| SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Richard Petty Motorsports locked in a multi-year partnership with Cash App to serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, driven by Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., for five events. In addition, the brand will also be an associate partner throughout the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) campaign. The partnership was secured by Leverage Agency. “Bubba Wallace is a once-in-a-generation talent and we are proud to partner with Richard Petty Motorsports to usher in this new era of racing,” Garrett McManus, artistic development lead for Cash App, said. “We stand with Bubba and we are thrilled to team-up on the next part of his journey.”
The Association of Volleyball Professionals announced a new partnership with Porsche Cars North America. The 2020 agreement includes automotive category exclusivity, Porsche Key Performance Match Statistics and logo inclusion on the stadium signage. In addition, AVP will have the new Porsche Cayenne Coupe model on display and branding on all digital tournament assets.
World TeamTennis saw Guaranteed Rate sign on as the Official Mortgage Sponsor of World TeamTennis for the regular season and postseason. Their sponsorship includes on-court signage and the post-match Player of The Match interview.
Mazda renewed its sponsorship of Spain’s LaLiga for another two years, extending its agreement through the end of the 2022-23 season. Mazda became a sponsor of LaLiga ahead of the 2015-16 season, w
DIGITAL, DATA & TECH
AEG entered into a strategic new marketing partnership with fantasy sports gaming platform Monkey Knife Fight. The deal sees MKF named the exclusive fantasy sports partner of the LA Kings (NHL) and the LA Galaxy (MLS) and an official partner of the Ontario Reign (AHL). The deal also marks MKF’s first partnerships with an NHL, MLS and AHL franchise. MKF will have an enhanced brand presence for both popular Los Angeles teams’ venues and online media channels. For the LA Kings, MKF will have a premiere corner in-ice logo, which will be featured during all regular season home games at STAPLES Center. MKF will also receive digital scoreboard and LED stadium ribbon board signage during all LA Galaxy regular season home games at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Entercom, home of RADIO.COM, announced a strategic programming partnership with Twitch, to bring live video simulcasts of sports talk programs to Twitch and its 17.5 million daily users. Initially, live video streaming of leading RADIO.COM Sports stations from six major markets across the country will be accessible to Twitch users via individually tailored, branded station channels, such as WEEI in Boston, WFAN 101.9 FM/660 AM in New York, 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, 670 The Score in Chicago, 92.9 The Game in Atlanta and 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit.
EA SPORTS and Real Madrid inked a multi-year renewal to their partnership in which EA SPORTS will remain the exclusive Official Video Games Partner of Real Madrid. “Strategic partnerships like this one with Real Madrid are crucial to our vision to grow the love of sport, and in this case, global football worldwide,” said Nick Wlodyka, Vice President & GM, EA SPORTS FIFA. “Real Madrid C. F. is one of the most iconic and successful clubs in the world and we look forward to offering the most authentic, innovative and interactive Real Madrid FIFA experience to fans for years to come.”
The Professional Fighters League announced a long-term marketing and technology partnership with Acronis, which specializes in cyber protection. The multi-year partnership focuses on cyber protection for the league’s data, applications and systems. Additionally, Acronis will provide PFL with media archive tools to manage increased content produced by PFL Studios, a newly formed division with an emphasis on MMA, PFL and individual fighter stories for television, as well as digital and mobile platforms. Acronis will also equip PFL with brand analytical tools utilizing AI and Machine Learning capabilities, helping the league measure the value of brand integration for sponsors.
ACX Music announced a new licensing agreement with UFC in which the brand will serve as the “Official Sound of UFC.” As part of this partnership, ACX will launch UFC Ultimate Sound, a new music streaming app designed specifically for UFC fans around the world and allowing fighters the opportunity to directly connect with fans around the world through music and content. “It’s all about bridging a gap between fans and their favorite sport. With UFC Ultimate Sound, we can finally connect fans and fighters on a new level. Music brings people together and we’ve given them a place to meet. Every mix is inspired by UFC and the fighters and curated by music professionals. Working closely together with UFC, we feel UFC Ultimate Sound is the first step in a new direction for both the music industry and professional sports,” said Svein Sorgard, ACX Music CEO.
