Barcelona Approves $230 M Qatar Sponsorship

Despite strong criticism, FC Barcelona's assembly members unanimously approved a landmark deal with with Qatar, now the richest country in the world, through its Qatar Sports Investment agency by a vote of 697 for, 76 against and 36 abstention votes. The decision to put a sponsor on the team's jersey for the first time in its 112-year history did not come without some vocal opposition, but with...

Get To Know UNIQLO

Less than a month until Japanese fashion retailer, Uniqlo, launches its two U.S. flagship stores (on Fifth Avenue at 53rd Street and 34th Street Herald Square) the fast growing clothing brand is going on a pop-up and sponsorship blitz throughout the city. It's all part of a plan to make Uniqlo, which plans to open 200 stores in the U.S. by 2020, a household name competing with other fast fashio...

Beer Is Now Officially the Most Litigious Category in Sponsorship

If there was any doubt that beer has become the most litigious sponsorship category in sports, MillerCoors put that to rest today with a brand new lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Superior Court. MillerCoors is suing the NFL's New England Patriots, claiming the franchise reneged on an exclusive deal in the beer category, CNBC reported Monday. MillerCoors claims the Patriots signed a deal that ...

New Balance Considers Naming Rights Deal

Boston-based New Balance, never a brand to be much interested in the stadium name game, is said to be considering a deal for this $500K opportunity we wrote about over the summer. If signed, the sponsorship would be one of Massachusetts' first high school naming rights deals. The athletic apparel company has taken out paperwork for the naming rights bid, city officials told the Gloucester Times...

Can A High School Sponsorship Network Be Both Turnkey AND Engaging?

With 57% of high schools pursuing at least some form of corporate sponsorship and another 25% citing a lack of sponsorship sales knowledge, some entrepreneurial sponsorship types are seizing on the opportunity to help educators better understand how they can monetize school assets with sponsors. One of them is School Sports Media, LLC a division of Mission Media Services, Inc. which specializes...

Check Out Man U's Bowling Viral With BetFair

The viral video below, intended to show off BetFair's mobile capabilities, is being used to promote starsandstrikes.betfair.com, where fans can place a free bet on the next round of the Manchester United bowling contest for a chance to win a trip to Old Trafford. Nice activation. Hat tip: @TomGlad. #activationstag

Paramount Finds Multiple Marketing Partners For Footloose Remake

The much anticipated release of Paramount Pictures' Footloose remake will have some heavy marketing clout from a wide range of promotional partners. today announced their national promotional partners in support Footloose opens nationwide on October 14th. Aiming to reach a diverse audience, Paramount has partnered with HSN, Herbal Essences, Greyhound, Bootbarn, Salon Perfect, Walgreens and Foo...

USA Water Polo Books Official Hotel

USA Water Polo and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, have entered into a multi-year partnership that will make IHG an official hotel partner of USA Water Polo. IHG portfolio of brands that will have rights in the deal include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Hol...

Falcons Get Credit Check

Atlanta-based, Equifax, announced today a multi-year agreement to become the official credit and identity information partner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. The sponsorship includes joint promotions, branded radio segments, prominent signage at the Georgia Dome, on-field contests, digital programming and other advertising. "Equifax is proud to 'rise up' as the official credit and identity inf...

This City Has A Fresh $10 Million Tourism Budget To Spend in '12!

Fueled in part by a $3.8 million cash infusion from BP, the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. voted yesterday to spend almost $10 million in 2012 to market New Orleans to visitors around the country. Part of the funds will be allotted to special events, such as Christmas New Orleans Style and the Essence Music Festival. $600,000 and $257,000 have already been earmarked for those events, accor...