Ahead of the NFL season, Bud Light announced that it will continue its tradition of NFL team-themed packaging with both cans and aluminum bottles specifically designed for fans. In total, there will be 28 new designs to celebrate 28 NFL teams across the country along with a special 36-pack with all 32 NFL teams represented. This year’s designfeatures each team logo as well as a catch phrase or rallying cry for each NFL franchise. Additionally, each can will feature Snapcodes that when consumers take a photo of them using Snapchat, it will unlock a chance to win Super Bowl LII tickets, an interactive Bud Bowl-style game and team-specific Snapchat filters.
The Presidents Cup and global partner Citi today announced the launch of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge seeking golfers and participants to drive a golf ball the 43,825,760 yards it takes to circle the globe. In honor of the challenge, Citi is donating enough to provide one million meals to No Kid Hungry. As part of the Citi activation, a mobile golf simulator will stop at iconic locations around New York and New Jersey. Participants will be able to hit golf balls into the simulated backdrops of New York City and New Jersey, including the 14th hole at this year’s Presidents Cup, and add to the total number of yards.
IMG College Licensing announced a multi-year extension of its partnership agreement with Southern Illinois University to continue managing the school’s trademark licensing program. The partnership will give SIU continued access to IMG College Licensing’s brand protection, management and development services through a comprehensive trademark licensing program customized by IMG.
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter program announced a five-year, $500,000 commitment to Little League Baseball and Softball, in support of its local districts and leagues across the country. “It’s our mission to provide more young athletes with the opportunity to play, learn and benefit from sports, including the great games of baseball and softball,” said Lauren Hobart, President of DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “We know sports teach kids valuable lessons they carry with them through life, and are thrilled this partnership will help more kids play, who otherwise may not have the resources to do so.”
Floyd Mayweather announced that – following the upcoming fight against Conor McGregor – he will subsequently launch a new global business venture titled Mayweather Boxing & Fitness. The flagship gym location will open this Fall in Southern California. In addition, Mayweather Boxing & Fitness will launch a mobile app and in-home Virtual Reality experience in a move to maximize audiences.
The AVP lined up its roster of sponsors for its official Manhattan Beach Open Presented by Acer. This year’s partners are set to include: Obrigado, Wild Horse, Nature’s Path, Kona Deep, Smarty Pants, Wilson, Boston Beer, Breville, Klenskin Sunscreen, Vionic Beach, Paramount & Co., Power Crunch, Rox Volleyball, Takeya, Frontier Communications, Twisted Tea, Breakwater Shades, Naked Juice, Otter Pops, Jolyn, Dulce Vida Tequila, Noosa Yoghurt, KT Tape, BreakWater, Paradise Bowls, T-Mobile, Bai, Terra Nation, Truly Sparkling Hard Water, Lenny & Larry’s, Maui Jim, Twill and La Colombe. The event runs through Sunday.
For the first time, NASCAR will live-stream an in-car camera on Twitter for all 10 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs races in 2017. Streaming begins with the first race of the NASCAR Playoffs at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 17 while fans can watch the full broadcast of the race at Chicagoland on NBCSN. In addition, on the same screen of the live stream, fans will find a real-time curated timeline of Tweets that capture the best of the NASCAR live conversation. “Through the in-car camera live stream on Twitter, our fans will have another compelling vantage point of the NASCAR Playoffs, where the energy and intensity of stage racing will be elevated to a whole new level,” said Steve Phelps, Executive Vice President and Chief Global Sales and Marketing Officer, NASCAR. “To provide this level of access on Twitter throughout the 10-week playoffs is a fantastic way to complement the viewing experience on NBC Sports and the NBC Sports app.”
Telemundo Deportes will use NBC Sports’ Playmaker Media to run its streaming coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and develop products designed to enhance the online experience around the tournament. Telemundo Deportes and Playmaker Media are also partnering to create direct-to-consumer sports streaming opportunities for audiences around the world.
Sinclair announced an agreement for YouTube TV to deliver Tennis Channel to all of its members in addition to the company’s affiliate stations. The Companies also expect YouTube TV to expand its offering to include Sinclair’s CW and MyNetwork TV stations, as well as the 24- hour science fiction channel, Comet TV.
Just ahead of SummerSlam at Barclays Center on Sunday, WWE is launching its official SummerSlam channel on GIPHY that allows fans to “relive and express themselves through some of their favorite SummerSlam moments from the past 30 years.” WWE/SummerSlam GIFs will be available on the official page and anywhere powered by GIPHY.
Nielsen turned on the ignition for Nielsen Esports, launching a new business vertical focused on competitive gaming that will “leverage the company’s expertise and leadership in media consumption and valuation.” The division will offer sponsorship valuation, fan insights, custom industry research and consulting services to rights holders, media platforms and brands around the world that are moving this fast-growing market forward. Stephen Master, Managing Director of Nielsen Sports North America, and Nicole Pike, Vice President of Nielsen Games, have expanded their current roles within the Nielsen Entertainment group to co-lead the global Nielsen Esports business.
Speaking of which, hear from Nielsen’s Stephen Master along with key execs from ESL, Twitch, the 76ers and more at the the Cynopsis Esports Master Class, a unique opportunity to pull back the curtain and experience for yourself what the competitive gaming industry is made of. Featuring not only lectures from some of the most successful executives in the space today, who will break down the ABCs of the business and its players, attendees will also go behind-the-scenes of ESL One New York at Barclays, and get your hands on some tickets to the weekend’s festivities for the largest esports tournament on the east coast (if you register early)! Get ahead of the learning curve and register today.
T-Mobile locked in new sponsorship deals with esports teams TSM and Cloud9, marking the first telecommunications partner for both of these organizations. “At Cloud9, we’re always looking for partners who are going to elevate us to the next level and we’ve found just that,” said Jack Etienne, Founder and CEO of Cloud9. “Partnering up with T-Mobile will allow us to work together on some really exciting projects that we can’t wait for the fans to see.” Meanwhile, TSM said in a statement that “We’ll work together on a number of moments throughout the year to give esports fans more access to the sport they love.”
In other sponsorship news, Scuf Gaming signed an extension as the official professional gaming controller partner of Major League Gaming and the Call of Duty World League. Kevin Flynn, Director, Call of Duty Esports stated that “We see our collaboration with Scuf Gaming as a natural fit and great opportunity to continue to push esports forward. We have consistently seen many CWL players and teams rely on their SCUF controllers in the heat of battle. We’re excited to continue our partnership.”
ELEAGUE delivers insight into the last moments of Team OG’s training in the third episode of its first-ever feature series ELEAGUE | Road To The International Dota 2 Championships tonight at 11p on TBS. The third episode of the four-part series will bring viewers inside the team dynamic of OG, one of the most storied squads in Dota 2 history, as the players conclude training and prepare to compete at The International 2017 in Seattle.
MLB Little League Classic on Sunday at 7p on ESPN.
