LaLiga Gives Seville Derby Big Global Push

The historic rivalry between Sevilla FC and its cross-city rival Real Betis means that El Gran Derbi – to be played this coming Saturday – has a famous reputation and generates great interest across the world.

LaLiga and the two clubs are holding a range of activities in a number of global markets to promote Saturday’s match at Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium.

Promotion of the match kicked off on April 9th with an event in New York that discussed the importance of El Gran Derbi and the efforts being made by the clubs and LaLiga to achieve growth in the United States.

Club representatives including Ramon Loarte, Sevilla’s Director of Marketing, and Ramon Alarcon, Betis’s General Manager of Business, were in attendance, along with a number of American opinion leaders. The activity was organised by LaLiga North America, a joint-venture by LaLiga and Relevent Sports.

On the day of the match, three concurrent ‘viewing parties’ will take place across the Americas in Bogota (Colombia), Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Mexico City. The event in Bogota is being organised in conjunction with the Spanish Embassy in Colombia, attended by a number of top Colombian officials.

In Sao Paulo, a viewing of the game will be held for over 100 fans, with a selection of traditional Andalusian tapas on offer.

The event in Mexico will consist of Betis and Sevilla supporters’ clubs meeting up to watch El Gran Derbi in a Mexico City restaurant. The Peña Sevillista Sí o Sí and the Peña Bética Insurgentes supporters’ clubs will take part in this event in the Mexican capital.

“The events we are holding in different parts of the world form part of LaLiga’s international development strategy with the objective of growing football globally. El Gran Derbi is one of the biggest matches of the season, which is why we want to get closer and closer to our fans around the world so they can enjoy the occasion,” said Oscar Mayo, LaLiga’s Director of International Development.

“LaLiga’s derbies are hugely important for the international development of the competition. We’re making the most of the emotion, passion and rivalry in these games to continue promoting the international growth of the clubs and the competition,” Mayo said.

Due to the global significance of this game, LaLiga has deployed its best audiovisual technology at the match to create the best possible spectacle for watching fans. Match production will be provided in 4K-HDR via 22 cameras, including an aerial camera.

In addition, the Replays360 system will be available with five Super Slow Motion cameras capturing every single detail. Meanwhile, live 3D graphics will be used, as well as the Lawo Kick System to provide the most accurate on-the-pitch sounds.

This audiovisual deployment will allow El Gran Derbi to be enjoyed via the international feed distributed in 183 countries around the world through 93 television broadcasters.

Lancashire Teams With Rewards4Cricket

Lancashire Cricket has teamed up with Rewards4Cricket, a rewards programme dedicated to cricket fans, ahead of the 2019 season as the Club continues to strengthen fan engagement and benefit programmes for Members and supporters of the Red Rose.

The Rewards4Cricket programme, operated by the UK’s largest operator of sports-based rewards programmes (Rewards4), is initially focused on providing new ways to reward supporters for their loyalty when purchasing tickets and Memberships at Emirates Old Trafford.

With over 4,500 retail and high street partners, the Rewards4Cricket programme enables loyal cricket fans and supporters to collect points on their everyday spending and redeem these against the cost of Memberships, match day tickets, and merchandise in Lancashire’s Official Store.

The Club and Rewards4Cricket will work together to grow a database of engaged fans from the wider community in the North West by providing the opportunity to win some great cricket experiences as well as saving money when watching Lancashire or England at Emirates Old Trafford.

Jonathon Nuttall, Lancashire Cricket’s Head of Ticketing & Digital Systems, said: “Our Members and supporters are at the heart of everything we do. Their loyalty to the Club over the years has been incredible and we always strive to reward that commitment by providing them with the best possible experience.

“Creating a rewards and loyalty scheme for our supporters has been a priority since engaging with our new ticketing supplier, SecuTix. It made perfect sense for us to partner with Rewards4Cricket, the UK’s market leader in sports rewards, through their integrated system.”

“We’re delighted to be working with Rewards4Cricket to introduce an award-winning platform which will offer our fans fantastic rewards and an opportunity to make great savings on their international, domestic and Vitality Blast tickets, Lancashire Memberships as well as the Kia Super League. We are also looking forward to welcoming new cricket fans to the Club from the wider Rewards4Cricket membership base.”

