League One side Chesterfield confirmed that its new shirt sponsorship deal is the "most lucrative" in the club’s history -- and it could "last for the next six years." The team's '16-17 home and away shirts will "bear the logo" of construction firm GF Tomlinson. A three-year deal has been agreed with the Derbyshire-based company, "with an option for a three-year extension" (DERBYSHIRE TIMES, 4/13).
As of July 1, EPL side Southampton will enter a seven-year partnership that will see Under Armour provide technologies and product innovations to aid the club’s on-pitch development. UA will design the club's match kits beginning with the '16-17 home and away strip (Southampton).
Automotive parts manufacturer Mahle is expanding its cooperation with Scuderia Ferrari to include the development and supply of crucial engine components. The cooperation scope includes the optimization of the crank mechanism and the development of high-performance materials (Mahle).
Man City's Raheem Sterling is "close to signing an endorsement deal" to become Apple’s first U.K.-based athlete and join a global talent roster that includes Neymar, Serena Williams and Stephen Curry. Sterling will be paid a six-figure sum annually for "promoting Apple devices," with the firm planning to build its promotional campaign for Euro 2016 around him (LONDON TIMES, 4/14).
Serie A side Bologna agreed to an extension of its main sponsorship deal with automatic door manufacturer FAAC. The company initially signed a one-year deal with the club at the start of the current '15-16 season, and has "now signed on for an additional year," to the end of '16-17, with an option for a "further year on top of that." According to industry paper Calcio Finanza, the deal is worth $563,000 per season to the club (SOCCEREX, 4/14).
Online sports business Sportswise, which trades as rugbystore.co.uk, is expanding its Peebles HQ and creating another 15 jobs after securing a major deal with int'l sports retailer Intersport. The contract will see Sportswise become the exclusive host of Intersport’s online business and distribution throughout the U.K. (RUNNING RUGBY, 4/12).
League Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers announced finance provider The Money Shop as its new club sponsor in a partnership agreement that will last for a minimum of three years. Wolves' season-long terms with IT service company Silverbug "are soon to come to an end, with the Money Shop taking over the mantle from June." The brand will appear on the first-team and U21s’ home and away shirts and on "all technical training kit, as well, as they improve their terms" (EXPRESS & STAR, 4/14).
Adidas launched its sustainability strategy "Sport Needs a Space" as part of its 2015 Sustainability Progress Report. "Sport Needs a Space" is the result of extensive consumer research the company has done to validate its understanding of the importance of sport. The report revealed that 93% of people interviewed said they would hate or dislike a world without places to participate in sport (adidas).
HotelPlanner.com is now the official online travel accommodation partner for Euroleague Basketball.
The agreement for the current season plus one more will see the online group travel company provide travel services for teams, competition staff and fans, with HotelPlanner managing both corporate hotel bookings and those of the competition's game officials throughout the '15-16 and '16-17 seasons (Euroleague).
