Europe
Agencies on the rise
This month’s Sports Sponsorship Insider looks at the work of the biggest agency in winter sports, Infront Sports and Media, as they create a new combined commercial programme for the Vierschanzentournee (Four Hills Tournament) and the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) annual Ski Jumping World Cup.
Four Hills and World Cups combined in new ski jumping package from 2014-15
Infront Sports & Media has tied the marketing rights to the Vierschanzentournee - Four Hills Tournament - ski jumping events with around 15 other events to create a new commercial programme for the International Ski Federation’s annual Ski Jumping World Cup.
Valencia teams up with MotoGP’s Aspar
Spanish Liga football team Valencia has entered into a commercial agreement with Spanish MotoGP motor cycling team Aspar.
Countdown to the ESA Awards – the Multi-national contenders
Audi, McDonald’s, Standard Chartered and SAP are the shortlisted brands in the “Multi-national” sponsorship category for the 2013 ESA Excellence Awards to be decided this month.
Countdown to the ESA Awards – the Rights Holder contenders
AEG, British Athletics and What Car? are the shortlisted brands in the “Rights Holder” sponsorship category for the 2013 ESA Excellence Awards to be decided this month.
Arsenal switches from Nike to Puma in record deal
English Premier League football club Arsenal has announced a new long-term partnership with German sportswear company Puma, bringing an end to a 20-year relationship with Nike.
British and German athletics federations diverge on sponsorship impact of hosting major events
British Athletics, the UK governing body for athletics, and its German counterpart, the Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband (DLV), have given mixed responses to the question of whether hosting upcoming World and European Championships have helped generate increased sponsorship revenue.
BP targets change in brand perception as International Paralympic Committee partner
Brand perception is at the forefront of energy company BP’s decision to become an International Partner of the International Paralympic Committee, Mike Sharrock, partnership director for Olympics and Paralympics at BP, told Sports Sponsorship Insider this month.
Emirates extends association with Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup Limited has appointed the Emirates airline as a worldwide partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and the 2019 tournament in Japan.
Head aces Tennis Europe extension
Sports equipment manufacturer Head has signed a two-year extension to its partnership with the Tennis Europe governing body.
Coral backs darts’ UK Open
The Professional Darts Corporation has reached a deal to make bookmaker Coral the title sponsor of its 2014 UK Open tournament.
Countdown to the ESA Awards – the Social Media contenders
RaboDirect, Kellogg’s Krave, Volkswagen, Aviva and RBS are the shortlisted brands in the Social Media sponsorship category for the 2013 ESA Excellence Awards to be decided this month.
Vauxhall strengthens UK football presence with Liverpool partnership
Vauxhall Motors has added to its UK football sponsorship portfolio with a deal to become the official automotive partner of English Premier League club Liverpool.
Red Bull Racing gives more time to Casio
The Red Bull Formula One motor-racing team has announced a two-year extension to its sponsorship deal with watch manufacturer Casio.
Borussia Dortmund connects with Unitymedia
Cable television and broadband provider Unitymedia KabelBW has reached an agreement to become a ‘champion partner’ of German Bundesliga football team Borussia Dortmund.
Wolfsburg to replace Adidas with Kappa
German football team VfL Wolfsburg has agreed a kit manufacturing deal with Italian sportswear brand Kappa, effective from the 2014-15 Bundesliga season.
Monster rides again with MotoGP
Energy drinks brand Monster has expanded its involvement in MotoGP after agreeing a deal with the motor cycling series’ commercial rights holder Dorna Sports.
McLaren extends with Santander, brings legal firm on board
The McLaren Mercedes Formula One motor-racing team has extended its long-term sponsorship deal with Spanish banking group Santander and entered into a new corporate partnership with legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright.