Euroleague Basketball names DraftKings its Official Fantasy Partner

Euroleague Basketball today announced a new partnership that makes DraftKings the Official Fantasy Partner for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

DraftKings will bring its expertise as the global leader in daily fantasy sports games to help EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge undergo a makeover and offer fans several new fantasy games and opportunities in both the EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

DraftKings plans to develop a variety of fantasy products based on the EuroLeague, offering games with the most diverse and up-to-date features on the market for the upcoming 2017-18 season.

DraftKings has collaborated on daily fantasy sports products with an array of professional leagues, including Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, NASCAR and the Canadian Football League.

Formula One makes new push to raise profile in China with Lagardère Sports deal

Formula One today announced its ambitions to raise the profile of the motor racing series in China, using its global popularity as a premium entertainment property to open up further growth opportunities in the country.

With a new management team in the driving seat, Formula 1 is revolutionising the way the sport is marketed and experienced globally, and as part of its wider strategy to broaden the appeal of the championship in key growth markets, Formula 1 has appointed sports marketing agency Lagardère Sports to help secure strategic partnerships in China from 2018 onwards.

Lagardère Sports will use its vast network, expertise and market knowledge in the country to identify and secure strategic partners for Formula 1 in areas including event promotion, media rights, digital and brand partnerships, merchandising, talent development and racing team development.

Sean Bratches, Managing Director, Commercial Operations at Formula 1 said: “We have a proud and longstanding relationship with motorsport in Asia, working with some great motor race circuit owners and successful race promoters from Singapore to Suzuka in Japan through to Shanghai in China.

“Across the region, Formula 1 fans have proven themselves to be some of the sport’s most passionate supporters with over 8.8 million* people attending race weekends since 2004.

“We are keen to build on this, developing our brand through unique live entertainment experiences designed to get fans closer to the action.

We’re delighted to be working with Lagardère Sports, whose knowledge of the market in China will help establish long-term benefits for all our partners and brands that we work with.”

Andrew Georgiou, Chief Executive Officer, Lagardère Sports and Entertainment said: “Having advised clients in the region for over 20 years, we’ve seen first-hand the enormous growth to date in the live sports and entertainment market in China; and also the new opportunities presented by the emerging middle and upper classes.

“Sports fans in the country, as well as media platforms and sponsors alike, are craving premium, local and live sports and entertainment, supported by quality digital content and meaningful fan engagement.

“Through this new partnership together we will work with Formula 1 to develop premium local content for the Chinese market, in a way that the sport deeply engages with local fans and becomes part of the Chinese sporting culture and fabric.

“We’re delighted the Formula 1 management team has trusted us to use our global insights and network, combined with our local expertise and knowledge within China, to help develop their brand, fan base and appeal to media platforms and sponsors.

“It’s a very exciting time to be supporting Formula 1.”

Betfair and Juventus announce multi-year partnership

Betfair and Juventus Football Club have announced the signing of a multi-year agreement that will make Betfair the Official Gaming and Betting Partner of Juventus, starting from the 2017/2018 season.

The comprehensive partnership includes branding and visibility inside the Allianz Stadium and Juventus Training Center, access to the Juventus players for marketing and communication activities and use of the Official Juventus logo, with the term “Official Gaming and Betting Partner” in all Brand Communication activities.

Betfair was the first brand to bring a betting exchange to Italy.

“We are very proud to announce this partnership with Juventus, which has in its DNA values and characteristics we think are winning in sports as well as in the business, such as prestige, leadership and ambition,” said Claudio Di Zanni, Betfair Italy Country Director.

“We believe that this partnership can create great opportunities for our customers and for all football fans.”

“This Partnership is integral to the global strategy of Juventus by developing strong relationships and agreements with innovative Brands such as Betfair, that are worldwide leaders in their industry,” added Giorgio Ricci, Co-Chief Revenue Officer & Head of Global Partnerships and Corporate Revenue of Juventus by announcing the new partnership.

One week to go until iSportconnect London Directors’ Club with LaLiga and WTA Presidents

Today marks ‘one week to go’ until the next iSportconnect Directors’ Club in London and there is only limited availability remaining for delegates.

