Wilson Sporting Goods Co has agreed a deal to become an official sponsor of the Tie Break Tens 2018 series.
As part of the agreement, the global brand will provide branded tennis balls, apparel and merchandise throughout 2018, with the inaugural Tie Break Tens Melbourne Event set to start in mid January.
The super tie break format is fast paced and action packed, while a huge ‘Winner Takes All’ prize of $250,000 is at stake.
The new partnership will see Wilson grow its global presence in tennis as the brand is currently the official ball supplier of the US Open, Australian Open, Laver Cup and also sponsors other large tennis events.
Hans-Martin Reh, the General Manager of Wilson Tennis, said of the deal: “At Wilson, we are constantly focused on ways to share our passion for the sport and get more people excited about the game in new ways.
“Tie Break Tens is changing the game and we share their mission for creating a fun and dynamic experience. We loved watching Wilson ambassadors Grigor Dimitrov and Simona Halep take home the title in Madrid in 2017 and are proud to be joining the events in 2018.”
Felicity Barnard, CEO Tie Break Tens added; “The Tie Break Tens format breaks the conventional rules of tennis. It is fast paced and action packed, giving fans and viewers a full evening of entertainment whilst showcasing exceptional tennis.
“The partnership with Wilson ensures our players have the very best equipment, which is crucial in this format where every point counts.”
Richard Mille will serve as official watch partner at the next Race Of Champions, which is set to be held in February 2018 at Riyadh’s King Fahad International Stadium, Saudi Arabia.
The two companies were previously in partnership at the 2009 Race Of Champions at Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium. As part of the new agreement, the winner of the individual Race Of Champions in Riyadh will receive one of Richard Mille’s sublime watches.
Richard Mille said: “Through my passion for motorsports, it is a real pleasure to be able to support the Race Of Champions during their Saudi Arabian debut.
“This event is unique in the way it unites a large variety of racing disciplines with high-powered sportsmanship, motivated by the incredible talent of all the drivers who participate. It is a real pleasure to be a partner once again of this fantastic event.”
ROC President, Fredrik Johnsson, added: “We are delighted to have such a prestigious brand as Richard Mille back as the ROC’s official watch partner. The fit is perfect with their motto: A Racing Machine on the Wrist.”
GolfSixes – the short-format golf concept – attracted younger, new fans to the game while delivering impressive social media engagement, according to new analysis released by the European Tour.
Data from the inaugural GolfSixes competition in 2017 shows that the event saw a 42% increase in new golf fans compared to standard European Tour tournaments.
Those attendees were also 14% younger than those seen during the rest of the golfing calendar. By virtue of attracting a younger following, social media engagement around the event also exceeded the average rate seen at other European Tour tournaments by 24%, delivering over 20 million social impressions.
In response to the positive findings, GolfSixes will return to the European Tour calendar on May 5th and 6th, 2018, as an inclusive ‘festival of golf’ that encourages even more fan engagement, as well as featuring a junior tournament.
The GolfSixes format was trialled in response to growing demand for shorter, more intensive competition. It replicates other successful short-form sport concepts such as the T-20 Big Bash, World Rugby Sevens Series, Nitro Athletics and Tie Break Tens.
Nathan Homer, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of the European Tour, said: “GolfSixes combines the camaraderie and intrigue of team golf with the drama and intensity of a shorter format. The players love it, and the fans enjoy the different, more entertaining atmosphere. Last year we tested the concept and this year we will dial up the fan engagement still further.
“Golf needs a route for younger fans, groups of adults and families to get involved. We know that GolfSixes appeals to those audiences while still offering something to our die-hard fans. We have to keep innovating in order to grow our appeal and the statistics suggest GolfSixes can have a powerful presence in the golfing calendar.
“GolfSixes is still in the early stages of its development but the combination of player feedback and tournament data suggests it is here to stay. Innovation is vital for golf to continue to grow its fan base and we look forward to seeing how the next iteration of GolfSixes will support that goal.”
The Minnesota Vikings have become the first National Football League (NFL) team to launch a virtual reality application for Oculus courtesy of a partnership with VR/360 company Zeality.
