Over its history, the non-profit Los Angeles Sports Council has brought events with a collective economic impact of more than $1 billion to the LA area, using only $12 million in administrative expenses, a ratio of better than $100 in economic impact for every dollar in administrative cost. The Sports Council was an outgrowth of the success of the 1984 LA Olympics. David Simon served as a VP of the 1984 Organizing Committee. He was named President when the Sports Council was incorporated in 1988, and since stepping down he continues to serve as Senior Advisor. He shares his insights in this exclusive interview on iSportconnect TV.
ATP Finals: “We Have Built Data As The Foundation Of Our Event”
The Nitto ATP Finals, the year-end climax to the men’s professional tennis season, bids farewell to London after 12 years in 2021, moving to Turin under a new five-year agreement. With over 250,000 tickets on sale every year, the event at the O2 has been one of the biggest fixtures on London’s annual sporting calendar. The ATP owns and operates the event. Adam Hogg, the Event Director, speaks to iSportconnect TV about the commercial approach and what changes are in store for this high-profile attraction after this year’s edition from November 10-17.
International Orienteering Federation: “We Are Embracing Mobile Technology”
The Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships will take place soon from August 12-17 in Østfold, Norway. Tom Hollowell, CEO of the International Orienteering Federation, speaks to iSportconnect TV about how technology is helping to change the sport and boost its appeal at both the elite and participation levels, and the IOF’s commercial progress.
Saudi Arabia Will Offer World’s Richest Horse Race
The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the $20 million Saudi Cup, to be run at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29, 2020.
Details of the contest were announced yesterday by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, at a launch event in Saratoga, New York.
The race will be run on over a distance of nine furlongs on dirt and will have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and to participate in.
The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.
Riyadh-based Arab News reports:
The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup.
The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of $16 million in 2018, while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth $12 million.
“The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horseracing in Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horseracing’s world stage,” said Prince Bandar.
“We look forward to welcoming international horsemen and women, the media, racing enthusiasts and the public to Riyadh in 2020.”
The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup.
This means that the top horses in training have the opportunity to compete in all three of the most valuable dirt races in the world.
The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of $16 million in 2018, while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth $12 million.
Mexicans Say They’re Ready For New Formula 1 Deal
The promoters of the Mexican Grand Prix have announced on social media that they are set to sign a new three-year deal with Formula 1 today.
F1.com reports:
The Mexican event, held since 2015 in its second iteration at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, was among several races – along with Spain, Germany Italy and Great-Britain – whose future beyond the current year was in doubt.
“The City of Mexico’s #FIESTA will continue! Thanks for being the best fans on the planet. Stay tuned on our social channels tomorrow to know all the details,” organisers announced on the race’s official Twitter account.
The news was also confirmed in a video released on Twitter by Mexico City’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum.
“I want to share some good news that I just received,” she said.
“Formula 1 is staying in Mexico City. The FIA president is going to be here tomorrow to sign it. This is good news for the city.
“I also want to tell you that this is thanks to a group of businessmen who made this possible because this time the city is not using any public funds.
“It’s good news for the city. It brings tourism, it brings income, and it’s also good for the country.”
A popular event for both fans and teams since its return to the calendar four years ago, the Mexican GP’s future had been put in jeopardy by the decision of Mexican president Manuel Lopez Obrador to pull the plug on the race’s public funding.
Monza and Barcelona have yet to formally announce new agreements with F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media, but both races are expected to remain on the sport’s schedule for 2020.
However, lingering doubts remain about Germany and Hockenheim, with the event’s promoters still searching for the necessary financial backing to save their race.
Lidl Will Sponsor European Handball Championships
Lidl will be an official sponsor of the European Handball Federation’s EURO 2020 men’s tournament taking place in Sweden, Austria and Norway from January 9-26.
It is the first time three countries will host the event and a record 24 teams are set to compete.
As exclusive Official Fresh Food Partner of the event, Lidl will show one of its core competencies by supporting the event with qualitative fresh food and water for players, representatives, referees and volunteers in order to raise awareness about the importance of exercise and health-conscious nutrition.
The partnership, brokered by Infront, follows Lidl’s sponsorship of the 2018 event, providing the retailer with broad visibility through exposure on LED boards, floor stickers and interview backdrops.
This will be complemented by a focus on digital activation, with branded content, tailor-made clips for Lidl’s key markets and other similar methods to reach and engage with handball fans via social media.
The 2018 edition of the tournament enjoyed a cumulative TV audience of over 1.05 billion across 175 territories.
