Subaru agrees deal to become sponsor of Wales rugby ‘away’ kit

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Subaru, whose logo will feature on the team’s ‘away’ kit for the next two years.

Meanwhile, Isuzu’s logo will still feature on the team’s home jersey until 2021, having agreed a four-year deal last summer.

The switch to Subaru is possible because the WRU’s partnership is with the automotive importer IM Group and incorporates both the Isuzu and Subaru brands.

WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips, said: “We took a new and innovative approach to our latest shirt sponsorship negotiations and looked at ways to maximise value for our partners and increase exposure for our teams on a global scale.

“Switching between Isuzu and Subaru for our home and change kit is an exciting twist on the traditional way of doing things and we expect both jerseys to be extremely popular with supporters around the world.

“To associate with two hugely significant Japanese brands in this way as we build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2019 in Japan is a major coup for Welsh rugby and will pay dividends as it further improves the global appeal of our national game.”

Paul Tunnicliffe, Managing Director of Isuzu and Subaru in the UK, added: “Through our Isuzu brand we have an excellent relationship with the WRU. The pick-up brand will always be the lead focus for this project, but when the WRU came to us with a proposal that allowed us to include Subaru, we immediately agreed.

“Subaru has a strong customer base in Wales, where its no-nonsense fitness for purpose and exceptional off road capabilities really chime with the rural communities, and we look forward to seeing our customers at Principality Stadium.”

Warwickshire CCC signs partnership with MensTweedSuits.com

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has named MensTweedSuits.com as its first official suit/formal wear partner until the end of 2019.

The deal has seen MensTweedSuits.com – a Birmingham-based online fashion retailer – release a made-to-measure, navy blue, single-breasted Warwickshire CCC suit, which the players recently unveiled at the club’s end of season dinner.

Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director of Warwickshire CCC, said: “Having recently signed a new partnership with PlayerLayer for the team’s playing kit, we’re delighted to secure this new partnership with MensTweedSuits.com and ensure that the team will look equally as impressive off the field.

“We’ve been very impressed with the MensTweedSuits.com team, not only for providing a suit that looks fantastic, but in its work with the players on measurements and fitting. It has been great to show these off for the first time at our recent End of Season Dinner.”

In return for providing players and club management with a new Warwickshire CCC suit, MensTweedSuits.com will receive pitch side perimeter branding at Edgbaston throughout the 2018 and 2019 cricket seasons.

It will also receive tickets for Edgbaston 17-day programme of major match cricket during the two-year term and player appearances for promotional events.

Ravi Bains, Chief Executive of MensTweedSuits.com, added: “We are very pleased to be entering into a new partnership with the Bears, Warwickshire CCC and Edgbaston Stadium – some of the most iconic and well-known brands across the UK and our shared focus on delivering moments of joy, make this a great fit.

“We are thrilled they have chosen to work with us in what is their first partnership in formal attire.”

International Sports Federations prepare to lead the way on ‘sustainability’ and give planet earth a sporting chance

Sir Ben Ainslie, four-time Olympic Gold Medallist & Team Principal, as well as Skipper of Britain’s America’s Cup Challenger, Land Rover BAR, led the way as an innovator of sustainability at this year’s 11th edition of the IF Forum which took place in Lausanne.

Given the significant and unstoppable changes being created by global warming as a result of environmental pollution and pollutants originating in human activity, speaker after speaker at this year’s IF Forum, many of whom represent international sports federations, shared case studies outlining the actions they are taking, and appealed to peers to take advantage of the unique opportunity in sport, to lead the way towards a sustainable agenda – the focus for this year’s conference programme.

The politics of climate change are shifting. Saving planet earth is more than just a fad and international sports federations can have impact. Delegates heard how new voices and new strategies are taking the lead – and how sport can shift attitudes towards achieving global sustainability. Speakers reinforced the view that sport is in a unique position to raise awareness on many levels, engage fans and global citizens everywhere, as well as empower young volunteers and change-makers, with sustainable initiatives and show how innovations can be impactful.

The urgency and poignancy of these messages were the subject of 24 presentations and case studies throughout the IF Forum, attended by 109 international sport federations and associate members, as well as 7 observer organisations.

