Emirates extends PGA European Tour sponsorship deal

The PGA European Tour has today renewed its sponsorship deal with Emirates Airline for a further four years.

The new agreement will see the Dubai airline become an official partner of the 2018 Ryder Cup and continue to be a sponsor of all nine existing European Tour events.

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Emirates on the European Tour until 2021 and we also welcome them on board as an official partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup.

“I have no doubt our continued partnership with such a well-established and iconic global brand, and one which has vast experience in the sports sponsorship market, will be hugely beneficial not just to the European Tour but also to The Ryder Cup.”

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline said: “We’re pleased to announce our continued partnership with the European Tour. Golf is one of the world’s most popular sports and Emirates proudly links golfers and fans alike to top golfing events and destinations around the globe.

“As the official partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup in France next year, we look forward to further strengthening our relationship with the European Tour as well as engaging with millions of golf fans around the world.’’

Hublot announce new sponsorship deal with Floyd Mayweather

Hublot has announced a new sponsorship partnership with Floyd Mayweather ahead of the American’s super-fight against Conor McGregor.

Mayweather is set to put his 49-0 record on the line when he faces the UFC star this weekend in what has been billed as the biggest fight in history.

Hublot’s logo will be featured on Mayweather’s waistband throughout the bout, which is expected to break pay-per-view sales records.

Ricardo Guadalupe, chief executive of Hublot, said: “Again, we have the great honour to partner with a true living legend, Floyd Mayweather.

“We look forward to the match this weekend and hope for a repeat performance of 2015, cementing his undefeated record. The collaboration continues the brand’s long history in support of the noble art of boxing and celebrating the ‘Legend of the Legends’.”

Reports in the British media suggest Mayweather is set to earn roughly UK£3.5 million (US$4.5) from the main waist sponsor of his shorts during the bout against McGregor.

Sydney FC appoint Danny Townsend as new CEO

Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC have appointed Danny Townsend as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Townsend is set to bring a global reputation for success across the sports, media and entertainment industry to the Allianz Stadium, having worked with the NBA, NFL, English Premier League, Bundesliga and LaLiga.

Townsend, who in 2015 was recognised by the Sports Business Journal as one of the 40 most influential global sports executives under 40, also has considerable experience in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and African regions.

Townsend said: “Sydney FC is a club with a massive amount of growth ahead of it and I am excited to help achieve that. I am a born and raised Sydneysider with a passion for football and I am very proud to be Sydney FC’s new CEO.

“Sydney FC is a financially stable, family club with the most dedicated, passionate and creative members in Australia, and I am confident we are entering a new era for the Sky Blues.

“We have an exciting season ahead of us this year as we look to win back to back titles, and challenge for the AFC Champions League crown. I look forward to working with everyone at the club and creating some more fantastic times ahead.”

Meanwhile, Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow is convinced Townsend’s arrival will help the club to scale new heights: “Danny is a first-class appointment with the experience and background to help drive our club to the next level.

“Our club has achieved impressive growth and success in recent years but there is no doubt most of our growth is still ahead of us. We believe Danny is the right person to help us maximise our huge potential over the coming years.

“Danny has a track record of success internationally with excellent links in the football and corporate world but he also understands the Sydney sporting landscape.”

Townsend will officially start his role at the Sky Blues on October 7, taking over from Tony Pignata.

German handball Bundesliga partners with Sportradar to deliver new mobile app

In a deal that ensures fans of German handball get the most engaging content straight to their mobile phones, the DKB Handball Bundesliga (HBL) has partnered with Sportradar to ensure that their mobile app is ready, informative and available across both iOS and Android platforms.

Built to provide a seamless experience across all key digital platforms, the new app will provide news and statistics for the top flight HBL, as well as the 2nd Handball Bundesliga, the DHB Cup plus German Cup final REWE Final Four, the Pixum Super Cup as well as the annual All Star Game.

Indeed, fans of the best handball in Germany will enjoy easy access to live tracking of match events, commentary, statistics as well as push notification related to their selected matches or teams.

Speaking at the launch, HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann said: “Our fans in Germany and beyond are some of the most engaged sports fans around. They want to receive the full spectrum of information to understand, to discuss, to post.

“For us it was critical that we found a partner who could meet that appetite. Sportradar deliver such a unique offering because they can plug in various tools, content and expertise into the one product.

“Who benefits? Our fans who now have a powerful portal into the teams, matches and tournaments that they love, right in their back pocket.”

James Heneghan, Head Of Commercial Development and Strategic Partnerships at Sportradar added: “Today’s savvy fans want tables, statistics, news; they want video content, live scores, push notifications, visuals; they want the lot.

“The brief we were given was a sophisticated one that demanded a lot of us and our teams. But here we are today, launching an app that upholds German Handball’s reputation as a trailblazer. We are delighted with our work and cannot wait to see how fans take to it.”

