European Hockey Federation launches dedicated live streaming platform

With the Rabo EuroHockey Championships just 2 days away, the European Hockey Federation (EHF) is launching EuroHockeytv.org (EHTV) based on Sportradar’s OTT platform solution.

In 2017 the EHF launched its Strategic Plan 2017-2024, where we committed to being proactive, innovative and influential in the sports world. This commitment saw the EHF streaming over 180 matches with a great response from the hockey fans who have watched millions of minutes of hockey this year.

The next logical step is to create a home for European Hockey streaming. EHTV will provide fans with FREE live games from the Rabo EuroHockey Championships *, the EHL, in addition to many of our Indoor Championship and Club, Outdoor Club and Junior events going forwards.

EHTV will also make a huge archive of games available for fans to watch back at their leisure. All that is required to watch live matches is a one-time registration. Fans will also get additional Video on Demand (VOD) content of archived events and short clips.

Speaking about the launch Angus Kirkland, EHF Director General said “The EHF is delighted to announce, in partnership with Sportradar, the launch of its own streaming platform – www.EuroHockeyTV.org, Part of our strategic plan, aligned to the FIH, is to be Fan Focused and this new partnership will take us to the next level in engaging fans.

“Since 2016 EHF have been streaming many of our events. The new platform will provide a Home for European Hockey fans with free of charge access to the best hockey across Europe. It will also provide our Member Associations an outlet to showcase their events and engage the broader European community.”

Rainer Geier, Managing Director OTT for Sportradar added: “It has been a real pleasure developing a tailored and unique OTT proposition that suits the EHF’s circumstances, stakeholder group and focus. After all, not every federation is the same and so our suggested solution cannot have a cookie-cutter approach.

“We are excited to see EHTV go live and are confident that this will strengthen the strong bond between the EHF, its Member Associations
and the fans that love this exciting sport.”

Sentry becomes new title sponsor of PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions

The PGA Tour and Sentry, one of the largest business-focused mutual insurance companies in the United States, today announced a five-year agreement making Sentry the new title sponsor of the exclusive winners-only Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort in Hawaii.

The newly named Sentry Tournament of Champions will maintain its traditional spot as the first tournament in January 2018 when the 2017-18 PGA Tour schedule resumes following the holiday break. The agreement extends through the 2021-22 season.

“Sentry Insurance is proud to partner with the PGA Tour to sponsor the Tournament of Champions, held on beautiful Maui,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry chairman of the board, president, and CEO.

“This tournament and its champions format is the ideal way to more broadly introduce Sentry to the business insurance audience.”

While this represents Sentry’s first major sports sponsorship, it has been involved with golf since 1984 when the company built SentryWorld, Wisconsin’s first destination golf course. Sponsoring the Sentry Tournament of Champions is considered a natural next step for Sentry, providing an opportunity to reach a wide business audience.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sentry to the PGA Tour and become its first major venture into sports sponsorship,” said Brian Oliver, PGA Tour Senior Vice President of Sponsorship & Partnership.

“Sentry is highly respected as a company that is dedicated to its employees, its customers and embraces the spirit of giving back. So, we view this as a relationship between two organizations that hold common values.”

Sentry assumes sponsorship of a tournament that dates to 1953, when it was introduced at Las Vegas’ Desert Inn Country Club as an event for winners from the previous season.

The Tournament of Champions remained at Desert Inn CC until 1967, when it moved to Stardust Country Club. The tournament moved from Las Vegas in 1969 to La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad, California, where it remained for 30 years before relocating to its current home at Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui.

iSportconnect expands Commercial Team with key appointment

iSportconnect, the largest global private network of Sport Business Executives, is delighted to announce that Brandon Garcia has joined the company’s thriving Commercial team as a Commercial Director.

Brandon will help to identify new opportunities, streamline commercial strategies and direct marketing operations.

He comes from a vast and international commercial background, recently working in line with the President XI of China’s reform to build awareness and fundamental strategies to bring football into every child’s curriculum, leading to China’s revolutionary progression and the possibility of hosting the 2030 World Cup.

With expertise and knowledge across the sport sector, Brandon will bring maximum value to all iSportconnect’s partnerships.

Brandon said: ”I am excited to join such an enthusiastic team, we are now in the best position to enable the global sports sector to connect and communicate effectively through our services.”

iSportconnect Founder and CEO Sree Varma added: “These are exciting times at iSportconnect and I firmly believe Brandon will be an excellent addition to the team.”

PGAs of Europe and BMW extend corporate partnership

German automobile manufacturer, BMW, and the PGAs of Europe have extended their corporate partnership, continuing the relationship that has had a positive impact throughout the association’s 35 Member Countries.

The partnership is another way in which BMW supports golf, complementing the partnership with Ryder Cup Europe, title sponsoring professional tournaments such as the BMW Golf Cup International, among other activities that show how golfers are very much a key demographic for the company.

