Canadian Premier League Joins Forces With Opta

The Canadian Premier League has named data provider Opta as Official Data Partner for four years.

As part of the deal, Opta will exclusively collect and manage data from all CPL matches. Data will be delivered through an extensive range of feeds, providing the raw detail required to power broadcast graphics, automated highlights and fantasy experiences.

Furthermore, all seven CPL clubs will have access to tools and services provided by OptaPro.

Richard Crouch, VP Rights Acquisition Data, Perform, said: “We’re delighted to announce that we will be the CPL’s Official Data Partner. This partnership will see us working closely with the league and Canadian Soccer Business to deliver the best quality data across the media and professional spaces, giving the competition control of their data rights and access to Opta and Perform’s expertise and sales network. We’re committed to the growth of North American soccer and are excited to work closely with the CPL.”

CPL Commissioner David Clanachan said: “Opta is the leader in soccer data who from our first ever match establishes the credibility and integrity of our data amongst the world’s top soccer leagues. We have deeply integrated Opta’s data into our league and club websites, app and soccer operations, relying on it to support our success on and off the pitch”.

 

Borussia Dortmund Forges Video Link With TikTok

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has signed an official partnership with video platform TikTok.

Dortmund was the first soccer club to launch its own video channel on TikTok. As part of the partnership, Dortmund will aim to engage its fanbase by advertising and pushing promotional content on the platform,

Carsten Cramer, Dortmund’s Managing Director, said: “The video app TikTok offers us new creative possibilities to let our fans participate in the BVB experience and to exchange ideas with them. We will also this year’s USA summer tour of BVB on TikTok Documenting with numerous video clips and bringing the fans very close to the action.”

Stefan Heinrich , TikTok’s Head of Global Marketing, said: “The partnership with BVB is a great way for us to bring the TikTok brand further into the market and make it visible to our users not only online but also in the real world.

“We can also create new members for the TikTok community, who get to know a different kind of real, unfiltered video with us – and document their fan relationship with BVB in an inimitable way.”

 

Mbappé Becomes Ambassador For French Baby Food Brand

French baby food brand Good Goût has named Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé as its brand ambassador.

The two-year partnership will result in communication campaigns as well as charitable initiatives by Mbappé.

The PSG and French  player said:  “The team is passionate, audacious and genuine. These are values ​​that speak to me and I am proud to accompany them in this challenge that is close to my heart. Their approach is very consistent with the project that I put in place for the future generation. ”

Pascale Laborde, General Manager of Good Goût, said: “For almost ten years now, Good Goût has been tackling the challenge of restoring the taste of our children. With our products, they enjoy eating healthy. Kylian is already an example for a whole generation. He becomes today the ambassador of the Good Goût brand. Thanks to him, we have a wonderful opportunity to bring our message to all children … and their parents.”

 

USL Inks Video Analysis Deal With Spiideo

The United Soccer League (USL) has selected Spiideo to provide a video recording and analysis solution.

The Spiideo system will provide live, high-resolution panoramic and multi-angled footage to be utilised for analysis of both training sessions and matches to USL Championship and USL League One.

USL Senior Vice President of League Operations Brett Luy said: “The cutting-edge technology has proven a major benefit to clubs in top global leagues and shows a genuine commitment to raising the level of play within our leagues.”

Nate Winkel, Spiideo North America’s General Manager, said: “USL is growing at lightning pace on and off the field and we are confident that Spiideo is a tool that can further enhance the performance level of players, coaches, and league officials.”

The USL has targeted U.S. communities ranging in population from 150,000 to one million – markets that represent more than 75 million people without access to a local professional soccer club.

 

Neymar Jr. To Create Fragrance With Diesel

Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. of Paris Saint-Germain has partnered with Diesel Fragrances to create a new fragrance.

According to an official statement, Neymar Jr. is the only sportsperson to front a Diesel Fragrance campaign. He was involved with all aspects of the fragrance, from its initial creation to the story of the soon to be unveiled campaign, and including the bottle, the juice, the recent announcement on Instagram.

The campaign will narrate Neymar Jr.’s journey from playing football in the  neighborhood of Jardim Glória, at Praia Grande, to his rise to global fame.

Neymar Jr. said: “I took part in the most important decisions. It had to be a daring fragrance, and it also had to be related to what I like. I wanted a fragrance telling my own story and what bravery means to me. You have to have bravery in life if you want to achieve great things, no matter what professional area you are in.”

 

TIM Gets Late Call As Coppa Italia Title Sponsor

In a last-minute deal, Italian football’s domestic cup competition, the Coppa Italia has named telecommunications company TIM as the title sponsor.

As part of the agreement, the final stage of the tournament has been changed to TIM Cup.

TIM is already a sponsor of Serie A and the Coppa Italia was named TIM Cup from 1998-99 until the end of last season’s tournament.

