TUBASKET.com's Marc Amposta reported that ACB club Gran Canaria 2014 have reached a sponsorship agreement with Herbalife. The team in Spain's top basketball league had been without a sponsor since '09. That's when ice cream company Kalise paid the club €800,000 a season, an "unthinkable amount in these times." But the amount that Gran Canaria will receive is "significant." Herbalife will pay the team €550,000 ($618,200) per campaign (TUBASKET.com, 8/7).
SHIRTLESS: The KOREA HERALD reported that League One Yeovil Town FC Manager Gary Johnson "ordered his players to take an annual team picture, topless." About his reasoning behind the decision, Johnson said, "If we haven't got a shit sponsor then we can't wear the shirt." The players "seemed to enjoy the idea." Striker Reuben Reid said, "When it got mentioned, a lot of the lads ran straight into the gym to get on the bench press. It was quite funny for the lads" (KOREA HERALD, 8/8).
INT'L APPEAL: SPONSORSHIPNEWS.com.au reported Victoria Racing Club said that the int'l appeal of its events had "helped it boost sponsorship revenue by 19.4% over the past four years despite a reduced number of sponsors in its portfolio." The VRC renewed major agreements with Emirates and G.H. Mumm on five-year contracts and Swisse on a three-year deal. Lion Beer, Wine & Spirits exercised its option through '13 (SPONSORSHIPNEWS.com.au, 8/8).
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?: THE HINDU reported that handset manufacturer Karbonn Mobiles "has signed up as the title sponsor" of the fourth edition of Champions League T20. The agreement was signed with ESPN Star Sports, the commercial partner of CLT20, for one year and it will "give the company rights to on-ground sponsorship with all its entitlements." CLT20 "reached out" to 102 million people in its third edition, according to ESPN. The Indian Premier League governing council is "in the process of negotiation" for the renewal of deals with the sponsors (THE HINDU, 8/7).