The Red Rose joins other counties including Durham, Hampshire, Worcestershire, Glamorgan and Warwickshire who currently work with Rewards4Cricket.

Tom Cowgill, Director and Co-Founder of Rewards4Cricket, said: “Our Rewards4Cricket membership is growing rapidly and partnering with Lancashire Cricket not only enables us to welcome and reward their Members and supporters but also provides our existing members with another great redemption opportunity.

“We’ve managed to secure a unique position in providing unprecedented ways to reward fan engagement and county cricket clubs are recognising that they can benefit from this. Rewarding devoted fans by turning everyday spending into savings is proving to be a compelling concept for many, especially when it can be achieved at no cost to the club or county.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Lancashire supporters to the Rewards4Cricket programme and helping them to use their points to buy tickets and Memberships, so they can enjoy even more unforgettable experiences at Emirates Old Trafford.”

Pepsi Replaces Coke At Indy 500

PepsiCo, Inc. and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a multi-year partnership Thursday making Pepsi and MTN DEW become the Official Soda Beverages of the home of the Indianapolis 500.

Pepsi replaces long-time IMS partner Coke as the exclusive partner at the 400,000-capacity venue.

Pepsi’s brand Aquafina will also become the Official Water of IMS starting with the 2019 season.

PepsiCo products will be served exclusively at concession stands and in suites throughout starting with the INDYCAR Grand Prix on May 11 and 103rd Indy 500 takes place on May 26.

“PepsiCo products are a perfect complement to events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Pepsi’s market activation and consumer focus make for an exciting partnership,” said IMS President J. Douglas Boles.

“The PepsiCo line of beverages are enjoyed worldwide and is an excellent match for the global reach of elite events at IMS.”

Formula 1: Charting The Logistical Challenge

As F1 celebrates its historic 1000th race this weekend with the Chinese GP in Shanghai, iSportconnect has put together a look at the huge logistical challenge involved in mounting just one event on the 21-race calendar.

Here’s a little quiz:

  • How much freight do you think is shipped from race to race?
  • How long does it take to rig the circuit?
  • How many kilometres of fibre are deployed?

Enjoy watching the video while seeing how you did.

Fantastec SWAP Launches Real Madrid Collectibles App

Fantastec SWAP, the first digital football collectibles app authenticated on the blockchain and fully licenced by clubs, has reached a new deal with Real Madrid.

The SWAP app utilises social media-like features, allowing fans to swap collectibles safely with one another, regardless of their location, enabling a club like Real Madrid to engage more frequently and at a higher level with their remote fans like never before.

UK-based Fantastec SWAP lnow has three top clubs signed up, having launched the collectibles app with Arsenal on February 22 with Borussia Dortmund joining on March 27.

For a look at the Real Madrid app, click here.

New York Yankees Valued At $4.6 Billion

The New York Yankees remain Major League Baseball’s most valuable team, according to the annual list compiled by business magazine Forbes.

The Yankees have held the top spot since Forbes began tracking MLB team finances in 1998, and the magazine puts the puts the team’s worth at $4.6 billion.

The figure is up 15% from a year ago and more than double the league’s average value.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ($3.3 billion), Boston Red Sox ($3.2 billion), Chicago Cubs ($3.1 billion) and San Francisco Giants ($3 billion) rounded out the top five.

The average MLB team is now worth $1.8 billion, an 8% percent increase from last year, thanks largely to growth in the value of media rights.

The Yankees had local revenue of $712 million last year, the most in MLB and more than the bottom six teams (Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles) had combined.

For the full list of MLB valuations click here.

FIFA World Cup Expansion? There’s A 50-50 Chance, Says Infantino

The probability of increasing the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48 is 50/50, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday.

Reuters reports:

Infantino, who is in Brazil for a meeting of the South American Football Confederation, told delegates he was working to ensure the increase for the Qatar tournament, which would mean a guaranteed two extra places for South American sides.

“We are working to see if we can get 48 teams in the 2022 World Cup because more participation means more development and more passion for everyone,” he said.