Inaugural day-night Test hailed as a ‘commercial success’ for Edgbaston

With England continuing a run of three consecutive Test victories at Edgbaston, and five wins in the last six Tests in Birmingham, Warwickshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Neil Snowball has praised the efforts of everyone involved in delivering a memorable first day-night Test match at Edgbaston.

Edgbaston accommodated 70,000 spectators across the three days of play, recording sell-outs on the second and third day and, despite the shortened match, the venue’s retail catering sales were also the highest ever for a non-Ashes Test match.

Neil Snowball, said: “One of the primary reasons for playing this Investec Test match in day-night conditions was to support Team England in preparation for this winter’s Ashes Test in Adelaide. However, to become the first UK venue to stage such a fixture has been an honour and builds on our reputation for innovation at Edgbaston.

“We also recognised the commercial opportunity and estimate that total ticket sales increased by 25 per cent as a result of the change in format and the increased level of marketing. Hospitality sales were also ahead of forecast and our merchandise sales were up 30 per cent when compared with the five-day Investec Test match against Pakistan last year.

“The debate will go on as to whether we need day-night Test Cricket in this country. There are a number of Test Match Grounds who are very good at selling Test cricket in this country, unlike in other parts of the world so there is an argument to leave well alone. However, it was terrific to be able to make history by hosting the first ever day-night Test.

“From our perspective, the whole team at Edgbaston thoroughly enjoyed the experience of hosting the match and the combined attendance of nearly 70,000 shows that there is certainly an appetite. Projections from Birmingham Regional Observatory also suggest that the fixture has been worth nearly £15 million to the local economy.

“The city of Birmingham again showed its expertise in hosting marquee sporting events and our thanks go to Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and the other city stakeholders in supporting us with this fixture.”

England and Great Britain Hockey announce three-year partnership with Harrogate Water

Harrogate Water has announced a major three-year sponsorship agreement with England and Great Britain Hockey including being the official water of the Hockey Women’s World Cup 2018, which is being hosted by England.

Hockey is one of the world’s most popular team sports, broadcast in 125 countries and has been on a domestic high since Great Britain won women’s gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, following bronze at the London Olympics in 2012.

Countries taking part in the 2018 Women’s World Cup, alongside England, represent every continent and include Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, USA and South Africa.

Nicky Cain of Harrogate Water said: “This is an exciting time to be involved with England and Great Britain Hockey and offers enormous opportunities. More than ten million Brits watched Great Britain win gold in Rio and the Hockey Women’s World Cup will have a global audience of around one billion.

“The great attraction of the sport for us is that hockey appeals to men and women in equal measure, with a family-friendly following and a strong healthy lifestyle bias.

“We share England and Great Britain Hockey’s passion and ambition, not only their determination to excel, but also their desire to inspire and make a difference.

“It is refreshing to see an elite team sport in which women are leading the way and becoming role models with huge popular support and appreciation for their achievements. We’re proud to be sponsoring the Hockey Women’s World Cup and are really looking forward to working with both the women’s and men’s teams and following their fortunes over the next three years.

Jon Cockcroft, commercial director at England and Great Britain Hockey, said: “It is fantastic to have such a recognised and aspirational brand partner with England Hockey. With growing public awareness of hockey as a participation and spectator sport and the huge opportunity that a home World Cup presents, we look forward to developing exciting campaigns which build our respective brands.

“With the Hockey Women’s World Cup and the overall partnership, we look forward to working with Harrogate Water. As with other partners it is a great opportunity to raise their brand-awareness and profile through the international and domestic game for both men and women.”

Harrogate Water has a successful track record of sports sponsorship. The Harrogate Spring brand is the official water of Royal Ascot and Ascot Racecourse. It was the official water of England Cricket for three years until March and remains the official water of Yorkshire Cricket.

Ladbrokes extends sponsorship of Rugby League’s Challenge Cup

British bookmaker Ladbrokes has agreed a deal to extends its title sponsorship of The Rugby Football League’s Challenge Cup.

Ladbrokes has sponsored the tournament for the last two years and has now put pen-to-paper on a one-year extension.

Rugby Football League Chief Commercial Officer, Roger Draper, said: “I am delighted that Ladbrokes have decided to extend their current partnership and that they recognise the value in being involved with such a prestigious and well-regarded competition.

“The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is rich in heritage and tradition and is known across the world, so to have a brand as successful and recognisable as Ladbrokes commit to extending their support is great news for the sport.

“Ladbrokes has been a fantastic supporter of Rugby League and we are delighted that they are continuing their association with our great sport.”

Ladbrokes chief executive, Jim Mullen, added: “Our decision to sponsor the Challenge Cup was an easy one. We want our name to be associated with prestigious, passionate sporting events and this ticks those boxes, so it was a no brainer when it came to extending our association with the game.

