sportico staff
you are welcome sporticoTransaction Wire, a weekly listing of personnel, partnerships and products in the sports business industry.
personnel
Manchester United announces new interim CEO
Manchester United (NYSE: MANU) announced its richard arnold You have decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer after 16 years with the Club. patrick stewart Taking over as interim CEO, in addition to his existing role as General Counsel, Richard will continue to provide transitional support until the end of December. A search will be conducted for a new permanent CEO.
Chelsea appoints new Chief Revenue Officer
Chelsea Football Club has appointed Caspar Stylsvig As Chief Revenue Officer. Stylsvig joins Chelsea after serving in a similar role at AC Milan in 2019. During his time at Milan he oversaw the club’s commercial transformation and return to profitability. Prior to AC Milan, after starting his career in football at FC Barcelona, Stylsvig spent three years as Chief Revenue Officer at Fulham and eight years as Global Sponsorship Director at Manchester United.
Legends launch new college division under leadership of Mike Behan
Premium experience company Legends has launched Legends College, a new business unit that will provide the company’s integrated services solution to support universities, collegiate organizations and events. mike behan He has been appointed President of Legends College, and will oversee the development and implementation of Legends’ services to the collegiate industry. Legends College will provide services including research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorship, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing and philanthropic fundraising and engagement. Behan joined Legends in October 2011 as Vice President, Collegiate Partnerships and was promoted to COO, Collegiate Partnerships in June 2021.
Superplastic appoints former NBA and Dapper executive Jennifer Van Dijk as CEO
Superplasticizer, creator of the world’s first social-media-driven animated character universe, has been hired jennifer van dijk As Chief Executive Officer and brian scott As Chief Creative Officer. New executives were brought in to build on the success of Superplastic and invest in new technologies, including AI, to share content on social platforms and reach new audiences. Van Dijk and Scotto previously worked together at automotive media, lifestyle and apparel company Hoonigan. While in his CEO role at Hoonigan, Van Dijk oversaw a successful merger with global automotive aftermarket giant Wheel Pros, and managed team integration across marketing for all 40+ brands. Previously, Van Dijk held C-suite and executive level positions at the LA Clippers, National Basketball Association (NBA) and Dapper Labs.
Partnerships
FC Porto and Legends announce 15-year partnership
FC Porto and global premium experience company Legends announce a 15-year strategic partnership focused on transforming the fan experience. The partnership aims to achieve long-term success for FC Porto by leveraging Legends’ service solutions. Legends will support the food and beverage experience at the Estádio do Dragão, and will collaborate with FC Porto to explore opportunities to improve the overall fan experience at the stadium and enhance commercial opportunities for the club. As part of the partnership, Legends will oversee global partnerships for the club as well as naming rights and sponsorship assets for the Estádio do Dragão. FC Porto and Legends will evaluate new opportunities to provide a premier matchday experience for fans. The giants will use their hospitality expertise to reimagine the culinary and beverage experience at the stadium, exclusively in FC Porto partner’s Club VIP boxes and seats.
Sacramento Kings and Sacramento International Airport announce partnership
The Sacramento Kings and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) announced the first formal partnership between a U.S. airport and an NBA franchise. Over the next three seasons, SMF will serve as the official airport partner of the Sacramento Kings, with the partnership providing game-day activations, social media content and community-driven events at the airport complex, Golden 1 Center and throughout the Sacramento region. will be offered.
Nexen Tire named official partner of New York Rangers
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS) has entered into a marketing partnership with Nexon Tire, naming the tire maker the official partner of the New York Rangers. Through the partnership, Nexen Tire will receive brand promotions during Rangers games at Madison Square Garden, including digital dashboard signage, virtual blue line signage and ribbon LED signage. Nexon tires will also get exposure on digital boards outside Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Nexen Tire will be the presenting partner on select Rangers social media posts, including “Road Game Player Arrivals”, in which the brand’s logo will appear in photos posted on Rangers digital accounts.
LaLiga North America and Panini America renew partnership in the US Gaming Challenge
LaLiga North America has renewed its partnership with Panini America, celebrating the fourth edition of the US gaming tournament on EA Sports FC 24 presented by Panini. With the partnership, thousands of gamers will have the opportunity to play against celebrities, earn collectibles, and win prizes. LaLiga North America, a joint venture between LaLiga and Relevant Sports, is committed to eSports as a tool for audience growth in the United States. In its fourth year, the American gaming challenge presented by Panini brings together a diversity of products including collectibles from the brand, its trading cards, NFT blockchain platform and merchandise with the Spanish Soccer League.
BodyArmor Flash IV will be the official sports drink of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
BodyArmor Flash IV will be the official sports drink of this week’s Formula 1 event the Las Vegas Grand Prix. As part of the agreement, BodyArmor Flash IV will hydrate F1 drivers throughout the weekend, while fans will encounter on-track Flash IV branding on the Paddock Club and Sphere. This agreement further increases BodyArmor’s visibility and builds on its existing foundation and investment within the larger racing community. Drinks is a partner with 2017 to 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney and Team Penske.