The application is called ‘Vikings VR’ and takes fans directly inside U.S. Bank Stadium to view 360 videos and photos from Vikings games and events.
Content from various phases of the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium, plus key events from the first regular season game played at the Vikings new home – and every home game since – is viewable in Vikings VR.
Vikings Executive Director of Digital Media and Innovation Scott Kegley, said: “Virtual reality and 360 content is very important to our organisation.
“We understand only a small percentage of our large fan base is able to attend a Vikings game or event. We want to bring experiences to them, and immersive technology is allowing us to do that.”
Zeality Co-Founder and CEO Dipak M. Patel, added: “We’re excited to partner with the Vikings to drive a new category of experiences for their fans and partners.
“The Vikings are not only innovating new ways of creating content using immersive media, they are also one of the leaders in delivering these experiences to their fans.”
FIFA has announced deals in Russia and Italy for media rights to 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In Russia, rights have been granted to the 2SPORT2 consortium (representing Channel One, RTR and Match TV), which will provide coverage of the competition in the host country.
In Italy, Mediaset has secured live rights to all 64 matches to be aired on its free-to-air channels. The rights sales process in Italy was conducted by the MP & Silva agency on behalf of FIFA.
Rights in both territories have been awarded on a platform-neutral basis, allowing fans to enjoy TV, internet, mobile and radio coverage of the competition.
FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h, said: “We are delighted to take two important steps closer to finalising the global broadcast offering for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
“The Russian consortium of broadcasters did a fantastic job of transmitting the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 this summer in the host territory, and we know that they will help to convey the special atmosphere that we will enjoy in Russia next summer.
“In the Italian market, we are very pleased to have Mediaset as a partner and Italian fans will be able to enjoy all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup on free-to-air channels.”
The disco-themed SBC Awards provided SBC Events with a fittingly stunning finish to 2017, a year in which both its headline conferences recorded growth of more than 100%.
The success of the ceremony at the Artillery Garden, which featured a silent auction that raised £1,700 for GambleAware and saw bet365 collect the Bookmaker of the Year prize for the fourth year in a row, consolidated a ground-breaking year for the news and events company. For the official photos of the SBC Awards 2017, click here.
The fourth edition of Betting on Football at Stamford Bridge in May attracted more than 1,100 delegates, a 150% increase from 2016. Networking space at the event was trebled to cater for 40 exhibitors, while the conference area played host to more than 140 speakers including Chris Kamara, one of many sporting stars to support SBC Events in 2017.
Betting on Sports 2017,held in September at Olympia Conference Centre, took this progression to another level by welcoming more than 1,300 delegates, a 120% climb from the previous year. There was space for over 60 exhibitors, while delegates were treated to parties at two of London’s most spectacular venues, Altitude 360 and Under the Bridge.
SBC Events presented the most comprehensive agenda the industry had ever seen, with more than 44 sessions and 180 speakers including 70-times capped Scottish rugby union player Kenny Logan, while the exhibition space featured the chance to ‘meet and greet’ Michael Vaughan, England’s most successful Test cricket captain and Mr Green ambassador.
Betting on Sports also introduced the ‘Betting on Esports’ track, which will be expanded on for the Esports Insider Super Forum, one of three exclusive new events to be launched at next year’s Betting on Football (20-23 March) alongside the Affiliate Insider Bootcamp and SBC Sponsorship Forum.
Planning is also well underway for the five other tracks at #bofcon2018 – World Cup and beyond, Global Market Profiles, Leadership, Customer Journey and Betting on Innovation, a series of presentations by companies attempting to grow their business by bringing an innovative product to market.
The list of confirmed speakers includes the likes of Mr Green CEO Jesper Kärrbrink and Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin, alongside SBC Events debutants such as Paddy Power Betfair Fraud Director Jacqueline Hart.
SBC Managing Director Andrew McCarron said: “It has been a landmark year for SBC Events. With the support of our sponsors, we have overseen huge growth of the Betting on Football and Betting on Sports conferences.
