Ryanair extends Cheltenham Festival sponsorship until 2022

Ryanair has extended its sponsorship of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for another five years.

The event’s prize fund has been increased £350,000, with further augmentation planned over the term of the new deal so that it eventually reaches £400,000.

Ian Renton, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses South West, said: “We are delighted that Ryanair is renewing sponsorship of the Ryanair Chase for a further five years.

“The race had gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2005 and Ryanair’s support is very much appreciated. I just hope that at some point Michael manages to win the Ryanair Chase.”

Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kenny Jacobs, added: “We are pleased to extend sponsorship of the Ryanair Chase for a further five years.

“Cheltenham is the major Jump Festival which enables Ryanair to carry tens of thousands of Irish Jump racing fans to and from the Cotswolds each March.

“Ryanair is an enormous supporter of the bloodstock industry in Ireland and the UK, flying to most of the major racecourses, breeding and sale centres such as Aintree, Cheltenham, Newmarket and Doncaster.”

Sky Sports to broadcast Indian Premier League in UK and Ireland

Sky Sports will broadcast the Indian Premier League (IPL) as part of a new multi-year deal.

Sky Sports will broadcast 60 live IPL matches each year in the UK and Ireland starting with the 2018 tournament, which begins on April 7. It also includes digital rights.

Sky Sports will further show 12 matches from the Kia Super League this summer as part of a huge line-up of women’s sport in 2018.

Jonathan Licht, Director of Strategy at Sky Sports has been added to the lineup for the iSportconnect’s Broadcast Masterclass on February 28, 2018.

LFP terminates GoalControl contract

The French Football League (LFP) has finally terminated its goal-line technology (GLT) contract with GoalControl after concerns about the system’s performance.

Ligue 1 originally adopted goal-line technology back in 2015.

The suspension notice covered all matches under the LFP’s jurisdiction, including Ligue 1 and the Coupe de la Ligue. The decision comes in the wake of two errors during Coupe de la Ligue quarter-finals between Amiens and Paris Saint-Germain, along with Angers and Montpellier.

Didier Quillot, director general of the LFP said: “Given the many anomalies in the solution provided by GoalControl, we have agreed to immediately terminate the contract by mutual agreement, without further action or compensation from each other.

“A call for tenders will be launched in early February to choose a new provider to provide the Goal Line Technology (GLT). We will present the results of this call for tenders at the board of directors meeting on March 21.”

Eurosport agrees deal to broadcast Rolex 24 at Daytona

Eurosport has agreed a deal to broadcast live this weekend’s (27-28 January) Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Eurosport will broadcast the opening and the final two hours of the race. The agreement excludes Spain and the Asia-Pacific region.

Sebastian Tiffert, Eurosport director global motorsport production, said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring this race, one of the most exciting each year, to Eurosport. This year’s line-up looks on paper to be one of the strongest ever to have appeared and many of the names will resonate with motorsport fans right across the continent.

“We’re very proud of our motorsports heritage at Eurosport and adding this race only adds to our commitment to the sport.”

Red Bull Air Race extends partnership with Air BP

Red Bull Air Race has extended its partnership with Air BP for further three years.

As part of the partnership, Air BP will provide fuel for the competition’s raceplanes and will be referred to as official fuel and carbon reduction partner.

Red Bull Air Race technical manager, Jim Reed, said: “There’s a lot to what they’re doing and how they’re helping us. Our race at the Lausitzring in Germany was a good example.

“At one point we had three airports operational simultaneously: the Race Airport at the track, another airport that was the base for the Challenger Class, and also a training airport. Logistically that’s quite a challenge, and Air BP did an amazingly good job of getting the fuel to where we needed it, when we needed it.”

Jon Platt, Air BP’s chief executive officer, said: “As well as being the global fuel partner for the Red Bull Air Race, we are also the carbon reduction partner. We’re improving fuelling efficiency for the teams at the same time as offsetting the emissions from the fuel used over the season.”

Welsh Rugby Union agrees 10-year Fanatics deal

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) signed a 10-year sports mechandising licensing partnership with Fanatics.

The partnership aims to improve the experience of the WRU’s retail and online stores and support Welsh rugby’s grassroots initiative ‘Pass It Back’.

The agreement gives Fanatics exclusive rights to operate the completely re-designed flagship store, on Westgate Street in Cardiff, existing concourse units within the stadium and the official online store.

Fanatics will further introduce two new rapid retail units and a mobile retail outlet around Principality Stadium and will have non-exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Welsh Rugby products.

WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips said: “We know that supporters in Wales and around the world enjoy wearing our kit and we are delighted to unveil our newly upgraded flagship Cardiff store today and also direct supporters to our new online store.

