Charlton Athletic reject Sainsbury takeover attempt

League One side Charlton Athletic have rejected a takeover bid from a group led by Swiss-based fund manager Sebastien Sainsbury.

A senior source at the club said the offer had not provided proof of funds.

Sainsbury, a member of the supermarket dynasty, fronted a failed attempt to buy Leeds United in 2004.

Former Leeds United and Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale has denied recent press speculation he is involved in a rival US bid for the Addicks.

That bid is being advised by Bradley Rangell, the managing director of Citibank’s sports finance unit.

Rangell, who has been involved in a number of high-profile takeovers in American sport, has previously made attempts to buy Cardiff City and Hull City.

Sainsbury’s interest in the club first came to light when he registered a takeover vehicle called Charlton Athletic 2010 Ltd in July.

Sainsbury, the great grandson of supermarket chain founder John James Sainsbury, is listed as the sole shareholder of that firm but his group is understood to also include a local property developer.

BBC Sport understands his offer has divided opinion on Charlton’s five-man board with at least two directors concerned about the level of borrowing involved.

Fifa set to scrap agents license rule

World football’s governing body Fifa is set to remove the system for regulating agents, as around 70 per cent of international transfers are conclude without licensed agents.

Fifa’s current agent regulations came into force in January 2008, but the organisation has been meeting over the last year to review how the system is working.

Fifa released a statement that said: “A possible new approach could be to regulate the conduct of clubs and players, and extend the scope of the regulations to include all kinds of intermediaries. In other words, the regulations would stop attempting to regulate access to the activity, and instead control the activity itself.

“This would mean that players and clubs could choose any parties as intermediaries, be they legal entities, lawyers, relatives or spouses, but would have to meet certain criteria and respect certain principles. This approach would also result in the annulment of the current licensing system.”

 

More obstacles for Tottenham’s new stadium

English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of moving to a new US$620 million stadium for the 2013/14 season look to be fading, according to reports.

Haringey borough’s police commander and national heritage groups have raised doubts over the club’s most recent plans.

Haringey’s acting borough commander, Superintendent Chris Barclay, has said the design for the stadium needs to keep in mind the risk of “conflict” between rival fans.

A Tottenham spokeswoman has said: “We agree on the issues they have raised and we will enshrine them in the in the Section 106 [planning agreement].”

English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have both said they have concerns over the stadium’s entrance from Tottenham High Road.

The spokeswoman for the club added: “We are working through these issues with English Heritage and CABE.”

Women’s Rugby Sevens to Feature at 2018 Commonwealth Games

Women’s Rugby Sevens will be included in the 2018 Commonwealth Games which are being held on Australia’s Gold Coast.

”Since the last Commonwealth Games program in Glasgow was announced, women’s Rugby Sevens has gone from strength-to-strength,” ARB chief executive Bill Pulver said. ”Our men’s team have been wonderful ambassadors for Rugby Sevens since the sport’s introduction to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

”As members of any Commonwealth Games squad – past and present – will testify, the atmosphere surrounding the Games is truly unique and we believe this news will truly leave a lasting legacy for women’s rugby in Australia.”

Rugby Sevens has long been a major fan attraction at the Commonwealth Games with a world-record 171,000 fans attending one of the must-see events at Glasgow 2014, and comes at a time when Women’s Rugby Sevens is going from strength to strength across every continent as the sport counts down to its Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset welcomed the news: “The IRB has been a champion of the inclusion of Women’s Sevens in the Commonwealth Games and today’s decision is fantastic news for players and fans of what is one of the world’s fastest-growing team sports.”

“Rugby Sevens is one of the must-see Commonwealth Games events with its winning blend of highly-competitive action, star players and festival atmosphere, reflected at Glasgow 2014 where a world-record crowd for Rugby Sevens of 171,000 were thrilled by an incredible two-day event.”