Rooney’s Move To Derby Has Betting-Branded Look
The promotion of Wayne Rooney’s new signing by Derby County in connection with the Championship club’s betting sponsor marks a new level of sophistication in adding value to a betting brand’s association with a club.
Former England star Rooney will wear the number 32 shirt when he joins Derby in January in line with the club’s shirt sponsorship with Gibraltar-based 32Red (see the club’s video of the announcement on iSportconnect TV).
Team owner Mel Morris said that the signing had given a boost to the new sponsorship deal with 32Red. “On the back of Wayne joining the club, we have just been offered a record-breaking sponsorship deal with our principal shirt sponsor, 32Red.”
“To be honest, the number that I wear is not a big deal,” Rooney said. “I’ve worn many numbers throughout my career, Nos 18, 8, 9, 10, 23, now 32, for me, the important thing was to come back and help the team, the number isn’t a big deal whatever it is.”
Ten of the 20 Premier League clubs will have gambling companies as their shirt sponsors this year, along with 15 of 24 teams in the Sky Bet Championship.
The explicit link between Rooney and the brand via the number 32 has drawn fire from critics of the high profile of gambling in sport, including the Labour Party’s sports minister in waiting.
Shadow Sports Minister Rosenna Allin-Khan said in an interview with The Times today: “The industry keeps telling us that they are committed to reducing the amount of gambling advertising in football. And yet this season there will actually be an increase in the number of football clubs sponsored by gambling companies.”
“The relationship is now so out of control we are seeing the names pf players becoming synonymous with gambling brands. The apparent sponsorship of Wayne Rooney’s move to Derby County has taken things to a whole new level.”
Valencia Digital Chief Joins Lausanne Summit Speaker Line-Up
iSportconnect is delighted to announce that Keishi Matsuyama, Digital Transformation Director of Valencia Club de Futbol, will be a featured speaker at the 2019 Lausanne Summit taking place on September 17 at the Olympic Museum.
Keishi has been steering Valencia CF’s efforts in using innovative technology to facilitate a direct relationship with the fan and deliver an unmatched entertainment experience in line with the La Liga club’s ambition to stay at the forefront of the game for years to come.
A graduate of the IE Business School and with a Masters in the Business of the Internet, Keishi has a background in the global finance industry. In his view the secret to a successful technology project is not to focus on technology.
“Digital is not a department, it’s a way of doing things,” he says. “What we have been able to do is change the club’s whole approach to economics, processes, communications and markets, because we saw that our fans behaviour had changed.”
For the third edition of the annual Lausanne Summit, iSportconnect, in partnership with PwC, has assembled a content programme that will bring together thought leaders from premier rights owners and brands to discuss and debate strategic issues impacting the future of the global sports business.
With topics covering digital engagement and content strategies, the future of rights, globalisation of data and the commercial challenges faced by federations, the iSportconnect Lausanne Summit promises to be a must-attend event for the sports business community.
With a maximum of 150 invite-only delegates, iSportconnect provides a media and 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 2019 Lausanne Summit, please contact Emma at info@isportconnect.com
Disney Will Offer ESPN+ With Other Streaming Services In Discount Bundle
The Walt Disney Company on Tuesday said it would offer ESPN as part of a $13-per-month bundle of its three streaming services starting in November, a move to attract U.S. audiences who have embraced digital services such as Netflix.
Reuters reports:
Disney’s bundle includes family-friendly digital offering Disney+ and Hulu as well as the ESPN+ sports service, for a $5-per-month discount. The Hulu offering in the bundle will include commercials.
That price is the same as Netflix’s most popular plan, which allows streaming on two devices simultaneously.
Executives at Disney and Netflix have said they believe there is room for both services in the growing market of digital options that are luring customers away from cable TV.
ESPN+, which offers sports that are not shown on ESPN’s cable channels, including Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts, rugby and some professional baseball and soccer games, costs $4.99 a month.
Kosmos Tennis: “Entertainment Will Be An Important Part Of New Davis Cup Finals Experience”
The inaugural edition of the new-style Davis Cup Finals will take place in Madrid from November 18-24. The transformation of the event into a World Cup of Tennis has been steered by Kosmos Tennis under a 25-year deal with the International Tennis Federation. Javier Alonso, the company’s CEO, tells iSportconnect TV about the plans for the event at La Caja Magica. Kosmos was founded by footballer Gerard Piqué of FC Barcelona, who has had a hand-on role in re-making the tennis finals, which will feature 12 nations in a week-long tournament sponsored by Rakuten, the new Davis Cup global partner.