Wasps Acquire 50 percent Stake in Ricoh Arena

Aviva Premiership team Wasps have today announced the acquisition of a 50% interest in the Ricoh Arena with immediate effect.

Wasps become the joint owners of one of Europe’s largest multi-purpose venues having acquired a 50% interest in Arena Coventry Limited from Coventry City Council.

Wasps will play their first home game at the Ricoh Arena in December 2014 – either Castres or London Irish – but will continue to play home games at Adams Park in High Wycombe until then.

Nick Eastwood, ampoule Wasps Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Today’s announcement is a watershed moment in the history of Wasps and the professional game. It will help us realise our ambition to re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams in Europe and will guarantee the long term success of the Club.

“Today we are breaking the mould of how a professional rugby club operates by acquiring a thriving, sustainable business, as well as one of the best, conference, exhibition, sporting and entertainment arenas in Europe. Ricoh Arena is a world class venue with a multitude of outstanding facilities, including a 32,000 stadium, 4 star hotel, 60,000 ft2 exhibition hall, 20,000 ft2 conferencing facilities and one of the UK’s largest casinos. 

“The revenue from these facilities, combined with Wasps existing revenues, will result in Wasps immediately becoming the highest turnover rugby club in the Aviva Premiership.

“Creating long term financial stability will allow us to focus on the main job of producing high quality rugby of which our supporters and players can be proud and will help to recruit some of the best players in the world.

“We fully appreciate this move will unsettle many of our supporters and I would like to stress that this decision has not been taken lightly. The reality of our situation is clear – less than two years ago Wasps was just hours away from going out of business. It is only thanks to our current owner Derek Richardson stepping in that we are here today.

“Thanks to his support we have gone from strength to strength, returning to the top competition in Europe and competing and winning against some of the best teams in world rugby.

Eastwood added that Wasps will try and work with Coventry City FC to keep the club at Ricoh Arena. 

“There has also been much speculation in media outlets and social media recently about how this move will affect the future of Coventry City Football Club and Coventry RFC so I would like to address this and set the record straight. 

“We are delighted to see Coventry City Football Club back at the Ricoh Arena and this is where we want them to remain. We understand there may be concern from Sky Blues fans about our arrival and what this might mean for their Club. We are keen to make this work for everyone. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Sky Blues.

Jacky Isaac, Arena Coventry Limited Interim Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We’re delighted with the news that the Ricoh Arena is now home to Aviva Premiership team Wasps. The welcome return of CCFC and the imminent arrival of Wasps mean the Ricoh Arena has truly realised its potential as home for top flight sport.

“There are a number of stadiums in the UK that are home to both rugby and football teams and the Ricoh Arena is an obvious choice given its history around hosting both sports, including Wasps when they played here as part of the Heineken Cup in 2007 and attracted a near capacity crowd.

“We look forward to welcoming Wasps fans to the City and to the Ricoh Arena and we really hope that they enjoy this state of the art venue with its many attributes.”

Wasps_RicohWasps Sign Two New Sponsors

To coincide with today’s announcement Wasps can also reveal two long-term commercial partnerships with Land Rover and EMC.

Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director at Jaguar Land Rover, added: “Today’s announcement is not only an important addition to Land Rover’s growing rugby sponsorship portfolio, but it’s a significant increase in our investment within the Coventry area. 

“This new sponsorship complements our long-term support of Premiership Rugby and we remain committed to our long-standing relationship with Coventry Rugby Club.”

Leading cloud computing company EMC return as a Wasps partner having previously sponsored the Club between 2009 and 2012. As part of the deal EMC will feature on Wasps home and away kits and enjoy numerous commercial rights.

James Petter, Senior Vice President and MD UK & Ireland at EMC, commented: “This is clearly an exciting time for Wasps and EMC is privileged to be part of it. The team has a very clear strategy for success and we are elated to be working with them moving forward. Our expertise in data is going to contribute to the success of Wasps both on and off the field and we can’t wait to get started.”

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Kia Launches World Cup Marketing Campaign with Adriana Lima

South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia have launched a dual-language World Cup marketing campaign titled “For One Month, Let’s All be Fútbol Fans,” with supermodel Adriana Lima.

The initiative, which includes TV, print, digital, social, point-of-sale and radio components as well as Kia serving as the presenting sponsor of pre-match shows on ABC and ESPN, marks the second time the brand and Lima have teamed up following her memorable role in 2012’s “Drive the Dream” Super Bowl commercial.

The three 30-second ads were created by David & Goliath and are available now for viewing at Kia.com/FIFA, and will make their broadcast debut when group play begins on June 12.  Beyond the English- and Spanish-language versions of the spots, additional footage and content is available at Kia.com, and campaign extensions include elements on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Google+ and Pinterest.