Inger Andersen, Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provided some thought-provoking and motivating insights during her session on sport and biodiversity and the role of the sporting community ending with a passionate plea, “Planet earth is the only place we know as home. If we don’t take action, there is no alternative home for us. Sport has a responsibility and an opportunity to do what it can for sustainability, to secure our future and make planet earth a better place for future generations.”

Lorenz Isler from Ikea Group gave a candid account during his session on the reactive to proactive ways of handling resources in industry:

“As a Sustainability Manager from the IKEA Group I found it very interesting to participate at the IF Forum 2017. Such gatherings are important to discuss challenges and exchange best practices so that we can learn from each other. Climate change and resource scarcity are real, and urgent actions are needed. I am thus positively surprised that this years’ IF Forum was fully dedicated to the topic of sustainability.”

Hosted by SportAccord Convention, delegates were welcomed by Thomas Bach, President, International Olympic Committee, and Philippe Leuba, State Councillor Department of Economy and Sport, Canton of Vaud.

Patrick Baumann, President of GAISF and SportAccord Convention gave the opening address. Summing up this year’s IF Forum President Baumann said:

“I would like to thank the many expert speakers for making this year’s IF Forum on Sustainability so illuminating, bringing clarity and insight to important issues and highlighting ways in which we can help make a difference.

“While we have a clear duty to preserve and promote sport for the next generation we have an even greater Duty of Care to our environment to ensure that the world we hold in trust is a great place to live and to play sport.

“This has been a fascinating, rewarding and useful Forum and I am sure delegates will go back to their Federations inspired and full of new ideas.”

In conclusion, Raffaele Chiulli, President of ARISF and UIM, and GAISF Vice President shared the following message in his Closing Remarks:

“IFs are uniquely placed to promote the conservation on biodiversity and sustainability in sport. It is imperative that we also take a leading role in spreading our message and encouraging all our stakeholders to do more as well.”

The IF Forum conference programme was a collaboration between the IOC and the stakeholders GAISF, ASOIF, AIOWF, ARISF, AIMS, and Associate Members.

Panel sessions were led by David Eades, Anchor and Journalist, BBC World who served as Master of Ceremonies for the IF Forum 2017.

Official Partners included: JLT Specialty, Nielsen Sports, Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition; Legacy Partner Sport Event Denmark; and Host City Partners Lausanne and the Canton de Vaud.

For media enquiries, contact jenny.edmondson@sportaccordconvention.com (Media Relations Officer).

The Ticket Factory agrees three major sports contracts

The Ticket Factory has strengthened its sporting credentials by securing a number of high profile contracts with international and national governing bodies.

The national ticketing agent, which currently sells tickets for over 300 sporting events at 150 venues annually, will be the national supplier for ticketing for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018, taking place at Arena Birmingham next year (1-4 March).

The Ticket Factory has also secured partnerships with two national governing bodies in recent weeks.

The team will be providing ticketing services for England Netball’s Vitality International Tri Series in November following The Ticket Factory’s successful contract delivery of ticketing for the Vitality Netball Superleague: The Final Four earlier this year.

In addition, The Ticket Factory will also be the official ticketing partner for Table Tennis England’s 2018 ITTF Team World Cup taking place on 22nd-25th February 2018 in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Sports ticketing is now one of The Ticket Factory’s largest and strongest sectors with its ‘human powered tech’ approach – which looks to drive sales through the customer experience and data segmentation – proving popular with clients.

Phil Mead, Managing Director of The Ticket Factory, said: “As a flexible and agile ticketing agent we offer sporting bodies, rights holders and NGBs a credible alternative to the traditional operators.

“Having worked with England Netball on a number of previous events we knew what worked for them and offered a strong marketing package to drive ticket sales and wider awareness of the event while the IAAF World Indoor Championships and Table Tennis England required slick white label solutions optimised to enhance the customer journey.”

Ian Holloway, Competition and Events Manager, England Netball, said: “We at England Netball continue to improve our offering to our customers and fans year on year and the partnership approach with The Ticket Factory plays a big role in this.

“The Ticket Factory provide an exceptional box office solution, including data insight, marketing, and on-site management, allowing us to concentrate on other aspects of our events.”

