AS Roma announce Uber as mobility innovation partner

Serie A football club AS Roma has today announced Uber as their new innovation and mobility partner.

The agreement with the app, which starts immediately, will allow fans to travel to and from the Stadio Olimpico quicker and easier than ever before.

Fans travelling to the stadium will be able to hail a ride with Uber while after games the app will indicate closest pick-up locations to help ease congestion.

Supporters can also use the promo code ‘FORZAROMA’ between now and the end of the 2017/118 season to benefit from a 20% discount on all Uber rides to and from the stadium on home matchdays.

The partnership will also make it easier for tourists to attend a Serie A match. When opening the Uber app, special cards will advertise upcoming Roma fixtures, and provide a direct link to the club’s ticket office.

 

Casio and Toro Rosso agree two-year partnership extension

Casio Computer Co., Ltd. and Scuderia Toro Rosso announced the renewal of their official partnership, in a two-year agreement to start in January 2018.

Casio has been a partner with Formula One’s team Toro Rosso since 2016.

Under this partnership, Casio created a limited edition of its sports chronograph EDIFICE, which according to the Japanese manufacturer evokes the sense of velocity and energy that is found in motorsports.

With this new official partner agreement, Casio and EDIFICE logos will appear on the drivers’ racing suits, as well as on the nose sections of the team’s race cars.

Casio will leverage this partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso to actively promote the EDIFICE brand worldwide.

Scarlets and Thomas Cook Sport sign new partnership

Thomas Cook Sport has today been unveiled as official team travel partner for reigning PRO12 champions, Scarlets.

As part of the agreement, Thomas Cook Sport will organise the senior squad’s travel and offer supporter travel.

Thomas Cook Sport has kicked off the partnership by organising the travel arrangements and logistics for Scarlets’ PRO14 double-header in South Africa against Southern Kings and Cheetahs in Rounds 9 and 10 of the newly expanded competition.

Thomas Cook Sport also plans to offer supporter travel in the future for both Scarlets’ away PRO14 and European fixtures, fans of the Welsh side can register their interest in Thomas Cook Sport Supporter Travel by heading to the Thomas Cook Sport website.

Phil Morgan, Scarlets Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Thomas Cook Sports to the Scarlets family as official team travel partner. The exciting new partnership will not only ensure the highest quality travel arrangements for the team, who next week head to South Africa for the first time in the newly expanded Guinness PRO14 championship, but will also see more opportunities for our loyal and committed supporters to follow the team at competitive prices.

“Thomas Cook Sport have an impressive portfolio and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the partnership develop and flourish.”

Andrew Boyle, Business Development Manager at Thomas Cook Sport, added: “Scarlets have proved themselves as a top side in the European game in the last few seasons. Their thrilling 46-22 win over Munster in the PRO12 final last season was an impressive statement of intent ahead of the South African teams’ introduction.

“We’re delighted to add them to our growing Rugby Union & team travel portfolio.

“We are looking forward to contributing as much as we can to the team’s continued success by delivering our best in class team travel service for the Scarlets squad and offering excellent travel options for their passionate supporters later in the season.”

Atletico Madrid and Plus500 renew partnership until 2021

LaLiga club Atletico Madrid has today renewed its commercial partnership with Plus500 until the 2020/21 season.

The online brokerage company will continue to serve as the team’s front-of-shirt sponsor for a further three campaigns, having first become a sponsor in 2015.

Enrique Cerezo, Atletico President, said: “We’re very proud to announce that Atlético de Madrid have renewed with Plus500 for the next three seasons.”

Asaf Elimelech, CEO of Plus 500, added: “There was no hesitation when we decided to continue our partnership as Atletico’s main sponsor. We are proud to be aligned with such a famous football club.”

Miguel Ángel Gil, CEO of Atletico, said: “We want to thank Plus500 for supporting and trusting our team. Thanks to them, the team keeps on growing.”

 

iSportconnect announces 2018 Broadcast Masterclass

iSportconnect is delighted to announce that we will be staging a Broadcast Masterclass on February 28, 2018.

The event will bring together industry thought leaders to focus on new ways for media companies, rights owners and technology partners to prosper, thrive and grow as the digital revolution continues to disrupt the sports broadcasting market.

Broadcasting is dead – and more alive and dynamic than ever before in the digital world. Television and video content is everywhere, with multiple platforms and devices available at billions of fingertips around the globe.

But staying ahead of the curve has never been more difficult, with business models often running to catch up to ever-changing technology and new opportunities coming online every single day.

Peter Hutton – CEO of Eurosport – has been confirmed as a guest speaker and is set to bring significant value to the panel-themed content programme, having been charged with strengthening and localising the broadcaster’s brand worldwide since his appointment in 2015.

Hutton also oversees Eurosport.com – Europe’s most visited online sports destination – and is responsible for growing Eurosport Player, a premium live and on demand OTT service.

An array of well-respected speakers and high-ranking delegates will debate a number of crunch topics, including the future of the broadcast rights landscape, while a series of networking sessions will ensure those in attendance are able to share experiences and forge new relationships.

No agencies or press will be in attendance and, as we follow Chatham House Rules, all panel discussions will remain confidential.

A venue and full speaker lineup for the event will be confirmed in due course. Please contact Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to register your interest in attending.

LawAccord and CityAccord to run joint workshop on legal risks and business implications for Host City agreements

SportAccord Convention is delighted to reveal an inaugural joint workshop between LawAccord and CityAccord focused on Host City Agreements during the Convention.

International sports federations, cities, legal teams and stakeholders, will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts, as well as discuss the legal risks and business implications when it comes to hosting major global sports events.

