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Adidas And UEFA To Join iSportconnect 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass In Lausanne

iSportconnect are delighted to announce that adidas and UEFA have joined the speaker line-up for iSportconnect’s 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass, taking place on September 24th, 2018. Claudio Borges, the Global Director of Digital Planning for adidas and Daniel Marion, Chief of Information and Communications Technology, UEFA are the new names added to the programme.

Claudio’s team is responsible for planning seasonal and campaign strategies across online touchpoints and developing digital standards to be rolled out across all adidas global markets. His team also works together with Sports Marketing to define the best set of digital rights to be included in global asset deals. Previous to adidas, Claudio Borges spent 8 years with Manchester City Football Club and City Football Group leading the group’s fan relationship marketing strategy.

Daniel Marion holds an Engineering degree and an MBA from the London Business School. He has extensive experience in the delivery of ICT solutions thus enabling the operations of major Football competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and the last five UEFA European Championships, in areas ranging from Networking, Event Management and Digital Media. Mr Marion joined UEFA 20 years ago and has held different jobs within ICT as well as Digital Media areas and is currently Chief of ICT with a team of more than 80 people. During the last two European Championships, he held a position in the tournament management team. In the last couple of years Marion worked on digital transformation leveraging new technologies.

The overall objective of ICT is to bring value to its stakeholders and help UEFA deliver the ultimate best during competitions.This exclusive event taking place at the digital innovation hub, Gotham will focus on Content and Data & Innovation for Federations & Rights Owners.

Also confirmed for the speaker line-up at the 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne are:

Rudiger Muller: Head of Digital Communications, FIFA
Ian Holmes: Director of Media Rights, Formula 1

iSportconnect events operate under the Chatham House Rule, promoting a friendly collegial environment where attendees can forge new relationships, discuss potential partnerships and business opportunities.

To register your interest in attending the 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne, please contact Abigail Kalikwani – abigail@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne 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. If you are not currently a member but would still like to attend the event, please register your interest. No sports agencies, professional service providers & suppliers are allowed to attend.

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact Abigail Kalikwani – abigail@isportconnect.com

Serie A Games Get New Live International Window on OTT

When the Serie A season kicks off on August 18, games will be available in more than 20 countries around the world via a new OTT service created by IMG. The company has revealed that it will launch Serie A Pass, a global OTT subscription service delivering live coverage of every game from the top Italian League to fans in India and other key markets.

Serie A Pass will be launched with a full content offering including all live games, match replays and additional magazine and archive programming.

The new service – www.seriea-pass.com – will be available on desktop, tablet and mobile and via Apps on IOS and Android devices to include Chromecast and Apple airplay.

Pricing for the service will vary geographically with the initial launch in euros, dollars and rupees as appropriate. Monthly charges will be €7.99 or $8.99 or 299 rupees (about half the euros price). Season-long passes will cost €49.99 or $59.99 and or 999 rupees.

IMG has created three new magazine shows for the coming season: Inside Serie A, Serie A – Full Impact and The Serie A Highlights Show.

Watford FC Adds MoPlay Partnership

English Premier League club Watford FC has signed up mobile betting brand MoPlay to become the club’s new sleeve partner for the season kicking off this Saturday August 11 at home against Brighton. The deal is the club’s largest sleeve sponsorship deal to date (terms were not disclosed).

The MoPlay offer focuses on live in-play experiences for micro moments that matter most across its portfolio of sports, casino and games. A new app provides customers with a fast, simple, personal and secure service.

The relationship with Watford will see MoPlay’s full logo appear on the sleeve of the team’s home shirt, while the brand’s app icon will sit on the away shirt sleeve.

Watford will be working closely with MoPlay to develop activation initiatives in a range of markets and will soon be announcing a number of fan-aimed initiatives.

MoPlay announced a new partnership with Manchester United earlier this week.

“This is an important year for the club, as we strive to increase our global reach while continuing to make our fans proud by doing things differently in the Watford way,” said Spencer Field, Commercial Director of Watford FC. “We are thrilled to have found a partner, in MoPlay, that matches our ethos by looking to disrupt the betting industry by offering its customers a more engaging and enjoyable experience.”