“In the past few years our relationship with the PGAs of Europe has continued to develop and we have enjoyed working closely with the association and its member country PGAs,” said Christian Masanz, head of BMW Golfsport marketing.

“The partnership helps to strengthen our global engagement in golf and in particular with PGAs and their PGA Professional Members.”

“Historically most of our partnerships have been about brand association and communication,” said PGAs of Europe Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“These things continue to exist but we are acutely aware of the need for our corporate partnerships to be exactly that – a partnership that directly benefits each other’s businesses.

“We were delighted to be able to attract BMW to join our Corporate Partner family and it has been a pleasure to see that not only have both sides gained great value from the relationship but also many of our Member Country PGAs have benefited directly too.”

Melbourne City FC becomes first Australian club to sign esports player

Melbourne City FC has become the first club in Australia to sign an official FIFA esports player, Melbourne-based Marcus Gomes.

A 20-year-old FIFA fanatic, Gomes is the third FIFA player to sign with a City Football Group owned team, alongside New York City FC’s Christopher Holly and Manchester City’s Kieran Brown.

Gomes will travel to London this week to represent Melbourne City at the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final (16-18 August), as the only Australian player in the 32 finalists from around the world

His FIFA 17 form puts him in the top 32 FIFA players in the world after he had more FIFA 17 FUT Champions Weekend League wins this year than any other PlayStation 4 player in the Rest of World region.


Gomes said of the announcement: “I started playing FIFA 2006 when I was nine, and I could never have imagined that the game would be where it is today, or that I would be signing a professional eSports contract with a club like Melbourne City.

“I have followed City for the last few years and I am really looking forward to wearing the City blue shirt at this year’s tournaments.”

Scott Munn, Melbourne City CEO said: “We know that many of our younger fans are playing eSports regularly, and interest in the industry is growing in Australia and globally. With 16 million people playing FIFA worldwide, and the competitive FIFA scene taking shape, it is the right time for Melbourne City to move into esports

“We see a huge amount of potential and ambition in Marcus. He is a huge football fan, has proven success as a player, and is passionate about representing Melbourne City and engaging with our fans.”

Fuller’s and Brentford FC renew strategic partnership

Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC, the London brewer and premium pub company, and Brentford Football Club have announced a new strategic partnership.

A two-year agreement has been reached for Fuller’s to become an Official Club Partner of Brentford FC in a deal that sees London Pride continue to be available to supporters on match days at Griffin Park.

The new deal also sees Fuller’s become Brentford’s Official Premium Ale Partner.

Their partnership features key branding around the stadium, including on Brentford’s incoming perimeter LED advertising system.

Fuller’s and Brentford have a history that goes back more than a century, to when Fuller’s donated a nearby apple orchard to the club, which became their Griffin Park home in 1904 – the name being a nod to Fuller’s Griffin Brewery.

Simon Dodd, managing director of The Fuller’s Beer Company, said: “With the historic link between Brentford and Fuller’s, it’s great to see our flagship beer on sale at Griffin Park. We have a lot of Brentford supporters working at the Brewery, it is a club that is geographically very close and we know that London Pride will be a popular choice on The Bees’ bars.”

James Parkinson, Brentford FC commercial director, added: “The relationship between Fuller’s and Brentford goes back a long way and we are delighted to have now reached an official partnership agreement with Fuller’s.

“The club prides itself in delivering engaging partnerships that reach beyond just branding and marketing, but which can deliver a true partnership, working together to add value to both our supporters and Fuller’s staff.  We look forward to working with the Fuller’s team in the years to come. “

LA City Council authorises Los Angeles to sign IOC’s Host City Contract for 2028 Games

Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously (12-0) to authorise Los Angeles to sign the Host City Contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The City Council approved LA 2024’s Host City contract in January but was required to vote again on the newly negotiated Host City Contract 2028.

With the new agreement, LA 2028 will invest up to $160 million (£123.5 million) to increase participation and access to youth sports programs in the City of Los Angeles in the years leading up to the Games.

The new Host City Contract also provides LA 2028 with a greater share of a Games surplus and an IOC contribution of $2 billion (£1.5 billion).

The City Council’s decision legally empowers LA to enter a tripartite agreement with the IOC and Paris, clearing the way for the IOC Membership to simultaneously award the Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and the Olympic Games 2028 to Los Angeles. at the next IOC session in Lima, Peru, on 13th September 2017.

The official announcement will take place at the next IOC session in Lima, Peru, on 13th September 2017.

“Today’s vote isn’t just about 2028; it is about what will happen in between now and then: the progress we will make, the principles that will guide us and most importantly, the young people we will inspire,” said LA City Council President Herb Wesson.

“Since our announcement that we would pursue the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we’ve worked closely with the City Council to ensure the 2028 Host City Contract is the best deal for our city and all Angelenos,” added LA 2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman.