Detroit Pistons announce partnership with menswear brand Todd Patrick
The Detroit Pistons have collaborated with Michigan native and designer Desiree Nicole, the creative director of luxury menswear brand Todd Patrick. The collection will be available for purchase exclusively as part of an experiential pop-up shop and photo opportunity on the concourse at Little Caesars Arena on December 2. The collection includes two t-shirts, a hoodie, a workman jacket, a pair of athletic pants and athletic shorts. While maintaining the design and feel of traditional Todd Patrick merchandise, the products are priced between $50-$150 to make them more accessible to fans.
Pro League Network names BrinksTV as official free-to-play platform
Pro League Network, a sports entertainment company that produces sports betting, has named BrinxTV as its official free-to-play platform. As part of the deal, BrinxTV joined PLN as an investor. BrinksTV will offer sports-betting questions and create betting moments for viewers to earn Brinks Bucks during their broadcasts of PLN games, including the World Putting League, Karjitsu Championship and Pro Carrom Tour. Expanding the partnership, BrinxTV and PLN will jointly produce live made-for-wagering sporting events exclusively on the Brinx.TV platform and additional shoulder programming focused on PLN sports.
FC Porto and Legends announce 15-year strategic partnership
FC Porto and premium experience company Legends have reached a 15-year strategic partnership. The Legends global partnership will support the food and beverage experience at the Estádio do Dragão, and will collaborate with FC Porto to explore opportunities to improve the overall fan experience at the stadium and enhance commercial opportunities for the club. As part of the partnership, Legends will oversee global partnerships for the club as well as naming rights and sponsorship assets for the Estádio do Dragão. The giants will use their hospitality expertise to reimagine the culinary and beverage experience at the stadium, exclusively in FC Porto partner’s Club VIP boxes and seats.
Minnesota Twins, Lee Health announce 10-year partnership, plus complex naming rights
The Minnesota Twins and Lee Health announce a 10-year partnership that names Lee Health as the Twins’ official Florida healthcare provider and renames the club’s Fort Myers facilities the Lee Health Sports Complex. The Twins and Lee Health will also continue their long-standing practice of providing free health clinics and other community-enriching opportunities. The Twins and the club’s six minor league affiliates have called the Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida, their spring training home since 1991. Additionally, the Lee Health Sports Complex is the year-round home of the Twins Player Development Academy. the Fort Myers Mighty Muscles (Minnesota’s Low-A affiliate) and the organization’s rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins.
products
AC Milan announces the first AC Milan Academy in the US
AC Milan, in partnership with Black & Red Pumas LLC, announces AC Milan Academy Virginia, the first Rossoneri academy project in the United States. It will officially open in Spring 2024 in Fairfax, Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia). In the training programme, boys and girls aged between 5 to 17 years will be directly included in the technical programme. A team of sports professionals who are experts in the AC Milan methodology will coordinate with and train the local technical staff. The project is expected to begin with a five-day camp before the academy’s official spring opening in December, with the club planning to further develop the project in North America in the future.
Man United Women’s Football Captain launches training app for players
Ultraine Sports has launched a new app to bring football teams and players closer to their favorite players. Founded by actor Darius Marcellin and pro footballer Katie Zelem, captain of Manchester United and member of England’s 2023 World Cup squad, the Ultraline Sports mobile app was created to give young footballers exclusive access to their favorite professionals from around the world . Exclusive content is shared directly from top men and women players, while young players and teams take part in live Q+A sessions to learn their top tips. Ultraline also serves as a software hub for coaches to manage their teams in one interface.
AVP announces professional beach volleyball league
The AVP, a US pro beach volleyball league, has announced expansion and growth with the creation of a professional beach volleyball league, the AVP League. The AVP League will consist of eight teams with parity for both men and women in competition and compensation. Beginning in September 2024, shortly after the 2024 Summer Olympics, the AVP League will launch with the eight founding teams playing head-to-head in a regular season running from September to November. Each team will be based in a domestic market – including Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Brooklyn, Miami, Palm Beach, Dallas and Austin – and will have an initial men’s team and an initial women’s team. The top overall teams will then participate in a season-ending playoff tournament and championship match. Before the opening of the 2024 season, a player draft will take place in Manhattan Beach.
Purchase
Andre Iguodala’s Mosaic leads $9.4M Series A investment in AllCity Network
AllCity announced that Mosaic General Partnership, the fund managed by Andre Iguodala, is leading its Series A, now worth $9.4 million. The capital raised in this round will be used to double the size of the company from three networks to six, launch 24-hour fast channels in every city, and appoint local and national revenue leaders. Major investors and participating investors show that the industry is behind it at league level. Investors include Nancy and Matty Tellem, Tim Connelly, Sean Marks, Laura Desmond, Andy Miller and Chauncey Billups.