“We can now also look forward with great excitement to an historic Gold Coast Sevens where Australia will welcome the top women’s players from Commonwealth nations alongside their male counterparts.”

Samsung Extends Olympic Commitment with New Nanjing 2014 Marketing Campaign

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., herbal the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, price pills has unveiled a new marketing campaign – “Live the Beats, Love the Games” – for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

The campaign represents Samsung’s extended commitment to the Olympic Movement.

Samsung’s campaign for Nanjing 2014 has been especially designed to engage today’s youth to truly enjoy sports and music—anytime, anywhere—leveraging the unique features of Galaxy S5. 

“As a longstanding Olympic Partner, we are delighted to bring our latest smartphone technology to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Samsung’s ambition for Nanjing 2014 is to spread the Olympic spirit to today’s youth through sports and music, as well as interactive digital experiences,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Mobile Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “Our people-inspired technologies are the perfect companion for young people around the world, encouraging them to pursue their passions, channel their creativity and follow their dreams.”

In the lead up to Nanjing 2014, Samsung will spread the excitement of the Youth Olympic spirit to fans worldwide through a variety of fun and exciting programs. Beginning in July, fans will be able to enjoy musical performances with popular artists who will inspire creativity and connect young people around the world. In addition, Samsung Mobilers will embark on their journey to five cities throughout China, using the Galaxy S5 to capture and share the experiences of summer like never before. Samsung will also collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the Young Ambassadors and Young Reporters Program by providing them Galaxy devices for communicating key information to young athletes competing during the Games, fully enjoying all exciting moments and sharing their experience with others through Samsung’s innovative technology.

A range of onsite activities will continue throughout the Games, including the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Studio, where fans will find exciting ways to interact with the latest Galaxy devices, participate in competitive events and share their experiences.

“We look forward to Samsung’s exciting marketing activities, as they will invite more youth to engage in the Games through its innovative smartphone technology. Samsung’s “Live the Beats, Love the Games” campaign will make Nanjing 2014 a truly inspiring and unforgettable Olympic Games for youth with Samsung,” said Hao Jian, Marketing Director of Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (NYOGOC).

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Samsung, a long-standing partner of the Olympic Games and the global leader in mobile technologies. We are especially pleased to announce that we will collaborate with Samsung on the IOC Young Ambassadors and Young Reporters Programs for Nanjing 2014, enabling the young athletes and journalists to maximize their experience through Samsung’s latest technology,” said Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television and Marketing Service SA.

Lagardère Unlimited Establishes Brazil Sport Presence

Lagardère Unlimited, medstore the sports and entertainment division of French world-class diversified media group Lagardère, has announced they have launched a presence in Brazil (LU Brazil) to develop its activities in this key sports market.
Through its LUArenas joint venture with local partner BWA, Lagardère Unlimited will continue to deploy its stadium and arena activities in Brazil with two Stadiums: Castelão (2014 FIFA World Cup Stadium) and Independência.
Lagardère Unlimited is already active in the sale of media rights in South America, and via LU Brazil will now also offer a wide range of capabilities including marketing services, events management and talent representation, in the country that will host both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Aymeric Magne will head all of Lagardère Unlimited’s activities in Brazil.
In stadium and arena operations, Lagardère Unlimited and its partner BWA have set up LUArenas, a joint venture dedicated to stadium and arena operations, mainly in Brazil. This partnership will start with the operation of two stadiums, Arena Castelão in Fortaleza (a 2014 FIFA World Cup Stadium) and Arena Independência in Belo Horizonte (home of Clube Atlético Mineiro, current Copa Libertadores Champions). BWA has been active mainly in the ticketing and access
control business for over 25 years and will bring its in-depth knowledge of the local sports market. Lagardère Unlimited will provide facility management and technical services to the highest international standards, bring content to arenas
and offer marketing and commercial support to venues.
Lagardère Unlimited thus continues to develop its international portfolio of stadiums under management. Through the expertise of its fully owned subsidiary Lagardère Unlimited Stadium Solutions (LUSS), the agency has become a leading player in the global development and management of stadiums and arenas, and is now expanding its footprint in Brazil.
LUSS is currently involved in consulting, as well as operations management and marketing services in several stadiums, including the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Imtech Arena in Hamburg, the Ferencvárosi Stadium in Budapest, four stadiums in Russia and a multipurpose arena in Qatar.
Alain Lemarchand stressed the importance of this new step: “Stadium management is a key element of our long-term strategy. We are very pleased and honoured to be partnering with BWA to boost the development of our strategy in this promising region.”
For Aymeric Magne: “By launching this new venture and thanks to our partnership in Brazil, I’m very confident in our capabilities to capitalize on our expertise to successfully develop our stadium and arenas operations.”

