Business

The strength of the Manchester United brand continues to reach out globally - with youngsters in Australia ranking the team above their home-grown sport stars.

BSkyB has launched a new series of football pub quizzes in the UK in an attempt to help licensees increase revenues during the World Cup.

New Zealand's hopes of co-hosting the 2003 Rugby World Cup are still alive, the NZ government said today.

Steve Dixon - the Kirch Sport chief executive who recently quit the company - is taking legal action against his former employers.

The Orange Bowl Parade, a 62-year New Year's Eve tradition linked to one of America's premier college football games, is dead, the victim of money woes and a television blackout, organisers have said.

Building of the new Wembley Stadium looked increasingly likely after funding for a new Underground station by the arena was yesterday guaranteed.

The man perceived by many as the most powerful man in US college sports has retired.

Wembley plc, the gaming group and former owner of Wembley Stadium, has sold its Keith Prowse hospitality business to a management buyout for £5.5million ($7.8m/EUR8.9m).

Brewer Carlsberg is reportedly on the verge of signing a £40million ($57m/EUR65m), four-year sponsorship deal with the Football Association (FA).

Australian officials, desperate to avoid the 2003 World Cup being moved to the northern hemisphere, have met with International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh to discuss their plans to host the tournament.

A consortium which has bought assets of the defunct Prost team will not be allowed to race at this Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix or any Formula One race this year.

Independent bookmaker Victor Chandler is looking to boost awareness of its World Cup betting facilities through two high-profile advertising deals.

LiquidSeats, the US-based secondary ticketing services company, has attracted a group of high-profile investors for a new round of financing.

Global consumer brand giant Unilever has criticised the sponsorship industry and told it to wise up or face missing out on a $4billion (EUR4.58bn) sponsorship cash pot it is looking to invest.

Marketing, management and events group Benchmark Sport has launched a new sponsorship division to enhance its position in the sport marketplace.

UK-based sports sponsorship and marketing company Sporting Frontiers has launched the William Hill Eye, an aerial camera system that will be launched at Cheltenham.