Host City brings cities and events closer – Sir Craig Reedie

Sir Craig Reedie CBE highlights how Host City 2017 enables event owners and hosts to work together, with Host City Asia presenting fresh opportunities

The owners, organisers and hosts of major events need to keep talking and Host City conferences are playing a crucial role in this process, according to Sir Craig Reedie CBE, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and former Vice President of the International Olympic Committee.

The fourth Host City conference and exhibition – Host City 2017 – takes place in Glasgow on 28 and 29 November. The first Host City Asia conference takes place in Beijing on 18 October.

Sir Craig Reedie said: “Host City is a really good conference involving cities that want to host events. Anything that can be done to put sport and cities together at an early stage is a good idea and I look forward to this happening in Glasgow and Beijing.

“The Glasgow event is getting bigger and bigger each year – that shows that there is a need for it.

“I expect Host City Asia in Beijing will show what a different market is like. China is full of large cities and there are lots of options within the country. For sports that are big in China – badminton for example – there is always a bidder for a major event.

“So, it will be interesting to see what lessons are learned from the Host City event in Beijing; because in the rest of the world it’s a question of encouraging cities to bid.

“Communication is vital in both the bidding phases and the delivery phase. The IOC appear to be looking at changing the Winter Games bidding process going forward, to make that process more comprehensive and start even earlier.

“On occasions costs ended up to be too high and that was the really limiting factor in terms of new bids. The IOC has to understand this and do something about it, to sit down with the cities who are interested well in advance and find out if we can work together.”

Event rights holders including international federations, national Olympic committees, bidding and organising committees comprise a substantial and growing part of the Host City audience.

Sir Craig Reedie has immense experience leading all these types of organisations, from bringing badminton into the Olympic Programme and presiding over the sport’s international federation to chairing the British Olympic Association and the London 2012 bidding and organising committees. Until 2016 he was Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and is currently President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

A full transcript of the interview with Sir Craig Reedie will be published in the Autumn issue of Host City magazine.

For more information about Host City visit www.hostcity.com

iSportconnect announces Brand Marketing Masterclass

iSportconnect is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Brand Marketing Masterclass on September 11.

More than ever, brands are at the heart of the business of sport and this all-day event will offer an exclusive opportunity to engage with thought leaders in a challenging and fast-changing global business.

Blue chips and rising stars will be in attendance as delegates learn and brainstorm about brands and sports partnerships within a relaxed atmosphere.

Debates will be stimulating and the networking opportunities second to none, with current topics and challenges of tomorrow set to be on the agenda throughout a series of panels and keynote speeches.

Chatham House rules will be strictly adhered to, as with all iSportconnect Masterclass events, encouraging a free exchange of ideas.

Three speakers for the event, which will be staged at Pinsent Masons’ offices in central London, have already been confirmed and will provide a wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics.

Please contact Dimitrios (dimitrios.syrmis@isportconnect.com) to register your interest.

Confirmed speaker list:

James Young – Head of Partnerships at Lucozade Ribena Suntory

Adolfo Bara – General Manager Marketing & Sales at LaLiga

Fiona Taag – Head of Global Sponsorship & Europe Marketing Communications at DHL

Scroll over the interactive image below to discover what makes iSportconnect events unique…

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Reading Football Club appoint Ron Gourlay as CEO as Nigel Howe takes up Vice Chairman position

Reading Football Club are pleased to announce that Ron Gourlay has been appointed as Chief Executive at Madejski Stadium, with Nigel Howe set to take up the role of Vice Chairman at the club.

Gourlay arrives at Reading with more than 25 years’ experience in football, having previously occupied senior roles at Manchester United and Umbro and as well as a variety of other director-level roles at Chelsea Football Club, where he succeeded Peter Kenyon in 2009 to serve as CEO for five years.

In his first season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup double and during his tenure as Chief Executive with the Blues, the club also earned both Champions League and Europa League silverware. He now begins his role with the Royals with immediate effect.

“I am delighted to take up this new position as Chief Executive at Reading Football Club and I consider it a real honour to be presented with the fantastic challenge of guiding the club to the next level,” Gourlay said.

“I look forward to working closely with all the staff who, through their dedication and commitment on a day-to-day basis, strive to make this club successful at every level – and I am excited to be working alongside manager Jaap Stam and his coaching team, Director of Football Brian Tevreden and a very promising squad of players ahead of what I am sure will be another exhilarating campaign in the Sky Bet Championship.”

