US Men’s National Team Captain and Seattle Sounders FC star midfielder, medstore Clint Dempsey, apoplectic has been announced as the new face for the North American cover of FIFA 15, sickness sharing the honours with global football sensation Lionel Messi.

This will mark the first time that an American has appeared on the game’s cover since 2011.

Clint enjoyed a successful World Cup and broke records during the tournament, netting the fifth fastest goal of all time with a strike in the first 29 seconds of the USA vs. Ghana opener, and became the first American to score goals in three consecutive World Cups.

“Clint Dempsey is a world class athlete that embodies the heart and soul of the sport,” said Stuart Lang, VP of North America Marketing, Electronic Arts. “He showed his lethal combination of grace and toughness at the World Cup, and plays with enormous heart and determination on the pitch. He is the perfect ambassador for FIFA 15, a game that’s all about bringing the emotion and intensity of the sport to life.”

“It’s an amazing opportunity in my career to be on the cover for FIFA 15, a game that has played a big role in growing the popularity of the sport in America,” said Dempsey. “To join the class of other elite athletes who have appeared on previous covers is very humbling and I am extremely grateful for this honour.”

The European Tour has extended its partnership with Grayling and specialist golf PR firm Landmark Media by asking them to manage its global reputation, discount promote its tournaments to golf fans and market its international network of properties.

The appointment was made following a successful two years working together to manage the reputation of The 2014 Ryder Cup, arthritis which The European Tour is responsible for when played on European soil.

Grayling and Landmark Media will support the European Tour’s drive to develop a strong and sustainable global footprint in professional golf – 41 countries on six continents have so far staged European Tour tournaments – by amplifying a new creative brand platform due for launch later this year.

Tim Hunt, tadalafil Marketing Communications Director for The European Tour, said: “We have enjoyed a superb relationship with Grayling and Landmark Media, who have exceeded our expectations with the Ryder Cup contract. They have a real understanding of our objectives and they represent us with professionalism and passion.

“It was a natural process to ensure we could also benefit from that advice and guidance right across the European Tour. We operate on a global stage and Grayling’s international network closely aligns with our needs. We expect that contribution to aid our push to engage golf fans while increasing the commercial impact of the Tour around the world.”

Scott Crockett, Media Communications Director for the European Tour, added: “Media engagement is a crucial component of our daily interaction with golf fans, sponsors and other stakeholders. We take our responsibility to working with the media incredibly seriously and Grayling has not only proven that it understands that responsibility, but it is also able to devise new ways for us to engage with our audiences effectively.”

Andretti Sports Marketing has today been appointed by Formula E to be the official event organisers for the Miami Formula E race – a new fully-electric racing championship taking place on the streets of Downtown Miami on 14 March 2015. 

Based in Indianapolis, Andretti Sports Marketing is a sports, entertainment, event and experiential marketing company that has successfully managed and operated several large scale urban events around the world, including IndyCar and sports car races.

The Miami Formula E race will be one of two races in the US alongside Los Angeles on 14 February 2015.

“I’m excited that we are serving as the event organiser for the 2015 Miami Formula E race,” said Michael Andretti, Chief Executive Officer for Andretti Sports Marketing. “We at Andretti Sports Marketing are committed to making this event a world class experience and we anticipate a long and great relationship with Formula E.”

Starke Taylor, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Andretti Sports Marketing, said: “Andretti Sports Marketing is excited to have the opportunity to host the Formula E Miami race in the spring of 2015. We are looking forward to working with Formula E to develop and organise this unique race around the streets of Miami. Formula E Miami will be a ‘clean, green event’ for families to enjoy while demonstrating a commitment to the environment, utilising the latest innovation and technology.”

Mayor of Miami, Tomas Regalado, said: “We are enthusiastic about the future organisation and promotion of Formula E, the global championship for electric single-seater cars, founded by the Fédération Internationale de l´Automobile.”

Alejandro Agag, CEO of series promotes Formula E, added: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Andretti Sports Marketing to organise the Miami Formula E race. They bring with them a proven track-record of organising not just large-scale motor racing events but providing spectators with an all-encompassing experience – just as they have done with the Milwaukee IndyFest with its festival atmosphere, unique infield activities, family-fun rides and live entertainment. This is exactly the type of event Formula E will bring to the streets and people of Miami in spring 2015 and we’re looking forward to putting on a great spectacle.”

The Sports Technology Awards (STAs) have been launched today, sale which will look at the influences of technology through sport.

A range of categories have been created to reflect the diversity of both sectors, spanning elite sport, leisure, disability, fan engagement, officiating and apps as well as the work done to embrace technology by federations, clubs, rights holders and broadcasters.

The awards will be judged by some of the most influential names in the industry including leading coach Sir Clive Woodward, Team GB and FA sports conditioner Dave Reddin, Olympians Tessa Sanderson and Jamie Baulch, former FIFA referee Graham Poll, Twitter’s Head of Sport Alex Trickett and Wisden Editor Lawrence Booth.

“Anyone involved in sport cannot fail to be aware of the influence and importance that technology now plays,” said Rebecca Hopkins, Director of the STAs.

“Fans, athletes, coaches, match officials, the media, stadia, sponsors – they are all looking for ways to get more out of their involvement in sport and, increasingly, it is technology that is meeting their needs.”

STA Judge, Jamie Baulch, added: “As a former athlete turned sports businessman I have seen the sector from most angles. Indisputably technology is now an omnipresent force in sport and its influence will inevitably continue to grow. I think this is extremely exciting and I cannot wait to see what innovations will be presented to the judges in January.”

Entries will be invited for the following subject categories:

• -Best Technology in a Single Sport
• -Best Technology across Multiple Sports
• -Best Support Technology
• -Best Performance Technology
• -Best Training Technology
• -Best Technology to Promote Participation in Sport
• -Best Use of Technology by a Major Sports Facility
• -Best Technology Provider
• -Best Technological Advance or use of Technology
• -Best Technology Partnership
• -Best Sports App
• -Best Innovation in Sports Technology

National Football League’s (NFL) Green Bay Packers have announced record revenue and profits for the 2012-13 season.

The Packers said that, after operations, the team made $54.3 million in profit on $308 million in total revenue.

“Winning two straight NFC North championships helps in a lot of ways, including finances,” said team president and CEO Mark Murphy.

Local revenues dropped by almost two percent from last year to $128.1 million, national revenue, which is equally split among the league’s teams, was up nearly five percent to $179.9 million. Murphy attributed the rise of greater revenue to the NFL’s new apparel contract with Nike and an increase in fees generated from additional carriage of the NFL Network.

The Packers are publicly owned by fans and are required to release limited fiscal information

The Packers said there are now 364,114 shareholders after more than 250,000 people purchased more than 269,000 shares from December 2011 to February 2012 in the team’s fifth stock offering in its history.