ESPORTS
Ubisoft unlocked a new initiative for its Rainbow Six Circuit. Partnering with FACEIT, the company is launching the Rainbow Six Collegiate Program for registered students across the US and Canada. Each Collegiate Club starts with a Club Leader, who will work with our Community team to help cultivate a Championship League and Recreational Teams within their school; more details on the leagues below. Each club has a chance at earning prizes from Rainbow Six and Ubisoft as well as with the program’s Collegiate partner, CORSAIR.
Golf’s The Open is opening the doors for The e-Open, with Mastercard on-board as a presenting partner. The tournament will leverage Topgolf’s World Golf Tour, a free online gaming platform that will enable its 28 million users to play for a chance to win an exclusive trip to The 149th Open in 2021 with flights, hotels, and tickets fully compensated.
ESL announced that the 2020 ESL One Cologne CS:GO event will go online. “After a thorough evaluation we’ve concluded that ESL One Cologne 2020 powered by Intel will transition to an Online Tournament.” the company stated, “The decision was made after extensive research and understanding of global travel regulations and individual national guidelines.” They event will now be split into four separate regions, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia with the $500,000 prize pool proportionally split into each of the regions.
REV TV Canada, Canada’s motorsports network, announced that the eNASCAR Heat Pro League will debut on REV TV Canada starting Monday at 7:30p. “With success, REV TV Canada has aired Road to Indy, Mazda MX5 Cup, the Virtual 24 hours of Le Mans and the Virtual 2020 Race of Champions and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League is a welcome addition to our commitment to bring new racing content to our loyal viewers during this unique time” said Mike Garrow President of REV TV Canada. “It has been an honour to once again work with Motorsport Games who have been at the forefront in delivering innovative and compelling content.”
INDUSTRY & ROSTER MOVES
Panini America and CLC inked a long-term extension of the exclusive licensing relationship that began in 2015. The announcement means that Panini America will maintain the exclusive rights to use collegiate imagery and marks for officially licensed sports trading cards for CLC partner institutions participating in the program.
SPORTS BROADCAST JOURNAL w/David J. Halberstam
NHL Announcers call games remotely and no crowd noise and no fans
When the NHL resumes and heads right into the Stanley Cup playoffs, the announcers will face two oddities, empty stands and broadcasting from remote facilities. The Penguins’ Mike Lange, NHL broadcast Hall of Famer was asked what it would be like, he quipped, “The real redeeming value is it’s a shorter walk to the bathroom.”
Halby’s Morsels; MNF, Steve Levy, Al Michaels, Nick/Lou Saban, Woj, Maria Taylor, Howard Cosell, John Sterling
We’re in middle of July and ESPN has still not announced its Monday Night Football crew. It’s becoming quite apparent that the network is waiting for some sort of a resolution as to what will happen with the college season. If the seasoned is shortened, cancelled or moved to the spring, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will likely move over to do the NFL. That would be too bad because Steve Levy and Brian Griese deserve the gig.
The media world then vs. today
Jayson Stark, Sally Jenkins, Ken Rosenthal, Jackie MacMullan and Paul Sullivan other prominent sportswriters compare the demands for writers in pre-digital days to today. Stark: “It’s hard to remember ‘then’ anymore, and it makes me laugh just to think about that. “You know what was required before this 24/7 media world we live in now? Patience. If you were breaking a story then, there was no way to reach the masses until the next edition of the newspaper – or, even if you were a broadcaster, the next show.”
MLB All Star Game in 1970, 50 years ago did a 28.5 rating. Last season, it did a 5.0
The All Star Game scheduled for this past Tuesday at Dodger Stadium was a victim of Covid-19. In the days before every game anywhere was available somewhere at the touch of a finger, the ASG gave fans an unrivaled opportunity to watch the best on one field in a two and a half hour span. Think Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose and Don Drysdale all one field and free on TV. Check out the highlights of key Mid-Summer Classics, beginning with the first in 1933. It’s an entertaining history
Happy Birthdays and many happy returns:
Slick Leonard, July 17 Indiana Pacers radio
Verne Lundquist, July 17 CBS, Golf
Charley Steiner, July 17 Dodgers radio
Jim Donovan, July 17 Cleveland Browns radio
Jeff Rimer, July 18 Columbus Blue Jackets TV
Jayson Stark, July 19 Senior baseball writer, The Athletic
Curt Menefee, July 22 FOX Sports, Host
Rick Jeanneret, July 23 Buffalo Sabres, Radio/TV
Shannon Spake, July 23 FOX Sports, NASCAR
Sports Broadcast Journal |
