Industry Shorts: Aeltc, Pro14, Kindred Group
The AELTC has announced a series of strategic investments into grass court tournaments.
The commitments, effective from 2020 onwards, are a progression of the body’s strategy to ensure that players have the opportunity to take part in grass court tournaments in the build-up to the Wimbledon Championships each year. Through a series of collaborations, the AELTC says it will become the owner, rights or licence holder of four new or relocated tournaments on the LTA, WTA and ATP Tours, all taking place in the gap between the French Open and Wimbledon.
The AELTC says it is working with the LTA on the grass court season in the UK; with Octagon and e|motion sports on a new WTA event in Berlin; with e|motion sports on a new ATP event in Mallorca; and with Angelique Kerber Management and Perfect Match on a proposed new WTA event in Bad Homburg, which is subject to WTA Board approval.
The Guinness PRO14 has appointed independent digital agency Delete as the league’s Digital Agency Partner after a competitive tender process.
The agency, which also counts The R&A, The Open, Southampton FC and The FA on its list of sports clients, will deliver a digital strategy for the PRO14, focusing on website user experience as well as SEO and digital marketing projects to boost the league’s presence online.
Betting company Kindred Group has announced its responsible gambling commitment for the 2019/20 season.
Through its 32Red brand, the group will promote responsible gambling through its shirt sponsorships. Whenever two clubs carrying the 32Red logo on their shirts meet this season – the first of which will happen on 21st September when Leeds United meet Derby County – the clubs’ shirts will carry a responsible gambling message such as ‘Keep Gambling Fun’ or ‘Never Chase Losses’ alongside the logo.
The NBA has entered into a partnership with 2K and esports body ESL to launch the inaugural NBA 2K20 Global Championship, taking place from October 2019 to February 2020.
The competition is open to everyone around the world, with $100,000 of prize money on offer. Local qualifiers will take place online before regional play-offs will be held in physical locations in Los Angeles, Paris and Sydney before a global final featuring eight competitors will take place at the ESL studio in LA.
