Drone Racing League And DraftKings Sign Official Sports Betting Agreement

The Drone Racing League (DRL), the global, professional drone racing property has announced a deal with DraftKings Inc. to make the sports technology and entertainment company an Official Sports Betting Partner of DRL.

Upon completion of this deal, DRL drone races became the first aerial sporting event upon which fans can wager. Mobile sports betting on DRL drone races is currently legal in Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee and West Virginia with regulatory approvals pending in additional states. DRL’s final drone races of the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season will kick off this Saturday, January 9th at 4:30pm ET on NBC, Twitter and Facebook.


“The sky is now the limit for DRL fans to get skin in the game, and we’re thrilled to partner with DraftKings to transform our high-speed race competition into the ultimate sport to bet on,” said DRL President Rachel Jacobson. “The opportunity for us to elevate our engagement through all forms of gaming and gambling will only increase as mobile betting becomes more adopted across the country.”

DraftKings is a leader in the rapidly growing motorsports and esports sportsbook categories and believes DRL will bring an entirely new audience of fans to gaming. Consumer research indicates drone racing fans are three times more likely to place a bet than fans of major sports leagues and 90 percent more likely to be interested in sports betting than the average global sports fan. After initially introducing DRL drone races to customers as a free-to-play pool during the 2020 season, DraftKings saw over 30 percent more entries in its first week than the average for new sports, totaling over 150,000 entries to date.

This deal gives DraftKings exclusive marketing rights around sports betting and branding integrations, including custom gates, through the culmination of the current 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season. Both pre-race wagers and in-race live bets will be available for fans in approved states to engage before and during the high-flying action.

“DRL is scaling their business as fast as their drone races, and we’re excited to be flying with them given DRL’s thrilling, innovative racing events are perfect for the customized wagering offerings we can create,” said Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer, DraftKings. “Our expertise in sports betting combined with DRL’s stats-packed competition will make this a fun and seamless opportunity to engage their avid audience along with tech-savvy, adrenaline-loving sports fans.”

Arsenal Takes £120m From Bank of England As COVID Loan

Arsenal have taken out a “short-term” £120m corporate loan from the Bank of England to help offset the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement the club said:

“As a result, we are taking a short-term £120 million loan through this facility to partially assist in managing the impact of the revenue losses attributable to the pandemic. This is a similar approach to that taken by a wide variety of major organisations across many industries including sport, and is repayable in May 2021.

The CCFF is designed to provide short-term finance at commercial rates during the pandemic to companies that have strong investment ratings and which make significant contributions to the British economy.

The CCFF is in addition to the loan provided by our owners Kroenke, Sports & Entertainment that enabled us to refinance the debt on Emirates Stadium in August last year.”

Dignitas Agrees Partnership With Digital Payments Platform Zytara

Dignitas, the esports vertical of New Meta Entertainment Inc. (NME), has announced a new partnership with financial technology company Zytara, a digital banking platform and payment network designed for gaming and esports enthusiasts.

On December 3, 2020, Zytara announced its plans to launch the digital banking platform and has since partnered with Dignitas to launch its first-ever strategic partnership in the esports and gaming space.


Aligning with esports veteran Dignitas as it enters the esports ecosystem, Zytara aims to forge a pathway to provide the esports market, including gamers under 18-years-old, with banking solutions and services to fulfill various existing needs. Zytara will work with bank partners to offer various banking products and services, targeted at gaming and esports enthusiasts including a checking and savings account, a virtual and physical debit card, and access to investment tools.

The mobile application will include features tailored to gamers such as integrated automated payments for online gaming tournaments, player-to-player transfers, easy-to-use parental controls, limited-edition Dignitas-branded debit cards, and a Dignitas-branded mobile app user-experience (app skin).

The Dignitas-branded debit cards and mobile app skin will feature the new logo and style of Dignitas’ recently announced rebrand on January 6, 2021. The rebrand is a nod to the original Dignitas, one of the most historic brands in esports history, in combination with a reimagined charismatic and inclusive brand identity that matches the Dignitas of the modern era.

Along with the Dignitas-branded debit cards and mobile app skin, Zytara and Dignitas will collaborate on unique activations such as social media and Twitch giveaways as well as pro-player content to drive awareness and engagement around much-needed financial solutions for today’s gamers.

Zytara Founder and CEO Al Burgio said, “I am thrilled that we have announced our partnership with Dignitas. When the concept of Zytara was first born, it was always about bringing to market a banking platform built by gamers, dedicated to gamers. Working with one of the most widely recognized esports organizations in the world shows our dedication to this special group of consumers. We are looking forward to the joint activity taking place with Dignitas throughout 2021 and being able to showcase our innovative products for esports fans and enthusiasts.”

