Bundesliga side FC Schalke has extended its premium partnership with sausage producer Böklunder for another three years. Böklunder, which has been a partner of the club since '01, extended its contract until June 30, 2017 (FC Schalke). ... German Hockey League (DEL) club Hamburg Freezers is "set to extend its main sponsorship deal with online travel website '5 vor Flug.'" The company's Managing Dir, Richard Reindl, said, "We are having very good talks. Both sides want to extend the partnership. The Freezers are a lucky find for us." 5 vor Flug "entered the partnership with the club, which has an estimated value of €600,000 ($831,000), during the summer" (DIE WELT, 3/11). ... Barcelona will "swap Japanese watch sponsor Seiko for Swiss brand Maurice Lacroix from the start of next season." Maurice Lacroix "has deals in place with Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen, and Hertha Berlin for the current season." The new deal with Barcelona will reportedly cost the watchmaker €3M ($4.2M) for a one-season term (SOCCEREX, 3/10). ... French bank BNP Paribas "has signed a five-year contract to extend its title sponsorship of the season-ending WTA Championships, continuing its long association with tennis." The $6.5M finals will be staged in Singapore from Oct. 17-26 (REUTERS, 3/11). ... Swiss Super League club Grasshopper Zurich "has teamed up with Bern-based sports marketing agency IMS Sport AG." The agency "will advise the club in marketing questions, especially in the areas of sponsorship and communication" (PERSÖNLICH, 3/11). ... Fans of EPL side Stoke City "will be drinking Carlsberg beers for another three years at the Britannia Stadium." The club "has shaken hands on a two-year extension to its existing contract with the beer giant" to maintain their partnership until '17 (STOKE SENTINEL, 3/10).
IN ASIA: Coca-Cola Bangladesh "stepped up" to support football coach Suelha Mong Marma to ensure "healthy active lifestyles amongst underprivileged girls in Bangladesh." Suelha Mong Marma runs football schools at Mogachori, Rangamati and Kalisindur, Mymenshing with his own funds and trains underprivileged girls to play football. Coca-Cola "will be supporting Mong’s football schools and provide the girls with equipment and football gear for better practice" (DHAKA TRIBUNE, 3/10). ... JTBC, the broadcasting arm of the JoongAng Media Network, "will be the official sponsor" of the LPGA Founders Cup this year. The tournament has been re-named the JTBC Founders Cup, which is the LGPA Tour’s first U.S. event this year. The tournament runs from March 20-23 in Phoenix (KOREA JOONGANG DAILY, 3/12). ... The UAE’s top three batsmen "will be using the same brand of equipment" as Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. UAE skipper Khurram Khan and hard-hitters Shaimon Anwar and Swapnil Patil "have received sponsorship support" from India’s leading cricket goods manufacturer SS through UAE-based I-Sports (GULF NEWS, 3/11).
