The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has appointed the international communications consultancy Pitch to promote the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, France and the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping to a global audience. 

Pitch has been appointed to provide PR and social media support for the FEI’s leading global events. Working in collaboration with the communications and marketing team at the FEI, Pitch will play a key role in sharing the rich diversity of stories and opportunities offered by the 7^th edition of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping with audiences throughout the world. 

This year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which runs from 23 August to 7 September, will feature the finest athletes in equestrian sport competing in the seven official FEI disciplines: Jumping, Dressage & Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Reining, Vaulting and Endurance.  2014 will see a record number of nations taking part with 72 countries set to be represented at the event in Normandy, making this the world’s largest equestrian sport event. 

Lisa Lazarus, Chief of Business Development & Strategy, FEI said: “We are delighted to have Pitch as part of the wider FEI marketing communications team. Pitch brings considerable experience from their work on a range of the biggest international sporting events.  We look forward to working with them to maximise all the opportunities presented by the world-class showcase of equestrian sport and culture to help place these events on the global map.” 

Henry Chappell, Chief Executive, Pitch said: “This is an exciting year for the FEI. The  Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 and the Furusiyya Nations Cup Jumping are two great properties with significant potential for growth. We are thrilled to be handed a major role working with the FEI to promote these leading international equestrian events to a global audience.”

With on-court proceedings not going the plan, the New York Knicks were lifted today after Forbes named the NBA franchise the most valuable according to the annual league list.

The Knicks topped the list at a worth of $1.4 billion, helped along by the renovation of Madison Square Garden, which in part led to an all-time record profit of $96 million last season.

The Los Angeles Lakers finished second with a valuation of $1.35 billion on the heels of turning what Forbes says was a $66 million operating profit last year despite a league-high payroll and a luxury-tax bill of $29.3 million. The Chicago Bulls, at $1 billion, are the NBA’s third billion-dollar team. Four years of league-leading attendance and control of player costs have turned the Bulls into a solid cash cow.

The Boston Celtics, at $875 million, are No. 4.

The magazine estimated that the average franchise is now worth $634 million, up a remarkable 25 percent from just a year ago. Profits doubled to an all-time high of $23.7 million per team.

Franchise values have soared in recent years thanks to the anticipation of a business that will continually grow — including national television rights deals that are currently being negotiated for beyond the 2015-16 season — as well as unprecedented turnover. More than 30 percent of the league’s teams have changed ownership groups since 2010.

New venues have certainly helped teams, especially the Nets’ move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. In two years, Forbes estimates the move to the Barclays Center has contributed to a 108 percent rise in franchise value.

Just two years ago, Forbes said the Nets were the 14th-most valuable team with a worth of $357 million. This year, the team owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, is worth $780 million and is the fifth-most valuable franchise in the league. At 47 percent, the Nets’ franchise value rose faster than any other team in the league in the past year, Forbes estimates.

As commissioner David Stern prepares to hand the reins to longtime deputy Adam Silver after a 30-year tenure, Forbes notes the immense business the league has become. The magazine said the NBA had revenues of $118 million for the 1982-83 season, the last full year before Stern became commissioner. Last year, the league’s revenue was $4.6 billion.

Franchise values in the NBA still pale in comparison to the NFL. Forbes estimated that the average NFL team is worth $1.17 billion, with 23 teams having a worth topping $1 billion.

Formula 1’s governing body have unveiled a number of changes to the structure of the sport to increase its attaction to fans including a budget cap.

The decision on a costs cap, beginning from the 2015 season, has been seen as much needed as costs have been spiralling out of control over the past few years.

A statement from the FIA read: “The principle of a global cost cap has been adopted. The limit will be applied from January 2015.

“A working group will be established within the coming days comprising the FIA, representatives of the commercial rights holder (Bernie Ecclestone) and Team representatives.

“The objective of the working group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.”

Other changes include awarding double points for the final Grand Prix of the season, which next year takes place in Abu Dhabi on November 23, and a numbers identification system for drivers which they will retain throughout their career.

