Sponsorship & Marketing

The man who formulated FIFA’s first major global marketing campaign has warned soccer’s governing body it may be biting off more than it can chew by taking its rights in-house, sportbusiness.com can reveal.

Miami-based investment company the Astri Group has joined the ownership group of new NBA franchise the Charlotte Bobcats.

Swimwear giant Speedo has signed an endorsement deal with US world record holder Natalie Coughlin.

The chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) corporate affairs and marketing advisory committee has quit its management board as the row over England’s proposed tour to Zimbabwe continues.

English Premier League club Everton is offering its fans a branded mortgage service.

BMW has extended its partnership with sailing’s Oracle Racing – and cemented its long-term commitment to yacht racing.

UK Athletics says it is hunting a second major commercial partner after reshuffling its rights.

The stadium naming rights deal in Europe is finally coming of age, according to major new research.

UK sport industry training specialists Goodform has unveiled a new one-day course for students looking at breaking into the sector.

Sports Marketing Surveys has become the official research supplier to the British Olympic Association (BOA).

US research giant Nielsen is to become the latest big name to enter the televised sport sponsorship monitoring sector.

Sportswear giant Reebok has signed multi-year endorsement deals with two upcoming US football stars.

European law firm Taylor Wessing has signed an exclusive agreement to become the title sponsor of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) Masters Series in England for the 2004 and 2005 cricket seasons.

South African sports marketing agency MegaPro is celebrating after brokering the deal which saw three of the countries oldest Test match cricket grounds secure naming rights deals.

California’s Fairplex in Pomona will host the second LG Action Sports Championships, it has been confirmed.

The IOC has hired a head-hunter to recruit a new marketing director – just months after it scrapped the role.

Sports marketing giant IMG is expanding into global tourism as it looks to increase its consultancy base.

Watch brand TAG Heuer has come up with an innovative new sports marketing strategy – a golf tournament open only to those buying its latest limited edition product.