“This has been mixed with the successful running of a series of well attended one-day events featuring sporting stars, including the H20 Data Semina with Ruud Gullit and John Barnes, the SBC Snooker Forum with Ronnie O’Sullivan and the SBC Gibraltar Forum with racing legend Richard Dunwoody.
“Plans are already well underway for the fifth edition of Betting on Football, which has been brought forward from May to March to address key industry issues ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia. We look forward to welcoming the entire sports betting industry to Stamford Bridge in just a few months time.”
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has today announced that the city of Nashville, Tennessee has been awarded an MLS expansion club.
Nashville’s MLS team will be owned by the investment group, Nashville Soccer Holdings, LLC, led by John R. Ingram, the chairman of Ingram Industries Inc.
As a result of a private-public partnership between the club’s owners and the community, the team will play in a new, 27,500-seat soccer stadium at The Fairgrounds Nashville.
Commissioner Garber said: “Nashville is a rising city with a passionate soccer fan base, a dedicated ownership group and civic leaders that truly believe in this sport.
“Nashville continues its ascent as one of America’s most dynamic communities, with its incredible energy and creativity. For us, that makes it a perfect place for MLS expansion.
“John Ingram and his partners had a plan to bring MLS to Nashville during the last year and they executed it at every level. Thanks to their vision, the soccer fans of Tennessee will soon have their own MLS club and a state-of-the-art soccer stadium that undoubtedly will be a centerpiece of the community.”
Ingram added: “This is a landmark day for Nashville and for all of the loyal and ardent soccer advocates in our state and our region.
“During the last year, with the support of our partners, the fans, and civic and community leaders, we were able to make a strong case for why Major League Soccer belonged in the great sports town of Nashville.
“Thank you MLS owners and Commissioner Garber for your confidence in us. We will have a team that everyone can be proud of, and we will take a leadership role in enhancing the growth of the sport in a region that already has a passionate soccer culture. Nashville is going to be a very worthy addition to MLS.”
Oui Chef has become the latest business to join Brentford Football Club’s partnership family, having signed up to be an official club supplier.
The firm has supplied the food consumed by the Brentford players every day at the club’s Jersey Road Training Ground for the past two years and has now extended their partnership further.
Oui Chef also support the Championship club by assisting with early morning deliveries to ensure the food consumed by the players is fresh.
Adam Ward, Brentford FC Partnership Development Manager, said: “Oui Chef provide some of the vital ingredients that fuel our team, so it’s fantastic that they have formalised their relationship with Brentford FC. We hope this can be a fruitful partnership that continues to grow.”
Keval Patel, Managing Director at Oui Chef, added: “Having worked with Brentford for the past couple of years, we’re thrilled to partner with them and be part of the exciting journey they are currently on as both of our brands continue to organically grow.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) today announced that it has selected Birmingham as the host city partner of the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Birmingham 2022, which is expected to take place from 27 July – 7 August 2022, marks 20 years since Manchester 2002, the last time the Games were held in England.
CGF President Louise Martin CBE said: “We warmly congratulate Birmingham and England on today’s announcement – it is a defining moment for this truly Commonwealth city.
“With its rich history, cultural diversity, youthful dynamism and ambitious spirit, Birmingham embodies all that we cherish about the Commonwealth, and so the Commonwealth Sports Movement looks forward to collaborating with all the Games partners to showcase the city’s humanity and pride to a global audience over the coming months and years.
“The vast majority of the Games venues are in place, and with extensive experience in the UK of hosting successful major events – including Manchester 2002, London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 – the CGF looks forward to a truly spectacular Games that delivers not only for the 2.4 billion citizens across the Commonwealth but the wider world, too. Today is a fantastic day for Birmingham, global Britain and our resurgent Commonwealth Sports Movement.”
The foundations for the Games have now been laid, with the official handover to Birmingham set to take place at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony on April 15 next year.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The UK has a brilliant track record for putting on the biggest sport events in the world and it is great news that Birmingham has been selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“I am sure that we will put on an event that will make the country proud, leave a strong sporting legacy and strengthen relationships with our friends across the Commonwealth.”
IT’S OFFICIAL!!! We’re delighted to announce that #TeamEngland will be hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham!
