Events
Features
Abu Dhabi to use UFC ‘Fight Island’ as a pilot project for sealed spectator events
Abu Dhabi is using UFC's 'Fight Island' as a pilot project to determine if it can expand the event's 'safety bubble' model to include spectators. SportBusiness speaks to Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, executive director of tourism and marketing for the city's Department of Culture and Tourism.
Protracted return for professional sport in China
Tom King looks at how China is getting its sporting calendar back on track, and how the global health crisis has affected some of the weaker industry players in the country.
UFC Fight Island: Stringent testing underpins Abu Dhabi event
The Abu Dhabi government has turned the majority of Yas Island into a ten-square-mile safe zone just for the UFC, with each of the 2,500 people on site being tested for Covid-19 on five separate occasions during their stay.
United Soccer League ready to lay down “bold” marker with local market strategy
USL executive vice president Court Jeske speaks to SportBusiness about the opportunities and challenges of the USL Championship's return in home venues amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
#Sport4Recovery aims to unite stakeholders and push for sport’s safe return
Last month, the Infront agency announced the launch of its new initiative, #Sport4Recovery. Adam Nelson speaks to some of the founding partners of the programme about how the scheme aims to highlight the social and health benefits of sport as well as the economic ones.
Kolkata and Goa emerge as Covid-19 safe football hubs
Indian football’s I-League is set to follow the top tier Indian Super League in playing its next season in one location.
Rugby Australia makes private-equity offer to smooth NZR talks
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has said he will offer New Zealand Rugby a bigger slice of any private equity investment in a revamped Super Rugby, as part of ongoing talks between the unions…
Round-Up: True threatens FAT, ITTF worlds postponed again, WTA ‘hopeful’ on China tournaments, and more
Thai pay-television broadcaster TrueVisions is threatening not to show the end of the extended Thai League 1 football season, and is demanding a reduction in its rights fees for the competition
MLS suffers fresh blow as Toronto FC-DC United game is postponed for second time
Major League Soccer suffered a fresh blow over the weekend after a scheduled game between Toronto DC and DC United at the MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida, was postponed for the second time
Cricket beyond Covid | Connor, McCrum and Gould on the potential for a Women’s IPL
In the final part of our Cricket beyond Covid virtual roundtable, Clare Connor, managing director of women's cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Jake Lush McCrum, chief operating officer…
Asia-Pacific industry reacts to the award of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Asia-Pacific sports industry insiders react to the award of the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup to Australia and New Zealand.
Cricket Beyond Covid | Connor, Gould and McCrum on the postponement of The Hundred
In part 2 of our cricket roundtable interview with Clare Connor, managing director of Women's cricket at the ECB, Jake Lush McCrum, chief operations officer for the Rajasthan Royals and Richard Gould,…
Jon Tibbs: Olympic federations proving adept at imagining the new normal
Jon Tibbs, founder and chairman of sports communications agency, Jon Tibbs Associates, thinks some of the good habits and innovative thinking Olympic federations have adopted during the Covid-19 lockdown could endure long after the crisis.
Cricket beyond Covid | Connor, Gould and McCrum on dealing with the pandemic
In part 1 of a three-part interview, Matthew Williams speaks with managing director of women's cricket at the ECB, Clare Connor, Rajasthan Royals chief operating officer Jake Lush McCrum and Surrey County…
Major sporting events to bear scars of Covid-19 pandemic “for a decade”
Major sporting events are likely to bear the scars of the Covid-19 pandemic for the majority of the coming decade, though in the long-term the sector should recover to full health, experts believe.
Japanese sport sets out on the long road back
Japan’s biggest domestic sports league, Nippon Professional Baseball, commenced its 2020 season on June 19 following a three-month delay due to Covid-19.
Joe Carr | Take an unfortunate situation and create opportunity
Action sports media company Thrill One Sports & Entertainment launched in January, just ahead of the pandemic which brought most live sport to a grinding halt. Chief executive Joe Carr tells SportBusiness how Covid-19 impacted on the new company’s event business and how its creative digital strategy has served to increase reach and deepen engagement with fans.
“Nothing should be off the table” | Commonwealth Games’ Grevemberg on major events after the pandemic
The CGF's chief executive tells Adam Nelson that collaboration and innovation will be crucial as events owners and organisers look to navigate the post-Covid-19 landscape.
Singapore focuses on return on investment as city’s Covid-19 recovery plan gathers pace
Singapore’s biggest annual sporting event, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, has become a casualty of the pandemic, but as a regional hub for major sports agencies and with a track record of hosting major events, ‘destination Singapore’ is preparing to welcome back sport with a cost-conscious approach.
“It’s like having a Summer Olympics” | Orlando prepares for the arrival of NBA and MLS
Florida city ready to capitalize on its position as the epicenter of professional sports in the US this summer to rejuvenate its tourism industry and secure major sporting events. Bob Williams reports
“There’s going to be a strong trend towards localisation” | Andrew Messick, Ironman
Ironman Group chief executive Andrew Messick talks about the three steps the world's largest mass participation business has taken to minimise commercial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
MLB looks for audience lift in reformatted Draft
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic helped lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of rounds for the MLB Draft. But the league and its media partners are still hoping for lift among a competition-starved fan base
Charles Schwab ready to seize its moment in spotlight as PGA Tour makes return
Multi-national financial services company will gain huge reach as the title sponsor of the first event back on the PGA Tour in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, writes Bob Williams
World TeamTennis poised to set significant precedent for staging events in front of fans
Mixed-gender professional tennis league will hold its entire season at The Greenbrier in West Virginia this summer, becoming one of the first sports events in US to be held in front of limited spectators. Bob Williams reports.
Legal challenges ‘inevitable’ after pandemic leaves mark on football calendar
As the end of May approaches and the Premier League continues to work on ‘Project Restart’, Adam Nelson examines the legal issues facing English football’s operating bodies as they push for football’s return.
Pro League’s roaring audience growth is welcome damage limitation for ESL
Even as Covid-19 took a terrible toll on ESL’s event business, it helped the 11th season of the Pro League become the most viewed in its history. Callum McCarthy reports on how organisers put the event together despite the pandemic, and what its success suggests for esports' wider outlook.
Success of Digital Swiss 5 points way toward cycling’s hybrid future
The Digital Swiss 5 virtual cycling series launched in April, drawing significant audiences from around the world. It may point the way toward a more digital future for the sport as it navigates its way out of the Covid-19 crisis. Adam Nelson reports.
Premier Lacrosse League embraces structural flexibility to salvage 2020 season
The Premier Lacrosse League has become the latest tour-based model to announce its comeback from the Cobid-19 shutdown. PLL chief operating officer Andrew Sinnenberg tells Bob Williams the opportunities and challenges of staging the PLL Championship Series.