“We’ll see by June whether it is possible or not. (It’s) 50/50. What is 100 percent is that the 2022 World Cup is going to be spectacular and a total success.”

A final decision on the number of teams for the next finals will be taken at the FIFA Congress in Paris on June 5.

FIFA chose to host the 2022 World Cup for 32 teams in Qatar, although Infantino has sounded out neighbors over their willingness to host some matches in an expanded tournament.

FIFA has already agreed to increase the number of teams to 48 for the 2026 tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico but is keen to expand quicker than planned.

Ajax-Juventus Draw Wins Big For Dutch And Italian Channels

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final match between Ajax and Juventus last night was by far the number one attraction on television in Holland and Italy.

Dutch channel Veronica pulled a 53% market share for the Amsterdam team’s 1-1 draw with 3.486 million viewers.

In Italy,  the Turin team’s match drew 7.993 million viewers on RAI 1 with a share of 30%.

On Tuesday, Veronica was number three in the Dutch ratings with coverage of the quarter-final  Liverpool versus Porto, which averaged 1.099 million viewers and a share of 21.5%

Unibet Nabs Glorious Goodwood Naming Rights

Goodwood Racecourse has announced a new three-year partnership with Unibet including exclusive ownership and naming rights for Unibet of the prestige feature races across the Qatar Goodwood Festival week.

The new deal will cover the historic Stewards’ Cup, Golden Mile and Nursery Stakes and other races through to 2021,

As official betting partner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Unibet will present the live Stewards’ Cup draw on August 1, as well as sharing content stories from their ambassadors and having relevant on and off-course sponsorship branding.

Ed Nicholson, Head of Racing Communications and Sponsorship at Kindred Group, Unibet’s parent company, said: “The Qatar Goodwood Festival remains one of highlights of the flat racing calendar, attracting some of the best racehorses from all over Europe, and Unibet are honoured to be associated with such an iconic meeting.”

“Unibet boasts some wonderful racing partnerships already, with the likes of the Champion Hurdle and the Investec Derby Festival, and this new deal reaffirms our position as one of the sport’s leading supporters. The Unibet Stewards’ Cup is always one of the most competitive handicaps of the season and we are hoping this year’s renewal will be no different.”

Alex Eade, General Manager of Goodwood Racecourse, said; “I am delighted that Unibet have extended their partnership with us to cover races on each day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and become the official betting partner of the event. Unibet’s passion for racing and drive for innovation shine through and we look forward to working in partnership with them this summer and beyond.”

YouTube Will Stream Live NBA 2K Games

YouTube will stream live broadcasts of NBA 2K League games and distribute highlights on the official NBA 2K League YouTube Channel throughout the second season of the 21-team league.

Under a new agreement announced Tuesday, YouTube will livestream all NBA 2K League games this season, including more than 230 regular-season, tournament and NBA 2K League Playoff and Finals games combined. All regular-season games take place at the NBA 2K League Studio Powered by Intel in Long Island City, N.Y.

The NBA 2K League’s second season began Tuesday, April 2, with THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T, the league’s first tournament of the season in which all 21 teams competed for a prize pool of $120,000, and concludes Saturday, Aug. 3, with the 2019 NBA 2K League Finals. The 18-week season is comprised of weekly matchups and three tournaments, culminating with the NBA 2K League Playoffs and Finals.

The NBA’s partnership with YouTube goes back more than a decade when the NBA became the first professional sports league to partner with YouTube and launch its own channel in 2005, and the first to join YouTube’s “Claim Your Content” program in 2007.

The WNBA YouTube Channel was launched in 2006 followed by the NBA G League YouTube Channel in 2008 and NBA 2K League YouTube Channel in 2018. Last year, YouTube TV became the first presenting partner of NBA Finals and WNBA Finals.

The NBA and YouTube further expanded its partnership last month with the launch of the NBA’s first YouTube channel dedicated to fans in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and NBA 2K League YouTube channels have generated more than 5.6 billion combined views.

The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), launched in 2018 and features the best NBA 2K players in the world.

Each of the league’s 21 teams features six players who compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs.