London will have their first afternoon game after the timeslots for the three regular season games in London have been announced.

The announcement also creates a new morning time slot for viewers in the United States.

The NFL said Wednesday that the game between the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 26, diagnosis 2014, will start at 1:30 p.m. local time.

The league said the switch will make it easier for a global audience to tune in and also create an unprecedented fourth game window for American viewers that day.

The Wembley games have traditionally started at the same time as the 1 p.m. kickoffs in the U.S. The other two London games scheduled for next season — Dolphins-Raiders on Sept. 28 and Cowboys-Jaguars on Nov. 9 — will both start at 6 p.m. local time.

The Global Ocean Race (GOR), one of sailing’s greatest challenges, is set to receive a major lift for its third round-the-world event for Class40 yachts, now scheduled to start in September 2014.

Organisers of the Class40 Association-endorsed race announced that in order to raise its profile and bring it the attention the event deserves, they have taken three important steps: 

• Brought in a team of experts in media, ocean racing promotion and marketing 
• Expanded the number of classes in the race, so that entries can now be single-handed, two-handed or fully-crewed 
• Delayed the start by one year to take full advantage of the new arrangements 

Meanwhile, they have agreed a number of sponsorship deals for the event and can already confirm a strong entry interest from at least eight solid Class40 projects. 

“We have successfully completed two Class40 round-the-world races,” said Josh Hall, the GOR Race Director and CEO, “but we believe it is time for the race to fully evolve. To that end, we have created a new management structure bringing in some of the most experienced people in media, sponsorship and the marketing of a truly global yacht racing event. To permit our new team the appropriate timeframe to realise the planned levels of media and funding, we have decided to delay the race until 2014.”

“Our boats cost a fraction of those in the other major ocean races, opening up the thrill and adventure of sailing at speed through the Southern Ocean to a whole new generation of skippers and crew,’ explains Hall. ‘In times of recession, I believe this will attract both aspiring ocean sailors and fully-experienced yachtsmen. Our boats now regularly average the speeds that Maxi Yachts in the Whitbread were doing just over a decade ago. It offers the best of sailing on a budget that many more can afford. Crucially, it also allows sponsors, who have been leaving the sport due to the massive costs, to return.”

Central to the new organisation will be a Steering Board, created to boost the organisation that supports the event. Members include a top TV producer who has overseen Olympic coverage for the BBC among others; a former CEO of three major broadcasting organisations; a leading public relations professional; a specialist in sponsorship fund raising and management and a commercial director with extensive international experience. Four of the five have already been contracted and each has considerable experience in ocean racing promotion, marketing and media coverage. The names of the Board and full details of the changes will be released in the New Year. 

“These appointments bring one of the sport’s most experienced and successful teams to the GOR and justify our delaying the start of the race,” added Hall. 

Paciolan, the leading provider of ticketing, marketing and fundraising solutions in college athletics, today announced that the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) has renewed its partnership with the company.

Pitt will continue using Paciolan’s core ticketing and fundraising technologies, and will also implement Paciolan’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, Access scanning system, and email marketing solution, as well as leverage the company’s partnership with StubHub to accommodate secondary ticket sales. Pitt has been working with Paciolan since 1991.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with Paciolan to expand our efforts, offer new services and elevate the fan experience,” said Steve Pederson, athletic director, University of Pittsburgh. “We value the exceptional and comprehensive support received from both Paciolan and StubHub to offer a completely integrated and expansive ticket resale platform to Pitt fans.”

To achieve success with ticket resale, Pitt began working with secondary ticketing marketplace provider StubHub this fall, via Paciolan’s strategic partnership. The integration allows season ticket holders the opportunity to resell unused tickets on the secondary market, and provides buyers the ability to get great seats along with the ability to print and receive tickets instantly at home. The process is simple, fast and delivers incremental value to both Panthers fans and Pitt Athletics.

Additionally, Pitt recently integrated Paciolan’s Access Management and Access scanning solutions at Petersen Events Center, home to the Panthers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams. The system will enable Panthers fans to bypass will call into Pitt’s venues using print-at-home tickets. The Access Management solution allows university staff to track attendance and catch fraudulent tickets at the entrance, while it enables them to tailor marketing and retention programs.

In 2012, Pitt increased online season renewals by more than 10 percent year over year with the use of Paciolan’s robust ticketing platform. The university has also pushed online single-ticket purchases and transactions with enhanced digital technology. For 11 consecutive years since its opening in 2002, Pitt has sold out men’s basketball at the 12,508-capacity Petersen Events Center, with every season ticket holder being an active contributor to the Panther Club Athletic Scholarship Fund, the official fundraising program for Pitt Athletics.

Pitt will implement Paciolan’s CRM solution which allows it to enhance its ticket sales efforts and efficiently manage relationships with Panthers’ season ticket holders and donors. The university is also able to accurately capture every interaction with fans and enhance its communications process to provide personalized services for its fans.