MoPlay CEO Juergen Reutter said: “Securing a shirt sleeve presence in the Premier League, so soon after our launch, is a true statement of intent for the MoPlay brand. We’re delighted to be partnering with Watford, a club on the up, and one we feel a genuine synergy with.

“Since our first meeting with Watford’s representatives, we’ve been hugely impressed by the club, its authenticity and its ambition. Our objectives are fully aligned in terms of global expansion and offering enhanced experiences for a new generation of fans. Our motto is to #MoveOnUp, and we aim to make that ethos a reality with Watford, on and off the pitch, during the season ahead.”

NBA, Spotify And Halewood International Added To Speaker Lineup For 2018 Brands Masterclass In London

iSportconnect is delighted to announce that NBA, Spotify and Halewood International have joined the speaker lineup for the 2018 Brands Masterclass, taking place on September 18, 2018. Daniel Rossomondo, the SVP, Head of Global Media and Business Development, for the NBA, Sarah Kiefer, the Director of Business Marketing, EMEA, for Spotify and James Wright, the Business Development Director for Halewood International, are the new names added to the lineup.

As Head of Media & Business Development in the Global Partnerships group at the National Basketball Association (NBA), Dan Rossomondo leads business development for new global marketing partners and manages the media sales relationships and media execution with NBA global licensees and partners while working to increase existing revenue and create new revenue streams.

Dan has previously served as Senior Vice President, International Business Development where he worked with regional offices across the NBA’s different business units. Dan also spent time in the Global Media Department where he managed the content needs of league marketing and merchandise partners on a global basis, worked on the NBA’s domestic U.S. television renewal and was the point person for the league’s television and digital media licensees with respect to advertising sales within Global Media Distribution. Additionally, Dan managed relationships with U.S. content distribution partners.

James Wright is an experienced Managing Director – Hawkshead & Aber Falls Whisky with a demonstrated history of working in the beer, wine and spirits industry. The Halewood portfolio includes Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, sponsor of the National Rugby Awards at Twickenham on August 29. After years of working on building beer brands such as Tiger, Corona and Tsingtao, James is now on the whiskey end of the business as Managing Director of Halewood’s Hawkshead & Aber Falls Distillery in Wales.

Sarah Kiefer runs Business Marketing for Spotify in EMEA. She is responsible for supporting the growth of Spotify’s advertising business and positioning Spotify as one of the most valuable parts of any media plan. Prior to joining Spotify, Sarah’s background was in Video and TV, most recently at Ooyala, the online video technology provider, and prior to that at Discovery and Viacom. Sarah is particularly interested in the intersection of media, technology and advertising and spent two years living in Silicon Valley and studying for an MBA at Stanford University.

More than ever, brands are at the heart of the business of sport. This exclusive event will engage thought leaders in a challenging and ever-changing global industry.

The programme for discussion will feature topics such as Embracing Transformational Tech, Brands & the eSports Phenomenon and Making New Deals & Making Them Work.

Other confirmed speakers for the 2018 Brands Masterclass include:

Lars Lamadé, the Head of Sponsorship, Europe & Asia, SAP
Gerhard Fourie, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Aston Martin
Arjoon Bose, Marketing Head UK & Northern Europe at Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley and Fibre

PREVIOUS SPEAKERS

To register your interest in attending the 2018 Brands Masterclass, please contact abigail@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: The 2018 Brands 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 to attend.

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact abigail@isportconnect.com

Milan Council Approves €15m San Siro Renovation

Italian football giants’ AC Milan and Inter Milan are to stay at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium after the city council agreed to renovate their ground at a cost of €15 million (£13.3 million).

The Serie A rivals have shared the famous stadium, also known as the San Siro, since 1947.

However, the iconic venue is lagging behind rival football stadiums with improvements urgently required in terms of seating, executive boxes and toilets.

The Milan City Council has agreed to the refurbishment, which is expected to be completed by 2020.

A council press release stated: ‘The technical committee for the use and management of the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium and related services have approved the annual routine maintenance programme and plan of work for extraordinary maintenance and innovation of the stadium, to be carried out by June 2020.

‘It confirmed the annual relaying of the pitch, plus other procedures, such as the lighting of entrances, a new operations centre for police, sealing of the first tier, redevelopment of electrical systems and rebuilding the first-tier toilets.

