Rawlings signed on as a sponsor and supporter of the World Baseball Classic. This year's WBC started on March 6. Rawlings products are being used throughout the tournament. The Rawlings advisory staff will be led by Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico), Manny Machado (Dominican Republic), Nolan Arenado (USA) and Xander Bogaerts (the Netherlands) (Rawlings).
Grosvenor Casinos agreed to remain rugby club Reading Raiders’ main sponsor for the '17 season. Having "gambled on the fledgling venture last year," enabling the Raiders to get off the ground, the company’s two Reading casinos have combined to stake £1,500 ($1,800) on the club this year (READING CHRONICLE, 3/13).
Retail group Migros Aare entered a partnership with Swiss Super League club Young Boys Bern, through which Migros Aare's OBI division will serve as the club’s new front-of-shirt sponsor. The deal will cover the '17-18 through '19-20 seasons (SPORTBUSINESS, 3/13).
Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille’s kit provider adidas announced it will “step aside” in ’18. The German brand signed an eight-year, €10M-per-year contract, and decided not to renew the agreement. The two had been partners since ’74 (L’ÉQUIPE, 3/13).
