Oceans Marketing Becomes First Sports Marketing Company Listed on Stock Market

Beijing-based Oceans Marketing will become the first sports marketing company to be listed on the Chinese stock market on Friday.

Regulators have just approved the flotation of Oceans, medic which launches on the so-called 3rd board, the Chinese version of the Nasdaq stock market, on January 24. Oceans Marketing was launched in 2006 and quickly established itself as an important player in the Chinese market as FIFA’s exclusive service agency in China for the 2007 Women’s World Cup.

Headed by founder Shoto Zhu, the company is a full-service agency involved in sponsorship consultancy and helping international sports companies grow in China.

Italian football club Juventus is among current clients. Oceans Marketing also distributes media rights in China for properties such as the Asian Champions League and the Australian Open tennis event.

Association of Surfing Professionals Inks IMG Content Strategy Deal

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) has announced a long-term partnership with IMG Media, shop a subsidiary of IMG Worldwide, denture | for the global sports media company to become the media distribution partner of the surfing organisation from 2014.

IMG is to develop a content distribution strategy to help grow the sport across a wide range of broadcast outlets for both the men’s and women’s ASP World Championship (WCT) tours as well as the ASP Big Wave World Tour (BWWT).

Adam Kelly, Head of Business Development, Senior Vice President, IMG Media, said: “The sport of surfing is set to be reinvented under the new governance of the ASP. I believe in their plans to create a truly centralised sport from which both surfers and fans will benefit. Key to this fresh new approach has been to gather market leaders to support their aims and give the sport the best possible chance of realising its full potential.

“Our role will be to expand broadcast coverage of the ASP, taking the stunning visuals, outstanding athletes and exciting competition to new audiences across the world.”

Paul Speaker, ASP International CEO, said: “Our foundational media partnerships of Google YouTube (International Digital), Facebook/Instagram (International Social Media) and ESPN (US Linear Broadcast) will now be augmented by a significant relationship with global leader IMG, bringing one of the most dynamic and dangerous sports on the planet to a robust and growing international fan base.

“Working with IMG, we will finalise our international media partnerships for 2014 and beyond, ensuring that the most quality entertainment product is readily available to fans around the globe. It’s a very exciting time for professional surfing.”

The 2014 ASP Men’s WCT will start with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast event March 1 – 12, with the final leg being the Billabong Pipe Masters from December 8 – 20. The 2014 ASP Women’s WCT will begin with the Roxy Pro Gold Coast event from March 1 – 12 and finish with the EDP Cascais Women’s Pro from October 1 – 6.

Celtic Park Replaces Hampden Park as Host of 2014 Scottish Cup Final

Celtic Park, home to Scottish Premiership champions Celtic FC, has been confirmed as the hosts for the 2013/14 Scottish Cup final.

The Scottish Cup final is normally played at the Hampden Park but due to renovation for the Commonwealth Games, the showpiece event will be moved across Glasgow to be played on Saturday, May 17.

The 60,355 capacity ground last played host to a Scottish Cup final in 1998 during construction work at Hampden. 

Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium, which can hold 51,082 fans, will host both semi finals on the weekend of April 12/13.

Scottish FA president, Campbell Ogilvie, said: “We are fortunate in Scotland to have three world-class football stadia and, with Hampden Park due to undergo redevelopment work ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it is natural that we would seek to utilise both Celtic Park and Ibrox Stadium as venues for Scottish football’s premier cup competition.

“We are delighted to stage both semi-finals at Ibrox and the final at Celtic Park and on behalf of the Scottish FA, I would like to thank both Celtic and Rangers, as well as the SPFL, for their support in hosting these matches.”

Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “We are delighted that Celtic Park has been chosen to host the William Hill Scottish Cup Final. As we have seen this season, Celtic Park continues to be one of the finest stadia in European football, producing an occasion and an atmosphere like no other.

“We are sure our stadium will provide a brilliant setting for our national cup final.

“Clearly, Celtic are cup holders and I am sure Neil and the team will be doing all they can to ensure that we go as far as we can in the competition and hopefully be part of this great final at the end of the season.”

Rangers finance director, Brian Stockbridge, said: “We are delighted Ibrox Stadium has been chosen to host the Scottish Cup semi-finals in April.

“The Scottish FA’s decision to play these ties at the home of Scotland’s most successful club underlines the fact that Ibrox remains one of European football’s elite arenas.

“Of course we hope to travel far in this competition ourselves but no matter who plays at Ibrox they can be certain of the warmest of welcomes.”

