Herbalife Partners with Cristiano Ronaldo to Launch New Marketing Campaign

Global nutrition company Herbalife, ailment in partnership with Brand Ambassador Cristiano Ronaldo, sale have launched a new social media campaign called CR7 Driven to Perfection.

The new campaign calls on fans from around the world to submit videos describing what drives them to succeed. The winning video will be highlighted on Ronaldo’s Facebook page.

Rob Levy, here executive vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Herbalife, said: “Partnering with Ronaldo in this campaign gives our members and athletes around the world an opportunity to show their training regimens, workout techniques and commitment to healthy living. We look forward to seeing first-hand how consumers of our product perfect their games – whatever they may be.”

“Good nutrition is at the core of my success and the team at Herbalife help me understand the importance of what I need pre-, during and post-game, as well as how to maximize my training regime as I look to continually improve,” said Ronaldo.

Wasserman to Represent Boxer George Groves

Wasserman Media Group has announced that British Super Middleweight boxing star George Groves has joined the agency.

The announcement comes ahead of the much anticipated rematch against Carl Froch for the WBA and IBF World titles at a sold-out Wembley stadium on 31st May. 

Wasserman will be responsible for developing his commercial & PR opportunities and he joins the unbeaten Anthony Ogogo in the agency’s boxing division.

Groves (pictured right) said of the news: “I’m really excited to be joining Wasserman. Their client list is unrivalled and I’m looking forward to working with them. My sole focus now is getting myself in the best possible shape for 31st May. Everything for a reason.” 

Dean Baker, Head of Wasserman’s boxing division, added: “We are thrilled to welcome George to Wasserman. We believe that he will go on to become a multiple World Champion for years to come, starting with the biggest fight in the history of British boxing, and we are looking forward to the journey.”

CenterplateISG Seals Sales & Marketing Deal for Atletico Madrid’s New Stadium

La Liga club Atletico Madrid has announced CenterplateISG, a joint-venture partnership between global leaders Centerplate and International Stadia Group (ISG), will design and manage all food service, premium ticket sales and marketing at their new stadium, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2016. 

For CenterplateISG this is the first contract in the Spanish market, and will provide unparalleled food and beverage hospitality services to Atletico Madrid fans and proven solutions to premium ticket sales and marketing. The agreement is initially for 20 years.

CenterplateISG will conduct customized market and fan research that will enable Atletico de Madridto create the ideal mix of hospitality experiences tailored to appeal to a wide variety of fan preferences throughout the stadium. The outputs of that work will include:

-Dedicated fan hospitality areas inside and outside the stadium
-Integrated infrastructure and interior design
-Customer relationship management programs
-Customized menu development

“We at ISG have seen many stadium projects around the globe and we are extremely proud of the agreement now established between Atletico de Madrid and CenterplateISG. With all of the key ingredients already in place, and construction under way, ISG is confident that the new stadium will be a huge success for Atletico’s fans and become a “must visit” venue for sporting fans and tourists alike. ISG has been working with Atletico Madrid since 2011 to ensure the new stadium has a range of hospitality experiences that truly matches the unique nature of the local market and the fans of Atletico,” says Andrew Hampel, CEO for ISG.

“Atletico de Madrid can rightly claim some of the best football fans in the world, and we are thrilled to design and manage a world-class fan experience for everyone who sets foot inside their new stadium,” said DesHague, CEO of Centerplate. “We anticipate huge synergies in our joint venture with ISG; this is the first time that we have seen complete alignment of interests between the Club, the ticket sales strategy and the delivery of the fan experience – we believe that this will prove to be the way forward for all sports and entertainment venues.”

“As we embark on a new era for Atletico Madrid and our supporters, we searched around the world for the best partners for our new stadium, and we can say with confidence that when it comes to hospitality, fan experience, research and stadium design, we are bringing our fans the very best,” added Miguel Angel Gil Marin, CEO of Atletico Madrid.

Advanced Engine Research to Supply Engines for Indy Lights Until 2019

Andersen Promotions today announced Advanced Engine Research Ltd (AER) as the new engine supplier for Indy Lights.

AER was selected following a thorough review of proposals submitted by five prospective engine suppliers.

AER is owned by Rob and Chris Dyson and company Managing Director Mike Lancaster. The partnership between Andersen Promotions and AER, cough which extends through 2019, will see a slightly modified, long-mileage version of the multiple sportscar championship-winning AER-P07 2.0 liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine installed in the new Dallara IL-15 chassis prior to testing next August. The new car and engine combination will make its competition debut at the start of the 2015 Indy Lights season.

