United Kingdom

Stobart Stadium Halton, the home of English top tier rugby league club Widnes Vikings, is to be renamed under an initial three-year naming rights deal with Select Security Services.

Unilever has agreed a deal with British Athletics to become an advertising partner of this year’s Sainsbury’s Summer Series.

English Premier League side Sunderland has unveiled BFS Group as its new principal partner and shirt sponsor from the 2013-14 season.

Virgin Money will pay £4m (€4.7m/$6.1m) per year over five years, 2013 to 2017, for the London Marathon title sponsorship rights, an uplift of 17.6 per cent on the previous £3.4m-per-year deal made by Virgin Enterprises in 2008.

Threadneedle Investments has agreed to a partnership with the 2013 World Triathlon Grand Final, which takes place in London in September.

Premiership Rugby has agreed a three-year extension to Aviva’s title sponsorship of English rugby union’s top-tier league.

Virgin Media has agreed a deal to become the fourth official partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Longines has expanded its relationship with Ascot Racecourse by agreeing an initial five-year deal to become an official partner of the venue until at least 2017.

Luxury hotel group Jumeirah has agreed a three-year deal with the Masters Tennis event to become its official hotel partner.

Guinness has agreed new partnerships with the Welsh Rugby Union and the English Rugby Football Union.

Kent County Cricket Club has agreed a naming rights deal with Shepherd Neame to rebrand its home ground.

Oakley has agreed a deal to become the official supplier of eyewear at this year’s edition of the PGA Championship golf tournament.

Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Stewart Regan has said the uncertainty over the restructuring of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) is impacting on the attempt to attract a new title sponsor for the league.

Manchester United has received a record broadcast payment of £60.8m for the 2012-13 Premier League season.

William Hill has agreed a deal with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to continue its title sponsorship of the Scottish Cup club competition until 2016.

The FA has agreed a four-year deal for Continental Tyres to become an official supporting partner of the National Football Centre. 

DHL has agreed a deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to become the naming rights partner for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Scottish politician Bob Doris has encouraged his government to consider hosting the 2021 World Masters Games.