One Week to go until iSportconnect’s Beijing Summit

Today marks the one week to go stage until the first iSportconnect Summit in Beijing on 26th and 27th March.

The event will take place at Beijing National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) which is known for being a key venue at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is set to host curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The two-day event will bring together an elite group of C-level executives working at premier sports rights holders and brands in the world’s major cities, representing a unique opportunity for delegates to experience the learning and networking benefits of iSportconnect’s exclusive invitation-only event concept.

The stellar speaker lineup is set to bring significant value to the content programme and the pre-event workshops will also give attendees a chance to develop their skills and best practices in regards to sponsorship, fan engagement, social media and international events.

Please contact Niren Hirani (niren@isportconnect.com) for further information on ticket prices and remaining packages.

 

What makes the iSportconnect Summit so special?

  • The Summit is open exclusively to Director/C-Suite level executives at sports rights holders, sponsorship brands and broadcasters.
  • Event capacity is capped at 150 delegates allowing intimate access to key decision makers in the sports industry.

iSportconnect Adds Tencent, Seattle Sounders FC & Carving Ski to Bolster the Stellar Line-up of Speakers for the Beijing Summit

With just over a week to go, iSportconnect adds three additional speakers to the Beijing Summit. The Summit is taking place at the National Aquatic Centre, Beijing.

Bart Wiley, Chief Operating Officer, Seattle Sounders FC

Brian Ding, Deputy General Manager of Content Commercialization and Sports Marketing, Tencent Sport

Benny Wu, CEO, Carving Ski

Bart Wiley, oversees all operations for Sounders FC , having won the MLS Operations Director of the Year award during Sounders FC’s inaugural 2009 season. Having spoken at numerous conferences in the past in Europe, Japan and Australia, Bart is looking to increase the reach of Seattle Sounders FC.

Brian Ding joined Tencent in 2007. Under his leadership, his team has carried out a number of successful commercialization programs and developed benchmark campaigns which were highlighted by mega sports events, such as 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and the 2012 London Olympics. Brian is also in charge of the commercial and business development of Tencent Sports.

Benny Wu is the CEO of Carving Ski and is also a distinguished expert of Beijing Sport University Heilongjiang Vocational College. In 2016 after Benny’s leadership and strategies, Beijing Carving Ski Group was listed on the New OTC and became the first company to have stock in the ice and snow industry.

iSportconnect looks to announce more speakers in the week running up to the event with delegates from across the globe to be in attendance.

 

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Tom Glick – Chief Commercial Officer – City Football Group

Yang Yang – Two-Time Olympic Champion – Former IOC Member

Sergi Torrents – Managing Director – LaLiga China

Johnson Yeh – Managing Director – Riot Games China

Rouven Kasper – Managing Director – Bayern Munich FC China

David Wang – SVP of Global Partnerships – NBA China

Li Haojie – Board Chairman – Tianrong Group

Bart Wiley – Chief Operating Officer – Seattle Sounders FC

Brian Ding – Deputy General Manager of Content & Sports Marketing – Tencent Sports

Benny Wu – Chief Executive Officer – Carving Ski

Jonathan Levy – Director of Sponsorships – Clipper Ventures

Jason Ferguson – Chairman – WPBSA

Antoine Haincourt – Head of MSc – EMLYON Business School

Julia Cui – Partner – CGX Management

Duan Gang – Deputy Chairman & CEO – China Open Promotions

Please contact Niren Hirani (niren@isportconnect.com) for further information on ticket prices and remaining packages.

 

What makes the iSportconnect Summit so special?

  • The Summit is open exclusively to Director/C-Suite level executives at sports rights holders, sponsorship brands and broadcasters.
  • Event capacity is capped at 150 delegates allowing intimate access to key decision makers in the sports industry.
  • No press in attendance and as we follow Chatham House Rules, all panel discussions will remain confidential.

Jeroen van Hest on How ATPI Sports Events planned for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics

Jeroen van Hest, Director of Group Marketing & Commercial Services at ATPI shares with iSportconnect how they made the PyeongChang Games a success.

