Shorts: Staples Center, Ioc, GB Wheelchair Rugby
The Staples Center — home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Sparks — will soon be known as the Crypto.com Arena. The name change is part of a 20-year agreement that is believed to be the largest venue naming rights deal in U.S. history.
Inaugurated in 1999, then emerging STAPLES Inc. paid $100 million for the rights for 10 years. In 2009, STAPLES signed a deal for naming rights in perpetuity, however in 2019, AEG brought back the naming rights for an undisclosed sum.
The arena’s new Crypto.com logo will debut on 25th, when the Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets, and all of Staples Center signage will be replaced with the new name by June 2022.
New guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) says there should be no assumption that a transgender athlete automatically has an unfair advantage in female events.
The framework, which replaces IOC guidelines issued in 2015, also changes the policy on requiring transgender women to suppress testosterone levels in order to compete in female events.
The IOC’s 10-point framework, which took two years to be finalised, consulted with more than 250 athletes and other stakeholders before finalising the document.
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR), who claimed an historic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this summer, has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2023 World Wheelchair Rugby European Championship Division A Tournament.
The eight-team event, which will be held at Principality Stadium in Cardiff from the 3-7 May 2023, will act as a qualifier for Paris 2024, with the top two teams automatically qualifying for the Paralympic Games.
As Great Britain enjoys unprecedented success in wheelchair rugby, having claimed victory in the last three consecutive European Championships, the vision for the event is to deliver the best European Championships ever. This will be achieved not just by producing the ultimate experience for athletes, fans, volunteers and partners but by creating a legacy of more people playing, volunteering and supporting the high impact, adrenaline packed game in Wales.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has appointed Jonathan Neill as a Commercial Consultant to review and support its ongoing commercial activity as the association separately begins the recruitment process for a Commercial Director.
With over 20 years top level experience in the sports industry across agency, brand and rights holder commercial roles, Neill has worked as Commercial Director with the Rugby League World Cup where he oversaw partnerships, broadcast, hospitality, licensing, and fan travel and oversaw 10 sponsorship deals during the COVID-19 pandemic including a Principal Partnership with Cazoo, the largest deal in the tournament’s history.
Looking forward to his new Commercial Consultant role with the FAI, Neill said: “This role is one I am really excited about at such a pivotal time for Irish football.
2Tone Creative, co-founded by Amy McConnell and Jackson Wade, has announced the launch of its dedicated talent division, 2T Management.
2T Management has been appointed to represent Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Gold medallists Kate French, Jody Cundy OBE, Lauren Rowles MBE, and Chris Skelley, as well as 14 x Grand Slam Champion Andy Lapthorne and wheelchair basketball player Jude Hamer.
The consultancy continues to manage the PR for British tennis players Johanna Konta and Jordanne Whiley MBE
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