“Soccer’s popularity in the U.S. is growing rapidly and as Official Automotive Partner of the World Cup we have a unique platform to showcase two of Kia’s most popular vehicles to the sport’s passionate and diverse fan base across the country,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, KMA. “The reaction to Adriana Lima’s appearance in ‘Drive the Dream’ was overwhelming, and with the World Cup being staged in her home country of Brazil and her love for the game it was a natural fit to partner again and add a bit of glamour and humor to our ‘fútbol’ campaign.”

Louis Saha to Set Up New Sports Consultancy

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha and former 1.FC Köln defender Dieter Prestin have launched a new sports consultancy named AXIS 10 Sports Consulting Group.

The company’s mission is to play a central role in helping professional football players gain access to a wide range of high quality products and services. 

The French ex-international, who retired last year after a 16 years long career at clubs such as Fulham, Manchester United and Everton, commented: “I’m very proud to be part of this amazing project. I just finished my football career but straight away felt a strong desire to use my vast experience to help young players to learn faster and not make the same mistakes lots of players typically make.

“While many retired footballers get their coaching degrees, I decided to wait a few more years and today I’m very proud to have contributed to the creation of AXIS 10 Sports Consulting Group. This all started two years ago when this idea began to take shape in my head, while writing my book ‘Thinking inside the box’. ”

Dieter Prestin, who, after leaving the field, has become one of the most recommended providers for sports insurances in the German Bundesliga, including the most prestigious clubs, commented: ”When I met Louis for the first time we immediately agreed that it was the right time to provide the football industry with a consulting company that is able to deliver high quality services for the whole of Europe.

“We have been able to take on board multi-cultural, multi-lingual, extremely committed and qualified people. All our services will be based on five key principles: openness, integrity, respect, transparency and responsibility.”

LPGA Tour Reveal New Tournament Shakeup & Winners Bonus Increase

The LPGA Tour has announced a new points system along with a $1m bonus on offer for the winner of the Race to the CME Globe.

Tour commissioner Mike Whan has confirmed the new format, with players earning points at each of the 31 scheduled tournaments in 2014 before the top 72 compete in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

Whan is confident that this year’s schedule is the strongest in recent years, with new events added in Michigan and San Francisco as well as the International Crown in which players compete for their nations.

“CME Group has made quite an impact on the LPGA Tour during our three years together,” said Whan.

“The addition of this concept fundamentally connects every event on our Tour and promises big things in 2014 and beyond.

“The stakes have risen dramatically and the excitement level goes up for our players and each of our tournaments.”

The move follows the introduction of the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, which both feature four limited-invatation fields at the end of the season.

The Tour also announced that points would be reset for the season finale to ensure the Race to the CME Globe is not already decided beforehand.

A statement on the LPGA Tour website read: “Reset Points will give top yearly performers an advantage but not guarantee victory.

“The points that a player earns at the CME Group Tour Championship will be added to her Reset Points, and the player with the highest points total will be named the winner of the Race to the CME Globe.”

Inbee Park would have claimed the $1m prize if the points race had been implemented last year, with the Korean winning three majors and three regular Tour titles.

All regular tournaments, starting with the Bahamas Classic at the end of the month, will offer 500 points to the winner while the major champions will earn 625 points.

Pirelli to Continue to Supply Peugeot Italia after Italian Rally Win

After securing a record fifth manufacturers championship with Peugeot Italia on the Italian Rally Championship, Italian tyre firm Pirelli will equip the French constructor once more in 2014.

The agreement extends the enduring collaboration into a new era from next year onwards, as multiple champion Paolo Andreucci takes the wheel of the all-new Peugeot 208 T16 R5 car, equipped with the latest generation of Pirelli’s rally tyres.

Peugeot Italia’s Eugenio Franzetti commented: “We are proud and pleased to continue our partnership with Pirelli for the sixth consecutive year. It’s proved to be a winning combination, with a fantastic development team and rally team. Next year will be the debut season for the 205 T16, and together with Paolo Andreucci, Pirelli and the Racing Lions team, we will shortly be embarking on an intensive test programme. We’re confident that as always Pirelli will supply us with competitive and reliable tyres. Our common objective will be to ensure that the 208 T16 is a winning package and a benchmark in the world of rallying.”

Pirelli has established itself as the dominant force on the Italian Rally Championship – a series that traditionally runs with open competition among a variety of well-known tyre manufacturers – on rallies that include both asphalt and gravel surfaces, in hot and cold conditions.

Pirelli’s product manager Terenzio Testoni commented: “We’re delighted to be working with Peugeot Italia and Paolo Andreucci once again next season, and I think the results we have achieved together over the years speak for themselves. As well as the manufacturers title that Peugeot won this year with an R2 car, we are confident that Paolo will be able to challenge for another drivers title with us next year.