Planning for success

Our preparations for the Games started straight after the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. International sporting events such as the Olympics change greatly from event to event, due to the differences in the host cities and their facilities. Pyeongchang differed to previous Olympics such as Rio, London or Vancouver due to limited hotels of an international standard. This meant that our initial preparation for the games was focused on investigating and contracting hotels due to the shortage of accommodation.

ATPI Sports Events had to build relationships with hotel owners as everyone was trying to secure a limited number of hotel rooms. To ensure a strong network of relationships were made locally in South Korea, ATPI’s hotel buyer visited the host nation over fifteen times in the lead up to the Games!

Once rooms had been secured, the ATPI Sports Events team organised the flight plan, this included chartering airplanes and sourcing scheduled flights. Around a year until the Olympic flame being lit in Pyeongchang the entrance ticket allotment was agreed with the Pyeongchang Olympic Organising Committee (POCOG).

On the ground in Pyeongchang

The ATPI Sports Events team in Pyeongchang was made up of members from Canada, the Netherlands and the UK. The team managed the travel operations for the Dutch and Canadian Olympic Committees, this involved working with their athletes, sponsors, supporters and family and friends, a collective of over two thousand guests.

The ATPI Sports Events project team was spilt between around twenty-five back-office crew who managed flights, hotels, local transport, ticketing and excursions and the front line crew. The front line crew totalled about twenty individuals, with freelance tour leaders from the Netherlands and Canada, as well as Korean crew that included tour assistants, drivers and runners. It was important that the team involved Korean crew as unlike some previous Games, language was a challenge.

My main responsibility for the Winter Games was working with the Dutch and Canadian media who were reporting on the Games. This included providing journalists with background information about our role during the event, doing TV and press interviews and showcasing our team performance during a three day media trip around various sports sessions and nation houses.

Mother nature in full force

The extreme weather, including low temperatures and high winds that hit Pyeongchang during the Games, had implications for our team and clients. The effects of bad weather was most prevalent during the first week of the Games with many Alpine Ski and Snowboard sessions delayed. The weather had a huge logistical impact, as clients understandably changed their agenda to see a different sport.

This meant that whole chains of local transfers, entrance tickets and restaurant bookings were altered. However, under challenging conditions our team performs best! We ensured that despite the many changes in schedules and itineraries, all guests had an amazing experience at the Games, particularly as many guests visit the Olympics for only a few days.

Time to be fans

Alongside supporting the Dutch and Canadian Olympic Committees our team of staff on the ground were given the opportunity to watch their favourite sports and cheer on medal hopefuls. The Dutch members of the ATPI Sports Events team (myself included!) enjoyed cheering on the Dutch speed skaters who won many medals. Short track and snowboarding also proved to be extremely popular. For Canada, ice hockey is massively popular and the contrast with their second (figure skating) and third (curling) most popular sports is quite big!

And consume local culture!

Whilst being in a host nation, it’s important that you take the time to learn about the local culture and people. I was amazed by the friendliness of the Korean people and how proud they were to be hosting a sports event that the whole world was watching. There were many volunteers that worked in venues, escorted local transportation and guided visitors through the city, they made the event for me!

Enjoyed the article? Read more about ATPI here…

Betting on Football to take place from 20-23 March

Betting on Football which is to be held at Stamford Bridge from 20-23 March will feature the #bofcon2018 agenda which will combine expert analysis of this year’s football frenzy with a tour of the sports betting world and a breakdown of the most pressing international issues for industry leaders.

OPTIMA CEO Jacob Lopez will be opening the ‘Global Market Profiles’ track with an assessment of the licensing opportunity in Spain, one of more than 40 countries represented at this year’s event, with Jdigital Chairman Mikel López de Torre, La Liga Head of Global Partnerships Gregory Bolle, and Ficom Leisure Senior Partner Christian Tirabassi.

The morning part of the track will also cover preparation for a football-free summer in Italy, before Danske Spil Head of Sportsbook Jens Nielsen, Mr Green CEO Jesper Kärrbrink, Better Collective CEO Jesper Soegaard and Jari Vahanen, Senior Vice President for state-owned Finnish operator Veikkaus, combine to explain the success of gaming-based start-ups across the Scandinavian region.

