Revolution Sports Marketing Acquired
London’s Revolution Sports Marketing Group has been acquired by rEvolution – the fast-growing US-based independent sports marketing and media agency, the company has announced.
Revolution, which was founded in 2003, is particularly known for its work in equestrian sport, boasting clients including SAS, Land Rover and the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018. The agency also works across golf, tennis, motorsports and rugby.
The acquisition will see the creation of a new London hub for near namessake rEvolution – the ninth satellite office of the fast-expanding Chicago-based agency, and its first international outpost.
rEvolution, whose services span sponsorship, media, creative, communications and analytics, has appeared eight times in Inc magazine’s 500/5000 list, which recognises the United States’ fastest-growing firms.
The agency’s roster of global clients features several active in international sports, including Continental Tires, Polaris, Shell, Samsung and YouTube.
rEvolution’s fully integrated offering will complement the services of the UK team, led by founder Merrick Haydon, whose existing expertise include public relations, event management and sponsorship consulting.
Commenting on the move, John Rowady, president and founder of rEvolution, said: “Merrick and I both share the collective values about how to deliver world-class sports marketing services, while also advancing the expectations for what global sport can do for the growth of brands.
“Having a true integrated sports marketing services platform on the ground in the UK is an essential step toward achieving our vision, and with this acquisition we are excited to create a new, legitimate pathway for international sports brands interested in deepening their connection with fans within North America (and vice versa).”
Haydon added: “It’s a tremendous opportunity for Revolution to join another independent agency that has the scale to broaden our role globally with existing clients.
“London is a major artery for sports business not only in Europe, but in the entire world – as part of the rEvolution team, we are excited to offer more expanded services for all of our client partners.”
Under the terms of the acquisition, all members of Revolution Sports Marketing’s London staff will transfer to rEvolution.
The deal is also expected to deliver new international opportunities for rEvolution’s subsidiary businesses.
These include REV/XP, an independent, fully integrated esports marketing and talent management agency, which has managed high-profile partnerships with top-tier teams OpTic Gaming and Splyce and has ushered in and managed campaigns for brands, including Chipotle, Turtle Wax and PepsiCo’s Brisk; and RGE, a global event consultancy for sponsors of global sports federations, which most recently completed on-the-ground work on behalf of sponsor partners at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia
