League Championship side Bristol City announced its new kit sponsor "after images of next season's home shirt were leaked on social media." Local construction company Lancer Scott signed a four-year deal to become the club's "new headline sponsor" and Robins officials "intended unveiling next season's kit on Monday." But the plans "were ruined when thieves raided the club's supplier and posted an image" of the new shirt on social media platforms Twitter and Facebook (BRISTOL POST, 4/22).
MALLORCA SIGNS UMBRO: Spanish second division side Mallorca reportedly signed a sponsorship and supply deal with Umbro. The sportswear manufacturer "will design and manufacture the club's playing kit from the start of next season." Reports "suggest a multi-year deal has been signed and Umbro will replace Italian sportswear firm Macron" (SOCCEREX, 4/22).
FIBA EXTENDS DEAL: Sports data and technology company Genius Sports announced an extension of its long-standing partnership with FIBA until '19. Genius Sports also secured the non-exclusive rights to collect and distribute live data to the betting and media markets from more than 2,000 official games at FIBA events until '17. The extended partnership between the two parties sees Genius Sports become the official FIBA data and statistics league and federation partner for the next four years (FIBA).
NEW DEALS: Formula E team Mahindra Racing announced a partnership with Italian automotive specialist Magneti Marelli to develop powertrain components for Mahindra Racing’s season three Formula E car, the M3Electro. Mahindra Racing and Magneti Marelli will also begin a new commercial partnership, with the supplier's branding appearing on the season two M2Electro for the rest of the current season (Mahindra Racing). The Venturi Formula E team signed an exclusive technical partnership with Japanese semi-conductor and electronics company ROHM Semiconductor. The partnership will see Venturi using Silicon Carbide technology in its Formula E cars (Venturi).
MARKETING BRIEFS ...
Spanish MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo, the sport's reigning champion, signed an endorsement deal with Swiss watchmaker Tissot (MotoGP).
Lancashire-based Ribble Cycles appointed Fusion Media as its new PR agency. The firm will manage all of the company’s U.K. PR requirements, focusing on building the awareness of the Ribble Cycles brand of bikes (Ribble Cycles).
Golf simulator GOLFZON announced a sponsorship agreement with the LPGA's Alison Lee. The brand will sponsor her for two years, with Lee attaching a GOLFZON patch on her top wear at all championships, and she will also take part in various events to be hosted by GOLFZON (GOLFZON).
The status of Chester Marathon as an int'l event is guaranteed for three more years following confirmation that credit card provider MBNA renewed its sponsorship of the race until '18. MBNA has supported the race since it was first run in '10 (Chester Marathon).
Car brand
Skoda "has renewed its sponsorship deal" with the
Int'l Ice Hockey Federation and "will continue to be the main sponsor of its annual world championship." The subsidiary of
Volkswagen "has been a partner of the IIHF since '93." This year's tournament "will be the 24th in a row for Skoda as the official main sponsor." The
2016 IIHF World Championship "will take place in Russia between May 6-22." Skoda is also an official sponsor of the
Champions Hockey League (
SPONSORs, 4/22).
Repucom has completed the takeover of sports consulting agency actori sports. The new consulting arm will now be called Repucom Consulting and operates in the German-speaking region (Repucom).
Knockhill Racing Circuit "struck a major deal with Rockstar Energy Drink -- distributed in Scotland by AG Barr."
Rockstar is now a sponsor of the track’s Super Lap Scotland Championship as well as the official drink of Knockhill, "which will get the full range of Rockstar products as well as a range of other Barr drinks, including the famous Irn-Bru."
Most notably, visitors to the track "will see the Rockstar branding on the familiar footbridge that spans the track from the outer to the inner spectators’ areas" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 4/22).
