Asia-Pacific
Smirnoff: Along for the ride with Force India
Diageo-owned vodka brand Smirnoff has committed the lion’s share of its global sponsorship budget for this year to a one-year major partner deal with the Force India F1 team. The deal was announced on May 1, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth race of the Formula One season.
Western Union: Europa League provides testing ground for far-reaching brand
The global appeal of football is central to payment services company Western Union’s deal with the Uefa Europa League but the brand is considering refining its portfolio to reach more consumers in North America and Asia, Marc Audrit, vice president, global brand for Western Union told Sports Sponsorship Insider.
Triathlon goes for local gains to offset global losses
The International Triathlon Union, triathlon’s world governing body, has seen a moderate rise in sponsorship revenue associated with its flagship ITU World Triathlon Series, despite a decline in revenue from its global partnership deals.
Herbalife: Product authenticity at the forefront of strategy
Active engagement with its products in order to create authenticity and improve the brand’s reputation in sport is the key driver behind nutrition company Herbalife’s sponsorship programme, Brian McKinley, senior director of corporate alliances at Herbalife, told Sports Sponsorship Insider.
SAP and the Extreme Sailing Series
Stefan Lacher, head of technology, sponsorships for technology company SAP, speaks to Sports Sponsorship Insider about the brand's work in the Extreme Sailing Series.
MasterCard: Consumer-based marketing for business to business operations
Payment systems company MasterCard is using its sports sponsorships as part of a consumer-based marketing strategy despite a lack of direct consumer operations, Ann Cairns, president, international markets for MasterCard, told Sports Sponsorship Insider.
Unibet fights for greater market share with UFC
Online betting company Unibet will be the Official Betting Partner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organisation under a two-year deal, from March 2014 to March 2016.
Reports from sponsorship industry event the ESA Summit 2014
Global banking brand Barclays has refocused the strategy for its title sponsorship of the English Premier League this season on brand engagement rather than media delivery, according to David Wheldon, Barclays head of brand, reputation and citizenship.
Sponsorship deals from March 20 to April 15
A round-up of the key sponsorship deals signed around the world
Martini Racing’s return marks shift in Bacardi strategy
The Bacardi drinks group is switching the emphasis of its marketing strategy from above-the-line advertising to sponsorship and experiential-based marketing in a move led by the return of Martini Racing to Formula One motorsport as title sponsor of the Williams F1 team.
Liberty Mutual Group: Working with global and national sponsorship partners
Boston-based global insurance company Liberty Mutual Group has a diversified and varied portfolio of sponsorship assets and partnerships in 26 different markets around the world. Its Irish division is using an innovative sponsorship around Gaelic sports to show its commitment in a new market.
Chinese entrants raise AFC club competition revenues
The Asian Football Confederation is generating between $18m (€13.1m) and $20m per year from Official Sponsors for its club competitions from 2014, in the 2013-16 cycle, following the addition of a second Chinese brand in as many months, construction machinery manufacturer Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery (SDLG).
Rugby World Cup seeks full house of top-tier renewals
Barclays’ Premier League deal has “run its course”
Arena outbids Speedo to land major Fina deal
Coca-Cola, Gillette, Citigroup and Sony circle McLaren
Soft drinks brand Coca-Cola, razor brand Gillette, financial services company Citigroup and electronics company Sony have shown interest in the McLaren Mercedes F1 Team title sponsorship, but the team may wait until the entry of its new engine partner Honda in 2015 before signing a deal.
McDonald’s: High-end global sponsorships call on global resources
Fast food restaurant McDonald’s’ franchisee programme sees each store contribute a cash fee to the brand’s global sponsorships of the Olympic Games and the World Cup, Thomas Truttmann, head of sports at McDonald’s Europe told Sports Sponsorship Insider.