has also been reported that a number of the country’s top teams, including Ajax and Feyenoord, are also reviewing the possibility of striking partnerships with gambling operators.

The news comes as Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch regulator, is implementing further measures to open up the country’s gaming industry further.

Construction Firm Taisei Becomes Rugby World Cup Sponsor

World Rugby has named Taisei Corporation as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

The building construction and civil engineering company Taisei has been involved in the construction of various tournament venues across the country, contributing significantly to Rugby World Cup 2019’s implementation and future success.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted to welcome Taisei to the commercial family for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan as an official sponsor.

“The appointment of a long-established Japanese company to a record-breaking commercial portfolio reflects the enormous prestige of Rugby World Cup in Japan and broadens the reach and profile of what is shaping-up to be the most popular rugby event ever with record ticket demand and the biggest-ever broadcast and digital media footprint.”

Taisei Corporation President Yoshiyuki Murata said: “We feel very proud to take part in the Rugby World Cup as an official sponsor, an event that the whole world will get passionate about. I hope for the success of this inspiring international sporting event, in which players selected from all over the world take pride in representing their countries.”

The Rugby World Cup 2019 commercial programme features a full inventory of six Worldwide Partners: Emirates, Heineken, Land Rover, Mastercard, Société Générale and DHL.

Canon, TOTO Ltd, SECOM, Taisho Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Estate, NEC, HITO Communications and Taisei are Official Sponsors.

Gilbert, TUDOR, Toppan Printing, Canterbury, NTT DOCOMO, EY, a conglomerate of newspaper companies, Suntory Holdings Limited and Aggreko are Tournament Suppliers.

Rugby World Cup 2019 is on track to be the event to attend in 2019 with unprecedented ticketing demand during the priority and public phases to date and more than 85 per cent of all tickets sold.

French Turn Up Heat In Sponsorship Embezzlement Probe

French authorities investigating corruption in international sports believe a Swiss partner of Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Inc played a “central and essential role” in deals used to embezzle sponsorship money and have asked Switzerland to raid its office and seize evidence, according to a person with knowledge of the probe and documents related to the case reviewed by Reuters.

In an exclusive story, the news agency reports that French investigators have not accused Dentsu or its partner, Lucerne-based Athletics Management & Services, of wrongdoing. The companies work together on marketing and media rights for the International Association of Athletics Federations, the Monaco-based governing body for track and field.

Former IAAF President, Lamine Diack, and his son, Papa Massata, have been charged with embezzling from sponsorship and broadcast deals for those rights and other financial crimes in an inquiry that wrapped up in June and is set to go to trial.

Read the exclusive report here.

Sportradar White Paper Explores OTT Revenue Potential

Sportradar has launched the first in a series of white papers designed to inform sports rights holders and content owners on how they can successfully leverage and monetise their digital ecosystem.

With the rise of video and the ever-increasing use of multiple devices, The Monetisation of OTT and Data highlights the importance of providing data-driven quality content to engage with sports fans and enhance the user experience as well as how insights can ensure rights holders make informed decisions.

Featuring comment and analysis from industry-leading figures and organisations, the paper explores relationship building to offer personalised experiences, the different options for monetisation and how data is the key element that underpins any successful strategy.

Sportradar provides the platform for our iSportconnect TV.

You can access this valuable white paper here.

Ousted From EFL, Bury Has No Right To Appeal

Bury, expelled from the Football League (EFL) on Tuesday after failing to provide guarantees about their finances, has no right of appeal against the decision, EFL Executive Chair Debbie Jevans said today.

Bury, with 125 years membership of the Football League, became the first team to be expelled since Maidstone in 1992 after a takeover bid fell through just before a deadline to satisfy the EFL about their future.

Reuters reports:

“There’s no appeal process. It is within people’s rights to write to us, we await any correspondence, should it arrive,” Jevans told reporters.

C&N Sporting Risk pulled out of its proposed takeover of the League One side just a few hours before the deadline to meet the league’s requirements saying the club’s finances were full of complications.

Bury, founded in 1885, is the first Football League club to be kicked out since Maidstone in 1992.

League One will now comprise 23 teams for the remainder of the season and the number of relegation places will be reduced to three instead of four.

Jevans said she was upset that the EFL had to expel Bury but added that the process was now completed.

“Devastated, no other word for it. I understand what I’ve heard the fans say. It’s very sad,” she said.

“But that decision was made, the share (in the EFL) has been revoked and is now with the EFL,” she added.

Jevans said the EFL, which had postponed five league games and kicked Bury out of the EFL Cup, had no choice after extending their deadline to work with C&N on a potential deal.

“I don’t honestly know what more we could have done,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, administrators running Bolton Wanderers have been given 14 days to either sell the club or prove they can fund them for the rest of the season, or that club too will be ousted from the EFL.

 

Budapest: “We’re Building The Urban Games As A New Brand In The World Of Sports”

Next month, the city of Budapest will host the inaugural World Urban Games, a new concept  providing a global stage for international federations to highlight their emerging sports disciplines. During SportAccord 2019, Attila Mizsér, Chief Executive of International Sports Bids at Budapest’s Major Public Project Developments Authority (KKBK), updated iSportconnect TV on his city’s preparations for the new event taking place from September 13-15, and its strategy and plans for future projects, including the second edition of the Urban Games, which Budapest will host in 2021

The World Urban Games is an initiative of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The 2019 programme includes six competition sports and two showcase sports. They include breaking (breakdancing), 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle park, freestyle flying disc, parkour and freestyle roller skate, as competition sports. Indoor rowing and laser run will feature as showcase sports.