R&A Deny Awarding 2018 Open Championship to Royal Portrush

The Royal and Ancient (R&A) have denied reports they have awarded hosting rights to the 2018 Open Championship to Royal Portrush.

The Northen Irish course is the only venue outside England and Scotland to have hosted the Open, ambulance with Max Faulkner lifting the Claret Jug in 1951.

The R&A are keen to take the tournament back to the County Antrim course, but they are wary of the lack of options in travelling to and from the venue.

Hopes were raised after Portrush successfully staged the Irish Open last summer, and a report in the Irish Sun claimed the Open Championship will be played there in 2018.

But an R&A spokesman insisted: “No decision has been made for 2018.”

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson admitted earlier this year that Portrush is “a fantastic golf course,” but concerns remain over the infrastructure required to stage a major and Dawson felt the current nine-course Open rota is “about right.”

Nurburgring Confirmed as 2013 German Grand Prix Host

The German Grand Prix for the 2013 season will finally have a venue after The Nurburgring was confirmed to host the F1 race.

After months of uncertainty over whether the historic circuit would strike a deal to stage the July 7 race as scheduled, Bernie Ecclestone has announced he has agreed terms with organisers.

“I treasure the Nurburgring and its history,” Ecclestone was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“In view of its long tradition, I was glad to support choosing the Nurburgring as the venue for the Formula 1.”

The Nurburgring and Hockenheim have alternated as the host track for their country’s annual grand prix since 2007 after both agreed to share the financial burden of hosting the flagship event.

However, last year the Nurburgring ran into severe financial difficulties, and near bankruptcy, after the track’s owners became embroiled in a dispute with the venue leaseholders.

Only on Wednesday Ecclestone had blamed fighting between two of Germany’s motorsport associations for the ongoing lack of a confirmed venue for the country’s 2013 GP, flagging up the possibility that the Nurburgring might block Hockenheim from using the German GP title should the race be moved to the other venue.

 

Seattle Based Consortium Agree Deal to Buy Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings current owners, The Maloofs have agreed a deal to sell the NBA team to a Seattle based group.

A source close to the situation said Sunday that the Maloof family and the Seattle group, led by hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft billionaire Steve Ballmer, could announce a deal as early as today. If the sale is approved by the NBA’s board of governors, consisting of league owners, the team would move to Seattle next season and would be renamed the SuperSonics, after the franchise that left Seattle for Oklahoma City in 2008.

A sale price wasn’t released, but Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has said he believes the Maloofs were working on a deal that would value the entire franchise at $525 million. The Maloofs and a partner in Oklahoma control 65 percent of the team. The Maloof family declined to comment through a spokesman Sunday night, and Hansen’s representative couldn’t be reached for comment.

The price would be a record for an NBA team. ESPN.com, quoting anonymous sources, said Hansen has agreed to give the Maloofs a $30 million nonrefundable down payment and allow them to keep a small ownership stake in the team.

Sacramento officials, however, vowed to press on with their plan to assemble a counteroffer that would keep the Kings from leaving. Johnson plans to bring a rival investor group to the board of governors’ meeting in New York in April and make the case for keeping the team in Sacramento. The board would then presumably vote on which city would get the Kings – Seattle or Sacramento.

“When it comes to keeping the team in our community, Sacramento is playing to win,” the mayor said Sunday night in a prepared statement.

 

Sri Lankan Airlines Extends Japan Cricket Sponsorship

 

Sri Lankan Airlines has signed a sponsorship deal to support Japan’s National Championship, viagra order which is named the “SriLankan Airlines Japan Cup” under the agreement.

Sri Lankan Airlines has sponsored the event for the past two years, allergist the new agreement covers the 2012 edition.

Japan Cricket Association (JCA) CEO, erectile Naoki Alex Miyaji, said: “We are extremely pleased at how the Sri Lankan Airlines Japan Cup has developed with the support of Sri Lankan Airlines. Winning the Sri Lankan Airlines Japan Cup is the ultimate goal for cricket clubs in Japan. It has also played an important role in organising and developing regional cricket across Japan. We are looking forward to another great event which will be held this weekend.”

The 2012 SriLankan Airlines Japan Cup will take place on October 6-8 in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture. Five teams from across Japan compete.

The deal has also created ties with Japan and SriLanka. Last year, a Japanese high school made a cricket tour to Sri Lanka and others have visited the country to watch live cricket, including the current ICC World T20.

“Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and the people love their cricket. It is one of the closest Test playing nations to Japan, so it is an ideal place to tour. We look forward to building stronger ties with Sri Lanka and are extremely grateful to SriLanka Airlines for creating such fantastic opportunities,” Miyaji said.{jcomments on]

 

Boxing Clever Becomes St. Louis Rams Agency of Record

Boxing Clever, illness an advertising agency with a bull’s-eye on strategy and design, sales was announced today as the promotional and interactive agency of record for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL)

As agency of record, viagra Boxing Clever will provide creative for print, tv and radio advertising, promotions, events, as well as social and digital marketing.

“Boxing Clever is the perfect fit for the Rams,” said Brian Killingsworth, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for the St. Louis Rams. “This is an exciting time for the brand. Working in collaboration with Boxing Clever will allow us to enhance our fan interaction and engagements by creating lasting emotional connections to the team by building family-focused activities and outreach.”

“The power of the NFL is tremendous with over 182 million fans, and the excitement about the Rams around our agency is infectious,” said Dave Scott, senior partner at Boxing Clever. “We’ve already built a great relationship with the marketing team and have seen their vision. With the new leadership at the Rams, there’s a real belief St. Louis will celebrate another championship team soon. That belief is what we want to communicate to the St. Louis fans. We can be as great a football town as we are a baseball town – that time is now!”

Boxing Clever’s first assignment with the Rams is creating a new branding and messaging standard for the entire season, beginning with television spots the agency is already producing. This look and tone of voice will encompass broadcast, print and digital engagement at all consumer touchpoints.

“We’ve been watching the Rams from the South End Zone since they came to St. Louis, and our agency is extremely proud to be working with them,” said Jim Harper, partner and executive creative director at Boxing Clever. “With the youngest squad in the NFL and a marquee starting quarterback and former rookie of the year winner in Sam Bradford, the market is relatively untapped and ripe for cultivating new Rams fans and expanding the Rams brand.”

2011 ISEM Nominations Confirmed

The nominations for the 2011 International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Awards have been confirmed.

The ISEM Awards will reward leaders in the sports event management sector. Previous winners include Gilbert Felli, sale Danny Jordaan, denture and Bernie Ecclestone. The categories include Event Look, prescription Event Marketing, Event Services, Brand Presentation,  Event Hospitality and Travel, and Outstanding Contribution. A special award will presented for the Environment and Sustainability category.

The shortlist for the award includes organisations such as the International Federation of Netball Associations, ICON, Sport Event Denmark, the International Cricket Council, Motto PS, Fast Track, and Infostrada Sports Group.

The Sport City category features entries from Melbourne (Australia), London, Sheffield, and Manchester (UK), Dubai (UAE), and Shenzhen (China). The Awards take place Oct.12 alongside the International Sports Event Management Conference.

FC Sion Look for Compensation from UEFA for Exclusion

FC Sion are seeking compensation from UEFA for their omission from the Europa League and still believe there is a chance they will participate in the tournament.

Celtic replaced them in the group stage after it was ruled the Swiss side had fielded ineligible players in a play-off victory over Neil Lennon’s team.

UEFA rejected an appeal from Sion , who are now seeking 4m euros in compensation through the civil courts. 

Sion also say they will probably pursue the matter with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

They could ask CAS to make an interim ruling on the case as before full evidence is presented, which may yet threaten Thursday’s kick off between Celtic and Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

A spokesman for Sion told BBC Scotland that Uefa’s ruling against their appeal was “a clear case of misfeasance”, adding that a “Swiss court won’t let the case fall”.

Nicolas Pillet, the club’s head of communications, added: “Uefa believes that it rules the world. The players and coaches are very disappointed. But we still believe we can integrate into the group stage later. We now wait for damages for the harm.”

Sion claim the 4m euro sum is to compensate them for the qualification bonus they have missed out on.

On hearing of Uefa’s ruling against the club’s appeal, Sion defender Jose Goncalves told BBC Scotland that the fight for reinstatement would go on.

“I am really sad that they are not accepting the decision of the law. I can’t understand,” the former Hearts player said.

“I think at the moment we are doing anything possible to get back into the group stages. Not only for this Thursday, but also maybe for the next game. I’m very disappointed because we followed the rules and we went to the courts here because the president and the club are sure we are right. Uefa are going against the law. I just can’t understand that and it is very difficult to accept this decision. No-one can understand this in Switzerland.”