Set to take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 18 April 2018 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre, Steve Townley (LawAccord) and David Simon (CityAccord) who are co-hosting the workshop session said: “This workshop collaboration is a first at SportAccord Convention and enables international sports federations and cities to work through Host City Agreements from every angle.

“Delegates will be able to examine the issues and challenges everyone is facing – including stakeholders – and in turn provide a sound basis for lawyers to meet client expectations too.

“Getting the hosting agreement right from the outset also means both international sports federations and cities are in a much better position to mitigate risks and disputes, and ultimately deliver a successful event.”

The workshop topics will address: areas of potential conflict; the most frequent disputes arising from hosting major events; risk responsibility, key drafting issues for lawyers; criminal law and anti-corruption regimes; mitigation against litigation risks; and the role of insurance and self-insurance.

Commenting on the importance of this workshop, Craig McLatchey OAM, Lagardère Sports/EKS, a specialist consultancy supporting the technical delivery of major sporting events and who provide strategic guidance, event planning, production services and operational expertise said: “It is great to be involved in the LawAccord and CityAccord joint workshop focused on Host City Agreements.

“I have had a deep involvement for many years in different capacities working for event owners, bidders and hosts – from the Olympic Games to other major global events.

“Understanding how both international sports federations and cities can identify and address risk within the framework of legal and business issues is a key step forward in the successful bidding and organising of a great event.”
Find further details of the LawAccord Conference Programme and SAC2018 including registration, on the website.

Eurosport extends broadcasting deal with US Open

Eurosport has reached an agreement to broadcast the US Open across Europe, excluding the UK and Ireland where Eurosport had historically sub-licensed the rights, for a further five years.

The new deal runs until 2022 and ensures that fans will be able to watch tennis’ showpiece events – the four Grand Slams from Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York – on Eurosport TV channels and Eurosport Player throughout the year.

Eurosport’s suite of analysts includes tennis legends Mats Wilander, Chris Evert, Barbara Schett, John McEnroe as well as coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Eurosport Germany, meanwhile, has already confirmed Boris Becker will be back in 2018 to offer his own perspective during its local coverage of the Grand Slams.

Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton said: “The US Open is always a special occasion, an invitation to the world to join a two-week party to conclude the story of the Grand Slam year.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with the USTA until 2022 and strengthen our position as the place for fans in Europe to follow every thrilling moment of Grand Slam action.

“The agreement maintains our focus on premium must-have content, delivering locally relevant coverage through dedicated country-specific production and talent.”

Lew Sherr, USTA chief revenue officer, said: “Eurosport is a deeply-valued broadcast partner that has significantly invested in high-quality production and proven they can grow the audience for the US Open.”

“We are very pleased to extend our relationship with them for another five years.”

Sports Technology Awards Announces Chinese Expansion

Today 15th November 2017, it was announced that The Sports Technology Awards – dubbed ‘the Oscars of sports tech’ – has entered into a relationship with leading Chinese sports agency, CoSports, to expand the brand across Asia, starting in China.

The Awards, already a global competition which recognizes tech-led innovation in sports, will work with CoSports to create multifaceted events, that will both inform the market and introduce brands from the west to leading Chinese sports organizations.

The first ceremony will take place in China in 2018.

Rebecca Hopkins, CEO of The Sports Technology Awards Group, said “Our collaboration with CoSports comes at a very exciting time for sports and technology in China. These industries are priorities within the government’s Five Year Plan and the passion for both sectors – amongst consumers and Chinese businesses – is evident throughout the region.

“It bears saying that the Sports Technology Awards Asia Pacific (STAAP) does not duplicate our London ceremony as that remains a globally unique entity.

“Instead, with CoSports, we will create a wider proposition which adheres to our values of informing, recognizing and celebrating tech-led innovations in sport.

“CoSports’ track record in China makes this an industry-changing partnership, a prospect which excites us both.”

Yibo Feng, CEO of CoSports, added ‘The Sports Technology Awards enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide, so it made sense to engage with its management team when we decided to expand further in this sector.

“We have a wealth of initiatives planned throughout the whole country, creating a very compelling proposition for companies in the west targeting the Chinese market, as well as Chinese and Asian brands, and business leaders seeking to elevate their profiles.”

World Rugby selects France as host of Rugby World Cup 2023

The World Rugby Council awarded Rugby World Cup 2023 to France, which was selected following two rounds of voting during a meeting in London.

France received 24 votes to South Africa’s 15 in the final round of voting. In the first round, France received 18 votes to South Africa’s 13 and Ireland’s eight.

Following today’s vote, France will be hosting rugby’s showcase men’s event for the second time and hosting the 10th edition of the event 200 years after William Webb Ellis gave birth to the sport.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Congratulations to France on being elected Rugby World Cup 2023 host. They presented a very strong and comprehensive bid, which clearly resonated with the Council today.

“We had three outstanding host candidates, who raised the bar and overwhelmingly demonstrated that they were all capable of hosting an exceptional Rugby World Cup. There was very little to choose between the candidates and this was reflected in the independently-audited evaluation report.

“We now look forward to working in partnership with France to deliver what I am sure will be a very successful Rugby World Cup in 2023.”

CSM Live appointed as Wembley Stadium branding partner

CSM Live announced a new three-year contract with Wembley Stadium, which will see the event branding and live experience specialists design, produce, install and remove branding in and around the National Stadium.

As well delivering the look and feel for Wembley Stadium, CSM Live are equipped to enhance the fan experience through creative technology and innovations, such as LED offerings and innovations that enable measurement of fan engagement.

The deal will cover all England home games, Emirates FA Cup Semi-Finals and Final, FA Non-League Finals Day and the FA Community Shield.

Alastair Bewick, CSM Live CEO, said: “Wembley Stadium is one of, if not the most famous stadia in the world and so for CSM Live, this is an opportunity that we are very proud and excited to take on.”