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Valencia CF’s New App Is A One-Stop Shop

The new app from Valencia CF will enable fans to carry out 100% of their club interactions from food to retail, through mobile technology at Mestalla Stadium, where the LaLiga team hosts RCD Mallorca this Sunday September 1. Enjoy a look at Valencia’s digital transformation via the app on iSportconnect TV.

“On the match day, we will make it possible for fans to order food remotely via the app, picking it up from their bar of choice,” said Keishi Matsuyama, Digital Transformation Director at Valencia CF, who will be a guest speaker at the iSportconnect Lausanne Summit coming up on September 17, 2019

“Based on data about fans arrival or shopping, we will be creating personalised offers and delivering these through the app” he said. “With all data running through the app, we will be able to make even more detailed and personal offers to fans as years go by.”

In the future, this data may influence the price of tickets, as the club plans to work with LaLiga attendance systems and its own fan data to determine exactly who is visiting the Mestalla and when.

“We have already worked out how regularly each fan is visiting, putting them into specific offerings and loyalty pricing brackets based on that, Matsuyama notes. “But as this data becomes richer the offers can become more personal, and the offering and pricing more dynamic.”

 

NBA Crossover Returns To London

The NBA Crossover exhibition will return to London next month the U.K. capital, displaying the convergence of the NBA and popular culture, with NBA Legend Kenny Smith on hand for the show from September 20-22.

NBA Crossover takes a unique perspective of the NBA, immersing fans into the league through interactive exhibits, escorting the visitor through a cultural journey focusing on how music, style, art, and entertainment have shaped and influenced the NBA, its teams and players.

Two-time NBA Champion Smith (photo below) will be present throughout the weekend participating in various activities and competitions, signing autographs and interacting with fans at Phonica on Poland Street in the West End.

Throughout his ten-year career, Smith played for six teams, most notably with the Houston Rockets where he spent six seasons, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95.  Smith is currently an NBA studio analyst for Turner Sports.

“Fans are in for a treat at NBA Crossover London,” said Smith.  “I look forward to experiencing the event first-hand and connecting with NBA fans from the UK and across Europe as we explore the cultural influence of basketball and the NBA on popular culture.”

“NBA Crossover is a chance for the NBA to showcase its impact beyond the hardwood,” said NBA Managing Director, Europe and Middle East, Ralph Rivera.  “Fans in the UK have a deep appreciation of the role the NBA has on music, style and entertainment.  We are excited to once again host NBA Crossover in London and look forward to working with our partners including Foot Locker, Gatorade, Tissot and 2K to give visitors a unique and authentic NBA experience.”

NBA Crossover will feature specific areas focusing on how music, style, art, and entertainment have influenced the sport of basketball, demonstrating how the NBA has become synonymous with popular culture.  Fans will have the unique opportunity to engage with the league through customized activations including virtual reality experiences, art displays, photos with The Larry O’Brien Trophy and panel discussions with local speakers.

Other activities include the Foot Locker barbershop where fans can get a haircut in an authentic barbershop.  Fans can also bring in their sneakers, leather goods or textiles and visit the special customized section to get unique NBA team logos on their shoes or bags.

Gatorade will be onsite offering fans samples of their products and the chance to participate in different challenges to win Gatorade prizes.

Tissot will host a ‘Buzzer Beater’ game where fans will race against the clock to score as many baskets as possible in 24 seconds for a chance to win tickets to an NBA game in the US.  Fans will also have the opportunity to win a Special Edition Tissot x NBA Chrono XL watch each day through taking part in Tissot’s ‘Code Cracker’ challenge.

There will also be an NBA 2K20 Gaming area for fans to play the latest NBA 2K20 video game launching globally on September 6.

Castrol And Wish Join Brands & Partnership Masterclass Speaker Line-Up

iSportconnect is pleased to announce that Paul Goodmaker – Global Head of Sponsorship and Events – Castrol, and Sam Jones – Managing Director – Wish, will be speaking at the 2019 Brands And Partnership Masterclass slated to take place on 12th September.

As Global Head of Sponsorship and Events at Castrol, Paul has had the opportunity to work on some of the most high-profile sponsorships in the world including FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships, Olympics and Formula 1.

He is currently  leading Castrol’s activation of the partnership with the Renault F1 Team, having previously managed Castrol’s sponsorship of 2010 & 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and UEFA EURO 2012™, the rights holder relationships and leading the global football communications programme.

Paul developed the post-football Castrol global sponsorship strategy and was proud to be shortlisted in the Communications Category at 2015 ‘Global Leaders In Sport Under 40’ Awards.

As Managing Director at leading eCommerce platform Wish, Sam is responsible for consumer marketing including partnerships. Wish have 500 million registered users and sell 3 million items a day.

Prior to Wish, he started multiple technology companies in data vizualisation and gaming.  Before this, Sam was a leading executive search consultant in Asia Pacific for 10 years, covering financial markets . Sam started his career at Accenture, he has lived and worked in UK, Australia, Hong Kong & Singapore.

The Brands & Partnership Masterclass will look at the integration of sport and brands, providing an exclusive opportunity to engage with thought leaders in a challenging and fast-changing global business, hearing from expert speakers sharing their experiences of communicating with their target audiences.

To register your interest for the Brands & Partnership Masterclass, please contact Emma at info@isportconnect.com.