Following a lunch break, the focus will turn to tackling the changing laws in Africa and the move towards legalised sports betting across the pond. Pinnacle CEO Paris Smith and Sportingbet Founder Mark Blandford will be among those discussing New Jersey’s attempt to overturn PASPA, which holds direct implications for mainstream US sports such as basketball, as the NBA targets a 1% integrity fee on all bets placed on the competition.

The afternoon will include a session on dealing with the opaque regulatory landscape in Asia featuring TCM Inplay CEO Jim Yu and Bill Mummery, Executive Director at SBOBET.

Yu said: “When I was invited to speak at Betting on Football 2018, I was super excited. This is one of my must-attend C-level events for the year. Meeting such an amazing group of speakers and experts from the industry at a great venue such as Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge is just bound to create good conversations.”

This diverse and international focus is replicated in the Leadership track, which gets underway with an analysis of the philosophy of gambling, and whether there is an acceptable balance between the potential benefits of betting and its potential for harm.

After headlining a ‘Managing Risk’ panel last year, Marek Smrha, Investment Manager at Central Europe investment group Penta Investments, is back to help delegates identify the ‘attractive risk’, with Akur Capital Partner David Shapton, Better Collective Head of M&A Michal Kopec and David Levy, Business Development Director at XL Media.

Šmrha commented: “We are happy to share our experience as a long-term investor and partner for companies in CEE. With Fortuna Entertainment Group being one of our key assets, we have a vested interest in the future of the gambling industry in the region.”

Following the focus on trading tools, the prospect of regulatory backlash is next on the hitlist for our ‘Leaders’. Kindred Group CPO Britt Boeskov, IBAS Managing Director Richard Hayler and Wiggin Partner Stephen Ketteley will be alongside Andy Taylor, Regulatory Policy Executive for the Committee of Advertising Practice., to discuss who’s to blame as established betting jurisdictions start to push back on the industry.

Ketteley added: “This year’s agenda is full of incredibly knowledgeable speakers. The ability to hear them speak about their businesses, and the challenges and opportunities for this industry is a real draw. I am also looking forward to meeting the industry’s most innovative individuals and catching up with familiar faces – this is a key event in our calendar.”

Meanwhile, the afternoon will feature an update on the changing affiliate landscape by Inbal Lavi from Israel XL Media, OLBG’s Richard Moffat and BetBrain CEO Dan Grigorescu, before Sportingtech CEO Tiago Almeida joins Jacob Lopez, Kambi Chief Commercial Officer Max Meltzer, SBTech Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Cochrane and FSB Tech CEO David McDowell to discuss how suppliers can plan for the potential opening of the US market, and whether operators are too reluctant to experiment with third party ideas.

  • Tickets for the event are still available, to get them please go HERE
  • There are also still a few sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available – to enquire about these, please contact us on sales@sbcnews.co.uk

The Jockey Club collaborates with Monterosa to launch the ‘Race On’ app

The Jockey Club has launched its new ‘Race On’ app in collaboration with Monterosa to enhance the customer experience.

The Jockey Club’s ‘Race On’ app offers mobile ticketing for general admission and includes a live race card, instant results, competitions to play against fellow racegoers – including a five horse selector to engage people in the sport, maps of facilities and ‘Golden Moments’ that provide prizes including visits to the parade ring to see the horses up close and even presenting trophies on some racedays. It is now freely available to download for Apple and Android devices.

The app has been developed to improve experience for the 348 racedays The Jockey Club stages annually across its 15 racecourse venues nationwide.

Paul Fisher, Chief Executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “So much of what we do is about listening to how we can make a person’s raceday experience even better and we’re constantly innovating to do so.

“I’m very proud The Jockey Club has achieved another first in sport by introducing mobile ticketing through our app, along with its many other launch features, from at-a-glance runners and riders information to competitions to play with your friends or family and against other racegoers.

“And because we’re always in listening mode, the features on the app today are just the start. We are already working with our partners Monterosa on future developments as part of a long-term relationship, so the plan is for Race On to keep getting better.”

Ben Barker, Commercial Director of Monterosa, said: “Monterosa is very proud to be working with The Jockey Club to deliver the Race On app that forms a key part of the vision for digital engagement with racegoers. Focused on enhancing the raceday experience with mobile ticketing, digital race cards, a free play prediction game, the latest racing content and an ambitious, innovative roadmap, Race On will change how The Jockey Club will be able to interact with racegoers.”