“Our aim as always will be to give him the best possible tyres to enable him to do that, and in fact we have already started testing for next season. Our products are constantly evolving as the result of our emphasis on research and technology – a hallmark of Pirelli – and next year we shall be introducing some important new innovations that will allow our drivers to make the difference. We’ll be carrying out some more tests between now and the end of the year in order to further adapt our product to the new car.”

As well as equipping the Peugeot Italia factory team, Pirelli also supplies Peugeot’s well-known one-make series throughout Europe.

NBA Global Games London 2014 Sold Out in Record Time

The matchup between Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets at the O2 Arena, viagra 40mg which is part of the NBA Global Games London 2014, generic  has become the NBA’s fastest ever sell-out in the UK.

Tickets went on public sale at 9am on 1 Nov. and sold out in a matter of hours.

The game, which will be played at The O2 on Thursday 16 Jan. next year, is the fourth NBA regular-season game – all sell outs – to be played in London since 2011.

“Firstly, we want to thank our fans. Selling out so quickly is testament to the popularity of our players and teams and is further evidence of the ever growing appetite for the NBA in the UK,” said Benjamin Morel, NBA Senior Vice President, Europe. “With some of the best players in the world taking to the court and a range of additional fan activities planned, fans can look forward to the full 360° NBA experience right here in London.”

NBA Global Games London 2014 marks the eighth consecutive sellout NBA contest at The O2, dating back to 2007, including preseason and regular-season games.

Matthieu Van Veen, senior vice president of AEG Sports Europe added: “I am delighted that the game has sold out in record time. Not only does it highlight the immense interest for NBA basketball in the UK, but it also once again demonstrates that The O2 is one of the globe’s top sporting venues. AEG’s successful partnership with the NBA is allowing thousands of fans worldwide to get closer to the game every season.”

“We look forward to bringing Atlanta basketball to London when we host the Nets at The O2,” said Atlanta Hawks forward/center and two-time NBA All-Star Al Horford. “It is great news that the game has sold out so quickly. We truly appreciate the support of the fans and look forward to an exciting game in January.”

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Miami Dolphins Officially Unveils New Logo

The Miami Dolphins have unveiled their the fifth logo in the team’s 48-year history during a celebration on the field of Sun Life Stadium.

The official unveiling took place in front of season ticket members and fans and also included the revealing of the newly designed Nike uniforms that the team will wear for the 2013 season, ask which kicks off against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, drugs August 4 at 8:00 PM ET.

The new logo was developed during a creative process spanning more than a year and a half and incorporated input from ownership, members of the organization, former players and the franchise’s loyal fans. The logo is at the center of a comprehensive rebranding initiative anchored in the brand’s DNA of being Iconic, Vibrant and Meaningful and of ensuring all of the brand’s initiatives are “focused on football”.

Highlighting the evolution is the return to the original aqua and orange color scheme that has come to embody the team and the surrounding Miami area. The iconic elements, the sun and the Dolphin, remain prominent and allow the redesigned logo to remain connected throughout the team’s history while representing the constant influence of the South Florida environment and community.

Within the logo, the aqua, along with the marine blue, first introduced in 1997 and now finessed through this process, are inspired by the color of South Florida’s Atlantic Ocean; while the orange is representative of the bright South Florida sun.

The Dolphins will also incorporate a new official logotype as part of the rebranding. The development of the new logotype design is reflective of the updated logo as well as an integration to a more athletic type style.  Within the official logotype the word “Miami” will be introduced and accompany “Dolphins” for the first time in franchises history.  The interlocked city and team name emphasizes the connection that exists between the city and its football team.  As with the redesigned logo the modification to the logotype brings back the original aqua and orange color scheme while updating the lettering from a script design to a custom design type style with curved edges inspired by the fins of a dolphin.

The concepts developed in creating the new logo and logotype helped inspire the design and will be prominently featured in the newly designed Nike uniforms. The aqua and orange color scheme highlight the new uniform as well as newly designed numbers and the use of the new logotype font both on the jersey and on the pants. Additionally, for the first time ever the word “Miami” will be prominently displayed on the uniform pant.

DTB-Gremien demonstrieren Geschlossenheit

“Wir ziehen an einem Strang!” Diese Botschaft ging von der 64. Mitgliederversammlung des Deutschen Tennis Bundes (DTB) am Wochenende in Bad Neuenahr aus. Ein Jahr nach seinem Amtsantritt zog DTB-Präsident Dr. Karl-Georg Altenburg eine gemischte Bilanz – “aber wir sind auf dem richtigen Weg” erklärte er zum Schluss seiner Grundsatzrede.

Zum Auftakt des DTB-Bundestages hatte Christian Seifert, unhealthy Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung der Deutschen Fußball Liga, als Gastredner das Thema Integration von Breiten- und Spitzensport am Beispiel des Deutschen Fussball Bundes und der DFL dargestellt. Er lieferte mit seinem Vortrag Denkanstöße für den DTB und seine Landesverbände.