Ajax Extends Ziggo Sponsorship Until 2023

Ajax and main sponsor Ziggo have extended the existing sponsorship contract by one year.

The current agreement was set to run through June 2022, while the new agreement will continue until June 2023. No adjustments have been made to other conditions of the agreement.


Ziggo has been Ajax’s main sponsor since January 2015 and will continue to adorn both the Ajax and Jong Ajax kits until 2023. Ziggo will also remain the main sponsor of Ajax e-Sports. Additionally, an option has been included that allows for the potential extension of the contract until June 2025. In the coming years, this partnership between Ajax and Ziggo will focus on offering exclusive Ajax content on Ziggo Sport, as well as unique access to the club for both Ziggo and Vodafone customers (both being part of the telecom group VodafoneZiggo.


Menno Geelen, commercial director at Ajax notes: “We are grateful that Ziggo has expressed confidence in our partnership. This extension is a confirmation of their loyalty. Our main sponsor’s support during such a difficult period is admirable.”

Marcel de Groot, consumer market director at VodafoneZiggo added: “We are pleased that we have reached an agreement with Ajax for an interim extension. Ajax stands for the best experience in sports and entertainment, just like we do. We want to provide our fans and our customers with even more access to Ajax. With this extension through the summer of 2023, once COVID-19 will be behind us, we can do just that.”

Tottenham Hotspur Names Cinch As First Ever Official Sleeve Partner

Tottenham Hotspur and cinch, one of the UK’s fastest-growing online car-selling platforms, have announced a multi-year partnership which will see the innovative automotive platform become the Club’s first Official Sleeve Partner.

The cinch logo will be seen on the sleeve of both the men’s and women’s teams for all first team matches starting with this Sunday’s round of games (January 10).

Tottenham Hotspur Women will be in action first in the FA Women’s Super League against Birmingham City (kick off 2pm), while, later in the afternoon, the men’s team will face Marine in the FA Cup Third Round (kick-off 5pm).

With the aim of ‘taking the faff out of buying a used car’, cinch began its journey in 2019 and has quickly established itself as one of the UK’s largest e-commerce sites for used cars offering motorists a new, friendly way to search using the latest in web technology.

The partnership with Tottenham Hotspur will increase cinch’s growth even further, with their brand featuring on the prominent men’s and women’s first team shirt sleeve position as well on the Club’s matchday perimeter and multi-tiered digital ribbon advertising system at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Club will also work with cinch to deliver marketing campaigns across social and digital platforms to engage with the Club’s growing fanbase.

Avril Palmer-Baunack, Chairman of Constellation Automotive Group, cinch owners said: “We’re delighted to have agreed this fantastic multi-year partnership with Tottenham Hotspur, which will support cinch in its journey to become the brand of choice when it comes to buying a used car. We’re all about putting the customer first and taking the faff out of car-buying, and we’re looking forward to getting to know the loyal Spurs fans over the coming years.”

Nick Hoyle, Head of Partnership Development at Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We are excited to welcome cinch to our family of brand partners as our first Official Sleeve Partner. cinch is such an innovative brand and their customer first approach is well aligned with our own commitment of delivering an unrivalled experience for our fans. We look forward to working with cinch and introducing their brand to our supporters.”

Mike Whan To Step Down As LPGA Commissioner

After completing his 11th year as LPGA Commissioner, Mike Whan has notified the LPGA Board of Directors that he has made the difficult decision to transition out of the LPGA in 2021.

While no firm date has been set for his departure, this announcement begins the start of a thorough and thoughtful Commissioner succession process.

Whan shared his decision today with LPGA staff, Members and sponsors in the attached letter, including the following messages:

“When I first joined the LPGA, I told the Board it would be a four-year term, giving me time to help the organization achieve its immediate goals. Now, as the longest-serving LPGA Commissioner, I look back on these 11 years with enormous pride and satisfaction at what we’ve accomplished together to provide opportunities for women to achieve their dreams in golf.

“You may be wondering why I’ve made the decision to step down – and why now? In many ways, this past year – with all the pandemic challenges – was also the LPGA’s most triumphant. We are entering 2021 on a wave of momentum – a strong schedule with record purses, new events/sponsors, double-digit viewership growth, and a talented team that demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience and capability to lead through challenging times.

