Shorts: Chelsea, Team England, Science in Sport
Chelsea have announced a multi-year partnership with Ticketmaster, naming the company as the club’s official ticketing partner.
The agreement will see Ticketmaster implement its ticketing technology at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2025/26 season.
This includes the introduction of digital tickets for the first time, aiming to provide a smoother and more secure process for supporters attending matches. The move to digital ticketing is also intended to support the club’s efforts to reduce ticket touting.
The partnership aims to enhance the matchday experience for Chelsea fans through updated ticketing access.
Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer for Chelsea Football Club, said, “Partnering with a leading force in the industry brings significant value to our operations, ensuring we offer our fans a smoother, safer experience with best-in-class products, while continuing to address the issue of ticket touts.”
Chris Gratton, Managing Director at Ticketmaster Sport, said, “Chelsea FC is one of the biggest clubs in football, and we’re excited to be part of their journey. We can’t wait to kick off this partnership and ensure every supporter gets a ticketing experience worthy of the Blues.”
Team England have extended their partnership with Kukri Sports through to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The renewal marks the fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games collaboration between the two organisations, which began at Glasgow 2014.
As the official kit supplier, Kukri Sports will again provide performance wear and delegate kits for athletes, coaches, and staff, and will launch a retail range ahead of the Games.
The partnership will focus on inclusion and equality, with Kukri Sports working with para-athletes and other representatives to create apparel inclusive in design, fit, and function. Features will include adaptive fits for seated athletes and accessible fastenings.
Sustainability is also a key element, with the Glasgow 2026 range set to feature eco-conscious materials and reduced waste processes, aligning with Team England’s sustainability commitments.
Mark Osikoya, CEO of Commonwealth Games England, said, “We know how much it means for athletes to wear their Team England kit and as a valued partner, Kukri shares our commitment to inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.”
British Cycling, British Triathlon, Aquatics GB, England Netball and Great British Wheelchair Rugby have partnered with Science in Sport (SiS).
The long-term agreements will run through to or beyond the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, covering major domestic and international events including World Championships.
Under the terms of the deals, SiS will provide its science-backed products to British athletes. In return, SiS will gain access to performance data and feedback from elite athletes to aid its research and development. The partnerships also include delivering nutrition education to the wider participation communities of the governing bodies.
SiS will conduct scientific research to formulate science-backed products for elite athletes.
These additions expand SiS’s UK partnership portfolio, which already includes British Rowing, England Athletics, Saracens Rugby, Tottenham Hotspur, Loughborough University, Sir Chris Hoy and Eilish McColgan.
Dan Lampard, Chief Operating Officer of Science in Sport, said, “It is a fantastic moment to become the Official Sports Nutrition Partner of five British governing bodies.
“It is our mission to improve the education, health and performance of all athletes, and these partnerships give us an incredible platform to continue innovating and leading the field.”
Aston Villa have announced plans to refurbish and expand their North Stand at Villa Park.
The redevelopment will increase the North Stand’s capacity to over 12,000 seats. Combined with ongoing upgrades to Villa Park’s other three stands, total capacity at Villa Park will increase to over 50,000 upon completion in the second half of 2027.
The club had previously announced plans for a full rebuild in 2022 but stated that capacity increases must coincide with local transport improvements.
The redeveloped stand is projected to increase the club’s gross contribution to the local economy to £120 million per year, supporting over 1,700 full-time equivalent jobs.
Nassef Sawiris, Executive Chairman of Aston Villa FC, said, “A bigger, better North Stand will not only allow many more Villans to see their team in person, improving matchday experience, but will also dramatically improve the Club’s ability to invest and compete in the long term.”
FedEx has launched the Champions of Business list in collaboration with The Financial Times
The initiative has formed part of a wider campaign to recognise the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to football, based on new research from The Financial Times.
The study, which has surveyed 100 European football clubs, has found that 71% believe SME suppliers add significant value to the sport, with 47% already working with SMEs for at least 30% of their supply chain. That figure is projected to rise to 85% within the next three years.
The Champions of Business list has featured a range of businesses across Europe, including those offering technology and sustainability services to clubs from grassroots to elite levels.
The campaign has been fronted by Andrés Iniesta alongside FedEx Europe’s Senior Vice President of Sales Dan Vines and business leader Bex Smith.
Dan Vines, Senior Vice President of Sales in Europe, FedEx, said, “The FedEx Champions of Business list is dedicated to recognising the businesses that are shaping the future of football.
“Through our collaboration with The Financial Times, we have created an impactful and insightful list that highlights the contributions of SME businesses within the sport.”
Leeds United Elland Road redevelopment plans have been approved by Leeds City Council
The board approved the start of legal agreements to sell council land around the stadium to Leeds United. It also approved entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lowy Family Group, the club’s development partner represented by director Peter Lowy, to consider regeneration potential for 30 acres of council-owned land nearby. The third approval covered steps to refresh the council’s vision for future regeneration adjacent to an expanded stadium.
The club’s plans were contingent on their recent promotion to the Premier League. Public consultation on the planning application is expected to start soon.
Coun Alan Lamb, Leader of the Opposition, said, “I’m pleased the council is using its ability to support this, it’s absolutely what we should be doing in conjunction with the combined authority.”
Teamworks has renewed its headline sponsorship of the Training Ground Guru (TGG) Live 2025 conference.
The two-day event, focused on high performance in football, will be held at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium on 7th-8th October.
Teamworks provides an operating system for high performance, used by over 7,000 sports teams and military organisations globally. Its products support data-driven talent acquisition, operations, and performance development.
Ticket prices for the event have been frozen from the previous year.
Teamworks said, “We’re proud to renew our partnership with TGG Live for 2025. Together, we remain committed to driving innovation in elite sports and providing teams with the tools and insights they need to excel.
“We are looking forward to another incredible event and to seeing everyone soon.”
Scores app LiveScore is expanding its brand activation and presence into Thailand,.
LiveScore has partnered with local agency Holarchy to enhance brand awareness and activation in the region.
With the World Cup approaching, this expansion allows LiveScore to connect with football fans as it seeks to establish itself as a platform for football fans, and paves the way for collaborations with regional brands.
As part of the expansion, LiveScore has launched its official Thai social media account. This account will feature localised content from the global LiveScore account, complimented with content specifically crafted for Thai fans. Beyond social media, the company plans a series of LiveScore events such as watch parties, with activations designed to connect fans with games.
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, LiveScore, said, “We’ve chosen Thailand as the first country for our Asia expansion because of the undeniable passion of Thai fans.
“With LiveScore already enjoying a strong following and a loyal user base, this expansion marks an incredibly exciting step forward for both us and the fans.”
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