“I am very grateful for the tremendous amount of interest from so many manufacturers in our 2015 Indy Lights car,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “The AER engine we have selected for use in the new Indy Lights car is a great unit with proven reliability and performance. With its light weight and push-to-pass feature, we will have a strong package for our drivers which will make for great racing and training. Rob and Chris Dyson have been friends for years. When I learned of their involvement in AER, it made the decision so much easier. They are true professionals, and I look forward to many years together on this exciting project.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for AER,” said Rob Dyson. “In addition to our successful projects in LMP1 and LMP2 prototype sportscars, the company has extensive experience in single-engine series, including a 3.5-liter V6 for the World Series by Nissan and the current GP3 Series V6 engines. The opportunity to supply the engines for the Indy Lights series was a very attractive one for us. We look forward to powering the growth of the up and coming open-wheel drivers in North America.”

European Tour’s Race to Dubai Renewed Until 2017

The European Tour’s end of season Race to Dubai series will continue until 2017, the organisers have announced.

The Race to Dubai replaced the Order of Merit in 2009 and this year’s event was won by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson who captured the lucrative prize. 

The next edition of The Race to Dubai will once again conclude with the season-ending finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which will carry with it an increased Bonus Pool of US$5 million. Furthermore, at least one staging of the championship will be on the complex’s Fire course between 2014 and 2017.

As a further symbol of the committed partnership between The European Tour and Jumeirah Golf Estates, The European Tour will establish an International Office within the new clubhouse, which will be operational by the staging of the 2014 tournament, as well as acquiring a property within the grounds of what is destined to become one of the world’s pre-eminent residential communities.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “It was 25 years ago that I came to Dubai for the first time for the first Dubai Desert Classic. Since then, we have helped to grow the game here and throughout the whole of the UAE while, in addition, we are also hugely supportive of Dubai’s bid to win the right to host Expo 2020.

“They have rewarded us with an incredible growth of courses alongside the facilities they provide for all our players. Thanks to the leadership and vision of DP World, the tremendous contribution of everyone at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the continued commitment of our partners, the future of The Race to Dubai is exceptionally positive.

“We have announced today extending The Race until 2017 and I’ve said many times that this is the perfect venue to finish our year. The climate is excellent, the facilities here are superb, and the welcome from everyone here in Dubai is simply outstanding.”

Yousuf Kazim, General Manager of Jumeirah Golf Estates, said: “We are delighted to be extending the agreement for The European Tour’s Race to Dubai and hosting the season’s final event in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates until at least 2017.

“This partnership with The European Tour includes the hosting of the DP World Tour Championship as well as Jumeirah Golf Estates being part of the European Tour Properties family, including the recently opened European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI).

“We look forward to staging the championship on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates and showcasing it to the world of golf at least once in the three year extension.

“This long term commitment mirrors the sustainable growth of Dubai and we are all very excited with this mutually beneficial partnership and where it is taking us.”

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Indian F1 Grand Prix in Doubt after Organisers Taken to Court

The Indian Grand Prix may be in doubt after an Indian Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to hear a petition seeking the cancellation of this weekend’s race because organisers have allegedly not paid entertainment taxes for the 2012 event.

India’s Supreme Court has executive powers and ordered organisers two years ago to freeze 25 percent of ticket revenues until they had settled a tax dispute with the state where the racetrack is located.

“We will hear the petition tomorrow,” Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said in court, announcing a new legal snag for Formula One in India.

That ruling came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by campaigner Amit Kumar, who is also behind Thursday’s petition seeking the cancellation of the race on Sunday.

Kumar successfully argued in 2011 that Formula One was entertainment, not sport, and should not benefit from tax exemptions granted by the state of Uttar Pradesh, which borders the capital New Delhi.

Entertainment tax, applicable for large-scale shows and sponsored festivals, has been levied on tickets this year.

India is already not on the 2014 schedule for “logistical” reasons but were expected to return in 2015.

The event itself has been plagued with poor attendances with Jaypee, the race organiser, revealing only last week that they had sold only 20,000 tickets for the coming event.

Sauber F1 Team Principal has even suggested they have been missed an opportunity as they have failed to entice the local crowd.

“We have missed an opportunity,” Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, an Austrian who was born in Dehradun, is quoted as saying.

“We have not been able to sell F1 well enough in these parts,” she admitted.

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IMG to Market Euroleague Rights in UK, Africa & Asia Pacific

Euroleague Basketball has announced a partnership with IMG Media, a division of IMG Worldwide, for the global sports agency to market the rights to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

IMG were instrumental in the recent deals in Spain, Italy, South Africa, the Netherlands and Georgia and is working with Euroleague Basketball to secure broadcast contracts across all forms of the media in other key territories.

These include Belgium (Flemish Region), Africa, the UK from the 2013/14 season and subsequently the Asian Pacific regions from 2014/15.

Ioris Francini, EVP of IMG Media, said: “The Turkish Airlines Euroleague is growing in popularity, not only in Europe, but around the world. The quality of the players and teams, and the excitement they generate on a weekly basis makes it an outstanding asset to media around the world.

