Merry Christmas From The Sport Industry Group
As another year comes to an end, sportindustry.biz takes a look back at 2013 in the sport industry, which continues to go from strength-to-strength in the UK, with some remarkable successes replicated on the pitch too.
The year was one of retirements, with two of the biggest names in football – David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson – hanging up their respective boots and hairdryers within a week of each other in May; Marion Bartoli went out on a high after taking her first Wimbledon title; David Haye finally called time on his boxing career; Frankel remained unbeaten; Paul Scholes stepped out the limelight once again; Mark Webber completed his final race in a Formula One car in Brazil; while Ronnie O’Sullivan returned from retirement to sweep the world’s best aside and defend an unlikely World Championship in his first competition back.
Meanwhile, the British & Irish Lions crushed the Australians in the deciding Test to take a first Series win Down Under in 16 years, although that wait had nothing on some other famous victories in 2013…
Andy Murray became the first British men’s Wimbledon Singles champion in 77 years; Justin Rose became the first Englishman to be crowned the US Open champion in 43 years; while a Ben Ainslie-inspired Team Oracle took international sport’s oldest trophy, the America’s Cup, making the Olympic champion the first successful Brit in the competition for 110 years. With a combined 230 years, this trio ended a lot of waiting in 2013!
Records also tumbled elsewhere. The Formula One record book turned into the Sebastian Vettel special, equaling a 60 year-old record for nine consecutive race wins on his way to another World Championship, while a different sort of horsepower saw A.P. McCoy take his 4,000th win – nearly 1,500 clear of his nearest rival.
On a different set of tracks, Christine Ohuruogu became the first British woman to win two athletics World Championship crowns after taking the 400m by four thousandths of a second. The ever-relentless Mo Farah provided able support, making it a ‘double double’ with an imperious display at both 5,000m and 10,000m and Hannah Cockroft made it a trio of athletic nominations for Sports Personality of the Year by winning gold in the T34 100m and 200m in Lyon. Athletics also secured a long-term home, with a 50-year deal to ensure the sport remains at West Ham United’s new ground from 2015, the Olympic Stadium.
Also confirmed for a makeover is Cheltenham Racecourse, which will undergo a £45 million redevelopment, building on the sport that will also boast its first £1 million Grand National when Crabbie’s takes over title sponsorship of the race next year.
David Walsh was recognised, amongst others, at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2013 after Lance Armstrong finally confessed to Oprah Winfrey in a television interview. Walsh worked tirelessly throughout a 13-year battle with the Texan to prove that performance-enhancing drugs were used to win his seven Tour de France titles.
On a more positive note for the sport of cycling, Chris Froome made it back-to-back Tour de France titles for Team Sky with a dominant display in the race, which will travel to Yorkshire in 2014.
The competition will see the world’s best visit English shores, which was also the case for rugby league in 2013. England suffered an agonising semi-final defeat to New Zealand with a last-gasp try by the All Blacks in the Rugby League World Cup, who suffered themselves at the hands of champions Australia in the final, one week later.
In terms of the domestic cups, Wigan were the undisputed kings of the last twelve months, with the football team snatching the FA Cup from Manchester City with just minutes to go, and the rugby league Warriors picking up the Super League and Challenge Cup trophies.
Focus continued on the term legacy, one year on from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the very best projects recognised at the Beyond London 2012 Awards. Legacy through sport was an image perfectly captured by Nelson Mandela, who passed away aged 95, when sport united in tribute for the South African earlier this month.
We were told early in the year that the sport industry was a thriving sector, with global expansion a theme throughout 2013. ‘Becks’ followed his retirement decision with a look into the MLS market, whose team could end up facing a Manchester City/New York Yankee team after two of sport’s biggest hitters announced an unlikely partnership for a new franchise.
It worked the other way too, with both the NBA and NFL now playing even more annual games in the UK.
Liverpool MD Ian Ayre revealed the football club’s international social media strategy at the Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club, Premier League transfers reached an all-time high, and England secured FIFA World Cup qualification for Brazil 2014 – although the draw could have been kinder on Roy Hodgson’s men – in the Football Association’s 150th year.
BT Sport was the new player to throw their hat into the ‘live sport’ ring, launching in August and securing Champions League and Europa League rights just a few months later.
Next year certainly has a lot to live up to, and you can recall and recognise the finest work from the year at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2014. Tables are still available, so ensure your place at the most prestigious night of the UK sport industry now.
The daily news service will return after the festive break, on Monday 6th January.
Best wishes in 2014 from all at the Sport Industry Group,
Merry Christmas.
