Juventus unveiled its new adidas strip for the '15-16 season. The club is "beginning a six-year kit supply deal with the German brand," which has replaced Nike (London DAILY MAIL, 7/1). ... Another sponsor "is sticking by Team New Zealand." Toyota New Zealand announced its ongoing sponsorship with the yachting syndicate, "extending the support of the team for over 20 years." In May, Team NZ announced its major sponsor, Emirates, "had recommitted to the next campaign in Bermuda" in '17 (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 6/29). ... The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association named Econet Global Ltd., Ford of Southern Africa, Nike, South African Airways, SuperSport and 947 as partners for NBA Africa Game 2015. The first NBA game in Africa will take place Aug. 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa (NBA). ... Brasileiro side Vasco will be the first club in Rio de Janeiro to "have a fast food restaurant chain." The club partnered with fast food company Sportfood, which will inaugurate the Portuguese-inspired restaurant in November (UOL, 7/1). ... Ligue 1 side AS Monaco renewed its sponsorship deal with Triangle Intérim "for another two years." The temporary recruitment agency's logo "will continue to be worn" on
the left sleeve of the club's playing shirts until the end of
the '16-17 season. Its branding "will also appear on 3D cam carpets and
pitchside LED hoardings at the Stade Louis II." The financial terms of the deal, "which was brokered by Infront France, were not released" (SOCCEREX, 7/1). ... EPL side West Bromwich Albion revealed next season’s home kit -- and the logo that will adorn it following a club record sponsorship deal. Asian betting company TLCBET will become the club’s principal partner for the '15-16 season (WBA). ... EPL side West Ham announced a new two-year sponsorship agreement with the iHotel Group. Under the terms of the commercial partnership, under which the iHotel Group will be designated as West Ham’s official Far East Hotel Booking Partner, the company will be promoted to the global audience for the club’s website and other digital channels, and the iHotel Group will market Club London hospitality packages to its clients across Asia (West Ham).
FASHION STATEMENT: La Liga side Rayo Vallecano released an away kit which carries a symbolic gesture to the fight against homophobia and pays tribute to "unsung heroes in society." The Madrid-based club's navy blue strip "will feature a rainbow sash" containing six colors. The club states that the collective rainbow, like the internationally adopted logo for gay pride, "will mark a stance against homophobia" and around £5 ($7.80) from every shirt sale "will be given to charities representing each cause incorporated into the rainbow" (BBC, 7/1). ... GoPro has become an official supplier of the Tour de France. Every day, a minimum of eight bikes will be equipped with a camera. Pictures will be edited in the evening, delivered to the broadcasters of the Tour de France and published on different teams’ websites, on the race official website letour.com as well as on Tour de France and GoPro social networks (ASO). ... Taiwanese smartphone brand HTC Corp. announced Tuesday that "it will sponsor NorthEast United Football Club, a team in the Indian Super League, for the second year in a row" (WANT CHINA TIMES, 6/30). ... Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farré on Wednesday revealed that online bingo portal Botemanía will pay €40M ($44.2M) per year to sponsor “all sections of the club” if he is elected president. He called the posible deal “the first step to change the entire economic model of the club.” He added that Barcelona’s model “has to adapt to new times, in which the Internet and new technologies have a fundamental role” (EFE, 7/1).