“Today we’re offering the same low-risk plan for 2028 as we offered for 2024 with no new permanent venues, infrastructure or transportation to build.

“Together with the united support of the City Council and the people of Los Angeles, we will deliver the greatest Games possible in 2028.”

Hamad International Airport becomes Bayern Munich’s first-ever sleeve sponsor

Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar’s airport, announced today that it has enhanced its current sponsorship of German football club FC Bayern Munich to Platinum sponsor.

The latest FC Bayern game shirt featuring HIA-Qatar’s distinctive logo on the sleeve of the team’s iconic shirts was also revealed.

No contract details of were disclosed, while the previous deal was reported to be worth between €5-7 million (£4-6 million) per year for seven years.

During the event, HIA-Qatar and FC Bayern München also launched their latest promotional video, which showcases HIA’s award-winning facilities and services as experienced firsthand by the football stars.

The video features global football champions Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski to name but a few and will be played both in the airport and on board Qatar Airway’s flights.

Earlier in January this year, Qatar had the privilege of hosting FC Bayern Munich in Doha as the team undertook a nine-day winter training camp at Qatar’s Aspire Academy, enjoying the world-beating facilities available to them.

FC Bayern München Executive Board Member Andreas Jung said: “Starting this season, our players will feature the HIA-logo on the jersey’s sleeves. When we signed the contract with Hamad International Airport in January 2016, the sponsor’s badge on the sleeve was already part of our agreement. So far the HIA-logo has already been placed on the training uniforms.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker Al Baker added: “The strengthening of this fantastic sponsorship between Qatar’s award-winning airport and FC Bayern München, truly demonstrates the State of Qatar’s role as a global leader in sports.

The HIA-Qatar logo on the sleeve of every FC Bayern München jersey helps display the importance that we as a nation place on sports as a means of bringing people together. The HIA-Qatar enhancement of its sponsorship has also further aligned itself with our nation’s ambitious national vision.”

Earlier this year, Hamad International Airport sixth Best Airport in the World by the 2017 Skytrax World Airport Awards, moving up four places from 2016. HIA has also won the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ title for three years in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for two years in a row.

Glasgow Warriors announce sponsorship partnership with SP Energy Networks

Glasgow Warriors have today announced a major three-year sponsorship partnership with SP Energy Networks.

The energy company, which operates across central and southern Scotland, will serve as the club’s Community Partner.

The distinctive SP Energy Networks logo will also feature on the Glasgow Warriors retail kit from the start of the 2018-19 season.

The pair will also work together on a range of community projects and key initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of rugby players from surrounding communities.

Nathan Bombrys, managing director of the Glasgow Warriors, said: “Our commitment to representing Glasgow and the West of Scotland is at the heart of the purpose of our club and it’s clear that SP Energy Networks have an even deeper commitment within our community.

“This partnership with SP Energy Networks is an example of how great things can happen when you put a genuine focus on serving your community. We look forward to developing this innovative community partnership over the next three seasons.”

SP Energy Networks Chief Executive, Frank Mitchell, said: “We are delighted that Glasgow Warriors will support our focus on community engagement.

“It’s vital that we support the communities we serve and we know the profile of the Warriors will give our messages improved resonance with many of them.”

Table Tennis England members vote in favour of governance reforms

Table Tennis England’s membership has voted in favour of governance reforms necessary for the sport to comply with the Government’s new Code for Sports Governance.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Milton Keynes on August 12, the Board’s proposal was passed with an overwhelming majority of 96.96% of Company Members in favour – more than the 75% needed for the changes to go through.

The vote ensures that Table Tennis England is now on track to be declared compliant with the Code, which is a condition of the Sport England £9million funding award.

The funding had been suspended after the AGM in July, when the Board’s proposal was defeated by a margin of 0.07%.

Table Tennis England will also begin a thorough and wide-ranging review of all governance and Board structures that comply with the Code for Sports Governance to ensure table tennis is fit for the future.

Table Tennis England Chairman Sandra Deaton said: “This vote puts us back on track to meet our public funding obligations and allows us to continue to deliver key programmes. We are delighted that the necessary reforms have been passed and I’d like to thank our members for helping us to safeguard the future of the sport.

“The suspension of funding has caused cash-flow problems and reputational damage and restoring it was our top priority.

“Ahead of the EGM, the Board gave a written commitment to launch a public review and will now get that process under way.

“I cannot understate how important this result is for the future of our sport. It gives us the chance to move forward with confidence and to deliver our programmes for the benefit of all our members.”

Table Tennis England had been one of only two sports governing bodies, alongside the British Mountaineering Council, which did not have an agreed plan for complying with the Code.

Sport England have also issued the following statement: “Sport England is delighted to hear that Table Tennis England members have voted in favour of proposed governance reforms needed to make them compliant with the Code for Sports Governance

“We are also pleased to hear that the national governing body is conducting a wide-ranging, independently-led review which shows their commitment to improved governance.”