Finance & Law
Court rules FC Barcelona must abide by Nike contract
Nike is one of the club’s three top-tier sponsors, but president Joan Laporta in March ramped up the pressure on its kit supplier to either quit or pay more.
TGI Sport tightens grip on virtual ad market with Supponor buy-out
TGI Sport, the tech-led sports media and marketing agency part owned by Bruin-Capital, has tightened its grip on the virtual advertising sector in a deal to acquire leading technology provider Supponor.
Stage Front exit leaves Espanyol eyeing new stadium sponsor, legal action
RCD Espanyol has terminated its stadium sponsorship deal with Stage Front and is readying legal action, over allegations of non-payment and breach of contract against the US ticketing and hospitality company.
‘Cash flow challenges’ prompt Paris 2024 loan to Le Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif has taken a €2.9m ($3.1m) loan from the Paris 2024 organising committee to help ensure provision of kit at the Games and as a result of what owner Airesis describes as “operational cash flow challenges” for the sportswear brand.
Uralkali claims legal victory over Haas F1 title sponsorship termination
Former Haas Formula 1 title sponsor Uralkali, the Russian fertiliser producer, has been awarded compensation by a Swiss arbitration tribunal following the termination of its contract at the outbreak of…
VaideBet terminates record Corinthians deal amid corruption probe
Just six months after announcing a record shirt sponsorship deal with Corinthians, online betting company VaideBet has ended the agreement amid an ongoing anti-corruption investigation involving the Brazilian football club.
Studhalter US sanctions list removal affords Highlight ‘legal certainty’
Highlight Communications, the parent company of the Team Marketing agency, has been delivered a boost with the removal of major investor Alexander Studhalter from the US Office of Foreign Assets sanctions…
Red Bull invests in Leeds stake, shirt sponsorship
Red Bull has extended its multi-club ownership portfolio into English football by acquiring a minority stake in Leeds United.
Administration spells final death knell for ‘scattergun’ Cazoo sponsorship model
News of the administration at Cazoo, the online car dealer which once listed on the New York Stock Exchange with an $8bn valuation, deals a final blow to the remnants of an already decimated sponsorship portfolio.
Deferred income from FMA termination helps AFC surpass $200m media rights total
Broadcast rights revenue at the Asian Football Confederation totalled $206.1m (€190m) in 2023 but with 69 per cent of the figure stemming from deferred income related to the termination of an agency agreement with Football Marketing Asia (FMA).
Under Armour set for layoffs amid sharp revenue drop
Back at the helm, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank says the company is "seizing this critical moment to make proactive decisions" for its future.
Doku group wins legal battle in Panini image rights case
Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku and three French players have won another battle for control of image rights in France – this time in a dispute with the country’s players union and the Panini sticker company.
Sponsorship revenue to beat Paris 2024 targets; football ticket sales lag
Paris 2024 is confident ongoing talks with brands across the country will result in sponsorship revenue for this summer’s Olympic Games exceeding the already revised upwards target of €1.24bn ($1.34bn).
New York and Florida join lawsuit against NCAA, as federal case looms
The US states of New York and Florida have joined a legal complaint against the NCAA for its continuing attempts to prohibit marketing contracts for athletes at the recruitment stage.
FC Porto sells off portion of stadium commercial rights for €65m
Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Porto has agreed a 25-year deal with Spanish company Ithaka to sell 30 per cent of the economic rights to its Dragão stadium in return for a €65m ($69.2m) investment.
New sponsors drive Mercedes F1 revenue growth
New sponsorship deals have been the main driver of revenue growth for the Mercedes Formula 1 team after it announced record turnover of £546.5m (€640m/$681m) for 2023.
In-game digital buys becoming key revenue stream for esports teams
A shift in the esports revenue distribution model away from prioritising sponsorship to focus more on in-game digital purchases is set to become the new norm, industry experts have predicted.
Elevate acquires Fenway Sports’ consulting arm
Elevate has fully acquired Fenway Sports Management's Consulting Group, taking over the Boston-based company's client list and nine-person staff