In parallel, Nigel Howe has been appointed as Vice-Chairman at Reading Football Club and will predominantly oversee the development of the Royal Elm Park project as well as the continuing advancement of our new training ground at Bearwood and potential plans to expand the Madejski Stadium complex itself.

Howe, who has held the position of Chief Executive at Reading since 1995, initially helped to guide the club through the transition to its Madejski Stadium home but also steer the Royals to the top tier of English football for the first time in its history in 2006.

Nigel retains his position on the EFL Board as a Championship representative and will continue to help direct and enhance the reputation of Reading Football Club as a Director on the Royals’ Board.

Howe said, “After more than 21 years as Chief Executive at Reading Football Club, I am extremely excited to be appointed to the position of Vice Chairman.

“On a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn during my tenure as CEO and, on behalf of all the staff and supporters, I would like to welcome Ron to Reading – a magnificent club with tremendous potential.”

International Triathlon Union extends partnership with SEL Sport & Events Logistics

International Triathlon Union  (ITU) is pleased to announce that we have extended our partnership with SEL Sport & Events Logistics (SEL) to serve not only as the global logistics partner for ITU but also the travel solutions partner.

“We are delighted to further develop our relationship with SEL, which has proven itself to be delivering and adding value to ITU to the highest standards”, said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member.

“We are thrilled that a company such as SEL Logistics, which has more than 25 years of experience in major events, will be delivering not only the logistic services they’ve been providing for more than a year, but will also take care of all ITU travel solutions as an international sporting federation with multiple events across the world.

“The delivery of our branding elements from race to race all over the world, and the travels of all ITU staff, Technical Officials, and Executive Board are now centralised and organised to the best quality standards”, she said.

As a part of the agreement, SEL Sport & Events Logistics will provide logistics and freight forwarding for ITU to all WTS events in 2017, and extend this service to all 16 World Cups , Paratriathlon World Series, and Paratriathlon World Cups.

As part of SEL’s 360 degrees services, they will be implementing their proven Travel Solutions, allowing ITU to centralise workloads and increase productivity around the available resources.

“Triathlon is a sport for all – for all ages, for all levels of competition – truly global. So for us to have the opportunity to support ITU in its quest to broaden its reach, we are excited. We shall always endeavour to optimise solutions and services for ITU , and all stakeholders.” said Pier Bottero, Chief Executive at SEL.

ITU and SEL will continue to develop the partnership and build towards 2020 and beyond in an effort to improve it’s efficiency for LOC’s, athletes, and fan experiences at ITU events worldwide.

How data is driving Wimbledon’s digital content creation

Wimbledon boasts one of the most iconic brands in modern sport, despite hosting the tennis world for just one fortnight per year.

The Championships may be widely regarded as a traditional outfit but, as their digital strategy proves, the organisation is far from old fashioned.

Social media has been embraced, ensuring Wimbledon remains part of the online conversation even when the world’s elite players are not donning their all-white outfits in SW19.

Wimbledon is also at the forefront of data usage, with every point, rally, ace and tantrum helping to create engaging content and generate revenue.

Central to the tournament’s ongoing success is Alexandra Willis, head of communications, content and digital at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, who is adamant data is a key driving force behind content creation.

“We use data at Wimbledon in three different ways,” Willis told iSportconnect at May’s Digital Fan Engagement Masterclass.

“Firstly the data is the story itself if you think about our live scoring and all of our statistics and all of that very rich statistical information that tennis fans enjoy following along as they are watching matches.

“The second way that we use data is more back of house. We are analysing what our fans are talking about, what they’re interested in and the types of content they are consuming. We then use that to help us adjust our content plan.

“So – for example – if fans are talking a lot about Canadian tennis we’ll try and produce more content about Canadian tennis.

“The third area that we are using it is then trying to turn some of the data and those statistics into stories themselves. So what really is the different between [Andy] Murray and [Roger] Federer and why should one win and why should one lose?”

Willis added: “This is all part of our broader strategy to make digital the gateway into Wimbledon and therefore increase the value of our brand. That’s how we generate long term return. We’re not looking for short-term commercial gain but long-term revenues.”

World Rugby appoints Tom Hill as Chief Commercial Officer

World Rugby has announced the appointment of Tom Hill as Chief Commercial Officer.