“We will be looking for feedback over the coming weeks on the new online customer experience and retail experience and will be working closely with Fanatics to constantly improve our offer for supporters.

“Fanatics share the brand values of Welsh rugby around the world and we aim to maximise our competitiveness in a thriving market place in terms of both quality and range and continue to provide the very best value for money for supporters.”

Ed Boardman, managing director for Fanatics’ International division in Manchester said: “Our mission is to create new and innovative ways for fans of Welsh rugby to connect with their passion.

“Fanatics is committed to providing a best-in-class omni-channel shopping experience for easy access to the largest assortment of officially licensed merchandise and an unparalleled customer service. We’re thrilled to be working with the WRU in a partnership that will ultimately benefit the fans and the game at grassroots level.”

Twitter partners with Volvo Ocean Race to livestream races

Twitter has partnered with Volvo Ocean Race to livestream this season’s remaining In-Port Races beginning on Saturday 27 January in Hong Kong.

Volvo Ocean Race will also broadcast premium video content from the seven participating boats.

Jordi Neves, chief digital officer at Volvo Ocean Race, said: “Twitter is a natural home for the Volvo Ocean Race’s live action and ever-changing story, and we’re excited to partner and work closely with the platform to give our fans a more connected experience than ever before in 2017-18.”

Simone Tomassetti, head of sports partnerships, Southern Europe at Twitter, added: “Twitter is what’s happening. Now all the Volvo Ocean Race fans will be able to see and experience the best live and on demand video from the race right in their timelines.”

Furthermore, the introduction of a ground-breaking Crew Communicator device means that for the first time in the Volvo Ocean Race’s history, sailors can send tweets live from the boat, even as they race through the most remote regions on Earth.

OTT platform RugbyPass to broadcast Six Nations across 23 territories

RugbyPass has agreed a ‘landmark’ deal provide exclusive coverage of the NatWest Six Nations across 23 territories.

The deal, following an agreement with international sports media rights agency MP & Silva, represents a milestone in the shift of live rugby coverage away from terrestrial TV towards OTT digital distribution.

Tim Martin, founder and CEO of RugbyPass, said: “This new partnership with the NatWest Six Nations ensures that rugby fans across Asia can continue to watch all the best live rugby action live and on-demand through a single account.”

RugbyPass’ line-up also includes Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship, Aviva Premiership, European Champions Cup, Top 14, Pro 14 and more.

Chelsea FC announces two-year partnership with Doyen Global

Chelsea FC has appointed Doyen Global as its exclusive player endorsement agency for the next two years.

The partnership aims to maximise revenue from image rights of Chelsea’s men’s and women’s players. The agency already works with the likes of David Beckham, Usain Bolt and Neymar Jr.

Chris Townsend, Chelsea’s commercial director, said: “We are delighted to partner with Doyen Global, a leader in the commercial representation of players, and an agency that has built its success on the key foundations of integrity, hard work and talent, principles that naturally align with those of Chelsea FC.

“The club has some of the world’s leading players – in both our men’s and women’s teams – and we look forward to working closely with Doyen Global to achieve great things.”

Matthew Kay, Doyen Global’s managing director, added: “Chelsea FC are one of the world’s biggest football clubs and we are truly excited to strike this partnership and help them to achieve the level of success off the pitch that they have achieved on it.”

Scottish Professional Football League extends Ladbrokes sponsorship deal for two more years

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) extended its partnership with title sponsor Ladbrokes until 2020.

As part of its plan for the 2018/19 season, Ladbrokes intends to work with the SPFL to promote responsible gambling both within the game and with the wider football fan base.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “We are thrilled that Ladbrokes has chosen to extend their title sponsorship of the SPFL for a further two years. “We have enjoyed a superb partnership since they first came on board in 2015, and are confident that will continue and flourish until 2020 and hopefully beyond.

“We are also aware of our social responsibilities as a senior professional league in Scotland and will continue to promote a message of responsible gambling in conjunction with Ladbrokes.”

Chief executive officer of Ladbrokes Coral Group Jim Mullen said: “We are delighted to be renewing the sponsorship of the SPFL. We knew when we started the sponsorship that we were associating with a sport that is followed with passion and dedication and it has proved to be an excellent partnership.

“Football beats at the heart of Scottish life, the cafes and canteens echo to the football conversation every week and we are delighted to be part of that conversation.

“In being at the heart of the discussion we also want to make sure that it reflects that gambling should be fun, not a problem, and that is why our continued sponsorship will enable us to promote responsible gambling and work with clubs to ensure that the integrity of the sport is upheld.

“We take our role as a sponsor seriously and we take our role to help customers keep gambling fun just as seriously.”