Euroleague Basketball and Spalding announced the "renewal of their partnership for an additional five seasons," through June '21. The "ongoing collaboration" was first signed four years ago. Spalding will "continue to produce and supply Euroleague Basketball and its competitions, programs and activities across the continent with top-of-the-line products and its newest basketballs." Additionally Spalding will "also become the official backboard of the Euroleague." Spalding has been the global provider of the official game ball "for both the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and the Eurocup" since the start of the '12-13 season (SPORTANDO, 5/10).
AWAY KIT REVEALED: ManU is the "latest Premier League club to unveil some next-season apparel," with adidas releasing the club's new away kit on Wednesday. The shirts are based on what adidas calls a "collegiate blue" color scheme, with red trim for the club crest and the manufacturer's signature three stripes along the shoulders. ManU's home kit "remains a mystery" (London TELEGRAPH, 5/11).
KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON: Online lighting retailer LEDHut.co.uk announced it will continue the sponsorship of Salford City FC "following the club's recent promotion to the Northern Premier League." The Manchester-based firm became shirt sponsors of Salford City in '15, "shortly before the semi-professional team hit the headlines when premiership legends Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary and Phil Neville bought the non-league club" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 5/11).
MARKETING BRIEFS ...
Premiership Rugby appointed the sports and entertainment arm of WPP's GroupM, ESP Properties, as a lead agency in its search for a new League title sponsor. The appointment will see ESP Properties marketing the rights to identified brand prospects within and beyond the WPP network. Premiership Rugby recently announced a global search for a new title partner following confirmation that Aviva's seven-year partnership with the competition will conclude in May '17 (ESP Properties).
The partnership between Hankook Tire and German touring car championship DTM "has been extended for a further three years." The tire maker signed a "new contract with DTM promoter ITR e.V." Hankook will "continue to deliver its Ventus Race DTM tires to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz" until the end of the '19 season (TYRE PRESS, 5/9).
Strive Sponsorship, the sport and entertainment marketing consultancy founded by former Team Sky Head of Partnerships Malph Minns, will advise Gfinity, an AIM listed eSports business that hosts leagues and events, on how to monetize the global community of competitive gamers through sponsorship. Strive will help Gfinity refine its commercial proposition (Gfinity).
Crane and truck loading technology manufacturing company Fassi and Dorna World SuperBike Organization announced another partnership, with Fassi named the event main sponsor of Round 6 of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Handball Bundesliga (HBL) club Füchse Berlin signed a new partnership with electronics chain Medimax. The company's logo will be featured on the jersey of the Berlin-based team (Füchse Berlin).
Bayern Munich striker Thomas Müller and his wife, Lisa, signed on as new brand ambassadors for pasta brand Barilla. The married couple will be featured in three online commercials. Barilla will also use the couple in its social media accounts (Barilla).