“We are delighted to be working with Euroleague Basketball to help them grow the competition, enhance the image and increase their exposure globally.”

Jordi Bertomeu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Euroleague Basketball, said: “IMG Media is well known for providing their partners with hard to match knowledge and expertise within the sports field. IMG Media manages the rights of some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world, and we are delighted that the Turkish Airlines Euroleague is amongst them.

“IMG’s philosophy perfectly fits with Euroleague’s strategy for the next years. I am confident this deal will help us reach our goals, taking the League to the next level, both sports wise and commercially.”

The Turkish Airlines Euroleague tips off on October 11 and features 24 top teams from 18 countries in Europe. They will compete on 31 competition dates over an eight month period leading to the Final Four event in Milan, Italy from May 16-18, 2014.

Last season saw Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus beat Spanish giants Real Madrid 100-88 at London’s O2 Arena to win the title for the second successive year.

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Gloucestershire Cricket Announce Significant Profit

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club have announced imressive financial figures after a profit of £2.9million for the year ending January 31 2013.

The majority of that figure – £2.8million – comes from the decision to lease part of the Bristol’s County Ground to Linden Homes.

Despite gate income and membership being reduced by £57,000 and £30,000 respectively due to the high volume of inclement weather, the county still made a trading surplus of £108,000.

The news comes as a further boost to Gloucestershire, whose ground is being redeveloped with an enlarged pavilion set to be completed at the end of July.

Outgoing chairman Rex Body: “This has been an exceptional year for the club, with the start of our long-awaited development and the financial impact this has had.

“We are reporting a record surplus of £2.9m for the year. Stripping out the surplus on the lease to Linden we made an operating surplus of £108k, our best performance since 2007 despite the effect of the dreadful weather.

“There is still more to do, however. We are committed to substantial continued development spend as well as increased playing squad expenditure so we will continue to exercise financial prudence. Nevertheless, these results augur well for the future.”

Chennai Super Kings Unveil New Corporate Multi-Sports Tournament

Indian Premier League franchise, Chennai Super Kings today announced ‘Chennai Super Kings Super Cup’ – an all new multi-sports corporate tournament.

The Super Cup, presented by Aircel will be an annual event introduced by Chennai Super Kings in order to promote interaction among business professionals by hosting multiple sports like tennis, table tennis, badminton, snooker, chess and cricket (20-20 format). True to its goal of being a ‘Platform for like-minded people to play & interact’, corporates across industries have been selected as participants.

The tournament will commence from February 3rd in Chennai and will witness participation from 38 Corporates (from Fortune 500 cadre) from Chennai who will battle it out for their sporting glory. All the matches will be officiated by TNCA qualified umpires and scorers. Winners and runners up will be awarded with attractive prizes and trophies. The tournament will conclude on March 24th and the winners may also get an opportunity to meet the Chennai Super Kings Team at the prize distribution.

Mr. Stephen Fleming, Coach – Chennai Super Kings said: “This initiative by Chennai Super Kings is intended to encourage spirit of sportsmanship and competition among participants and  fans. We are providing a platform to promote other sports at par with cricket and this will definitely strengthen our bond with our fans.”

Mr. Chandrabhan, GM – Marketing, India Cements Ltd. said: “Through this initiative, the key decision makers of today and tomorrow will come together to compete on sports field, meet like-minded people in an informal setting and can be a harbinger of many new business ideas. We, at India Cements, believe that local businesses and fans must see a stake in the success of the home team – Chennai Super Kings. We are confident that the Super Cup will gain appreciation and will create a success story which will substantiate Chennai Super Kings as a fan-driven, sports entertainment brand.”

The corporates participating in this tournament are as follows: TCS, Allsec, HDFC Bank, Accenture, Ernst & Young, Cognizant, HCL, RBS, Infosys, Vodafone, WNS Global Services, Coke, Caliber Point, Danfoss Industries, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Hexaware Technology, Damco-Maersk, Verizon, HP, HSBC, CapGemini, India Cements, FreshDesk, Sutherland, Cholamandalam, VGN, Ericcson Global, SistemaShyam, Servion Global, Tata Capital, Impiger Tech, The Hindu, Jones Lang La Salle, Tata Tele, Samsung, Standard Chartered Bank, ITC and India Pistons.

Sony Tennis Sponsorship Draws Negative Response from Chinese Crowd

Sony is the latest major sponsor to be affected by tension between China and Japan over a border dispute.

Sony, a major sponsor of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), sponsored the women’s competition at the China Open.

During the women’s awards presentation, Sony was name checked as a sponsor leading to boos from the crowds.

The ongoing political tension between the two nations is expected to have negative effects on sponsorship and events, according to industry sources.{jcomments on}