A leader with a proven track record during nearly 20 years at the leading edge of the global sporting commercial environment, Hill starts his new role end of September 2017 and joins as rugby continues to experience record global participation, fanbase and commercial growth.

Hill will be responsible for driving forward World Rugby’s commercial, broadcast and marketing strategies as the sport seeks to break new markets as a mainstream sport, inspiring new audiences and unlocking commercial opportunities in line with its strategic vision to grow the global rugby family.

Hill joins from Manchester United, one of the biggest sports brands, where, as Global Head of Partnerships & Operations, he was part of a highly-successful commercial team, growing the club’s sponsorship revenues through the acquisition and retention of international partnerships.

A rugby fan, Hill has also extensive elite rugby pedigree, having held previous roles as Sales and Marketing Manager for the Rugby Football Union (2005-2008), General Manager of the England Rugby Supporters’ Club (2002-2005) and Commercial Director with English club Saracens (1998-2002).

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “Tom’s exceptional track record with some of the biggest brands in sport is perfectly suited to World Rugby’s strategic mission to grow the global game through expanding and strengthening our commercial footprint, unlocking partner opportunities in new markets and inspiring new audiences through fan-first innovative broadcast and digital channels.”

“Tom joins a strong and dynamic management team at a time of exceptional global growth, Rugby World Cup going from strength to strength with a record Worldwide Partner programme for the first tournament in Asia in 2019 and strong candidates for 2023, the growth of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport and more fans than ever before engaging with us and the sport through social media.”

Hill added: “I am delighted to be joining the experienced team at World Rugby. It is a sport that I am very passionate about and have grown up with, both playing and latterly coaching. I am excited about the depth and breadth of commercial opportunities for the sport, which will ultimately underpin accelerated global growth.”

“The overwhelmingly positive reaction of sports fans and non-sports fans to rugby sevens’ debut at the Rio Olympic Games, especially among younger audiences in new markets and the explosive participation and interest growth in women’s rugby, is very exciting when considering the future commercial strategy.”

England cricket legend Michael Vaughan to attend Betting on Sports with Mr Green

Betting on Sports 2017 (12-15 September) will provide delegates with the opportunity to meet England’s most successful Test cricket captain, Michael Vaughan.

Vaughan, the test captain between July 2003 and August 2008, racked up a record 26 wins in charge of the team, with only 11 defeats in his 51-match reign. His 18 centuries included a score of 166 in the third test of England’s infamous Ashes series win in the summer of 2005.

As a brand ambassador and the first ever ‘Sports Gent’ for Mr Green, one of 15 first-time exhibitors at #boscon2017, he will be appearing at the second edition of the largest international sports and betting conference alongside Enda Gaffney, the company’s Head of Sportsbook.

The former number one ranked test batsman in world cricket will also be completing a 20-minute Q&A at the Mr Green Stand during the mid-morning refreshment break on the first full day of the conference (Wednesday 13 September).

Vaughan said: “During my time with Mr Green, I’ve been impressed by the smartness they bring to their operations. As someone who enjoys the occasional fun bet and the chance to deliver great tips and offers, I’m looking forward to representing the brand at Betting on Sports, and engaging in a Q&A session with fellow sports enthusiasts.”

Alex Beecham of Mr Green commented: “We are delighted that Michael Vaughan, one of the best cricketers of his generation and our first ever ‘Sports Gent’, has committed to representing Mr Green at the conference, just a few days after the conclusion of England’s test series against West Indies. We expect him to be a big hit with our affiliates at the event, as well as with cricket lovers across the sector.”

The world of cricket is an interesting betting market, with concerns over integrity on an international level, but exactly how to embrace the sport from a betting perspective is just one of the topics that will be discussed in a newly added cricket session on the second day at Betting on Sports.

The panel, which includes Genius Executive Director Anthony Charles, will also assess Unibet’s Official Betting partnership with Warwickshire CCC, which includes the delivery of betting opportunities around Birmingham Bears’ home matches in the T20 Blast.

● Betting on Sports 2017 tickets are right now available at a nice 20% July Discount. BOOK HERE – don’t forget to use the code: JULY20 to get the discount!
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LA 2024 releases virtual reality experience of UCLA Olympic and Paralympic Village

LA 2024 unveiled today a virtual reality experience that allows viewers to see how athletes will live at its ready-made Olympic and Paralympic Village at UCLA.