 

 

 

iSportconnect adds Matchroom Sport and ICAEW to the Finance Masterclass Lineup

iSportconnect is pleased to announce that two additional guest speakers have been added to the lineup for the Finance Masterclass to be held at Penningtons Manches LLP on Wednesday 11th April 2018.

Barry Hearn, Founder and Chairman, Matchroom Sport will be providing the opening keynote to kickstart the event.

Barry has been a chartered accountant since 1970 and spent several years with a major firm of international accountants before moving into the commercial world as finance director of Kensal House Investments. He has worked in various roles such as chairman of Lucania Snooker Clubs, fight promotion, playing for Romford Lucania Club, Chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation, the World Snooker Association, and WPBSA Ltd.

David Lyford-Smith, Accountant and Technical Expert, ICAEW has also been confirmed for the session on Upcoming Issues, GDPR, Cypto-Currencies.

David worked on supporting multinational companies with their compliance activities across international boundaries, and also spent time working on iXBRL tagging. He will be providing his experience on the digitalisation of tax systems, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, spreadsheet skills and best practice, and the place of technology in ICAEW’s professional qualifications.

This exclusive event is invitation-only and will bring together leading experts to tackle topics such as financial fair play, taxation, valuations and cybersecurity.

Want to attend? See our invitation policy below:

There is no fee to attend this event. However, the Finance Masterclass is open exclusively to senior members from the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Directors within the sporting entertainment industry.

No agencies or press can attend and as we follow Chatham House Rules, all discussions will remain confidential.

To register interest, please email Lovely Cheron (Lovely@isportconnect.com).

The PGA Tour introduces an augmented reality app

The PGA TOUR has introduced PGA TOUR AR, a new augmented reality (AR) app bringing live AR tournament coverage to life for fans around the world on their phones.

The Live AR coverage on PGA TOUR AR will begin in conjunction with the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard on Thursday, March 15.

Mastercard is the Official Launch Partner of the PGA TOUR AR app that will feature exclusive branding within the AR app and will showcase the app in fan areas at Bay Hill Club.

“Exploring unparalleled technologies like AR helps the PGA TOUR reach new audiences around the world,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Chief Media Officer. “Tapping into ARKit in iOS 11 allows us to showcase real-time data provided by ShotLink and CDW in a rich, visual way for fans. The PGA TOUR takes pride in bringing new technology to the sports world as a way of communicating to a large, diverse audience.”

THE Players Championship will feature Nos. 16, 17 and 18 live and in AR, and at the season-ending TOUR Championship, East Lake Golf Club’s No. 18 will be highlighted. The PGA TOUR plans to add more holes from other tournaments leading up to the TOUR Championship and ultimately plans to feature at least one hole at every tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule.

“We are thrilled to partner with the PGA TOUR in bringing live AR to fans this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational,” said Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard.

“Mastercard shares a common bond with the PGA TOUR that revolves around innovation, and this technology aligns with our promise to our cardholders to provide Priceless experiences. We are excited about continued conversations on how the PGA TOUR’s AR app will rollout new enhancements and provide consumers from around the world a new way to engage with the game of golf.”

An update to the PGA TOUR AR app later this year will enable an on-course AR experience where fans at a golf tournament can hold up their device in front of any hole and the technology will display shot trails for selected players live or during a past round of the user’s choosing.

The development of the PGA TOUR AR app was done in collaboration with POSSIBLE Mobile, part of the creative agency POSSIBLE. It was aided by existing data gathered by ShotLink powered by CDW, the TOUR’s longstanding state-of-the-art scoring system. ShotLink through CDW technology captures and reports real-time vital information on every shot, by every player, during tournament competition.

“This app empowers us to creatively display and share data captured by ShotLink and CDW with fans in an entirely new way,” said Devon Fox, PGA TOUR Director, Digital Platform Innovation, who was recently named as one of the Top Women in Digital by Cynopsis. “Utilizing the biggest AR platform in the world, we can instantly reach millions of new golf fans around the world in an exciting and fun style.”

The PGA TOUR AR app was built using ARKit in iOS 11 to provide immersive AR experiences for the game of golf. ARKit helps app developers like the PGA TOUR blend digital objects and information with the environment, taking apps far beyond the screen and freeing them to interact with the real world in entirely new ways.