Brentford Granted Planning Permission for New Stadium

English League One club Brentford FC have confirmed today they have been granted planning permission for a new stadium.

Nick Boles, adiposity Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Planning, doctor confirmed the decision of Hounslow Council Planning Committee and the Greater London Authority (GLA) for the club to develop a 20, viagra 000 capacity stadium at Lionel Road South together with other community facilities, and 910 new homes, a hotel and supporting retail uses subject to the conclusion of the agreement.

This major development will transform an unsightly, industrial, brownfield site to provide a community stadium together with new homes, public transport improvements and enhancements to the public realm.

The development will bring a great deal of new business and job and training opportunities for local people.

Commenting on the Planning Minister’s decision, Cliff Crown, Brentford FC Chairman, said: “Nick Boles’ confirmation of the decision of the GLA and Hounslow Council is great news.

“Our vision of an exciting new hub at this brownfield site has taken another major step forward.

“We would like to express appreciation to the Minister and his case officers for their support and recognising the significant benefits this development will bring.

“We firmly believe this is a once in a generation chance to create a vibrant new stadium that will add to the buzz that is going on around Brentford.

“As we said this week at the annual international property event MIPIM, Brentford is on the up as a destination, with new homes, retail, sports and leisure facilities which bring new jobs and vibrancy to the area.

“As a result of the decisions made by local, regional and national public bodies, Brentford Football Club will be returning close to where it was founded in 1889.

“We are proud of our history at Griffin Park, where we have always been a good neighbour.

“In planning for our new home, we look forward to building on our positive relationship with local residents and businesses and also our new neighbours in Chiswick and Kew.

“By working together we believe we can make the most of the new opportunities for the benefit of everyone.

“Although there is still work to be done, we are delighted to have received the support from the Minister and his Department and are looking forward to moving the project forward”.

Jack Nicklaus Joins Fantex Holdings’ Advisory Board

Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, who secured 18 Major championships in his career, has joined Fantex Holdings’ Advisory Board.

Fantex, Inc. is a brand building company that purchases a minority interest in an athlete brand and works to increase the value of the brand.

“Fantex provides an entirely new kind of opportunity for today’s professional athletes. I wish a platform such as this existed early in my professional career,” Nicklaus said. “It allows athletes and entertainers to invest in their future while developing a group of brand advocates who will support them throughout their career. I’m delighted Fantex is available for today’s athletes and to bring my experience to their Advisory Board.”

“Jack Nicklaus is one of the greatest athletes in history, and we’re extremely fortunate to have his expertise, advice and intellect as a part of our Advisory Board,” said David Beirne, Chairman and Co-Founder of Fantex. “We’re creating a truly unique platform that brings sports and business together in a way never before thought possible. Jack is a perfect partner for that mission.”

Off the course Nicklaus is the Co-Chairman of the privately held Nicklaus Companies, which for more than 40 years has provided services such as golf-course design, the development of golf and real estate communities, and the marketing and licensing of golf products and services.