The VR experience is available as a 360-degree film through the bid’s social media platforms and will be at LA 2024’s exhibit at the IOC’s candidate city briefing on 11-12 July in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Next week it will also be available through Jaunt app on all VR platforms.

The VR experience transports viewers to UCLA’s campus and allows them to see and experience the proposed Village firsthand. The VR experience shows the viewer how the athletes will eat, sleep, and train during the Games.

UCLA refurbishes its housing facilities every seven years, which means that all will undergo at least one round of renovations by the time athletes arrive in 2024. At 60 hectares, LA 2024’s proposed Village would be the second most compact in the last six

At 60 hectares, LA 2024’s proposed Village would be the second most compact in the last six Summer Games. All residents will be less than 50 meters from internal Village shuttle stops and less than 300 meters from all essential dining, fitness, recreation and entertainment services.

Today’s announcement is part of the bid’s #FollowTheSun to Olympic Agenda 2020 campaign: 20 activities in 20 days to show how LA 2024 would contribute to the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, Olympic Agenda 2020.

LA 2024 Vice Chair and Director of Athlete Relations Janet Evans said: “As a bid led by athletes for athletes, LA 2024 puts the athlete experience at the centre of our Games plan. We are excited to share how athletes will eat, sleep, and train at our Games-ready Olympic and Paralympic Village through our new, immersive virtual reality experience.

“With its beautiful and modern residences, state-of-the-art training facilities and award-winning dining options, UCLA is just one of our many existing facilities that will deliver an unprecedented athlete experience during the Games.”

San Jose Earthquakes and German Football Association agree to collaboration

 The San Jose Earthquakes and the German Football Association (DFB) have agreed to a multi-year collaboration focused on knowledge exchange, game development and machine learning.The collaboration presents both

The collaboration presents both organisations an opportunity to take a global leadership role, centred around capturing new insight from an objective-driven match and performance analysis.

“We are excited to enter into this collaboration with the German Football Association as we have formed a strong understanding and connection as to how we want to continue to deliver an insight-driven message to our players and coaches,” said Earthquakes General Manager Jesse Fioranelli.

“Driven by two landscapes rich in talent and innovation, both organisations are committed to making an increasingly fast game even smarter, one player at a time. In doing so, we are strengthening our long-term investments in our respective player development programs.”

The two organisations will test new trends through joint research and development clinics and focus groups in an effort to gain critical feedback from players and coaches to be implemented in their respective programs.

The collaboration will further allow both organisations to strengthen their presence and investments in youth development and cutting-edge sports technologies.

Part of the agreement is forming research and development expert teams and subsequently hosting R&D and coaching clinics, both in Germany and the U.S.

“The collaboration with the San Jose Earthquakes is a wonderful opportunity for the DFB to develop training content and diagnostics further,” said Markus Weise, head of the DFB Academy’s conceptual development unit.

“The Earthquakes, just like so many other organisations in Silicon Valley, are truly embracing technology and are challenging the status quo. Their innovative approach is perfectly in line with our ambition here at the DFB and our Academy. We want our player development program to become the standard of excellence in global football.”

 

How Turner and the NCAA transformed a legal necessity into a fan data capture opportunity

During this year’s March Madness, thousands of fans flocked to Phoenix to take part in the 2017 Final Four festivities.

Fan Fest and Tip-Off Tailgate events gave supporters an opportunity to take part in youth basketball clinics, contests, free throw challenges, sweepstakes, and more.

While this was a valuable chance for those in attendance to engage with their peers, Turner Sports and Umbel also combined forces to collect data from some of their biggest fans.

The companies deployed digital waiver forms at all of the fan events, requiring supporters to fill them out before taking part in the fun.

The digitized waivers were easily accessible on iPads as well as a Final Four event app that fans could use on their personal devices.

A legal necessity was subsequently transformed into a fan activation opportunity, allowing Turner to collect 22,000 adult names and email addresses.

With these names and email addresses, Turner used Umbel to start the process of reaching out their core fanbase.

This included the ability to:

  • Enrich profiles with valuable demographics and other data points including household income, family size, and more.
  • Combine existing fan data with who filled out waivers for more complete fan profiles.
  • Analyze and visualize what fans who participated in Fan Fest and the Tailgate were interested in, so they could make these events even better.
  • Activate fans with future campaigns to bring them back to other events they would be interested in, sell them relevant merchandise, and keep them engaged with content.