Shorts: Crypto Fan Fund, British Rowing, Matta

Sportsbet.io has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind ‘Crypto Fan Fund’, donating 2 Bitcoin (BTC) to its partner club Southampton FC. The fund will be used to deliver a series of fan-led initiatives across the 2021-22 season, and beyond. 

Throughout the season, the fund will be used to support the causes that matter most to fans. All decisions on how and where the fund is used will be made by Saints Voice, Southampton FC’s long-standing supporter panel, who will work closely with the club and with Sportsbet.io to determine how to make the greatest impact.

The donation of cryptocurrency in this way is a major first within elite sports partnerships. Unlike traditional fiat donations, the value of the fund can shift and increase in line with the market, allowing for the potential of greater investments in future seasons. Sportsbet.io will underwrite the fund for the value of 2BTC at the point of donation, guaranteeing the club access to at least the minimum value of the fund, plus any additional profits accrued from inflation.

British Rowing and Concept2 have announced an extension of their partnership through to the end of September 2024. The partnership, which will see Concept2 continue to support the GB Rowing Team and Performance Pathway, includes the provision of world-class equipment from rowing machines to oars.

Kenny Baillie, Director of Partnerships and Communications at British Rowing, added: “It’s great to extend our successful partnership with Concept2. They’re indisputably a market leader in performance indoor rowing machines and rowing oars, and have been a key component of the GB Rowing Team set-up for a long time.”

Commenting on the extension, Alex Dunne, Managing Director of Concept2 said: “Concept2 is proud to continue partnering with British Rowing through to Paris 2024.  We have a long history of success together, both on the water and with events like the British Rowing Indoor Championships. We look forward to working together to make the sport of rowing more accessible to everyone.”

Creative agency, MATTA, who won Young Agency of the Year at the Sport Industry Awards 2019, has announced the appointment of Paul Mitcheson to the position of Brand & Strategy Director, a key leadership role in MATTA’s growing Brand and Strategy team.

Paul, joining from Movember, the men’s health charity, brings with him two decades of global experience in brand communications – 11 of them agency-side prior to moving to Movember. Paul’s remit at MATTA will include driving MATTA’s presence at the intersection of sport and health.

Paul joins Jean-Luc Gentilli who started as Brand & Strategy Director earlier in the autumn. Previously at AMV BBDO where he worked on accounts such as Ford, the Economist and Unilever brands Jean-Luc will head up some of MATTA’s largest sporting clients.

Supported by the Chelsea Foundation, St. George’s Park is hosting the Mentee Development Programme, giving 10 coaches from minority ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to gain exposure to the FA Technical Department and invaluable experience with professional clubs.

As part of the FA coach inclusion and diversity programme, which is targeted at addressing the pervasive inequalities for under-represented Black, Asian and mixed heritage male and female coaches, the Mentee Development Programme is a bespoke learning experience for under-represented groups with aspirations to work in the professional game.

Running throughout the season, the development opportunity is designed to meet the needs of each individual coach, offering the ideal progression for those who currently work within grassroots or semi-professional environments.

Digital content publishing platform company Minute Media has announced that it has acquired Tel Aviv-based company Wazimo.

Wazimo is the first technology-focused acquisition for Minute Media. Previously, Minute Media had expanded its content portfolio through acquisitions, including The Players’ Tribune and FanSided.

Together Minute Media and Wazimo hope to solve some of today’s largest publishing challenges, allowing digital publishers and content creators to build, segment and grow audiences at scale.