“We play hard to win and that’s what the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is all about.”

RFU unveils new brand identity for Greene King IPA Championship

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) unveiled and new brand identity for the Greene King IPA Championship during the preview of the 2017/18 season, which kicks off on 2 September.

RFU also announced the renewal of its title partnership with Greene King IPA for three seasons.

The new identity includes a brand new logo and a new website – ChampionshipRugby.co.uk – which will officially launch during the first weekend of fixtures.

The site will feature magazine-style format with previews, reviews, and features, as well as the latest fixtures and results. It will also give an opportunity for fans to purchase tickets and share content.

George Johnston, marketing director of Greene King IPA, added: “Greene King IPA has been a supporter of rugby from grassroots to world class levels for a number of years and community and hospitality are extremely important to us, so the work that the RFU has been doing to put the fans at the heart of the Championship is very much in-line with our own values.

In addition, the new website will host the live stream of ten games this season, along with the England Rugby social media channels. This adds to the 11 games that Sky Sports – the official broadcaster of the Greene King IPA Championship – will air throughout the season.

The renewed partnership also aims to enhance content, marketing and communications strategies for the support for the Greene King IPA Championship.

George Johnston, marketing director of Greene King IPA, added: “Greene King IPA has been a supporter of rugby from grassroots to world class levels for a number of years and community and hospitality are extremely important to us, so the work that the RFU has been doing to put the fans at the heart of the Championship is very much in-line with our own values.

AIBA signs memorandum with ISF to develop sports and education through boxing

On the eve of the 29th Summer Universiade, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Taipei, committing to the joint exploration of boxing as a means of physical and educational development for young people.

AIBA agrees to use its expertise to assist with the technical aspects of ISF Schools Competitions, and its coaching infrastructure to ensure safe dissemination of best practice and the latest techniques around the world.

“The values that AIBA and the ISF share are instrumental in ensuring the success of this partnership for the benefit of young people around the world,” said AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu.

“For many years, education has been a priority for AIBA and, now more than ever, the sport has a vital role to play in the social as well as physical education and well-being of young people. AIBA looks forward to cooperating with the ISF to bring new opportunities and inspiring future young boxers around the world.”

The agreement will see AIBA and the ISF combine resources and efforts to meet their respective objectives in promoting boxing among young people.

This effort aims to help foster the core values of mutual respect, dedication, and friendship.

AIBA’s expertise will be used to draft specific technical regulations for new events, as well as providing coaching. ISF events will be made available for the practical assessment of young officials.

“Boxing is one of the most enduring and universal of all sports, and its popularity is as strong as ever among people of all ages the world over,” said ISF President Laurent Petrynka.

“The ISF knows that every sport has the power to bring structure and hope to the lives of young people, but boxing involves a unique code among athletes that, alongside AIBA, we want to promote through new School Sport competitions and events,” said ISF President Laurent Petrynka.

Brian Barwick: Clipper Round the World Race launch sends ‘powerful statement of intent’ for Liverpool’s 2022 Commonwealth Games bid

Liverpool 2022 joined in the celebrations as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race launched from the city’s stunning waterfront on August 20, once more showcasing Liverpool’s passion for sport and highlighting the key role the waterfront has to play in its transformational vision for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Thousands lined the docks to watch the 12 vessels set out on their 11 month voyage around the globe, which will see them returning to Liverpool in July 2018 to cross the finish line.

The waterfront is a key part of Liverpool’s 2022 bid. Athletics would take place at a new Everton stadium in Bramley Moore Dock, swimming at a new innovative drop-in arena in the South Docks, cycling and triathlon at Pier Head and a host of indoor sports at the ACC Precinct.

The launch of the Clipper Race was streamed live to a global audience and is testament to Liverpool’s ability to host major international sporting events. The city hosted the Gymnastic National Championships earlier this year, and is looking forward to welcoming the world as its two football clubs, Liverpool and Everton, embark on their new seasons.

Brian Barwick, Liverpool 2022 Bid Chairman said: “This has been a fantastic weekend of sport in Liverpool showcasing our best natural assets – the River Mersey and our people – which has sent out a powerful statement of intent about our capability to host major events.

“It is a further boost to our efforts to persuade Government we can deliver on our plan to stage a responsible, inspirational, and transformational Commonwealth Games.”

 

 

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “Once again, our amazing city has proved why it has an unrivalled track record in staging major events in what was the climax of an incredibly successful week showcasing sailing.

“The stunning backdrop of our incredible waterfront, married with the amazing sight of 12 yachts on the River Mersey, combined with the infectious enthusiasm of the spectators all came together to make a memorable day and shine the media spotlight on the city.

“We are now at a crucial stage in our bid to win the right to be the UK’s candidate city for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the timing of the launch of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race could not be more perfect.”