“Every decision we’ve made for additional services and products has come with Panthers fans in mind,” said Chris Ferris, associate athletic director, external relations, University of Pittsburgh. “Paciolan has been a tremendous partner that has provided us with the best services possible and in turn enables us to offer exceptional customer service to our fans.”

Pitt has also been able to enhance its communications with their season ticket holders and fans using Paciolan’s PACmail email marketing solution. The system allows Pitt staff to pull data from its customer database and send customized marketing letters to Panther fans and supporters to promote and create awareness of upcoming games and fundraising events.

“Paciolan’s PACmail solution offers services that fuel our outbound sales program and provides fantastic touch points with fans throughout the entire process,” said Justin Acierno, director of marketing and ticket operations, University of Pittsburgh. “By employing its elements and allowing us to fully leverage marketing efforts, it has created an effortless transition to segment lists targeted to certain groups or tailor specific messages to our ticketholders and supporters.”

“We are ecstatic to extend our partnership of 20-plus years with an institution like the University of Pittsburgh,” said Dave Butler, chief executive officer of Paciolan. “They continue to push the envelope with initiatives to ensure Panther fans receive the best solutions and services with their continuous objective to be a forward-thinking university.”

The Finnish half of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship organizing committee announced it made a profit of €8, look 238,162 ($10,595,26) for the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, which will be invested in youth hockey.

The organization had €27.3m ($35.1m) income and cost over €19.1m ($24.5m) in the first year of the co-hosting agreement with Sweden. In 2013 Stockholm will be the main venue hosting the semi-finals and medal games, while Helsinki will host one of the two preliminary-round groups and two quarter-final games played within the group before the two winners fly to Stockholm.

The profit from this and next year will be used for youth hockey over a period of 10 years with the goal to increase the number of registered players from currently 56,626 to 70,000.

In total 90 per cent of the profit goes into youth hockey while 10 per cent will be used for infrastructure projects in Vierumäki and in other regional funds.

The skills coaches will work with various teams in their region in close co-operation with the clubs and their coaches and schools, and also educate part-time coaches and parents. They will participate in two seminars per year organized by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, which has named 25 potential clubs that can name skills coaches paid for through the fund.

It was also announced that ticket sales for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship games in Helsinki will start on 15th October. 

Juventus coach Antonio Conte faces a lengthy ban for his part in a match-fixing scandal after having a plea bargain application rejected on Wednesday.

Conte, order who faces charges of failing to report an attempted fix while at Siena in 2010-11, abortion was willing to accept a three-month suspension and a fine of €200,000 ($243,000) but the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) believes that punishment is not sufficient for the offence.

It was thought that the prosecutor, Stefano Palazzi, would accept all plea bargains put forward when the hearing began on Wednesday morning, but after agreeing to one point penalties for Torino and Varese he then chose to throw out the offer from Conte and Siena.

Siena were prepared to accept a five-point deduction and a fine of €40,000 ($48,585), but this was turned down.

The legal team from Juve have called for the trial to be scrapped, citing a Corte Costituzionale ruling from 1992 which is reported to state a judge cannot pass the new sentence if he rejects an agreed plea bargain.

It seems certain that Conte will face a lengthy ban and will not be on the bench for the Serie A champions when the season kicks off later this month. Any ban would forbid Conte from contact with the squad during a match and also from giving any interviews to the media.

Mit den REWE DFB Fußball-Sammelkarten soll erneut die Sammelleidenschaft der fußballbegeisterten Kunden entfacht werden. Die Kampagne mit den Stars der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft läuft über rund sieben Wochen, ampoule vom 26. April bis zum 16. Juni, impotent deutschlandweit in rund 3.500 REWE, order toom und nahkauf Märkten. Für jeden vollen 10 Euro Einkaufswert bekommen REWE-Kunden bis zum 16. Juni eine Original DFB-Sammelkarte mit den beliebten Nationalspielern gratis zum Einkauf dazu. Ob zum Sammeln, Spielen oder Tauschen – mit den DFB-Sammelkarten bei REWE ist großer Fußballspaß garantiert.

Ein Sommermärchen bei REWE mit der DFB-Sammelkarten Kampagne “Mit dieser einzigartigen Aktion wollen wir unsere treuen Kunden mit einem ganz besonderen Geschenk belohnen, das insbesondere bei den Kindern für große Begeisterung sorgen wird.”, betont Lionel Souque, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsleitung der REWE Märkte in Deutschland. “Wir freuen uns, dass wir als Partner die offiziellen DFB-Sammelkarten 2012 gratis an unsere Kunden ausgeben können. Denn die Kampagne ist Teil unserer strategischen Partnerschaft mit dem DFB. Uns erwartet eine spannende und ereignisreiche Europameisterschaft.”

Ebenso zufrieden mit der Zusammenarbeit äußert sich Nationalmannschafts-Manager Oliver Bierhoff: “Wir sind sehr froh, dass REWE uns als Partner im Rahmen dieser besonderen Aktion mit Blick auf die UEFA Euro 2012 begleitet. Die offiziellen DFB-Sammelkarten 2012 und das Album sind ein tolles Souvenir und ein schönes Andenken – nicht nur, aber natürlich ganz besonders für die Fans der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft.”

