ESPN lines up replacement for Lynne Frank

Sports broadcaster ESPN is preparing to announce the appointment of Ross Hair as its new head of operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Hair will join from Sony Pictures Television and will bring an end to a five month search for a replacement for Lynne Frank who left the position citing personal reasons in April.

Hair’s appointment will mark his second stint at ESPN, having previously worked for the company’s Star Sports business in Singapore.

Before that, he spent five years at children’s television channel Nickelodeon in the UK, joining from BSkyB.

It is not yet known when Hair will take up his new role, but until that time, the businesses will be overseen by Russell Wolff, executive vice president of ESPN International.

Frank was a highly respected member of the ESPN team, who oversaw the acquisitions of Cricinfo.com and Scrum.com during her five years in the job.

NFL to Continue with Three Game London Strategy Heading into 2015

The National Football League (NFL) are set to continue their strategy of playing three regular season games in London for 2015, NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood has revealed.

Wembley has already staged two regular season games this season with one more to go next month. The latest game was yesterday where Detroit Lions defeated the Atlanta Falcons 22-21 in a nail biter.

Wembley will again host three games next year but two games may be back to back. 

“We are going to do three games next year, and looking at staging two games back to back in successive weeks to test this support base,” Kirkwood told BBC World Service.

“There are some logistic reasons around the Rugby World Cup that means we won’t be going to four or five.”

In recent weeks Mark Waller, the Executive Vice President International of NFL, revealed that they were in the midst of a 15-year plan to bring the NFl to the UK as a franchise. 

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Pitch to Distribute Scottish Rugby Broadcast Rights

Scottish Rugby have announced that it has awarded its global broadcast rights to sports marketing agency Pitch International for three seasons.

The deal grants Pitch the exclusive right to distribute home Scotland Autumn Tests matches in 2014, discount 2016 and 2017 around the world.

Dominic McKay, Scottish Rugby Director of Commercial Operations, Communications and Public Affiars, said: “Scottish Rugby is delighted to partner with Pitch International.

“Their vast expertise in the sports rights market and enthusiasm for taking Scotland games around the world impressed throughout, in what was a highly competitive tender process.

Henri Kamerling, Head of Sales at Pitch International, said: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Rugby and its partners and helping them grow the existing coverage of their games.

“Scotland have some very attractive fixtures over the next few years and we believe that with our long experience of selling major rugby rights we can contribute significantly towards the growth of their business.”

Formula E Outlines Strategy for Second Season

Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has revealed his plans for the second season of the fully-electric FIA Formula E Championship in which he hopes to attract ‘three or four’ manufacturers.

In an interview released on the official Formula E website and social media channels, stuff the series boss talks about his plans to move away from the current one-make format and open up the regulations to allow full manufacturer involvement. Teams would then be able to develop their own powertrains for year two in 2015/16 and their own batteries from season three.

“In year two the teams will be able to build their own batteries and their own motors, denture ” said Agag. “They could build their own whole car if they wanted. But the regulations are quite strict and they don’t allow a lot of development in aerodynamics, but they do allow development in motor and battery. I would hope that we have three or four different makers of motors and batteries in the championship for year two.”

This move would also pave the way for Formula E to make a bid for world championship status with the series requiring the involvement of four manufacturers to become a world championship under FIA rules.

Speaking earlier in the month at the opening Formula ePrix in Beijing Agag said: “There is a condition of a world championship to have a certain number of manufacturers; you cannot be a world championship as a one-make series.

“We hope to attract manufacturers, meet the conditions and hopefully the FIA will grant us world championship status.”

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Rutland to Host 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Championship

Rutland in Great Britain has been named as the venue for the 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Championship.

Located in central England near Leicester and Peterborough, viagra the 2015 ISAF Team Racing Worlds will be held at Rutland Sailing Club on Rutland Water, allergy a large inland stretch of water.

Following a bid process, the ISAF Team Racing Sub-committee made a recommendation to the ISAF Executive Committee who approved the choice of Rutland.

ISAF Competitions Manager Jon Napier said, “Over the 20 year history of the ISAF Team Racing Worlds, team racing specialists, Olympic medallists and match racers have locked horns in the high octane team racing environment. More of the same close, exciting racing will be expected at the 2015 edition.

“Rutland Sailing Club has a strong team racing heritage and passion for the discipline. With an exceptional infrastructure in place we look forward to working with the Organising Authority to deliver a successful event.”

Event Director Steve Tylecote added, “Rutland Sailing Club is proud to have been chosen by ISAF to host this prestigious event.

“Rutland is a National Centre of Excellence for sailing set on an enormous picturesque reservoir in England with outstanding facilities and a very experienced team.”

The 2015 ISAF Team Racing Worlds are provisionally scheduled for July 2015.

PrimeSport to Provide Official Fan Packages for 2014 Indianapolis 500

Ticketing provider PrimeSport have announced a new partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to offer official fan travel packages for both the 2014 Indianapolis 500 and 2014 Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard.

The 2014 Indianapolis 500 will take place Sunday, May 25, 2014 while the Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard event will run Sunday, July 27, 2014.

“Our goal is to provide racing fans coming to Indianapolis with the absolute best experience possible, and we are excited about being able to offer that exceptional experience through our new partnership with PrimeSport,” said Doug Boles, President, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “PrimeSport has an extensive track record managing fan travel for high-profile sporting events, and we are looking forward to tapping into the unmatched travel services they can provide fans for our events.”

