Handball Bundesliga (HBL) club
THW Kiel "has signed a new main and shirt sponsorship deal." Gas station chain
Star "will replace
Provinzial as the club's main sponsor after close to 40 years." The contract with Star "will take effect at the start of the '16-17 season and run for three years until the end of the '18-19 campaign." The gas station "is expected to pay a high six-figure sum for the deal." In return, Star's logo "will be featured on the front of the team's jersey and on LED boards at home games" (
SPONSORs, 3/23).
TORO ROSSO F1: Scuderia Toro Rosso announced Estrella Galicia 0,0 is reinforcing its commitment to Formula 1 by strengthening the partnership agreement signed with the team last season. For the entire 2016 World Championship, the beer brand will appear on the STR11 of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen. Estrella Galicia 0,0 will be present on the car barge-boards, significantly increasing its visibility in comparison to last year (Toro Rosso).
HOME NATIONS KITS: British shirt maker Thomas Pink will provide the players from the Home Nations with official outfits for the 2017 Lions Tour, including the blazer and tie and the brand's athletic fit shirt. Thomas Pink will design a full range of formal and casual outfits. To mark the partnership, the brand will launch its own rugby club, captained by a Lions' player and incorporating consumer events, an online content hub and monthly newsletters (British & Irish Lions).
MARKETING BRIEFS ...
Somerset County Cricket Club signed a deal with The Real Shaving Company. The agreement will see the company, which is part of the Swallowfield Group, become the official NatWest T20 Blast partner. The Real Shaving Company logo will appear on the front of this season's NatWest T20 Blast shirt (Somerset CCC).
Indian car-maker Maruti Suzuki has "inked a deal" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to become the official sponsor for the ninth and 10th seasons of the Indian Premier League. The company said, "This is the first time MSIL has taken the on ground sponsorship for IPL. It is for a period of two years." With the new deal, Maruti Suzuki "has joined Vodafone India, Yes Bank and Freecharge as the ground sponsor of the Twenty20 event" (INT'L BUSINESS TIMES, 3/22).
German car manufacturer Volkswagen renewed its sponsorship deal with the Swiss FA (SFV) for another four years until '20. As the official car partner, VW supplies the federation with its vehicles. The brand has been an official partner of the SFV since '14. The carmaker is also an official partner of the SFV's youth academy (SFV).
Puma and the Uruguayan FA (AUF) released the home and away kits that the team will wear during Copa America Centenario and the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The kit will debut Friday when "La Celeste" play against Brazil. The blue Uruguayan sky and the sun in the national flag inspired the design of the new home kit (Puma).
Kenyan Premier League club Gor Mahia "secured a sponsorship deal with Crown Beverages Limited." No financial details have been disclosed and "it is unclear what marketing rights are included in the agreement, but Supersport reports the deal will run for three years." The new deal with Crown "is the second sponsorship announced by the club this month, following an earlier tie-up with betting firm SportPesa" (SOCCEREX, 3/22).
Qatar Airways will "double up as sponsor of Team Qatar Airways as well as the official airline sponsor of the Beach Polo Cup Dubai" from '16 to '18. Beach Polo Cup Dubai will take place April 1-2 (GULF-TIMES, 3/22).
A-League side Sydney FC and Webjet agreed to a one-year contract extension, which will see Australia and New Zealand's largest online travel agency remain the Sky Blues front of shirt sponsor until the end of the '16-17 season. Webjet has been the club's front of shirt sponsor since the '12-13 season (Sydney).
