Shorts: PDC, ICC and PGA
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has confirmed a multi-year agreement with Panini.
The deal will see sports collectibles manufacturer Panini collaborate with the PDC to create the first-ever official darts collectibles in a multi-year licensing deal.
Within this deal, Panini will create innovative new collectible products featuring all the PDC’s top competitors. The products will feature autographs of some of the sport’s greatest players, including Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler alongside legends such as Phil Taylor.
The first exclusive trading card collection will launch at the end of 2024 to celebrate the World Darts Championship.
Matthew Porter, CEO at the PDC, said, “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Panini to launch this exciting collection in time for this year’s World Darts Championship.”
Katie Gritt, Head of Marketing for Sport at Panini, added, “Darts is such an iconic sport with a loyal fanbase, and we’re excited to bring them collectible products that celebrate the players and the sport they love.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has elected Jay Shah as its new Chair.
Jay Shah previously served as the BCCI Honorary Secretary since October 2019 and Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021.
After current Chair Greg Barclay decided not to seek a third term, Shah was the sole nominee for the chairmanship and was unopposed in the election process.
He will assume his new role on the 1st of December 2024.
Jay Shah said, “I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets.
Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
Shah’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it seeks to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage.
PGA Tour has announced the launch of its new World Feed in 2025.
Starting with the Players Championship, the feed will come directly from the Tour’s new content facility, PGA Tour Studios, which opens in January.
This development will allow the Tour and its international media partners the opportunity to provide fans with customised coverage and close-ups with the Tour’s international players.
The broadcast will be complemented by a customised graphics package and an international commentary team, produced and curated exclusively for international media partners and their viewers.
Following its debut at The Players, the World Feed will be produced for all remaining events on the 2025 schedule.
Rick Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer at PGA Tour said, “This is an important step – the first of many – as PGA TOUR Studios comes online and we create more opportunities to showcase our world-class athletes and championships to an ever-growing audience.”
Coventry Rugby Club has extended its partnership with The Food Heroes into the 2024/25 season.
Speciality food and branding business The Food Heroes has provided support to Coventry Rugby Club since 2021 and has extended into another season as the club’s main partner.
The family-run business based in Lincolnshire has previously supplied fresh and frozen products to the club.
Included in the extension, The Food Heroes logo will now feature on the front of the home and away Championship shirts as well as the warm-up tops.
Simon Martin, CEO and Founder of Food Heroes said, “We are delighted to develop our relationship with Coventry Rugby. Coventry is in our blood; my sister and I are Cov Kids!”
Nick Johnston, Executive Officer at Coventry Rugby Club added, “Their plans to help enhance our match day experience for both our loyal fans and our Hospitality guests places us at the forefront of Professional Rugby.”
Darts manufacturer Target Darts has partnered with World ParaDarts Masters for the upcoming World Championships in 2024.
The World ParaDarts Masters and World Championship 2024 is set to start on the 3rd January 2025 in Essex, with the list of players competing to be released on the 1st of September.
The events will see the top 64 ParaDarts players from across the world compete against each other.
As a part of this deal, Target Darts will contribute a sponsorship fee to support the event’s organisation, provide equipment and offer creative materials for World ParaDarts to display across their social media channels and at the event.
Adam Thompson, Head of Marketing at Target Darts said, “Darts is a game that brings people together and at Target, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and excel in the sport they love.”
SPORTFIVE has joined forces with Saudi Arabian football club AINassr after being appointed as the club’s sponsorship strategist.
Included in this deal, SPORTFIVE are hoping to ‘enhance the club’s global brand and diversify its partners through working alongside the club’s commercial team.’
AINassr’ already works with a select group of sports teams including the Chicago Bulls, Kansas City Chiefs, and CR Flamengo Jordi Durante.
Chief Revenue Officer at AlNassr said, “Their (SPORTFIVE) expertise will be instrumental in unlocking new opportunities that seamlessly align with our vision for global expansion and lasting success.”
Christian Koller, Vice President Global Athlete & Team Marketing at SPORTFIVE added, “AlNassr is among the most followed clubs in the world. Our goal is to create impactful and sustainable partnership opportunities that will not only enhance the club’s global brand but also provide long-term value for all stakeholders involved.”
Dan French, formerly of 160over90, has launched The Ethical Agent.
With over two decades of experience working with athletes and global brands, Dan French has launched a ‘consultancy with a conscience.’
The Ethical Agent aims to offer ‘conscious brands and client’s strategic consultancy to bring them closer to the fans of world-renowned athletes and content creators who want to use their voice and platform to inspire climate action and societal change.’
Dan French has previously worked alongside iconic athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt and Lewis Hamilton.
HITZ Cricket and BatFast have unveiled cricket training venues across the UK.
Through a subscription model, HITZ will give opportunities to cricketers of all levels to practice and play,
In 2024, HITZ Cricket will launch its first site in Surrey with the aim of opening a further five sites at the end of 2025 and operating 200 lanes in the UK within five years.
The monthly subscription model will provide one-hour training sessions for £10 per week and one-off bookings will be available for £6.50 per person, per session.
Indoor training structures will be available all year round and will be both a development tool for HITZ Club members and a valuable resource for cricket enthusiasts in local communities
Dominic Reed, CEO of HITZ Cricket said, “We have ambitious plans to locate our market-leading proposition in hundreds of sites across the UK and further afield. We look forward to seeing the cricket industry adopt this new way to play.”
Runish Gudhka, CEO of BatFast added, “Our collective goal is to make high-quality cricket facilities accessible to everyone, addressing the well-documented issues of cricket.”
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