Mit den REWE DFB Fußball-Sammelkarten soll erneut die Sammelleidenschaft der fußballbegeisterten Kunden entfacht werden. Die Kampagne mit den Stars der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft läuft über rund sieben Wochen, vom 26. April bis zum 16. Juni, deutschlandweit in rund 3.500 REWE, toom und nahkauf Märkten. Für jeden vollen 10 Euro Einkaufswert bekommen REWE-Kunden bis zum 16. Juni eine Original DFB-Sammelkarte mit den beliebten Nationalspielern gratis zum Einkauf dazu. Ob zum Sammeln, Spielen oder Tauschen – mit den DFB-Sammelkarten bei REWE ist großer Fußballspaß garantiert.Ein Sommermärchen bei REWE mit der DFB-Sammelkarten Kampagne “Mit dieser einzigartigen Aktion wollen wir unsere treuen Kunden mit einem ganz besonderen Geschenk belohnen, das insbesondere bei den Kindern für große Begeisterung sorgen wird.”, betont Lionel Souque, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsleitung der REWE Märkte in Deutschland. “Wir freuen uns, dass wir als Partner die offiziellen DFB-Sammelkarten 2012 gratis an unsere Kunden ausgeben können. Denn die Kampagne ist Teil unserer strategischen Partnerschaft mit dem DFB. Uns erwartet eine spannende und ereignisreiche Europameisterschaft.”Ebenso zufrieden mit der Zusammenarbeit äußert sich Nationalmannschafts-Manager Oliver Bierhoff: “Wir sind sehr froh, dass REWE uns als Partner im Rahmen dieser besonderen Aktion mit Blick auf die UEFA Euro 2012 begleitet. Die offiziellen DFB-Sammelkarten 2012 und das Album sind ein tolles Souvenir und ein schönes Andenken – nicht nur, aber natürlich ganz besonders für die Fans der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft.”

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is reported to have made a bid for MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the LA Times.

Kroenke who is the owner Kroenke Sports Enterprises is understood to be one of 12 groups interested in purchasing the baseball team. Others include former LA Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson.

Kroneke already owns franchises in all other major American sports, namely the NFL’s St Louis Rams and a contingent of Colorrado based teams including the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.

The world famous Dodgers are facing financial meltdown and were put under bankruptcy protection last summer by outgoing owner Frank McCourt, who will later this year pay his former wife Jamie an £85m ($132.5m) divorce settlement.

The Boston native was in 2002 beaten to the purchase of the Red Sox by John W. Henry, now owner of Liverpool.

Former Dodgers manager Joe Torre, one-time owner Peter O’Malley and former agent Dennis Gilbert are also on the shortlist to buy the well known franchise.

 

Sheffield Wednesday has confirmed that Milan Mandaric has completed the takeover of the club with his company UK Football Investments for £1 (US$1.55).

Mandaric has negotiated terms to wipe out the clubs debt which totals at around £30m ($46.59m). Sheffield Wednesday had owed £23m ($35.71m) to the Co-operative Bank of which the new owner has paid £7m ($10.87).

The takeover means that Mandaric, prescription 72, ambulance will now leave Leicester City after a 4-year reign as owner of the Midlands club. Sheffield Wednesday chairman, Howard Wilkinson in now keen to put all their financial woes behind them after relegation last year was followed by the club reaching the verge of administration.

Wilkinson spoke of the deal, “I believe this to be one of the most important days in the recent history of our great club,”

“Our trials and tribulations have been well documented, but I can now see a brighter future for Sheffield Wednesday.

“Our club has been on the brink of administration and if this were to happen then so many people around our club would have suffered.”

The takeover has come just in time after a winding-up hearing at the High Court on November 17 ordered payments of £1.4m ($2.17m) to be made within 28 days to avoid administration.

Munich 2018 now benefits from the backing of every level of government in Germany, with the Federal Cabinet today voting unanimously in favour of the Candidature City File and offering its 100 percent support for the Bavarians’ bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.

Munich’s bid to host the Winter Games in 2018 has now received an unequivocal vote of confidence from the highest level of government within its home nation. The backing from the Federal Cabinet of Germany is yet another demonstration of the overwhelming cross-party support the Bid Committee enjoys at all levels of government.

Munich 2018’s main shareholder, the German Olympic Committee (DOSB), and the Munich 2018 Supervisory Board have already given their unanimous approval of the Bid Book.

Thomas Bach, President of the DOSB and Chairman of the Munich 2018 Shareholders’ Assembly, said:

‘I am very happy to have support from the government in Germany and this strong backing from the Federal Cabinet will undoubtedly reinforce the bid’s presence on the international stage.’

The bid will gain great confidence from the extensive backing by the national government at an important time, as the Munich 2018 Bid Committee prepares for two pivotal presentations: at the Asian Games 2010 in Guangzhou on 13 November and at the European Olympic Committee General Assembly in Belgrade on 26 November.