‘The stands and executive boxes in the first tier will be modernised, plus there will be a new lounge for the club museum, increase in commercial spaces, construction in the red stand’s first tier of a fourth executive box and new media areas, as well as the renovation of the square outside the stadium.’

Inter Milan will play Champions League football this coming season after finishing 4^th in last year’s top flight table, two places ahead of AC who’ll compete in the Europa League.

iSportconnect Announces 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne

iSportconnect, the world’s largest private network for sports business executives, is to host a special 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne on September 24th 2018, at the digital innovation hub, Gotham. This exclusive event will focus on Content and Data & Innovation for Federations & Rights Owners.

Among the first names confirmed for the speaker line-up at the 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne are:

Rudiger Muller: Head of Digital Communications, FIFA
Ian Holmes: Director of Media Rights, Formula 1

Rudiger took over as Head of Digital Communications at FIFA in March 2015, having previously been in charge of World Cup content for the governing body’s digital platforms. With 20 years of experience in the digital field, Rudiger’s former employers include UEFA.com, Sky TV in Germany and Sport1.

Ian is a veteran of over two decades in the sports media business. Since 2001, he has worked primarily within media rights at Formula 1. Currently Director of Media Rights, Ian manages the licensing of the Group’s rights worldwide. Prior to Formula 1, Ian was employed by Kirch Sport, Prisma and ISL Television during which time he covered several key sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, IAAF Athletics World Championships and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

To register your interest in attending the 2018 Digital Rights Holders Masterclass Lausanne, please contact Abigail Kalikwani – abigail@isportconnect.com

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact Abigail Kalikwani – abigail@isportconnect.com

iSportconnect Announces Hookit As Their Official Sponsorship Analytics And Valuation Partner

iSportconnect, the world’s largest global private network of sport business executives, is delighted to announce a new partnership with Hookit, the pioneer in sponsorship valuation.

As the world’s leading single-source platform for quantifying sports sponsorship value across all forms of media, Hookit works with brands and rights holders to expand their sponsorship intelligence, allowing them to buy and sell sponsorships more effectively.

McLaren, Sony, Audi, Bose, European Golf Tour, LAFC, and the Oakland Raiders are among an impressive list of high-profile clients and partners of the San Diego-based company.

Hookit will become the exclusive Sponsorship Analytics & Valuation Partner of iSportconnect.

Sree Varma, iSportconnect’s CEO and Founder, said of the collaboration: “I’m excited and honoured that Hookit has decided to partner with iSportconnect as our official data and valuation platform. Hookit is an outstanding business and a genuine global leader in the sponsorship technology or “spontech” space. I look forward to working with the Hookit team and starting what I know will be a successful partnership and help our respective organizations to new heights.”

“We are excited to join the iSportconnect community. They have built a truly global group of sports executives who are forward thinking and can help expand our reach as we keep evolving and leading the market in sponsorship innovation,” said Kim Cook, Chief Revenue Officer at Hookit.

To learn more about the partnership, send inquiries to press@hookit.com.

iSportconnect Sign Two-Year Partnership Deal With Sodexo

iSportconnect, the world’s largest global private network of sport business executives, is delighted to announce a new two-year partnership with Sodexo Sports & Leisure.

Sodexo Sports & Leisure has a global portfolio of stadia and major events, providing catering, hospitality, non-matchday conference and events as well as facilities management services for diverse clients including Ascot Racecourse, Newcastle United FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Miami Dolphins, Atletico Madrid, The Open and Le Tour de France.

Last year Sodexo Sports & Leisure acquired event venue catering & hospitality specialist Centerplate to become one of the largest such providers in the US and supporting the UK strategy to grow its stadia and cultural destinations portfolio.

iSportconnect will support Sodexo Sports & Leisure with its business objectives across UK, Spain and China, and Sodexo’s joint venture with the Mike Burton Group Sports, Travel & Hospitality (STH).

STH designs, promotes and operates ticket inclusive travel and sports hospitality programmes for major sporting events across the globe. Clients include the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and Cricket World Cup 2019 in England.

STH is also official travel programme operator for all ICC Cricket and is the official travel and hospitality provider for the British Olympic Association (Team GB).

