Events
Features
Driving While Dreaming
Terrence Burns, executive vice-president, Global Sports at Engine Shop, ponders on whatever happened to the IOC’s Candidate Cities process and its apparent replacement by a more pragmatic approach
“I am working on the Davis Cup 24/7. It is the project of my life” – Gerard Piqué
The first incarnation of the revamped Davis Cup finals is just two months away and Gerard Piqué, the president and founder of sports and media investment group Kosmos Holding, remains bullish that his plans to revive the historic men's team tennis tournament will prove a huge success. Story by Bob Williams.
‘Tournament ready’ Adare Manor primed to showcase Ryder Cup credentials
Ireland’s Adare Manor will stage the 2026 Ryder Cup following a complete overhaul of the golf course and renovation of the five-star resort. Colm Hannon, the venue’s chief executive, speaks to Martin Ross about the changes undertaken and challenges to be met before one of sport’s iconic events rolls into town.
RWC 2019: Great for Japan, but what does it mean for the rest of Asia?
The best rugby players on the planet are heading to Japan for the first Asian Rugby World Cup, but what impact will it have on the fan and player base across the continent – and the game’s commercial prospects? SportBusiness Asia editor Kelvin Tan reports.
Euroleague Basketball’s great leaps forward
In association with Euroleague Basketball
NHL eyes games outside European stronghold, primed for China return
The National Hockey League is looking to schedule international games in European growth markets in addition to the continent’s traditionally strong ice hockey markets and is planning to return to stage g…
World Bowling seeks companies to deliver WBX
World Bowling has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify partners, hosts, suppliers and agencies to aid the delivery of a new concept it hopes will appeal to the younger generation
Infantino talks up Women’s World League, Club World Cup
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has said he will continue to push for a new Women’s World League national team competition, despite seeing his original proposal blocked from within world football’s gov…
Sponsors sign on for Qatar’s World Beach Games
The 2019 World Beach Games local organising committee has unveiled a host of Qatari and international companies as partners and sponsors of the inaugural edition of the multi-sport event which takes place…
“The intention is that each team will eventually be independently owned” | Russell Coutts, SailGP
SailGP, the nation-versus-nation sailing league pioneered by Kiwi yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts and Oracle founder and chief executive Larry Ellison, made its British debut during Cowes week. SportBusiness spoke to Coutts after the event
State of the Union | World Rugby’s Brett Gosper on the World Cup and beyond
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper tell Kevin Roberts about his hopes for the impact and legacy of the showpiece 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan at the tail end of a year when plans for a global Nations Championship foundered on the rocks of resistance from the sport’s established nations.
Tokyo time for judo
The 2019 World Judo Championships in Tokyo will not only be the showcase event of the year in the sport; it will also provide a perfect launchpad for athletes, officials and fans ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games.
USA Rugby pins hopes on hosting Rugby World Cup after dodging bankruptcy in 2018
After almost going bankrupt in 2018 following the collapse of for-profit subsidiary Rugby International Marketing (RIM), USA Rugby is pinning its hopes on being awarded the 2027 or 2031 Rugby World Cup. Bob Williams examines how the sport is growing in the States.
Driverless cars and robot helpers | Tokyo looks to Olympics to promote technology and spark event hosting resurgence
Bradley Rial looks at how the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being used by Tokyo to illustrate the city’s resurgence as an event-hosting destination.
Esports and the city: How smaller European cities are transforming their image via video games
Callum McCarthy looks at the various ways in which lesser-known European host cities are benefiting from staging a variety of international esports competitions.
“Women’s football is about so much more than what happens on the pitch” | Fifa’s Sarai Bareman
SportBusiness speaks to Fifa's chief women’s football officer, Sarai Bareman, to get her reflections on the 2019 Women's World Cup in France and hear how she is hoping to leverage the momentum gained from that event to further develop women’s football around the world.
Asia at the forefront of tech-augmented mass participation runs
Asian engagement in mass participation running has increased by 169 per cent in the last five years. Kelvin Tan looks at how some of these events are now seeking differentiation through technology-led innovations, such as virtual and augmented-reality urban runs.
Twenty things we learned at the London Sports Decision Makers Summit
After launching in Miami this spring, the Sports Decision Makers Summit – from SportBusiness and Sportel – came to London's Rosewood hotel on July 9-10. This is what we learned from our expert speakers.
The business of a Tour de France team
As the Tour de France moves towards its conclusion in Paris, Kevin Roberts talks to Ralph Denk, team manager of the German Bora-Hansgrohe team about the business of running and funding an international cycling outfit.
Ligue 1 stages US games to attract new investors and bridge gap to Serie A and the Bundesliga
As France's Ligue 1 is staging a four-team tournament in Washington DC this week, Bob Williams looks at how it aims to expand its reach into the US and improve overseas media-rights income.
Queensland looks to the future
Queensland is reflecting on hosting the “best SportAccord ever” as it puts plans in place for a bright sports event-hosting future.
Gameday Experience panel highlights – SDMS London
Topics cover the planning behind the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, how the payments landscape is evolving at venues and what new technology can add to the experience of attending live events.
NBA uses Summer League to retain year-round relevance and extend its global footprint
Kim Bohuny, NBA senior vice-president of international basketball operations, spoke to Bob Williams about the Summer League's growing popularity and its increased role in the league's international expansion.
Brexit and Bribery Act cause Wimbledon to revamp its hospitality
The All England Club has expanded its hospitality offering and introduced a more flexible approach to attract smaller bookings and target high-net-worth individuals. Ben Cronin speaks to James Ralley, AELTC head of marketing and commercial, about the changes.
Budapest builds on the lessons from failed Olympic bid
Budapest has turned the setback of its unsuccessful 2024 Olympics bid into an opportunity that is driving growth and change across the city.
Le Tremplin accelerator program to incubate FXBALL
Le Tremplin the accelerator program that brings together key corporates and institutional players to develop the sports sector, has announced that it will incubate FXBALL in its latest selection of sports…
Kermode defends his ATP achievements following council coup
The decision by the ATP Council not to renew Chris Kermode's contract as ATP executive chairman and president caused surprise when it was announced in March. Ben Cronin speaks to the outgoing tennis chief about his record.
Australian Open grows attendances and revenues by 50 per cent after embracing “choice and entertainment” mantra
Richard Heaselgrave, Tennis Australia's chief revenue officer, tells Adam Nelson how pivoting the first grand slam of the tennis season away from tennis has helped the event to grow dramatically over the past five years.