Sponsorship & Marketing

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has called off tomorrow's player draft due to the continuing inability to finalise a labour agreement with the players' union - a stand-off that could ultimately lead to the cancellation of the entire season.

A number of major industry figures have confirmed they will attend and speak at the 2003 Telstra Football Trade Expo in Australia later this year.

The brand name Octagon Motorsports is being ditched in a bid to put distance between the separately run division of sports marketing giant Octagon.

A marketing company offering intensive training courses for those seeking careers in the sport industry has reported rocketing interest levels.

The English Football Association has released details on the tender process for its new domestic TV rights deal.

Aussie Rules club Richmond has appointed Ian Campbell - a well known industry figure - as its new CEO.

Rising English soccer star James Beattie has signed a boot and apparel deal with sportswear firm Puma.

The YankeeNets - owner of baseball's New York Yankees, the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the NBA's New Jersey Nets - has created a joint venture with a major Japanese newspaper in a bid to promote both its and other pro US sports in the region.

Financially troubled English Premier League soccer team Leeds United has signed a major new multi-million dollar sponsorship deal - replacing outgoing shirt sponsor Strongbow.

Finance giant Merrill Lynch has teamed up with Miami-based soccer group the Latin America Futbol Corporation (LAFC).

German soccer giants Bayern Munich has threatened to walk away from the Bundesliga should it be docked points over a secret EUR21.5m marketing deal between it and KirchMedia.

A new UK focused sport association, representing organisations involved in the sport industry has been launched following last night's Sport Industry Awards ceremony in London.

Promoter of the S1 SuperMoto World Championship has signed a TV deal with French broadcaster TMC.

Television ratings for the second group phase of this year's Champions League - which is to be axed next season - were largely dictated by on-the-pitch performance according to new research by Mediametrie Eurodata.

Soccer world governing body FIFA has reported a major turn-around in financial estimates to deliver a SF115m ($82.54m/EUR77.34m) revenue surplus for the four year-cycle from 1999-2002.

The Tennis Channel - scheduled for launch later this year - has signed a rights deal with the International Tennis Federation.