“I simply wouldn’t leave the LPGA if I thought the future was uncertain or not trending straight up. In fact, even after the challenges we faced in 2020, the LPGA has NEVER been more financially secure, deeper in leadership talent, or more anchored by passionate, diverse sponsors from all around the world. The LPGA is poised for even greater heights; and as such, I’m excited to hand the baton to the next leader and become their biggest supporter.

“One of the hardest jobs of a leader is to know when their work is done. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught me anything, it was that the LPGA executive staff has full control of our business and is capable of incredible things. We have leaders who are visionary, compassionate, collaborative and humble. You may not agree with every decision they make, but they have led our Tours to new heights virtually every year.”

LPGA Board Chair Diane Gulyas said, “Mike Whan has been a transformational leader of the LPGA and we’ve been fortunate to retain him for 11 years. When he told of me of his intention to step down this year, I had two reactions: First, can we persuade him to stay? And, when that wasn’t possible, to fully respect his decision and begin a seamless transition.

“Mike’s leadership legacy will be felt for years: in the LPGA’s financial strength and value proposition; in its global reach; in the breadth of programs and services it now offers for women and girls in golf; and in the diversity and quality of companies wanting to partner with the LPGA. He has effectively guided the LPGA through a range of economic cycles and challenges, including the COVID 19 pandemic. And, he has been the voice of our Association and its commitment to opportunities for women in golf.”

FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Rights Awarded In The Nordic Territories

FIFA has awarded the exclusive rights to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to broadcasters in each of the Nordic territories: DR and TV2 in Denmark, YLE and MTV in Finland, TV2 and NRK in Norway, and SVT and TV4 in Sweden.

The deals complete FIFA’s current sales cycle in the Nordics, following the sale of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ to NENT in Scandinavia and YLE in Finland.

The Nordic broadcasters will provide unparalleled coverage of the tournament, with all 80 matches of the 2026 event available live in each territory. All key matches of the tournament will be shown via the broadcasters’ main channels, meeting FIFA’s objectives of providing large exposure for its competitions.

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA. With iconic venues, passionate supporters and a wealth of experience in delivering world-class entertainment events, the host countries will provide an unrivalled platform to celebrate the game and its ability to connect and inspire people around the world.

For the first time, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will feature 48 participating teams (previously 32), offering more teams than ever the chance to participate in football’s most prestigious global competition.

FIFA’s Director of Media Rights & Content Services, Jean-Christophe Petit said, “The expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America is set to be an unforgettable event for football fans everywhere. We are pleased to be able to extend our partnership with the leading Nordic broadcasters, who provide strong platforms to ensure the best possible viewing experience for the largest audience.”

Through the sale of media rights for its football tournaments, FIFA generates income which is essential to support and develop football around the world, for instance through the FIFA Forward Development Programme.

Aston Martin Returns To F1 With Cognizant As Title Partner

Aston Martin has returned to Formula 1 with Cognizant as title partner. The team will be known as Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team when it lines up on the starting grid for the new season.

In a sport where technology and innovation take center stage, Cognizant will play a key role, not merely as a sponsor, nor even as a behind-the-scenes service provider, but also as a true digital transformation partner with a real purpose. The multiyear association brings real energy to the new era of Aston Martin in Formula One, with Cognizant ideally placed to empower the team with the best IT infrastructure and software solutions on the market.

Today’s news coincides with the first elements of a brand new website going live and facelifts to the team’s social media channels, with greater insights than ever before coming soon to the official Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn channels.

Over the coming weeks, Aston Martin will be taking fans behind the scenes allowing everybody to share in the excitement of seeing the first Aston Martin to race at a Grand Prix weekend in more than six decades.

In March, the brand will be unveiling its car livery to the world at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, including the introduction to our driver line-up, featuring four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and multiple Grand Prix podium finisher Lance Stroll.

Lawrence Stroll, Chairman, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team:
“The return of Aston Martin to Formula One after more than 60 years away is a landmark moment in the history of the sport. Everyone knows what Aston Martin stands for, but the Formula One team will allow us to take the essence of the brand to new places, building on the strong foundations laid by the previous iterations of the team. I’m hugely proud that we can start this new chapter with the support of Cognizant. In today’s world, as the digital revolution continues, I can’t think of a more suitable or valuable partner to work with us as we strive to make Aston Martin one of the greatest teams in the sport.”