As part of the partnership, PrimeSport is offering Official Indianapolis 500 Travel Packages that include: 2 – 4 nights hotel accommodations, pre-race pit pass, driver’s meeting pass for Saturday May 24, roundtrip transfers to the race and airport, official Indy 500 race program and souvenir, admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, breakfast at the hotel and premium race tickets (with upgrades available). Each package is customizable and can be fit to a fan’s specific needs.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the opportunity to offer racing fans an unforgettable and hassle-free experience when traveling to Indianapolis,” said Sam Soni, President at PrimeSport. “We are looking forward to providing fans with a safe, reliable and officially sanctioned place to buy official travel packages.”

Markham to Host 2014 & 2015 Clarkson Cup

The Canadian Women’s Hockey League has announced today that the City of Markham will host the 2014 and 2015 Clarkson Cup after previously hosting the 2013 event.

Known as the Stanley Cup of women’s hockey, the Clarkson Cup will take place at the Markham Centennial Community Centre from March 18-22, 2014. Presented in partnership with lead sponsor Scotiabank, the tournament will feature the top four CWHL teams competing for a chance to hoist the six-year old trophy. As the 2013 reigning champions, the Boston Blades will look to defend their title this season.

“Last year’s Clarkson Cup tournament was a great success on so many levels,” said Brenda Andress, Commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. “We smashed through attendance records, made a lasting connection with fans and proved that the state of women’s professional hockey is alive and well.

“As hosts, the City of Markham has demonstrated its shared commitment to growing our game and ensuring the Clarkson Cup continues to showcase the very best in women’s hockey,” added Andress.

According to the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, more than 2,500 women and girls play minor hockey in Markham and that number continues to grow each year.

“This tournament is a great inspiration for everyone who plays the game and we’re thrilled at the opportunity to extend our partnership with the CWHL,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Professional women hockey players serve as important role models for young women and we welcome the opportunity to help grow competitive sport participation by young women right here in Markham.”

“As longtime supporters of Canadian women’s hockey, Scotiabank is proud to help bring the Clarkson Cup to Markham,” said Peter Branov, Scotiabank Manager of the Main Street Markham Branch. “This tournament is an exciting showcase of incredibly talented female athletes and an inspiration to all minor girl hockey players from communities across the country. It shows young athletes how much can be achieved through team work and dedication.”

Fernando Alonso Reveals Breakdown in Rescue Deal for Cycling Team

Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso rescue deal to help financially stricken cycling team Euskaltel-Euskadi is off it has been revealed.

Alonso, generic a massive cycling fan and close friend of former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, had agreed in principal to take over the team featuring leading Spanish riders Samuel Sanchez and Igor Anton.

The team lost more than £3m in local Government funding due to spending cuts, a shortfall taken on by telecommunicatons giant Euskaltel, but they announced in August that kind of financial support could not be supported in the long-run.

The breakdown of the Alonso deal makes it more likely that the team will disappear after 19 years, only weeks after they won the team classification at the Vuelta.

“The negotiations between Euskaltel and the representatives of Fernando Alonso for the acquisition of the cycling team Euskaltel Euskadi on behalf of the Asturian driver, which began with an agreement in principle on August 31, have ended without an agreement,” the team said in a statement.

“For Euskaltel it is sad news that after the hope generated by the agreement in principle, a definitive agreement has not been formalised to guarantee a professional future for the members of the team and to reward the fans that have been loyal until the last moment.

“We would like to explain the details of the negotiations, because we have done our part, with total honesty, but it is not possible because we need to respect the confidentiality of the negotiations.

“Having not achieved an agreement, Euskaltel is unfortunately obligated to restart an organised and responsible closure of the project.”

Italian Tennis Player Found Guilty of Match-Fixing

Italian teenage tennis player Claudia Coppola, ranked 869 in the world, was on Wednesday banned for six months and fined $US4,000 on match-fixing charges.

The 18-year-old admitted the offences which were brought following an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).

“The fine will be reduced to $3,000 if the player completes a Tennis Integrity Unit anti-corruption training program,” said a TIU statement.

Coppola admitted to contravening two articles of the anti-corruption code relating to the outcome of a match or encouraging a player to under-perform.

“The suspension applies with immediate effect and means that the player is not eligible to participate in any tournament or competition organised or authorised by the governing bodies of professional tennis,” added the statement.

Coppola plays mostly on the second-tier ITF circuit and boasts just over $8,000 in career prize money.

Back in June Dutchman Yannick Ebbinghaus was suspended for six months for betting illegally on matches while just a few days earlier Russian Sergei Krotiouk was given a life ban for match-fixing.

Krotiouk was the third man in two years to receive a life ban for match-fixing following Serbia’s David Savic and Austria’s Daniel Koellerer.

Eurocup Revamped to Include 48 Teams

Europe’s second tier baskerball competition, Eurocup has announced they will undergo major changes next season including increasing the number of teams to 48.

Responding to the requests of European professional clubs, the competition will increase from 32 to 48 teams in the Regular Season phase. The size of the groups will grow from four to six teams, thus the number of guaranteed games for each club will increase from six to 10.

Another innovation this season will see clubs divided into two regional conferences for the Regular Season phase in order to reduce travel times and costs for participants. The top three teams in each group will advance to the second phase of the competition, the Last 32.

In another exciting change, Euroleague clubs that do not qualify for the Euroleague Top 16 will join the remaining 24 Eurocup teams for the Last 32 phase where eight groups of four teams will face each other, enabling them to continue playing European competition games in 2014, and increasing the standard of the Eurocup competition. The top two teams in each Last 32 group of six will advance to the Eighth-Finals, from that point onwards clubs will compete home and away until only two teams are left and the 2013-14 Eurocup winner is crowned, earning the right to play in the 2014-15 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season.

The  Eurocup competition expansion was approved in the ULEB and ECA General Assemblies held on 13-14 October 2011, but had not yet been implemented until the coming season.