Americas

US Major League Baseball franchise the St. Louis Cardinals has secured commercial partnerships with Missouri-based car hire company National Car Rental and sports goods retailer Academy Sports + Outdoors.

ActivePDF, a provider of server-based PDF automation tools, has opted to extend its sponsorship of NHL ice hockey franchise the Anaheim Ducks.

US healthcare and pharmaceutical brand Abbott has built on its title sponsorship of the World Marathon Majors by striking a deal to become an official sponsor of the Boston Marathon.

Soft drinks and snack food giant PepsiCo has signed a multi-year marketing partnership with the NBA, replacing rival brand Coca-Cola on the commercial roster of the North American basketball league.

Major League Soccer has signed its latest major sponsorship deal, with Coca-Cola replacing long-serving PepsiCo as the non-alcoholic beverage partner of the North American league and the U.S. Soccer organisation.

Chinese consumer electronics brand Hisense is focusing on the US, Western Europe and Australia as it looks to use sponsorship to increase awareness outside its home market of China.

Multinational oil and gas company Shell is using motorsport as a platform to showcase its products.

Japanese tyre manufacturer Toyo Tires has entered into a partnership with Major League Baseball franchise the Boston Red Sox.

German automotive giant Audi has secured a long-term partnership renewal with Major League Baseball team New York Yankees.

Canadian communications group Quebecor has secured the naming rights to the new Quebec City Arena for its Videotron cable and wireless business.

US-based Southwest Airlines has moved to expand its presence in Major League Baseball by entering into a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

US sportswear manufacturer Under Armour has signed a multi-year partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s athletics programme.

Brazilian company Viton 44 has struck a deal for its Guaraviton drinks brand to become a partner of recently promoted Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top-tier football club Vasco da Gama.

New Balance has continued its expansion in football through a kit deal for the Costa Rica national team.

Online fantasy sports company DraftKings has agreed a multi-year extension to its partnership with Major League Baseball, which has also renewed terms with four of its leading on-field apparel providers.

South Korean tire manufacturer Nexen Tire has opted to extend its partnership with North American Major League Baseball franchises the LA Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and the LA Angels.

MLB baseball franchise the Detroit Tigers has agreed a multiyear sponsorship deal with US tyre manufacturer Falken Tire.

The Panama Football Federation (FEPAFUT) has signed its second major commercial deal in the space of a week after becoming US sportswear company New Balance’s first national team partner.