SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Global sports and entertainment agency Wasserman announced the formation of The Collective, a new division within the company being launched to “raise the visibility of women in sports, entertainment, and culture by delivering unique strategy, insights, and ideas for talent, brands, and properties focused on empowering and speaking to women.” The division will serve as a resource for Wasserman, including its business and clients, so that projects or clients that reach women can be elevated by the combined expertise and experience of The Collective and benefit from the new division. Separately, the Wasserman Foundation, a private family foundation led by Casey Wasserman, has committed $1M to fund charitable programs encouraging the growth and development of women in sports and entertainment.
UEFA inked a long-term partnership with Fanatics to take on the merchandising and official fan shop for the European soccer governing body’s national team events. The deal includes Euro 2020, the Nations League Finals, the European Under-21 Championship, the European Futsal Championship and the Women’s Euro 2021. In addition, Fanatics will also be able to produce officially licensed UEFA competition merchandise at its major tournaments.
BIG3 will see adidas activate through a new ticket promotion that spans the rest of the league’s 2019 season. Beginning Tuesday, the league—with the help of the league’s apparel sponsor—will now provide half-price tickets, packages, and bundles.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and TradeWinds Island Resorts unveiled a multi-year partnership agreement that showcases collaborative marketing initiatives focused on enhancing the in-game stadium experience for Buccaneers fans at Raymond James Stadium, anchored by the Bucs Beach Bash.
DIGITAL, DATA & STREAMING
The NBA announced a strategic partnership and equity stake with NEX Team Inc., a mobile artificial intelligence company and the developer of HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training application. The partnership will leverage HomeCourt’s technology to develop and train players at all skill levels and will be an integral part of the NBA’s youth basketball development initiatives around the world.
Meanwhile, the NBA carried the first-ever game captured exclusively by smartphones yesterday at MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Hawks/Wizards matchup “Smartphone View” alternate broadcast featured the aid of AT&T 5G video and six Samsung phones, offering courtside views, customized graphics, interviews, in-arena elements, fan interaction and more.
ESPORTS
HyperX cemented a partnership with Red Bull esports tournaments and events in 2019, beginning with the Red Bull Rise Till Dawn event in Chicago tomorrow. HyperX will serve as the exclusive supplier of headsets, keyboards, mice, mouse pads, DRAM and SSD for the 2019 Red Bull esports tournaments and events. HyperX will also be providing products for the Red Bull Esports Arena in Santa Monica and providing products to Red Bull athletes and key players.
Summoners War publisher and developer Com2uS is tapping the services of OGN to produce the third annual Summoners War Championships. Preliminary rounds will kick in on July 13 leading into the top players from North American and South America competing in the Americas Cup in LA on Aug. 31, with players moving on with competitors from the Asia-Pacific Cup and Europe Cup to the Summoners War Championships 2019 World Finals in Paris on Oct. 26.
Wix.com is partnering with FaZe Clan to become the team’s official website development and design partner. Wix and FaZe Clan will create opportunities for fans through integrated social and digital content with Wix branding set to be featured on the official FaZe Clan team shirt, and will serve as an official supporter of FaZe Clan's Professional Fortnite team. The partnership officially kicks off with the release of the official Fortnite Team website:
The World Showdown of Esports detailed plans to host the seventh WSOE event: The Tekken 7 & SoulCalibur VI Showdown on July 27 at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort and Casino starting at 10a PT. The event WSOE’s first entry into the fighting game arena, with a single-day, double-elimination format. Each game title will have seven invited competitors and one qualifier to be determined during the West Coast qualifying competitions on July 10 (SoulCalibur VI) and July 17 (Tekken 7).
INDUSTRY/ROSTER MOVES
Vox Media announced a bevy of staffing changes including new hires within the senior leadership team. Jill Pike will serve as VP of Communications, Matt Kershaw becomes VP of Global Partnerships & Strategy, Peter Elkins-Williams was named a Lead Corporate Development and Donte Stewart becomes Head of Security. “As Vox Media continues to deepen and expand its connection with modern audiences, we are building a team to match our company’s growth and ambitions,” said Vox Media Chairman & CEO Jim Bankoff. “Jill, Matt, Peter and Donte add to our best in class leadership team and will each have key roles as we continue to shape the future of media.”
THE MAIN EVENT
Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals on ESPN sees Federer/Nadal and Djokovic/ Bautista Agut starting at 8a.
ON THIS DAY in 1954; The Major League Baseball Players Association is founded.
In the Know: 40 years ago today, the Chicago White Sox had to forfeit a game due to field damage caused by a Demolition Day promotion designed to destroy what? (Email cpursell@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your company and city).
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Which sport did Charlotte Cooper play to win Olympic gold? Answer: Tennis. Kudos: Michael Ritz-Northwestern Mutual/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Rich Wolfe-Lone Wolfe Press/Scottsdale; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Tony Reyes-Duncan Studio/Pasadena
Later -- Chris
