Sponsorship & Marketing

Natal Rugby Union has become the first South African venue to select the Talent Arena Sports Management software from UK-based Software4Sport.

British sports and media company Sportsworld Media Group Plc?s founder and chairman Jeff Chapman has announced his retirement to pursue other interests in the sports and leisure industry.

Major Japanese Internet investor Softbank Corp has affirmed that its affiliate will start an online sports news service in a joint venture with Rivals.com Inc, a U.S. operator of Internet sports news.

Bernie Ecclestone?s Formula One Management group has extended its control of grand prix racing's commercial rights by purchasing them for a further 100 years beyond the current expiry date of 2011, according to UK press reports.

The Cincinnati Reds have signed a 30-year naming rights deal with Great American Insurance Company.

Worldzap, the joint venture between Prisma iVentures and The Fantastic Corporation has added three key executives to its management team.

SportsTALK.com, a US provider of in-depth, inside sports news, has formed a strategic partnership with the multimedia entertainment and marketing company College Broadcast.

Rivals.com has named Patrick Crumb as senior vice president of business development and Michael Smith as vice president of human resources. Kim Leaming was promoted to vice president of marketing.

International Comstock Exploration, owner of the sports-contest website ProSportsPool.com, has launched an auto-racing marketing campaign designed to increase traffic to the site.

Boris Becker has criticised the new format of men's professional tennis and said that the game is heading for a crisis.

Britain's Football News Organisation, a young firm that provides an online "form guide" for UK football punters, has said it plans to list on the London stock market after next season kicked off.

Trailer manufacturer Featherlite has signed deals with the Grand American Road Racing Association to become an official supplier.

Sportsworld Media, the Australia-based sports programming and marketing company, has completed its #50m recommended offer for Sports and Outdoor Media International (SOMI) now that the acquisition has been declared wholly unconditional, reports the Financial Times.

Hong Kong-based giant screen specialists Lighthouse Technologies has acquired Pixelite from Avesco plc, creating the world's most broadly-based giant screen sales and installation operation with offices across the globe.

Southern Company, the international energy company, is to launch a year-long national TV ad campaign, composed of four new 15-second commercials centering around the company's role as the Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR.

Adidas- Salomon is moving into the European e-commerce market for the first time by offering a limited number of products over the Internet.