Shorts: Iba, Arsenal, Northampton Saints
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has appointed WePlay to rebrand the global governing body of boxing.
The London-based growth marketing agency will focus on the rebranding of the IBA’s men’s and women’s World Championships
It claims the project will ‘aim to enhance the appeal and commercial viability of boxing while strengthening the IBA’s brand recognition and commercial value of its major events.’
Commercial & Marketing Director for the IBA, Elizaveta Bracht, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with WePlay on this transformative project. This marks a significant milestone in the IBA’s evolution into a premier global sports entertainment property.”
CEO of WePlay, Luca Massaro, added, “WePlay is excited to work closely with the IBA to develop a fresh, dynamic brand strategy and visual identity. Our team is committed to helping the IBA establish itself as the premier global sports entertainment property for boxing fans everywhere.”
Women’s Super League (WSL) football club Arsenal has extended its partnership with Mastercard.
The deal with the global payment technology company, which initially began in May 2019, has been described as a ‘long-term agreement.’
The extension ensures that the branded content series ‘Matchday Moments’ and ‘Moment of the Match’, will continue to follow each of Arsenal’s women’s fixtures.
Arsenal Women’s Chief Commercial Officer, Juliet Slot, said, “Our extended partnership with Mastercard is another strong indicator of growth in women’s football and Arsenal’s continued investment to make the game a strong proposition for our partners. We’ve seen recently in our matches that the crowds are coming, and now commercial partners are also coming.”
Vice President of Marketing, UK&I, Mastercard, Agnes Woolrich, added, “Supporting women’s football is a unique way to connect with fans, promote gender equality, and inspire the next generation. It’s not just about sponsorship – we want to advocate for women who are breaking down barriers, help boost participation, and truly support the growth of the women’s game.”
Gallagher Premiership rugby union club Northampton Saints has announced a new partnership with MedicAir.
The Saints have joined forces with healthy air company MedicAir to tackle indoor air pollution at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The British air purification company has signed a new clean air partnership which aims to remove the ‘invisible threat’ from Saints’ training facilities and stadium to protect the health of the club’s players and its staff.
Managing Director of MedicAir, Dr. Matthew Perkins, said, “Mounting studies show there is a direct correlation between indoor air quality and the health and performance of elite sportspeople. The fact that Northampton Saints are investing in MedicAir air purification technology shows how committed the club is to the health and wellbeing of its players, as well as spectator satisfaction.”
“We are thrilled to be working with such a prestigious and forward-thinking club.”
Digital content agency Little Dot Sport is taking on the social media channel management and asset creation contract of motorsport-star Ferdinand Habsburg’s Rebel Team.
Little Dot Sport has won six-month contract that will see it manage Rebel Team’s Instagram and Twitter channels with the ambition to drive brand awareness and fan engagement in the lead up to the team’s official launch in June at the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race.
Ferdinand Habsburg, Founder of Rebel Team, said, “We see in Little Dot Sport a partner which strongly understands the role of community in sports. Their impressive and diverse experience gives us great confidence on our path forward in giving motorsports fans that long-awaited seat at the table.”
Robbie Spargo, Director of Little Dot Sport, added, “It’s great to be working with such a like-minded organisation who are driven by a fan-first approach. This is a very exciting year for Rebel Team and we are really looking forward to playing a part in their journey as we look to maximise opportunities, engage fans and supercharge growth. “
DAZN has appointed Marc Watson as its new Chief Commercial Officer, days after confirming the acquisition of ELEVEN Sports, the company Marc co-founded.
Marc will lead the rights and content acquisition strategy and drive other commercial initiatives across DAZN Group.
Marc co-founded competitor business ELEVEN Group alongside Andrea Radrizzani in 2015 and was CEO until ELEVEN was acquired by DAZN in February 2023. In seven years, Marc led ELEVEN’s expansion into 230 markets.
Prior to founding ELEVEN, Marc was the Chief Executive for BT’s television business, where he devised and successfully launched BT Sport, including securing their first ever Premier League rights.
Preston North End has agreed a multi-year partnership with British sportswear brand Castore, who will provide bespoke kits for the club from the start of the 2023/24 season.
Castore will not only be providing unique kits for Preston North End, they will also take over the club’s retail operation at Deepdale, with a new-look store and online retail site.
Speaking on the new partnership, Peter Ridsdale, Preston North End director, said, “We are delighted to be able to announce our partnership with Castore, who are one of the fastest-growing sportswear brands in the market.
“We look forward to working with Castore throughout this partnership and we are excited to reveal our bespoke kits for the 2023/24 season in the coming months, which we feel will prove extremely popular with supporters.”