Mit einer der weltgrößten Kinderhilfsorganisationen Plan International Deutschland e.V. stellte sich in Bad Neuenahr ein neuer Partner des Deutschen Tennis Bundes vor. Maike Röttger als Sprecherin der Geschäftsführung von Plan und der stellvertretende Geschäftsführer Wolfgang Porschen präsentierten die Aktivitäten von Plan International Deutschland. Darüber hinaus informierten die Geschäftsführer von Tennis Deutschland Service GmbH (TDS), Peter Mayer und Hans Hauska, die Delegierten über das neue Tennis-Portal “mybigpoint”.

Besondere Ehre wurde dem Präsidenten des Niedersächsischen Tennisverbandes Gottfried Schumann (Einbeck), dem hessischen Landesverbandspräsidenten Dirk Hordorff (Bad Homburg) sowie den beiden Mitgliedern der Kommission der Schatzmeister, Friedrich-Hermann Hesse (Seeheim-Jugendheim) und Reinhard Möllers (Köln) zuteil, die für ihr langjähriges Engagement im deutschen Tennis mit der Silbernen Ehrennadel ausgezeichnet wurden.

Trainer des Jahres 2012 ist der Cheftrainer des Westfälischen Tennis-Verbandes Jens Wöhrmann (Hamm). Als bester Absolvent der A-Trainerausbildung 2011/2012 wurde Matthias Wegener (Berlin) geehrt. Die Auszeichnung “Vereinstrainer des Jahres” erhielt Lars Noll vom TV Grün-Weiß Worms-Pfiffligheim.

Tokyo Marathon Becomes a ‘World Major’

Tokyo’s Marathon will officially be recognized as one of the World Marathon Majors, made up of races in five other international cities; Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York, and London.

This affirmation cements what running enthusiasts have known for years: that the Tokyo run is one of the largest and most lucrative races in the world.

The Tokyo Marathon used to be an elite-only race, but in 2007 it was opened as a mass marathon for the public. Every year, around 300,000 people apply for the limited 35,000 spots, with roughly 10% of runners coming from overseas. This year’s will be held on February 24th, and Tokyo’s inclusion into the world majors means three races will take place towards the beginning of the year, with the other two being Boston and London, and the other three races – Berlin, Chicago, and New York – in the fall.

As the first major marathon to take place outside of the U.S. and Europe, Tokyo’s organizers hope it will increase their number of potential sponsors, as well as increased interest from runners who try to participate in all the races. Naoki Inose, Tokyo’s Vice Governor, also hopes the inclusion of the Japanese capital will help the city’s chances in its bid to host the 2020 Olympics.

The marathon will promote to the world how attractive Tokyo and Japan is for sporting events, Inose says. Tom Grilk, the executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Boston Marathon, commented that it has long been felt that Asia should be involved in world’s running events, and Tokyo was the perfect fit.

Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to Host UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics Round

The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is set to host a round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics becoming the third venue in the UK to host a  in less than two years when the world’s top track stars race there from 16-18 November.

The Glasgow venue, built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, follows the Olympic velodrome in London, which hosted a round of the series earlier this year as a London 2012 test event, and Manchester, last visited in February last year, in staging the event.

The Glasgow round of the 2012/13 competition will also give fans a chance to see some of Great Britain’s track stars in action for the first time after a hopefully successful London Olympics.

A UCI spokesman commented: “The UCI is enthusiastic to be hosting an event in the UK once more, especially in the brand new velodrome in Glasgow as the first International event organised in this magnificent facility.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council added: “Glasgow’s position as one of the world’s leading sporting cities has been built on a record of hosting international events and investing in world-class infrastructure.

“That reputation will continue to grow when the world’s top cyclists compete in the UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodorme in November, in what will be the first major event to be staged in the venue.”

EventScotland is hoping to bring the Grand Départ of the 2017 Tour de France to Edinburgh, and its chief operating officer, Paul Bush, said: “It is testament to Scotland’s credentials as a major events destination that we have secured the Track World Cup for Glasgow, which will bring the best riders in the world to the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for major international events and the new venue will undoubtedly contribute to our existing cycling portfolio, while making a significant contribution to the legacy of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling, said that the awarding of a round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics to a third venue in the UK was a reflection of the efforts the organisation has made in helping develop facilities as well as organising events.

“After a successful event in London this year, we’re pleased to see another world-class facility in the UK christened with a round of this prestigious series,” he commented.

“The awarding of this event is a great endorsement by the world governing body for the high standards our team at British Cycling have set in the delivery of major international events, and we hope this world cup will be a fantastic pre-cursor to the city hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014. We look forward to working closely with the UCI and Glasgow to make it a success.”