SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation announced multi-year agreements that make Bluegreen Vacations the “Official Vacation Ownership Provider of NASCAR” and an “Official Partner of ISC.” Bluegreen Vacations will also be the race entitlement sponsor at ISM Raceway for the 2019 Bluegreen Vacations 500. The deal provides Bluegreen Vacations with promotional rights, allowing it to market in the fan midways at ISC tracks across the country as well as host VIP experiences for vacation owners of the Bluegreen Vacation Club.
150 years of college football will see the return of College Colors Day once again this year, created by CLC, and set for Friday as fans “are encouraged to show that their college colors never fade by wearing their favorite college gear.” "There is something incredibly unique in the connection that fans have with their favorite college team – it represents good times in their lives that they want to keep experiencing. Whether a fan is excited by the prospects of a new football season or wants to show pride in the traditions and spirit that his or her university represents, wearing college colors outwardly showcases that fandom—and those colors never fade," said Nicole Armentrout, Vice President, Marketing at CLC. "We look forward to seeing the hundreds of thousands of fans who post pictures of themselves wearing their team gear on College Colors Day, August 30."
Super Soccer Stars tied up a partnership with the Philadelphia Union to expand the org’s reach in the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley and marking Super Soccer Stars' first official MLS partnership. "There are few MLS clubs that have built as strong a grassroots program as the Union have, and few regions that are as fertile a base of youth soccer than Greater Philadelphia," said Adam Geisler, CEO, Super Soccer Stars. "We are looking forward to working with the Union to bring our specialized curriculum to younger players, while instilling a love and passion for the game and our community MLS team."
DIGITAL, DATA & TECH
ESPN The Magazine announced this year’s roster of athletes who will be featured in the 11thAnnual BODY Issue, which hits newsstands September 6. The official gallery, including photos and athlete story pages, will go live on espn.com on Sept. 4. The 2019 athlete roster will feature: Scout Bassett, U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Athlete; Liz Cambage, Las Vegas Aces Center; Katrin Davidsdottir, CrossFit Women’s Champion 2015 & 2016; the Eagles Offensive Line; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns Defensive End; James Hinchcliffe, IndyCar Series Driver; Alex Honnold, Climber; Evander Kane, San Jose Sharks Left Wing; Brooks Koepka, PGA Tour Golfer and World #1; Nancy Lieberman, Hall of Fame: WNBA; Amanda Nunes, UFC Champion; Kelley O’Hara, USWNT and Utah Royals Defender; Katelyn Ohashi, Gymnast; Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard; Lakey Peterson, WSL Surfer; Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver; and Christian Yelich, NL MVP and Milwaukee.
theScore announced that, following the successful completion of its regulatory “soft-launch” period, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement granted the company approval to proceed with the full implementation of its mobile sports wagering applications in the State. theScore remains on schedule for its anticipated state-wide launch.
Tunity Analytics Top 10 Out-of-Home Sports Programs for the Week of Aug. 19, 2019.
Show Network Date/Time (000's)
CFB - Miami vs. Florida ESPN 8/24/19 7p 3696
NFL - 49ers vs. Broncos ESPN/ABC/CBS 8/19/19 8p 1869
NFL - Texans vs. Cowboys NFLN/CBS 8/24/19 7p 1009
PGA - Tour Championship NBC 8/25/19 1:30p881
NFL - Steelers vs. Titans NBC 8/25/19 8p 826
Source: Tunity Analytics. Viewing estimates are derived from Tunity mobile app usage for the week beginning August 19, 2019. OOH viewer impressions are calculated using Tunity Analytics proprietary estimation model.
ESPORTS
With its postseason contenders locked in as season two comes to a conclusion, the Overwatch League named Comcast’s Xfinity as the presenting sponsor of the 2019 playoffs and Grand Finals. The sponsorship will give Xfinity “significant presence” during the playoffs’ digital broadcasts on Twitch and ESPN, the Grand Finals airing live on ABC, and also onsite at the Wells Fargo Center.The 2019 playoffs begin on Friday in Los Angeles and culminate at the Grand Finals on Sept. 29, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. All matches are livestreamed on Twitch and the ESPN app, and the Grand Finals will be live broadcast on ABC. The two teams that qualify will compete for the league’s championship trophy and a share of the US $1.7 million prize pool—with the winning team getting $1.1 million and the runner-up taking home $600,000.
ELEAGUE is launching a new competitive series next month in partnership with Wizards of the Coast with the addition of new a Showdown series via MTG Arena starting Sept. 4. Each week, players will compete in one single-elimination match at a time via MTGA in the Standard format, according to Dot Esports.
The International 2019 saw new viewership records after dangling a grand prize of $34.3 million. Esports Charts reports that 1.96 million people tuned in for the grand final, easily topping the previous record of 1.21 million.
INDUSTRY & ROSTER MOVES
The National Lacrosse League announced that Jessica Berman has been named Deputy Commissioner and EVP of Business Affairs. Berman joins the NLL from the National Hockey League, where she has spent the last 13 years, most recently as Vice President, Community Development, Culture & Growth. According to the league, she becomes the first woman to hold the title of Deputy Commissioner at any professional sports league in North America and will oversee all of the league’s legal affairs and transactions, manage team services, and assist the Commissioner with the NLL’s overall growth strategy.
Rob Smith was named General Manager for PGA Interactive, which includes PGA.com, along with the websites and apps that support the major Championships run by the PGA of America. As GM, Smith will oversee all operations of the Interactive business, which is being reimagined to serve as the destination to support a player’s golfing journey, by connecting them to PGA Professionals
THE MAIN EVENT
Cubs/Mets on MLB Network at 7p.
