Media
JOHN FEEHAN, chief executive of rugby union’s Six Nations, called for the “de-listing” of the competition from UK legislation protecting major sporting events for free-to-air coverage. The legislation, according to Feehan, causes a lack of competition as it is not possible for a pay-television broadcaster to have exclusive rights to the event which impacts the rights fee.
Personnel
FRASER WISHART, chief executive of the Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association, criticised the SFA’s handling of the incident that saw players Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor banned from international duty. Wishart said the players found out their Scotland careers were over through the media as opposed to any direct communication from the SFA.
DAVE RYAN left his post as sporting director at Formula One1 team McLaren, in the wake of the storm caused by the team deliberately misleading F1 stewards.
BARONESS FORD was named as the chair of the newly-created 2012 legacy delivery company which will be charged with securing a lasting legacy for the Olympic Park after the Games have finished.
Events
CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president Jack Warner was announced as a keynote speaker at the Leaders in Football convention, taking place this October 7 and 8 at Chelsea FC.
DAVID HAYE’s world heavyweight boxing title fight against Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko will take place at the stadium of German football club Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen. The venue holds 61,000 people and has a retractable roof.
THE ALL-BLACKS will finish their European tour with a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 5, annuonced the Rugby Football Union said on Tuesday. The All Blacks will play Italy, England and France in November before facing the invitational team for the ninth time and fifth at Twickenham.
Marketing
THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP announced a new partnership deal with Powerleague, which will see the 5-a-side football centre operator become an official partner.
MAXIMUSCLE agreed a deal to be the official sports food and drink supplier of the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa this summer.
BETFRED agreed a four-year, £2 million deal to sponsor the World Snooker Championships. Existing sponsor, gaming company 888, will not renew its deal which ended after last year's tournament.
LV=, the insurer, agreed a four-year extension of its title sponsorship of English cricket’s County Championship, running until the end of the 2012 season. LV=, formerly known as Liverpool Victoria, has sponsored the competition since 2002, for the first four years under its Frizzell brand. The deal was brokered by the Brand Rapport agency.
WIMBLEDON issued debenture tickets for the 2011 to 2015 period which should raise £59.5 million in revenues. The debenture tickets, for sale at £27,750 each for the duration of the period, give the right to a reserved seat on Centre Court for every day of the annual tennis championships.
Finance
FAST TRACK, the agency, was appointed by the LTA and its lead partner AEGEON to
promote British tennis over the next two years, including developing and delivering a PR strategy for the sport, and marketing events. Fast Track will also work to profile and raise awareness of life assurance and pensions company AEGON and its contribution to the development of tennis.
DELOITTE reassured UK football clubs that ticket sales can be maintained during the recession with careful planning around pricing. Senior figures at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said that there was a still a high desire to see live football, and the ‘exceptional’ levels of customer loyalty among football fans who buy tickets will see ticket sales stay strong.
SETANTA SPORTS held fresh talks with private equity firms in a bid to raise up to £100 million to support the business, which will lose one of its packages of English Premier League television rights after the 2009-10 season.
PORTSMOUTH FC announced losses of £16.7m for the 2007-08 financial year, despite winning the FA Cup. The loss was nearly £7m less than the previous year and the club said it is on course to break-even by the time its Fratton Park stadium is redeveloped to accommodate 30,000 fans by the 2010-11 season.
SOUTHAMPTON FC sponsor Flybe guaranteed its support for the club until the end of the season, but was reported by the Southern Daily Echo newspaper to be considering axing its £250,000-a-year support next season.
THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE commissioned an independent enquiry into the finances of Southampton FC, in order to make a decision whether the club should be docked points after its parent company was placed into administration.