The decision to award double points, counting towards the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, at the final race of the season was made “to maximise focus on the championship until the end of the campaign”, according to a statement from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after the meeting of its strategy group..

The move reduces the possibility of a championship being settled before the final race by increasing the number of points available to a driver from 25 to 50.

Vettel Not Impressed

The decision to include the double points system has already seen opposition with Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel regarding the idea as ‘absurd’.

“This is absurd and punishes those who have worked hard for a whole season,” said the 26-year-old, who won the final nine races in 2013.

“Drivers, fans and experts are horrified.”

Red Bull driver Vettel would have lost the 2012 title to Fernando Alonso if such rules had been in place and is far from happy.

“I value the old traditions in Formula One and do not understand this new rule,” he told German newspaper Sport Bild. “Imagine, in the last Bundesliga (football) match of the season there was suddenly double points.”

Other teams and drivers are yet to comment on the plans.

For the new numbers system, drivers will be able to choose any number they want from 2 to 99 and they will retain that number for the duration of their careers.

The exception will be the number one, which will be awarded to the reigning world champion unless he opts to keep his original number.

The Dallas Cowboys have continued to reign supreme as the National Football League’s (NFL) most valuable franchise for the seventh straight year, according to Forbes’ annual team valuations.

The Cowboys, who recently announced a major naming rights agreement with AT&T, are worth $2.3 billion, eclipsing the Patriots ($1.8 billion) and Redskins ($1.7 billion) for the top spot. 

According to the report, NFL franchises are, on average, worth $1.17 billion, a 5 percent increase from last year. That value tops the average values of the top 20 soccer teams in the world ($968 million), the 30 Major League Baseball teams ($744 million), the 30 NBA teams ($509 million) and the 30 NHL teams ($282 million).

Forbes’ Mike Ozanian writes that the increase in average value comes mostly from a 3.6-percent increase in revenue. The Cowboys topped the league with $539 million in revenue last year.

The only team in the NFL to post an operating loss was the Detroit Lions. The Raiders are the least valuable franchise, with a value of $825 million.

The 10 most valuable NFL teams for 2013

1. Dallas Cowboys, $2.30 billion

2. New England Patriots, $1.80 billion

3. Washington Redskins, $1.70 billion

4. New York Giants, $1.55 billion

5. Houston Texans, $1.45 billion

6. New York Jets, $1.38 billion

7. Philadelphia Eagles, $1.31 billion

8. Chicago Bears, $1.25 billion

9. Baltimore Ravens, $1.22 billion

10. San Francisco 49ers, $1.20 billion

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The former Queensland Cricket Chief Executive, Graham Dixon, has passed away after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Dixon served as QC’s leading administrator for more than 20 years, during which the Queensland Bulls claimed seven Sheffield Shield titles in an unprecedented period of success for the state.

The affable Dixon, who was 61, started as general manager in 1991 and officially retired as CEO due to his ill-health earlier this month.

He was regarded among the state’s best sporting administrators, leading the development of the Bulls’ headquarters at Allan Border Field in Albion and also assisting Cricket Australia in establishing the Centre of Excellence at the venue.

QC chairman Jim Holding said Dixon’s death would be felt deeply in the sporting community in Queensland and mourned by many in Australia and overseas.

“Graham was Queensland Cricket to many people during his time,” Holding said. “He felt a strong sense of duty towards the organisation, which meant he set the tone when it came to imposing high standards and meeting or eclipsing them.

“His dedication to developing our headquarters at Allan Border Field will be a lasting legacy while the friendships and networks he forged with current and past players, fellow administrators, employees, delegates, government at all levels and the grassroots will stand QC in good stead for years to come.”

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland also expressed his sympathy.

“I counted Graham as a respected friend of the game he loved,” Sutherland said.

A legspin bowler, Dixon captained in second grade and appeared in every grade except sixth for Sandgate-Redcliffe.

“His actions endorsed his words, too,’ Holding said. ‘I don’t know of too many CEOs who would, almost without fail, be up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to go down to Deagon to help take the covers off the pitches and assist with preparing the grounds for the day’s play.”