“New technologies are exciting, but only if they can add a new and valuable dimension to an experience,” said Ben Reubenstein, CEO, POSSIBLE Mobile. “Golf is a perfect fit for leveraging augmented reality by providing a cutting-edge way for fans to interact with the sport.”

 

Eleven Sports to continue live and exclusive Serie A coverage in Poland

Global sports provider ELEVEN SPORTS has announced that it will continue its LIVE and EXCLUSIVE Serie A coverage in Poland after extending the partnership with the top Italian league for a further 3 years.

As part of the renewal, fans in Poland will continue to watch all the big matches including the likes of Juventus, Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Lazio as well as being able to follow Polish players such as Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus) and Piotr Zieliński (Napoli).

The 3-year extension will run until 2021 and will include exclusive highlights and near live clips for social media.

“Serie A attracts a loyal following in Poland and we are thrilled to extend our partnership, building on the coverage we have produced over the last 3 years.” said Krzysztof Świergiel, Managing Director, Poland, ELEVEN SPORTS.

“ELEVEN SPORTS’ success in Poland has been built on an extremely strong portfolio of premium rights. We are delighted to renew one of our key properties for a second cycle and continue to offer all fans incredible insight into the biggest games from Serie A.”

 

SportAccord to feature Areas Of Opportunity in the Media Landscape

Delegates attending MediaAccord will hear from leading experts on future digital media opportunities and how they will be affecting every player involved in the business of sport, during this year’s conference – Breaking New Ground: Areas of Opportunity in the Media Landscape. MediaAccord will take place on Thursday 19 April 2018 at SportAccord in Bangkok.

Kicking off with a scene setter by dynamic presenter Craig Howe, CEO & Founder of Rebel Ventures, this session will look at the current and future media reality where Howe will share his insights on how to use new technology to best advantage.

In this year’s MediaAccord Interview: The Future of Media at Sports Events in a Digital World, delegates will also hear first-hand from Anthony Edgar, Head of Media Operations and Olympic Information Service, International Olympic Committee (IOC) said: “The media is in a state of flux unlike anything it has seen since the inception of the television. Nowhere is this witnessed more than in the media coverage of major sporting events like the Olympic Games. My presentation will explore some of the most significant shifts impacting the media’s coverage of sport in a digital age, and what we can expect in the near future.”

Delegates will also learn about the latest in sports apps in the A is for APP – How (and why) to create a dynamic one for your Sport, in an interactive Q&A with Motasem El Bawab, Digital Manager, FIBA. This session will provide insight on how they work, who they attract, what is possible – and what they have to offer sport, athletes, fans, and how they affect the bottom line.

MediaAccord will also host a panel session on Millennials and the Media. This audience are currently the largest living generation and the most lucrative market worldwide – with the largest buying power. The session will be made up of seasoned media representatives, along with millennials themselves – an athlete, a fan, and a journalist.

Delegates who register for SportAccord 2018 have access to the entire conference programme. As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord provides numerous opportunities throughout the 6-day World Sport & Business Summit, with over 20 networking events and a popular 3-day Exhibition, as part of the delegate experience.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at the World Sport & Business Summit can become an Exhibitor or Partner by contacting the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 (0)79 126 08 42.

EISG appoints Kim Dando as new commercial director

The Executives In Sport Group (EISG) have named Kim Dando as their new Commercial Director.

Formerly Commercial Director at London media search firm round8, Kim joins the sports recruitment search firm’s senior management team to drive further growth of their sports media, content and digital division. The role will also provide leadership, support and advice across the company.

Kim commented: “It’s a wonderful time to be joining a sports recruitment practice given the ongoing convergence of sport, media and entertainment. Traditional sports rightsholders are reinventing themselves as story tellers, realising that mobile is often first screen for fans. They’re creating and distributing content in new and innovative ways and I can’t wait to get started.”

Managing Director, Darren Simmons, added: “We’re really excited to have Kim join our team. Her background in media perfectly compliments our existing team’s skills and her arrival couldn’t be better timed as we’re picking up more and more media and digital search assignments with sports rightsholders and broadcasters.”