Menu
Marketing and Sponsorship

INEOS To Provide £110M For Ben Ainslie's America's Cup Team

Ben Ainslie lands a major sponsor for his America's Cup campaign.getty images

Ben Ainslie announced a "radical shake-up" of his America’s Cup team, with manufacturing company INEOS "ploughing" £110M ($153.2M) into his challenge to bring sport’s oldest int'l trophy "back to Britain," according to Tom Cary of the London TELEGRAPH. As part of its investment -- "the biggest ever British America’s Cup investment" -- INEOS will take over naming rights, with Ainslie’s name "no longer forming part of the official team title." The Portsmouth-based team "will henceforth be known as INEOS Team GB," as opposed to Land Rover BAR, the BAR having stood for Ben Ainslie Racing. Existing sponsors Land Rover and 11th Hour Racing "have left," with INEOS' £110M investment "contingent on the team making a completely fresh start." New sponsors Belstaff, Limewood and Projekt Grenadier "are part of the INEOS stable." The deal will effectively see INEOS "hire" Ainslie’s race team lock-stock, "with most of the key players remaining in situ." Ainslie will stay on as team principal, Grant Simmer as CEO, Nick Holroyd as chief designer, Jono Macbeth as sailing team manager and Giles Scott as tactician (TELEGRAPH, 4/26).

'AMAZING BOOST': REUTERS' Alexander Smith reported INEOS Founder & Chair Jim Ratcliffe said, "We have a first-class team and will do everything we can to bring this trophy back to Britain where it belongs. ... This is an amazing boost for British sport." Ainslie said that his previous commercial partners were disappointed but had been "incredibly gracious." INEOS Team GB will now represent the "historic" Royal Yacht Squadron’s affiliated club, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing (REUTERS, 4/26). The BBC reported Britain's challenge will consist of two 75-foot foiling monohulls designed by Nick Holroyd, "who was behind New Zealand's winning boat" in '17 (BBC, 4/26).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2018/04/27/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Ben-Ainslie-Ineos.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2018/04/27/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Ben-Ainslie-Ineos.aspx

CLOSE