Mark Taffler, Head of Commercial, Table Tennis England, said: “The Ticket Factory are a strategic partner of ours, having worked with them on smaller events over the last two years, it was a natural progression to work with them on the most prestigious Table Tennis event in the UK for 20 years.

“They understand our needs as a governing body, and most importantly how we differ as a rights holder, from other music events and sporting events. They are great people to work with and deliver a solid, flexible and cost-effective solution.”

ICC announces recruitment process for an independent director

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the process for the recruitment of an Independent Director for the ICC Board.

The introduction of an Independent Director, who must be female, was approved by the ICC Full Council in June 2017 as part of wide ranging constitutional change aimed at improving the global governance of the sport.

The successful candidate is expected to have a genuine passion for and interest in the sport of cricket combined with recent and relevant experience at a senior level in a commercial, voluntary or public environment.

She must be independent of the ICC and during the term of her appointment must not hold any office or perform any executive or operational duties for any ICC Member or state, association or member of any Member.

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: “This is a key appointment to the ICC Board and adding another independent director – particularly a female – is an important step forward in improving our governance.

“We are open-minded about the expertise the successful candidate might bring the table but they must be a cricket enthusiast who complements the existing skills and experience already on our Board.”

The Independent Director will be appointed for a two-year term although she may be re-appointed for two further terms with a maximum six year consecutive period of service.

iSportconnect announce LaLiga’s Dubai Summit panel lineup and Kodak’s Jon Hall as guest speaker

iSportconnect is delighted to confirm the lineup for LaLiga’s Dubai Summit panel and that Jon Hall – Kodak‘s Chief Growth Officer – has been added to the event’s stellar guest speaker list.

Spain’s globally popular football league is delivering more value than ever before for its partners and a special opening panel will bring together key decision makers from inside LaLiga’s brand relationships to explore how the league and brands work together to engage fans, innovate and optimise ROI for partners.

Adolfo Bara, Managing Director Marketing & Sales at LaLiga, will deliver a keynote speech detailing how the organisation has built its impressive global strategy before being joined by Hussein Murad, CEO and co-founder of Inspiratus Group, Fernando Sanz, General Director, Middle East & North Africa and International Sports Projects at LaLiga, and Ahmed Zaki, Senior Director of Live Communications at Du, who helped to develop LaLiga’s first High Performance Centre in the UAE.

​The quartet will dissect their working relationship and current projects, plus challenges they have overcome, to ensure the high-ranking delegates in attendance at Address Boulevard – the newest lifestyle address located in the prestigious Downtown area of Dubai – encounter expert insight into the sports industry.Other panel topics include broadcasting and the digital audience, a debate on what brands want from sport sponsorship and a discussion on the globalised digital market.

Hall‘s addition to the speaker list will add significant value to the content programme, having played a key role in Kodak’s business development, alliances, partnerships, revenue growth and strategic investments since 2015.

He boasts extensive experience in a variety of sectors, courtesy of roles at Formula One, Travelport, WPP Plc, Dow Jones and the Financial Times.

Ample break-out sessions on the day will give an intimate capacity of 150 top-tier executives an opportunity to take part in captivating conversations, build new relationships and – crucially – discover the local market.

Confirmed speaker lineup:

Jerry Newman, Sport Partnership Lead – EMEA at Facebook

Ben Morel, Managing Director and Senior VP – EMEA at NBA

Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby

Adolfo Bara, Managing Director Marketing & Sales at LaLiga

Nuala Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Standard Life Aberdeen

Murray Barnett, Head of Global Sponsorship & Commercial Partnerships at F1

Sanjay Raina, General Manager & SVP, Middle East, North Africa & Pakistan – Fox Networks Group/National Geographic

Aarti Dabas, Head of Media Rights, Broadcast & Digital at International Cricket Council

Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director at NFL UK

Hussein Murad, CEO and co-founder of Inspiratus Group

Fernando Sanz, General Director, Middle East & North Africa and International Sports Projects at LaLiga

Jon Hall, Chief Growth Officer at Kodak

Ahmed Zaki, Senior Director of Live Communications at Du

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.
  • As we follow Chatham House Rules, all panel discussions will remain confidential.

There is limited space for this exclusive event so please email Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to confirm your interest in attending.

