Ascot Racecourse named Pernod Ricard UK the track's official spirits supplier in a three-year deal. The deal is effective immediately and Pernod Ricard UK will lead with Absolut Vodka, Beefeater London Dry Gin and Chivas Regal Whisky introduced across all bars, restaurants and private boxes at the racecourse throughout the year. Other Pernod Ricard UK brands will also be available across the site. Pernod Ricard UK will also create a new gin bar in the Grandstand (Ascot Racecourse).
CONMEBOL announced betting firm Bumbet will sponsor the Copa Sudamericana for the next two years. Bumbet will receive pan-regional visibility at venues, on TV and via press coverage and social media for the South American equivalent of the Europa League. The partnership was achieved by Swiss firm Synergy Sports AG (CONMEBOL).
Belgian Pro A side Club Brugge announced Italian sportswear company Macron will be the club’s kit provider starting next season. The brand replaces Nike. Club Brugge and Macron signed a three-year contract (LA MEUSE, 5/8).
NEW KITS: Black is the color "away from home" for ManU next season. The team's '17-18 away strip is a "throwback" to '98, when the club "also combined black and white." Leaked pictures of the "heritage-infused look" have been released by Todos Sobre Camisetas, a South American shirt website with an "impeccable record of leaking new kits." Made by adidas and featuring Chevrolet’s logo on the chest, the ManU away shirt will be officially released on Wednesday (THE SUN, 5/8).
League Two side Doncaster Rovers' kits for the next two seasons will be sponsored by Virgin Trains. The deal -- expanding on Virgin Trains' existing sponsorship of the club's training kit -- was unveiled on Monday, along with the designs for next season's kits (THE STAR, 5/8).
Australian Football League side Western Bulldogs signed a three-year partnership with Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia. It is the first time the Bulldogs have aligned with an automotive manufacturer, and the first partnership with a major sporting club for Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia. As principal partner for the '18 season and beyond, the Mercedes Benz-Vans logo will be featured on the back of the Bulldogs' jersey. The logo will also be prominent on the club’s apparel and official media backdrop from next season (Western Bulldogs).
Serie A side Napoli has "become the first sports team" to partner with online dating app Tinder. As part of the deal, the club set striker Arkadiusz Milik up with an "online dating profile." Napoli fans will "then be able to use the app to connect with the Polish forward and send him messages of support" before his return from injury (London TELEGRAPH, 5/8).
Old Mutual Int'l, whose parent company Old Mutual Wealth is a principal partner of the Rugby Football Union, will become the title sponsor of the Hong Kong Rugby Union's men’s domestic leagues as of next season (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 5/5).
Booking engine Golf Voyager announced a partnership with golfer Padraig Harrington. He is Golf Voyager's first brand ambassador (Golf Voyager).
Russian bank VTB renewed its sponsorship agreement with the Int'l Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for '17, extending a deal that has been in place since '09. The agreement provides a donation of $1M, to be used largely for the development of gymnastics disciplines and development funds for the continental unions (AIPS, 5/8).