After TIM’s contract came to an end, Italian state railway company Trenitalia, with the Frecciarossa brand, was chosen as the replacement. However, a week later that deal was blocked bynew management of the railway company.

The Coppa Italia semi-final between Atalanta and Fiorentina will be played today and the final  will be played on May 15 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

 

 

DAZN Unveils Digital Advertising Platform

DAZN has unveiled a suite of dynamic creative assets for brands called ‘DAZN Dynamic’ in association with advertising platform, Adform, and Opta.

The new platform incorporates accurate, detailed real-time sports data and live scores, as well as innovative in-play visualisations, into a range of digital ad formats with the aim to help brands build credibility with specific sports, competitions, teams or players.

David Winstone, Head of Trading, DAZN Media, said: “We’ve seen from earlier testing that by making an ad creative contextually relevant and informative you can drive user engagement. DAZN’s proposition is to change the way that fans see sport and in Media, we believe we have the tools to evolve the way that brands engage with fans – this suite is just the latest example of a much wider resource we have to deliver on that.”

David Hillier, Senior Director, Creative Solutions and Innovation, Adform,said: “The use of data in creative is now offering up a wealth of opportunities to advertisers, in bringing real-time significance and creative sentience to ads. Adform has invested a lot into building out the most varied collection of dynamic creative tools and we are hugely excited about this unique partnership with DAZN and the use of their industry-leading Opta data”

FC Barcelona Appoints WE Red Bridge For China Communications

FC Barcelona has beefed up its communications efforts in China through a new agreement with local consultancy WE Red Bridge.

The agency, with offices in Shanghai and Beijing, will assist the club in developing a communications strategy in China, assisting with its media relations and influencer marketing.

WE Red Bridge will operate the out Shanghai office and has created an integrated team to handle the account, combining talent in the fields of insights, consumer, creative, digital, and corporate PR.

Barcelona already has a good foothold in China with a joint venture partner Chinese Mission Hill Group, which opened the Barça Experience and Barça Academy Pro in Haikou, China.

LaLiga appointed WE Red Bridge at the beginning of 2017-18 season to roll out the China communications campaign extending football beyond the field of play to bring the human story of the game to the forefront.

Turin Will Host ATP Finals From 2021

The ATP has selected the city of Turin, Italy, to host the ATP Finals from 2021-2025.

The five-year agreement will see the players compete at Turin’s Pala Alpitour stadium, Italy’s largest indoor sporting arena. The winning Turin bid was put together by the Italian Tennis Federation and Sport e Salute SpA in partnership with the Italian Government, the municipality of Turin and Regione Piemonte.

The ATP Finals  tournament has been held in London since 2009.

Novak Djokovic, World No.1 and President of the ATP Player Council, said: “The ATP Finals is the biggest and most prestigious event that we have at the ATP. It’s a tournament that has historically moved around and so I’m very excited to see it move to Turin from 2021. It’s still a few years away but I know that the players will be very excited to compete there, and I also hope to be part of what will be a very special event.”

Chiara Appendino, Mayor of Turin, said: “We are extremely proud that Turin has been chosen to host the ATP Finals 2021-2025 as sport has long been a significant part of the history and the culture of our city. As a City we will come together to harness the knowhow of a vast range of local experts in organizing international sporting events and we are confident that our unique combination of passion and experience will deliver opportunities to appreciate this exhilarating sport in sustainable and innovative ways. Turin looks forward to building a truly spectacular event for players and fans the world over!”

Angelo Binaghi, President of the Italian Tennis Federation, said: “The assignment of the great task to organize the ATP Finals in Turin from 2021 to 2025 represents a remarkable international success of our country. Our project has proved to be extremely successful thanks to the great work carried out together with the Italian Government and the local authorities. A team work which I am sure will live up to the wonderful tradition of the end-of-season historical Masters, and offer a very brilliant future”.

 

Harley-Davidson Partners With Envision Virgin Formula E Team

Formula E team Envision Virgin Racing has agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Harley-Davidson.

As part of the partnership, Harley-Davidson will further launch its first electric motorcycle LiveWire this fall.

Marc McAllister, Vice President Product Consumer Portfolio Management, Harley-Davidson, said: “Electric vehicles are at the cutting edge of future mobility conversations globally, and that future is happening now. We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Envision Virgin Racing, one of the leading proponents of Formula E – the highest form of e-propulsion motorsport.

“The team’s passion, professionalism and commitment to the thrill of electric vehicles matches our own and it’s going to be an incredibly exciting time working with them.”

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director of Envision Virgin Racing, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming such an iconic brand like Harley-Davidson into our portfolio of partners. Like us, Harley-Davidson shares our passion for developing cutting edge technology and sustainable mobility, and between us we can now help showcase that on two and four wheels.

“Harley-Davidson is also the fourth major partnership for the team in the past 12 months following the announcement of Stanley Black & Decker at the Paris E-Prix last year, Audi Sport in the Autumn and Genpact in December.”