Second Spanish European Tour Event Added to Calendar

Spain is set to host two European Tour tournaments after it was announced the NH Collection Open was added to the schedule.

The new event, nurse a dual-ranking tournament made up of European Tour and Challenge Tour members, site will be played at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf from April 3-6 with a prize fund of 600,000 euros.

Spain has long been a popular destination for the European Tour, but hosted just one event in 2013 after the country was badly hit by the global economic crisis.

Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of international policy of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to announce this new tournament in southern Europe, and hope this is a sign of recovery after a difficult time economically in this region.

“It will give our members another opportunity to play, and for Challenge Tour members the NH Collection Open is a great chance to earn instant promotion to the European Tour.”

Spain will also host the Spanish Open once again this year at PGA Catalunya from May 15-18.

New York Knicks Remain NBA’s Most Valuable Franchise

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.

Wales Rally Secures New Funding

The Wales Rally GB has secured funding for the next two years after a successful 2013 event according to economy minister Edwina Hart.

The 2013 Wales Rally GB provided the region with a multi-million pound boost, attracted thousands of spectators and was watched by 600m television viewers world wide. Hart’s announcement is aimed at replicating this success in the 2014 and 2015 events.

“Wales Rally GB is one of our flagship events which gets worldwide coverage, so I am particularly pleased that efforts to revitalise the event and attract more spectators and entries are paying off,” she said.

“The people of north- and mid-Wales are incredibly supportive of the event and local authorities and businesses have all reported increased economic activity in the area due to the rally. We want to maximise the benefits coming to Wales and build on this momentum, which is why I have agreed in principle funding for Wales Rally GB over the next two years.”

The Welsh Government will provide up to £1.5m per annum to support the staging of the rally in 2014 and 2015, subject to evaluating the impact of the events against agreed targets.

“We are, of course, absolutely delighted for the on-going commitment from the Welsh Government,” Andrew Coe, chief executive of rally organiser International Motor Sports, said, “The move to a new base in north Wales really revitalised the event in 2013 and we are already making exciting plans to build on that success with an even bigger and better Wales Rally GB in November.

“What’s more we now also have the fillip of a top Welsh driver, Elfyn Evans, competing in a front-running world championship team and that’s another major boost both for Wales Rally GB and the sporting scene in Wales.”

In addition to the guarantee of funding, Hart added that the Welsh Government will also support an automotive conference and student industry awareness day in 2014 and 2015 to run alongside the Rally and a reprint of the Motor Sport Directory to promote Welsh businesses in the sector.

F1 Adopts Major Structure Changes to Satisfy Fans

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.

Dallas Cowboys Remains NFL’s Most Valuable Franchise

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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Former Queensland Cricket CEO Graham Dixon Passes Away

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.”

Serbia Open Cut from 2013 ATP Tour Calendar

The Serbia Open has been removed from the ATP Tour calendar for 2013.

The tournament, founded and organised by the family of world No 1 Novak Djokovic, has been staged in Belgrade for the last four years, but it failed to attract decent attendances last year and the economic decline also made it difficult for sponsors to keep funding the event.

“The Serbia Open tennis tournament in Belgrade will no longer feature on the ATP World Tour calendar following the decision by the organisers to cease the tournament’s operations,” read an ATP statement.

The statement also quoted tournament organisers Family Sport as saying that they have “made the most rational decision considering the circumstances”.

“We are grateful for everyone’s contribution and help in running this event that brought a lot of international stars and attention to Serbia,” it said.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to run the Belgrade tournament and have decided to cease the tournament’s operations from 2013.”

Tour of Hangzhou Drooped off UCI WorldTour Calendar

The UCI today announced that the Tour of Hangzhou, which was on the WorldTour calendar in its very first year and set to take place from October 17-21, has been postponed, adding that it would “seek to be part of the UCI WorldTour calendar in 2013”.

The addition of the Tour of Hangzhou to the calendar was facilitated by the UCI’s sports promotion branch, Global Cycling Productions, together with the Chinese Cycling Association, Chinese Sports Ministry and the city of Hangzhou.

The decision to scrap the 2012 edition, “was made by the UCI together with all the implicated parties … after an in-depth analysis of the situation two months out from the event,” the UCI’s press release read.

“Despite the efforts of all those involved in this initiative – and the UCI wishes to thank them for their commitment – not all the general conditions necessary to guarantee that the race would fulfil the UCI WorldTour quality criteria had been met.”

GCP director Alain Rumpf said that despite putting a lot of work into the race this year, they needed more time to “fine-tune certain internal matters in China”.

“In choosing to delay the first edition, we can ensure that the event will meet the expectations of all our partners, as was the case last year with the Tour of Beijing,” Rumpf said.

UCI President Pat McQuaid reiterated the Tour’s importance in the globalisation of the sport, calling the race, “a very important element in the UCI’s strategy for the development of cycling, and the decision to postpone the organisation of this event will have no negative consequences on the project.”

The second Tour of Beijing is due to take place from October 9-13.

Exclusive: ‘the windsurfing decision is a disaster’ says Volvo Ocean Race CEO

Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Knut Frostad, has ridiculed the decision to omit Windsufing from the Olympics in his exclusive iSportconnect interview after the event was removed from the Olympics starting from Rio 2016.

The International Sailing Federation opted to instead let Kiteboarding into the Olympics. 

“The windsurfing decision is a disaster. When Flying Dutchman was removed from the Olympics I supported it because it was the right decision and it was taken in a professional way,” Frostad said.

“What I’m really upset about with this decision is that they’ve removed the second biggest Olympic class, just behind laser both in number of countries and participants. With this, they don’t even know what they’re getting. It was a poor decision and a poor process.”

Want to hear what else Knut Frostad had to say? Read his exclusive iSportconnect fearured profile here>>

Rangers Win Transfer Ban Appeal

An Edinburgh court has ruled in favour of Rangers appeal over a 12-month transfer embargo.

Lord Glennie considered the arguments of the club and the SFA after a three-hour hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh before ruling that the SFA had “no right” to issue the ban.

The matter will now be referred back to the governing body’s appeals tribunal for a new hearing.

Rangers were hit with the transfer ban, the first of its kind in Scottish football, for bringing the game into disrepute after failing to pay £13 million in taxes last season, and lost their first appeal with the SFA last week.

The conventional next step for Rangers would have been to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but instead the club turned to legal action, which is prohibited under FIFA rules.

Rangers argued that the sanction was an unlawful punishment as it had not been an available option to the SFA panel that imposed it, specifically a ban preventing the club from registering any players aged 18 and over.

The SFA disputed that claim, arguing that it exercised a clause included in their rules that a judicial panel can implement any sanctions it deems appropriate, and also questioned whether the court had jurisdiction over a footballing matter.

The panel stated that the club’s actions were second only to match-fixing in their seriousness and that it had considered expelling or suspending Rangers from the SFA before opting for the transfer embargo, a decision upheld on appeal by serving judge Lord Carloway.

Meanwhile, administrators Duff and Phelps remain upbeat about their chances of handing Rangers over to Charles Green’s consortium after sending a pence-in-the-pound proposal to the club’s creditors in a bid to exit administration.

If the Company Voluntary Arrangement proposals are agreed at a meeting on June 14, Rangers could exit administration within a month, but the success of that meeting is largely dependant on the result of a HMRC tribunal.

Rangers’ debts are estimated to be between £55 million and £135 million, with an investigation into the club’s tax affairs ongoing.