Special guests Javier Tebas, LaLiga President, and Micky Lawler, WTA President, will be interviewed individually before taking questions from an esteemed audience.

There will also be ample time for delegates to network with their fellow executives throughout the event, which will take place on July 12.

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

The evening-only event will be hosted at Coutts’ Strand office in central London.

Contact Daniel (daniel.wexler@isportconnect.com) to register your interest.

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

HOST PARTNER

TITLE PARTNER

IOC publishes Evaluation Commission 2024 report

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today released the report by the Evaluation Commission on Los Angeles and Paris, candidate cities for the Olympic Games 2024.

The candidate cities are the first to receive the full benefits of the significant changes that have resulted from Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.

“Members of the Evaluation Commission have used the terms ‘forward-looking’, ‘innovative’, ‘vibrant’, and ‘cool’ to describe the Los Angeles candidature, and ‘historical’, ‘cultural’, ‘iconic’ and ‘amazing backdrops’ for that of Paris,” says the Chair of the 2024 Evaluation Commission and IOC Member Patrick Baumann in the report.

“However, whatever the description, it truly is a tale of two great Olympic cities. The two projects are different in nature, but each city presents a proposal which is genuinely authentic and reflects the best of what each has to offer,” he adds.

In line with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020, both Los Angeles and Paris are planning to use a record number of existing and temporary venues, a first in Olympic history.

The report takes is presented in three parts:

  • A 15-minute video describes the value proposition of the two candidatures and highlights key features of each proposal.
  • An assessment of essential elements for planning and delivering successful Games, grouped into four broad categories: Games Concept, Games Experience, Sustainability and Legacy and Games Delivery.
  • A number of technical documents, including photographs of and key information on proposed competition and non-competition venues in each Candidate City, demonstrating the depth of analysis and due diligence carried out.

The report concludes the work of the 2024 Evaluation Commission, which visited the two Candidate Cities in May.

It will be the key reference document for IOC Members in the lead-up to the 2024 Candidate City Briefing on 11 and 12 July in Lausanne and the final vote that will take place during the 131st IOC Session on 13 September in Lima (Peru).

“Los Angeles is one of the most entertaining sports and leisure destinations on the planet; Paris has a history second to none. On any given day, people around the globe enjoy Hollywood offerings of great storytelling and showcasing technology, while at the same time they dream of visiting Paris, one of the world’s most dazzling tourist destinations,” Baumann added.

“With the support, enthusiasm and passion of their citizens and athletes, Los Angeles and Paris have presented the best of their cities. And their best is as good as it can possibly get for the Olympic Games.”

To access the full report click here.

TV Sports Awards 2017 to be hosted at Salle Des Etoiles, Sporting Club in Monaco

We are thrilled to announce that the TV Sports Awards (TVSA) will be returning for its third year. Applications to apply are open and tables and seats are now on sale.

Taking place during the Sportel Monaco Convention, the prestigious TVSA will be hosted on the 23rd October at the glamorous Salle Des Etoiles, part of the Sporting Club Monaco. Under the sparkling lights, awards will be presented in front of an audience of more than 300 high-profile guests and legends from the world of sport, media and entertainment.

TVSA, in aid of Play for Change Charitable Trust, will recognise and award exceptional sports media achievements across 7 unique categories, including: Best Sports Broadcaster, Best Live Event Coverage, Best Digital Project, Best TV Rights Deal, Media Executive of the Year, Agency of the Year, Best Football Rights Deal and Sports Commercial Partner of the Year.

Returning also is the Play for Change award, which highlights an athlete who has delivered extraordinary social responsibility work. Previous winners include former England and Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand and GB Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike MBE.

Applications for the awards are open until 14th August and will be shortlisted by the knowledgeable and dedicated independent panel who have been selected for their range of expertise, formed of representatives from influential and well-respected sports media partners. These include iSportconnect, Sportcal and SportsPro.

The official shortlist will be announced at the end of August and votes can be casted online.

The TVSA is the event for companies to showcase their work and raise their profile amongst the sport media industry, whilst supporting a valuable cause.

All profits raised at TVSA go towards the Play for Change Charitable Trust who are dedicated to improving the lives of children through sport and education.

The impact of the funds raised from previous events has enabled Play for Change to make a huge difference to children and their communities, and last year the event raised enough funds to help a further 1,200 children in Nepal.

