Visa Spending Up 70% in South Africa during W.C.

Spending on Visa cards was up 70 percent in South Africa during the World Cup over 2009 levels, averaging 55,000 Visa transactions a day from the start of June until the end of the day of the final. Spending by international visitors in South Africa on Visa-branded payment cards exceeded $312 million between June 1st and July 11th, compared to $184 million last year. According to Visa's spe...

Source: Grand jury subpoenas Armstrong sponsor Trek in cycling drug probe

A federal grand jury investigating possible doping conspiracies in cycling has issued a subpoena for documents to the Trek Bicycle Corporation, the Wisconsin-based bike manufacturer that sponsored Lance Armstrong's cycling teams since 1998, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation. Read More >>

New York Islanders Sign Official Cupcake

Among the standard sports sponsorship categories it is not, but the New York Islanders have signed an official cupcake supplier. The tale is, as you might have guessed, not as vanilla as most sponsorship deals. Read More >> photo credit: New York Islanders

Links 07/14/10

Deals New York #Islanders Sign Official Cupcake DealMetroPCS Sponsors Chosen Few's Fuego, 'La Musica Del Futuro' Album Release With Nationwide TourMTS to be official communications solutions provider of the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival Trends & Tidbits World Cup's Winners & LosersHospitality sales for #Ryder Cup helped by price cut Activations Visa Says Spendin...

Links 07/15/10

Deals Tour of Utah finds #sponsorship - AT&T, XO Comm, Siegfried/Johnson, Toyota, Powerade/GlaceauBridgestone extends #NFL #sponsorship through 2015Air Guard to sponsor #NASCAR race in Richmond Trends & Tidbits Budget cuts would devastate the arts, warns theatre and gallery directors Activations Manchester United jerseys unveiled at AON HQ in Chicago

Sponsors Considered for San Diego Beaches

If swimmers get caught in a rip current off San Diego, efforts to save their lives could soon be sponsored by a wireless company. Or a bank. Maybe a fast-food chain. A San Diego City Council committee voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward with a plan to raise revenue by expanding corporate sponsorships to lifeguard towers, benches and walkways at city beaches. Read More >> p...

Activation Tactic of the Week

The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking their game entertainment to the next level with the introduction of a new Legends Race initiative that celebrates four of the team's All-Star players from the past. The team's new entertainment tactic, sponsored by Henkel North America, serves as a great way of how sports properties can take a general concept and customize it to make it their own. When the...

Links 07/16/10

Deals HTC Columbia in talks with Google for #sponsorship dealDow Chemical Company joins the TOP ProgrammeMinnesota Vikings and Minnesota Lottery Sign Sponsorship Deal Trends & Tidbits Jacques Rogge says IOC is OK with BP sponsoring 2012 London OlympicsSponsors Considered for San Diego Beaches

Banking on a New Era of Sponsorship

There is a better than good chance that the financial reform bill set to be passed by the United States government will have a conspicuous impact on sports sponsorships in years to come. Read More >> photo credit

Volvo Offers Urban Drive-In Experience

While Volvo transitions ownership from Detroit-based Ford to China's Gheely Holdings, the Swedish car brand has tapped a new campaign that is straight from the American heartland. Volvo recently offered urban-dwellers in London the opportunity to experience a classic Drive-In through a new campaign called VolvoStarlite Urban Drive-In. Earlier this month, the brand partnered with entrepreneur, D...