Sree Varma, iSportconnect’s CEO and Founder, said of the partnership: “It is always an immense pleasure to welcome onboard a new partner, but few are as big or as impressive as Sodexo. The company’s track record and turnover speak for itself, and I’m confident both iSportconnect and Sodexo will reap the rewards from this collaboration over the next two years.”

Chris John, CEO, Sodexo Global Events, added: “We’re pleased to be partnering with iSportconnect to support our strategy of growing our portfolio of sports venues in the UK, Spain and China, and our global event hospitality joint venture Sports, Travel & Hospitality. Our mission is to provide a world-class service to our clients and customers and with iSportconnect, we can share our thought leadership and expertise in contributing to fan experience and maximising revenue for venues.”

About Sodexo

Sodexo Sports & Leisure is part of Sodexo. Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over 50 years of experience: from food services, reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment management; from services and programs fostering employees’ engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centres and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 427,000 employees throughout.

SAP, Aston Martin & Häagen-Dazs To Speak At 2018 Brands Masterclass in London

We are delighted to announce that SAP, Aston Martin and Häagen-Dazs & Nature Valley have joined the speaker line-up for iSportconnect’s 2018 Brands Masterclass, taking place in London on September 18, 2018. Contributing top-level insights to the highly interactive sessions will be Lars Lamadé, the Head of Sponsorship, Europe & Asia for SAP, Gerhard Fourie, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy for Aston Martin and Arjoon Bose, Marketing Head UK & Northern Europe at Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley and Fibre at General Mills.

Lars Lamadé is responsible for all SAP sponsorships partners in Europe and Asia. His main duties include managing sponsoring activities and partner relationships, as well as organizing and conducting a variety of events and projects, mainly in the Sports and Entertainment area. Lars’ team supports the SAP sponsorships partners in the regions with international and local events, co-innovation projects and strategic technology collaborations.

Gerhard Fourie is responsible for global marketing, launch planning and the definition and evolution of the Aston Martin and Lagonda brands. Before joining Aston Martin in 2017, he was the general manager for global brand strategy for Nissan Motor Corporation, a position he held for six years. During this time, Gerhard also led global sponsorships and the creation of a global portfolio that included partnerships with the UEFA Champions League, the 2016 Rio Olympics, the International Cricket Council and the City Football Group.

Arjoon Bose manages the Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley and Fibre One team of highly talented marketers and cross-functional brand finance, customer/trade marketing, net revenue management and category management teams. Across several countries, they deliver the P&L, share growth and brand equity via a breakthrough innovation pipeline and a ‘modern luxury’ communications strategy through the line. With over 13 years of consummate experience in consumer goods across personal care products such as L’Oréal Paris and food and beverage products, Arjoon hopes to leverage in helping establish or grow the market for brands and create stakeholder viability.

More than ever, brands are at the heart of the business of sport. This exclusive event will engage thought leaders in a challenging and ever-changing global industry.

The programme for discussion will feature topics such as Embracing Transformational Tech, Brands & the eSports Phenomenon and Making New Deals & Making Them Work.

PREVIOUS SPEAKERS

To register your interest in attending the 2018 Brands Masterclass, please contact abigail@isportconnect.com

For limited partnership opportunities, please contact abigail@isportconnect.com

Seven Directors Quit British Basketball Over Funding Dispute

The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has been thrown into chaos after the resignation of seven directors.

It follows an ongoing funding dispute that has seen the governing body clash with three member Home Country Associations (HCAs) – Basketball England, Scotland and Wales – reportedly leaving the organisation on the brink of collapse.

Last Thursday, HCAs called a meeting at short notice to push through large budget cuts and strip the BBF of its regulatory powers. Earlier this year, the BBF was forced to seek emergency government funding in order to avoid suspension by the International Basketball Federation for failing to honour its fixtures.

Speaking on Friday, outgoing BBF Chair, Ed Warner, said: “I cannot in all conscience lead an organisation whose three members are so unwilling to work collectively, so devoid of ambition for the game, so full of disdain for Great Britain players and, as evidenced by their actions yesterday, so apparently lacking in professional integrity.

“It is now for the many members of Basketball England, Scotland and Wales to ask themselves whether the leaders of the organisations they belong to are fit for purpose to lead this great game.”