Registration opens for SportAccord Convention 2018

SportAccord Convention confirms registration is open for the sixteenth edition of the Convention set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 15-20 April 2018. A city destination brimming with opportunities, #SAC2018 will be held at the five-star Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, a world-class conference complex in the heart of the capital.

The Official Signing Ceremony for #SAC2018 took place in the Host City Bangkok on 31 May 2017 and was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and the Minister of Tourism and Sports for Thailand, with well over 100 people in attendance from government, media and other organisations. Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention said:

“SportAccord Convention is the biggest annual global gathering of the sporting community and is the only Convention worldwide with every International Federation present. Without doubt, the SportAccord Convention in Bangkok is going to present a myriad of opportunities for every organisation and delegate who attends. Hatt went on to say:

“The business of sport has grown enormously since the last Convention took place in the region and I would strongly recommend anyone who has a stake in sport, to take advantage of the unique networking opportunities SportAccord Convention offers and register for Bangkok.”

The multiplex venue provides a complete experience for delegates attending the Convention. Both the hotel and the convention centre connect seamlessly with CentralWorld, one of the largest lifestyle and shopping complexes in Southeast Asia. Organisations are encouraged to book their place early and take advantage of the early-bird rate of CHF1,500 (a discount of CHF1, 000 from the list price), available for a short period only.

The conference rooms and state-of-the-art exhibition hall offer outstanding facilities with natural day-lit rooms in a pillar-less environment. Exhibitor visibility will be second-to-none, and dedicated networking zones will help to showcase what organisations have to offer and how delegates connect.

The world’s premier annual event at the service of sport, SportAccord Convention is the place where sport meets whether it’s for International Federations, organising committees, cities and regions, marketing and sponsorship enterprises, legal teams, insurance companies, healthcare organisations, and many more. The Convention creates the occasion to build relationships, seed ideas and gain visibility on a world-stage, and many of these, play out as new business opportunities, or projects to further develop and support the sports movement.

As Deborah Jevans (CBE), former Tennis Player and the first woman to be appointed Director of Sport for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) told SportsPro during a podcast (08:05) at this year’s Convention in Aarhus, Denmark:

“SportAccord Convention is the place to be seen and is a really important event in the sporting calendar. The growth of sport has advanced as a business and is not just about the field of play. You don’t necessarily do a deal here but there is a lot of networking, a lot of conversations take place and relationships are created. Jevans went on to say, “Talking to companies during the Convention in Aarhus confirms this. SportAccord Convention provides the opportunity to meet any number of people from throughout the whole world.”

The Convention will include a 3-day exhibition as well as a full conference programme focused on sponsorship and marketing. Programme streams will include the Plenary, City Forum, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord. The Convention also offers numerous social events giving delegates the opportunity to network outside more formal settings, including the daily Exhibition Cocktails, Opening Ceremony and After Hours Bar, and its cultural programme will also take advantage of all that Bangkok has to offer.

For further information on the benefits of attending the SportAccord Convention, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com and follow #SAC2018 on Twitter for the latest news.

PMY Group announces European expansion and appointment of Richard Knight as Regional Chief Executive Officer

Leading technology strategy, investment and management company, PMY Group (PMY) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its operations into Europe through its appointment of a new regional Chief Executive Officer.

PMY opened offices in London in February and has secured several high-profile clients in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal. The investment into the European market is the next phase in the global expansion of PMY.

Announcing the expansion of PMY into Europe, Group Managing Director Paul Yeomans says, “The business has experienced a significant period of growth across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Europe presents an enormous opportunity to expand the business. The timing to leverage the knowledge, expertise and experience we have developed into the northern hemisphere could not be better”.

To lead the expansion, PMY are pleased to announce Richard Knight as CEO of PMY Europe. Richard was formerly Stadium Director at Twickenham for the Rugby Football Union. Additionally, Adam Pitt, Head of Business and Technology Solutions for Europe has relocated from Australia and will lead a strong team of technical experts to drive PMY’s European operation.

Knight was excited to be announcing his appointment at PMY, “I’m very happy to be joining a company at the cutting edge of public space and stadia technology and look forward to leveraging my venue management expertise to drive PMY’s expansion into Europe.”

