Online sports betting site BetStars announced it will become the official betting partner of Leicester City for the '16-17 season. As part of the partnership, BetStars will offer fans the chance to win a bet on Leicester City defending its Premier League title at last year's much-publicized odds of 5,000/1. Under the terms of the new deal, BetStars will receive a full suite of rights, including LED advertising and fixed stadium branding, the use of the Leicester City club crest and player imagery in marketing and promotions, and access to some of the players (Betstars).
DARMSTADT ADDS ONLINE PARTNER: Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 unveiled telecom Tophandy.de as a new fourth-tier sponsor. The deal will see Tophandy.de "become the official online partner of the club, replacing former partner Sparhandy." Tophandy will receive hospitality opportunities and TV-relevant advertising, "but it is reported that the deal is smaller than the one held with Sparhandy" (SOCCEREX, 8/4).
IPRO SPORT HEADS DOWN UNDER: U.K.-based sports drink supplier iPro Sport signed on as A-League side Central Coast Mariners' official drinks partner and Football Federation Australia Cup front-of-away-shirt sponsor ahead of the club's round of 32 fixture. The iPro Sport logo will appear on the front of the Mariners' Westfield FFA Cup jerseys. Over the past 12 months iPro Sport has signed a record-breaking deal with League Championship side Derby County and purchased the naming rights for iPro Stadium in Derby, England (Central Coast Mariners).
MARKETING BRIEFS ...
League Two side Hartlepool United announced a three-year major partnership agreement with Northern Gas and Power. Under the deal, Victoria Park will be re-named The Northern Gas and Power Stadium and the energy firm's logo will appear on Hartlepool's away shirts (Hartlepool United).
State-owned Bank Negara Indonesia will be the main sponsor of the BNI Indonesian Masters golf tournament presented by Zurich which will be held at Royale Jakarta Golf Club from Oct. 6-9. The tournament will be broadcast live in all Asian Tour TV platforms, "available for viewing in more than 180 countries" (JAKARTA GLOBE, 8/4).
League Two side Yeovil Town announced that the Jones Building Group agreed to a three-year main partner and sponsor deal. Jones Building Group has been involved with the club for more than a decade, including as main sponsor from '09-12 (Yeovil Town).
Williams Advanced Engineering will continue its Nissan partnership. The automaker unveiled its BladeGlider prototype in Rio de Janeiro, with Williams playing an important role in the car's creation. Nissan utilized Williams' expertise in electric powertrains, aerodynamics and chassis dynamics to build two prototypes at the Williams factory (Williams).
