Shorts: Cricket South Africa, Liverpool Fc, Aquatics GB

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named IMG ARENA, OpenBet’s sports data and streaming products arm, as its exclusive data supplier and betting live streaming partner.

In partnership with CricViz, London-based IMG ARENA will collect detailed data, both live and in-venue, for CSA’s domestic and international matches spanning a wide array of competitions, from bilateral series to domestic leagues.

Data for international matches will be gathered across men’s and women’s test, ODI, and T20I formats, while domestic matches will see data collection for men’s 4-day, 50 Over, and T20, as well as the women’s 50 Over and T20 formats.

IMG ARENA will distribute the data to more than 460 regulated sportsbook operators worldwide, as well as the live streams of CSA matches to the global betting industry.

Mark Wrigley, Vice President & Head of Rights at IMG ARENA, said, “IMG ARENA is serving fans and sportsbook operators across a wide breadth of sports and markets around the world.

“Alongside CricViz, we’re excited to partner with Cricket South Africa to bring fans the ultimate sportsbook experience incorporating reliable, informed data and live streaming.”

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the US owners of Liverpool FC, have pulled out of talks to buy struggling French club Bordeaux.

Bordeaux said FSG cited future maintenance costs of the stadium, plus the general uncertainty over the financial stability of French football as the key reasons it has stepped away from a deal to secure the six-time French champions.

An FSG statement, said, “Although we are disappointed not to have found a viable outcome, we wish the club and its supporters well for the future.”

Aquatics GB has partnered with UK compression technology company ISOBAR.

The deal sees ISOBAR add the national watersports governing body to its roster that also includes British Cycling and INEOS Brittania.  

This latest collaboration with Aquatics GB aims to enhance the performance and recovery of their athletes using ‘cutting-edge sports compression technology’ after a successful trial at the 2024 World Championship in Doha, where elite swimmers were the first to use ISOBAR’s custom sports recovery 2-layer system.

Aquatics GB CEO, Drew Barrand, commented,“We are very excited to be partnering with ISOBAR and to bring them into the aquatics high-performance family at a hugely exciting time for our athletes and sports, heading into the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

“We know that we share a common drive to find new ways to support our athletes’ performance and ensure they are confident that their recovery is the best it can be, as we strive for excellence in and out of the water.”

NFL UK has appointed Fresh Base as its retained production agency for the 2024/2025 season.

The London-based creative production agency Fresh Base will produce ‘regular and engaging content’ for NFL UK, as per the new agreement

The partnership officially launched in May, with a promo film directed by Elliot Simpson announcing the 2024 London Games fixtures taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley.

Gaurav Kumar, Founder & Executive Producer of Fresh Base, said, “We are incredibly excited to work with NFL UK for Season 2024/2025. Fandom for NFL in the UK is growing rapidly every year, and we’re thrilled to now be a part of that journey.

” At Fresh Base, we are committed to producing content of the highest calibre, and we will endeavour to elevate NFL UK’s connection with audiences across the UK.”

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing its progress and investment in the area.

The report reveals that Mercedes Formula 1’s total market-based race team control emissions have fallen by 10% compared to 2022, representing a reduction of over 1,700 tCO₂e and progressing towards its target of 50% reduction in race team control emissions by 2026.

The team also boasts a 67% reduction in emissions and 339 tCO2e saved through use of HVO100 biofuel across European season in race and hospitality trucks and generators, as well as using 100% renewable electricity through REGOs maintained in 2023.

As well as highlighting its environmental work, the report details the team’s progress across social impact and governance too.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, said, “As a Formula 1 team our efforts are judged by millions every time we go racing.

“Every race, every practice, and every test, sharpen the mind and help us chase every millisecond.

“Although we report annually on our sustainability progress, the commitment to optimise our operations and pursue sustainable high performance is always front of mind.

“Just like on track, we aim to improve our performance in every area, and our annual Sustainability Report serves as a reminder of everything that’s happening behind the scenes.

“Yes, we report on our results – our footprint; our demographics; our codes and policies but it’s much more than that – it’s about our people; their collective power and our impact on the world within and beyond motorsport.

“This reaches well beyond what we must do; it’s about our innovation and what we can achieve by inspiring others to follow. We are privileged to work in a sport that demands high-performance teamwork, technology, and innovation.

“We have a responsibility to harness those elements, as well as our people and our global platform, to go further faster. It matters to me, our team members, our partners and, importantly, fans of our sport.

“Ultimately, our ambition is to become one of the most sustainable global professional sports teams. It’s a long-term goal but an important one; we set ourselves big challenges and recognise that it will take all of us to get there.”

EFL League One football club Peterborough United has agreed a new two-year sponsorship deal with Princebuild.

As per the agreement, Princebuild will remain as the team’s back-of-shirt sponsor. 

Peterborough United Commercial Manager, Alex Harris, said, “It goes without saying that the support that we have received from Princebuild has been first-class.

“Not only have they been our ‘back of shirt’ sponsor for over a decade now, they have supported us in other ways, whether that be additional sponsorship or participating in other club events. 

“We are very fortunate at the football club to have a lot of wonderful partners and sponsors and I would like to thank everybody at Princebuild for their continued backing and look forward to the next two years.”