PMY Group were recently nominated as a finalist in the 2017 Supplier of the Year category at the Stadium Business Awards in Dublin, highlighting the momentum of the business, which will be continued in Europe under Richard’s care.

About PMY

PMY specialises in the development, implementation, management and commercialisation of digital and technology projects.

The group works closely with leading clients in the sport & entertainment, stadium & venues, government, retail, infrastructure and transport sectors and has developed unique intellectual property through the delivery of practical outcomes within the fast growing digital and technology sector.

Manchester United and Real Madrid select LA 2024 Olympic Village as US Tour base

Global football giants Manchester United and Real Madrid have chosen UCLA campus, home of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Village, for their pre-season tour training base.

UCLA’s campus will be the training base for Manchester United and Real Madrid for the West Coast leg of their pre-season tour to the US, in preparation for the 2017-18 season. Both squads will use the same existing sports, medical, dining and leisure facilities that will be available to the Olympians and Paralympians in 2024.

LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: “We’re delighted that out of all the possible venues across the US, Manchester United and Real Madrid chose to use LA 2024’s Olympic and Paralympic Village at UCLA as their pre-season training base. UCLA is a paradise for elite athletes – it has already produced 420 Olympians from 45 countries.

The quality of the campus means LA 2024 can offer the world’s athletes a home-from-hone with state-of-the-art facilities while eliminating the risk and billions of dollars in construction inherent in building a facility from scratch. The Olympic and Paralympic Village at UCLA was the logical, responsible and Olympic Agenda 2020-compliant choice for LA 2024.”

Manchester United’s players will be welcomed by staff at UCLA who currently serve over 16,000 residents from around the world every day.

Both Manchester United and Real Madrid will play pre-season matches at other proposed LA 2024 venues during their time in the City of Angels.

England’s most decorated club take on LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center, and Spain’s European Champions face Manchester City at the LA Memorial Coliseum, LA 2024’s athletics and ceremonies venue.

UCLA’s Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said: “UCLA is extremely proud to be welcoming these two iconic teams and their world-class players to our campus this summer. Sport is an integral part our culture as an institution, and that is why we work tirelessly to offer our athletes and visiting athletes the best possible conditions. From sports facilities to health, nutrition and accommodation, UCLA gives athletes everything they need to fulfil their potential. It is fitting that some of today’s most famous global sports stars will be testing the facilities for tomorrow’s Olympians and Paralympians.”

Manchester United Class of ’92 owned Salford City announces shirt sponsorship deal

Free-to-play prediction game Soccer Saturday Super 6 has struck a new long-term deal to become the shirt sponsor of Salford City FC.

The National League North club has emjoyed a rapid rise since being taken over by several members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ – including Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt – at the beginning of the 2014/15 season.

The club, which recently announced that all players and management are to go full-time, narrowly missed out on promotion into the National League last season after a play-off defeat to Halifax Town.

Prior to that, they had achieved back-to-back promotions since being taken over by the Old Trafford legends.

Super 6, fronted by Soccer Saturday’s Jeff Stelling, is a weekly prediction game that runs throughout the football season where players must correctly guess six football scores to win a £250,000 jackpot prize.

The deal marks a new landmark in the rapid rise of the Salford club, as they strive for a place in the Sky Bet EFL.

Co-owner and former United captain Gary Neville said about the deal: “It’s fantastic for the club. A few years ago when we came into Salford we recognised we wanted to try and align ourselves with fantastic partners and everyone knows Super 6, they’re very prominent on the Soccer Saturday show we all love.

“It’s great that we’re able to put this long-term partnership together.”

Salford City chairman Karen Baird said: “The sponsorship is a massive deal for our level, for such a big company to get involved with us is brilliant. For the last few years, we’ve had local sponsors, but Super 6 is a great fit, as a well-known company established within the footballing industry.

“The sponsorship has already allowed us to continue to grow and bring in a better level of players ahead of the new season and beyond.”

Super 6 spokesman Edwin Martin said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be linking up with Salford City at such an important part of their journey. The club has been going from strength to strength on and off the pitch with their vision and ambition being a big attraction for us as a new sponsor.

“We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship between Super 6 and Salford City.”