Boston Celtics Owner Makes Major Investment in Formula E

Boston Celtics lead owner Wyc Grousbeck together with his Causeway Media Partners have today announced a multi-million investment in Formula E Holdings, series promoters of the new FIA Formula E Championship. 

Today’s announcement will also see Wyc Grousbeck serve on the Board of Directors at Formula E Holdings who were appointed series promoters of the championship in August 2012 by the FIA.

Grousbeck co-founded Causeway Media Partners in May 2013 with long-time investing partners, Bob Higgins and Mark Wan. The fund has also received personal backing from a number of NFL and NBA team owners, including the Boston Celtics ownership group he leads, as well as leading figures from the private equity and media worlds.

Wyc Grousbeck said: “I am happy to announce that Causeway Media Partners has brought its deep network of NBA and NFL owners, as well as media executives and renowned investors, to Formula E. We believe Formula E is a great evolutionary step in motorsport and a way to entertain millions around the world while driving the development of the best possible electric vehicles.

“It is a privilege to be in a partnership with Formula E’s Alejandro Agag and Enrique Bañuelos, as well as with world-class partners such as FOX Sports, Virgin Racing, Audi Sport ABT, TAG Heuer, Michelin and Renault. We aim to help make Formula E a worldwide sensation, with a focus on the development of high-speed electric racing in the United States. With our upcoming races in the centres of Los Angeles and Miami, we will help showcase the power and promise of sustainable vehicle technology, while entertaining millions.

“Causeway’s mission is to find investment opportunities that benefit from our deep network of NBA and NFL team owners, media executives and professional investors. Formula E is a perfect match. At Causeway, we know the power of competition and entertainment, and will bring our knowledge to the development of the market for electric vehicles.”

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings, said: “We’re extremely happy to welcome Wyc Grousbeck and his Causeway Media Partners as a shareholder of Formula E and know they will prove to be a great asset to the development of the series. Wyc brings with him extensive knowledge and experience of the US sports market which of course remains a key area for Formula E given we have two US-based teams, two US cities, broadcaster FOX Sports and of course the US’s ever expanding Electric Vehicle market.”

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“Today’s news is also another significant step in the growth of Formula E. Earlier this year we announced our 10-race calendar and also our 10 teams which includes worldwide names in motorsport such as Michael Andretti [Andretti Autosport] and Jay Penske [Dragon Racing], through to global environmentalists like Sir Richard Branson [Virgin Racing] and Leonardo DiCaprio [Venturi Grand Prix].”

Charlotte Bobcats Set for Colour Rebrand Following Hornets Name Change

With NBA franchise Charlotte Bobcats set to change their name to the Hornets next season, thumb owner Michael Jordan has revealed they will adopt a new colour scheme and rebrand.

The colors, which were used by the original Charlotte Hornets during their tenure in the city from 1988-2002, will be accented by secondary colors black, cool gray and light blue.

“It was important to us to acknowledge the heritage of the Charlotte Hornets when bringing the name back to the market,” said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan. “The purple and teal color scheme was instantly recognizable as being associated with the original Hornets and we felt it was only appropriate to utilize the colors once again with this historic brand.”

As part of the survey process prior to the decision to change the name, Harris Interactive surveyed the Charlotte community, as well as current season ticket holders and team sponsors. In each of the three groups, an overwhelming majority of those surveyed were in favor of using the purple and teal of the original Hornets as the colors of the rebranded team.

Starting tomorrow, the organization will introduce a new phase of its Buzz City campaign, centered on “Painting the City” with the return of the purple and teal colors to Charlotte. The three-week campaign will include digital, print and billboard advertising.

The revealing of the colors is the first step in the process of transforming the Bobcats into their new identity as the Hornets. Additional phases include the unveiling of the logo, uniforms, court, mascot and dance team.

Throughout the current season, the team will host Buzz City Nights, which will include exclusive Buzz City fan giveaways and in-arena activations that celebrate the history of Hornets basketball in the Carolinas.