New Zealand Golf and Millbrook Tournaments Ltd. (promoters of the New Zealand Open) announced the signing of ISPS Handa as the new naming rights sponsor for the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open for a minimum three-year term, covering the '17, '18 and '19 events. This follows the co-naming rights agreement that was in place for the 2016 BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open. In addition to the naming rights agreement, the organizers announced that the partnership agreement with the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) has been renewed for '17. Under this agreement a minimum of 25 players from the JGTO will compete in the 2017 NZ Open (NZ Open).
BIATHLON SPONSORSHIPS: BMW "has expanded its biathlon sponsorship activities and signed retired German Gold Medalist Magdalena Neuner as its new brand ambassador." BMW already is the title sponsor and official car partner of the IBU World Cup Biathlon, as well as the official presenting sponsor and official car partner of the IBU World Championship Biathlon. BMW "already has two other retired biathletes under contract, Fritz Fischer and his son Sven." For the 29-year-old Neuner, the relationship with BMW "adds to its existing deals with B2Run, adidas, Allpresan and Erdinger" (SPONSORs, 9/14).
START-UP HELP: The French Professional Football League (LFP) renewed its partnership with sports business start-up incubator Le Tremplin. As an institutional partner with Le Tremplin since its launch in ’15, the LFP is involved in the start-up selection panel, facilitates relationships between entrepreneurs and Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs and tests ideas with start-ups from the program. LFP Exec General Dir Didier Quillot said, “Through this partnership, we help start-ups get in touch with our clubs in areas such as ticketing, fan experience and data services for club staff and administration” (LFP).
ASIAN BETTING PARTNER: La Liga side Valencia and S36.com announced an agreement in which the operator of int'l sports betting and related businesses will become a new partner to the club with immediate effect. The two reached a one-season regional partnership. The agreement includes the use of the club's and players' images to promote the Valencia and S36.com brand in Asia (Valencia).
MARKETPLACE BRIEFS ...
The NBA House won the popular vote award for best hospitality during this year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (NBA).
Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund "has extended its sponsorship deal" with Chinese company Huawei. The company "will remain a second-tier partner of the club until the end of the '16-17 season." As part of the extension, Huawei "will continue to receive ad space on LED boards at the Signal Iduna Park." The deal has an estimated value of €1.4M ($1.6M) (SPONSORs, 9/13).
French National Handball League (LNH) Division 1 side Nantes announced regional financial services company La Caisse d’Épargne Bretagne Pays de Loire as its official banking partner for the ’16-17 season. The one-year agreement includes the bank developing regional partnerships for the club (HBC Nantes).
Hyundai Belgium has signed a sponsorship agreement with Belgian Pro League side AS Eupen. The carmaker’s logo will now appear on the jerseys of the club and throughout its stadium. Hyundai will also deliver more than 40 vehicles to the club for players and staff to use. No financial details were released (Hyundai Belgium).
With the first ’16-17 Champions League matches starting, Domino’s Pizza has “reignited its partnership with beIN Sports, the official broadcaster of the competition” in France. When customers order from “certain types of pizza menus,” Domino’s offers access codes to matches on the beIN Sports Connect online platform. The promotion runs until December (CB NEWS, 9/13).
Serie A side AS Roma announced EZTrader as its new official binary options trading partner for the next three seasons. Eztrader.com will benefit from advertising at Roma home matches and across the club's communication channels, including the club's official website asroma.com (Roma).
Sky is the first official partner of the new Sky Alps Hockey League where 16 teams of three countries participate. The pay-TV channel has secured the title sponsor before the start of the debut season (Sky).
The Int'l Tennis Federation announced that Head will become an int'l partner of the Davis Cup. The three-year agreement, starting in January, will see Head produce and sell Davis Cup branded high-performance tennis balls throughout the world (Davis Cup).
Spanish second division side Real Zaragoza and CaixaBank renewed their sponsorship agreement for the '16-17 season (HERALDO, 9/14).