LaLiga launches new global brand campaign

LaLiga has today launched a new global brand campaign entitled ‘It’s not football – It’s LaLiga.’

LaLiga is more than just a form of entertainment, it plays an essential part in people’s lives, and the campaign represents the starting point from which the organisation will reinvent a world that extends far beyond the pitch.

Through the campaign, LaLiga will show the true extent of its global reach and how they spread their brand values around the world.

The campaign is being launched in Spain but will also reach a vast international audience with as many as 182 countries set to witness the launch via 90 broadcasters, the same companies that show LaLiga matches every week.

 

Hugo Boss joins Formula E as official apparel partner

Hugo Boss has today joined Formula E as an official apparel partner of the electric street racing series.

As part of the agreement, Hugo Boss – one of the leading players in the global fashion market – will design and develop outfits specifically for Formula E series management, employees and volunteers.

The partnership see Hugo Boss add a new strand to its DNA, utilising 35-years of experience and expertise in the motorsport arena to best represent the newly-launched Formula E brand identity for season four.

Alejandro Agag, Founder & CEO of Formula E, said: “I’m delighted to welcome yet another global brand to the Formula E family, especially a respected and recognisable name in the world of fashion such as HUGO BOSS.

“This new partnership will see the team on the ground at each race dressed with a winning mindset and ready to deliver a spectacular event in cities across the world. As the first Official Apparel Partner of the series, we look forward to seeing the dynamic style and innovation on show that HUGO BOSS is renowned for.”

Hugo Boss Chief Executive Officer, Mark Langer, said: “As a fashion brand, we are always looking at innovative approaches to design and sustainability. When we first encountered Formula E, we immediately saw its potential and we are pleased to be the first apparel partner to support this exciting new motorsport series.”

The Hugo Boss brand will also be represented on the Formula E demo car and championship livery, plus trackside on the streets of some of the world’s leading cities.

Silverstone confirm three-year contract to host British MotoGP

Silverstone has today confirmed a three-year contract to host British MotoGP races.

The deal extension means the Northamptonshire venue will stage the British round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship for the next three years.

Stuart Pringle, Managing Director of Silverstone, said: “A lot of time and money has been invested in recent years to ensure MotoGP fans, teams and riders enjoy what Silverstone has to offer and we are delighted to have secured the contract to 2020.

“Two wheel racing is as much a part of Silverstone’s heritage as four wheel racing and we are looking forward to welcoming the Championship and its fans back to Silverstone next August.

“We have been working on a family friendly pricing policy, including the re-introduction of under 11 year olds go free, which we hope will be well received by fans and which will launch via the Silverstone website at 10:00 am on Monday 13 November.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports CEO added, “Silverstone is an iconic British circuit, so naturally we are pleased to be able to continue racing at this iconic circuit. The United Kingdom is an important market for Dorna and has to remain on the MotoGP calendar, especially with the introduction of the British Talent Cup next year, which we hope will inspire the next generation of young British talent.

“We look forward to giving fans more action over the British Grand Prix weekend and I’m sure fans will be as happy as we are that Silverstone remains on the calendar for the next three years.”

Intel set to bring NBA virtual reality content on TNT

Turner Sports and Intel announced a partnership NBA fans will be able to watch virtual reality content on TNT, beginning with the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.

The multi-year partnership makes Intel the exclusive provider of virtual reality for the NBA on TNT, using Intel True VR cameras to capture live game footage from multiple angles in order to allow fans to view the game from different locations throughout the arena.

With this new technology, everyday fans can experience the game sitting courtside with their feet in the hardwood.

Fans can choose to view the game from high in the stands to get a bird’s eye view of the action or take the viewpoint of the photographers sitting on the baseline with the players coming right at them.

“This is an exciting time to be a basketball fan, and we are thrilled to be working with Intel and Turner Sports to make virtual reality and 360-degree content from the NBA on TNT games available,” said Jeff Marsilio, NBA vice president, Global Media Distribution.

“We are committed to bringing the most innovative and immersive experiences possible for our fans.”

These virtual reality game experiences will be available through the forthcoming NBA on TNT VR app on Samsung GearVR and Google Daydream headsets for download via the Oculus and Google Play stores.