Sponsorship & Marketing

The ugly scenes at the end of last weekend's fiery clash between English Premier League soccer giants Manchester United and Arsenal may have tarnished the reputation of the teams - but for sponsors, it meant exposure rocketed.

NASCAR has signed a multi-year distribution deal for DVDs and home videos.

Interactive sports marketing company Sportvision has been named one Chicago's fastest growing technology companies.

Global media communications specialist Mediaedge:cia - a WPP company - has rebranded its sponsorship division - which handles Visa's European Olympic programme - into MEC:Sponsorship.

Sports marketing consultants Sport, Art and Finance (SAF), has become the official sales agent in Germany and Austria for the SportBusiness Group - publisher of sportbusiness.com.

Internet giant AOL has signed a major advertising deal to become a presenting sponsor on CBS for next year's Super Bowl.

Internet publisher SportsLine.com has entered into a strategic allinace with online retailer Amazon.com.

Infront Sports & Media has acquired a Nordic sports marketing company in what it describes as its first step in building a strong base in the region.

Sportswear giant adidas has signed a multi-year marketing partnership with IBA super middleweight champion Laila Ali.

Experienced Olympic journalist Steve Parry has been appointed as the media director for London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

European soccer's governing body UEFA says higher than expected sales for its Champions League tournament will result in a bumper CHF905m ($652m/EUR580m) cash-pot to distribute.

Canada's government has hinted it might be prepared to relax its tough anti-tobacco laws in a bid to get its Formula One Grand Prix back on track.

Korean motor manufacturer Hyundai is to pull out of the World Rally Championship at the end of the season.

Sports marketing veteran Andrew Craig has joined the London 2012 Olympic Games bid team as a consultant, sportbusiness.com can exclusively confirm.

The NHL has upgraded and relaunched its online archive.

The Interpublic Group will not be replacing Mark Dowley as head of its Interpublic Sports & Entertainment Group, sportbusiness.com can exclusively reveal.