Brian Humphries, CEO of Cognizant: “We are absolutely thrilled to be the title partner of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team. Our global brands have much in common. We are both innovative, forward-looking firms that like to move fast, stay focused, and lead from the front. We understand the incredible power of today’s advanced technologies and how to harness them to engineer unique customer experiences. We’re excited by the promise of this deep and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO & Team Principal, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team: “We’re just two months away from the start of the season, so it’s fantastic to celebrate the new era of Aston Martin in Formula One by welcoming Cognizant as our title partner. Innovation and technology are central pillars for any Formula One team, and this long-term partnership is more than just a branding exercise. With a new factory already under construction, Cognizant’s expertise and resources will add value in all areas of our IT operations and make a valuable contribution to our performance on-track.”

Jefferson Slack, Managing Director – Commercial & Marketing, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team: “This is a really special moment as we welcome Cognizant as the primary partner of the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team. As we take this iconic brand back to the pinnacle of racing, it’s hugely motivating to have the support of a true powerhouse in Cognizant, a Fortune 200 company with nearly 300,000 employees.

“It’s a multinational that’s making a real impact across the globe with great vision from Brian Humphries and the senior leadership team. Cognizant will be integral to our future success and a partner in the truest sense, unleashing its capabilities as a digital transformation agent. Like Aston Martin, it’s a company with aggressive targets and ambitions, and will flourish in the global spotlight of Formula One.”

IOC Urging For Vaccines For Athletes Prior To Olympics

International Olympic Committee is hoping that athletes from around the globe will be high up on the vaccination list, once key workers and the vulnerable are given the jab to avoid postponement of the games.

As reported by The Guardian, many sources in the Olympic movement have also indicated that they remain confident the Games will take place in some form this summer. However the rise of several new coronavirus variants and the steep jump in cases in Japan – which reported a record 5,307 daily cases on Wednesday – has posed as a worry and organisations now want athletes to be vaccinated asap.

“Together with the National Olympic Committees, we will make all the efforts so that the NOCs encourage and assist their athletes, their officials and their stakeholders to get vaccinated before they come to Japan,” the IOC said.

“We are doing so, of course, in order to contribute even more to the safe environment in the Games, but also out of respect for the Japanese people because they should be confident that everything is being done to not only protect the participants, but also the Japanese people, by having as many of the visitors as possible being vaccinated.”

Formula E Announces Its Esports Competition Accelerate

Formula E has announced its new esports competition Formula E Accelerate, which builds on the success of last year’s ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF.

Over six events, 24 rising stars from the world of motorsport and esports will compete against one another in a simulated racing experience using rFactor2 software. Blending the real and virtual worlds, each competitor will score Formula E Accelerate points for a real-life Formula E team. The virtual racers will also receive expert tips, mentoring and other talent development opportunities from the team they are attached to.

Competitors will need to contend with new energy management and Attack Mode features during the online E-Prix. Prior to the competition, there will be online qualifying open to the public with the top-three quickest times on the Berlin Tempelhof E-Prix circuit* earning places on the Formula E Accelerate virtual grid.

Everyone who participates in all six races will receive a share of a minimum prize pool of €100,000 with the overall winner earning a test drive in a Formula E Gen2 car.

There will be two additional virtual races, each featuring 12 real-life Formula E drivers, one per racing team, during Round 4 and the Grand Final of Formula E Accelerate (schedule below*). Points from these races will be added to the overall team standings.

Formula E Accelerate schedule:

  • Round 1: January 28
  • Round 2: February 4
  • Round 3: February 11
  • Round 4: March 11
  • Round 5: March 18
  • Grand Final: March 25 (double points)

Each 25-minute Formula E Accelerate race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme, featuring Formula E drivers, Team Principals and other special guests. All races will be live on Formula E social and streaming platforms.

Allianz will join the competition as a Premier Partner. ABB and DHL are also Official Partners of Formula E Accelerate.

Chief strategy and business development officer, Formula E Hanna Brown said, “Following the success of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF, we have evolved our esports product for both gamers and fans. The added element of energy management and Attack Mode translates the real-life Formula E racing experience into the virtual world more accurately than ever before and tests the sim racers’ ability to master electric racing.”

ABB FORMULA E RACE AT HOME CHALLENGE DRIVER GRID WINNER
STOFFEL VANDOORNE said: “Formula E continues to create opportunities for fans and the next generation of racing drivers to get involved with the sport, and Formula E Accelerate will see a number of improvements that bring us closer to the real-life experience since our last event. Having won the ABB Formula E Race Home Challenge, I learnt how competitive and demanding it is to race at such a high standard on a regular basis. This time there will be an extra challenge, having to contend with the introduction of energy management and Attack Mode – something even I haven’t tried yet – so it will be interesting to see how drivers manage.”