SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
Navy Federal Credit Union and the NHL struck a multi-year US partnership designed to ‘recognize and support veterans, active duty service members and their families at NHL tentpole events, in broadcast and across the NHL’s digital platforms.” Navy Federal Credit Union will serve as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural NHL Veterans Appreciation Night broadcast on Nov. 7 on NBCSN, where the league and Navy Federal Credit Union will honor retired service members during the Wednesday Night Hockey broadcast doubleheader. As part of this partnership, the NHL and Navy Federal have launched “Stick Tap for Service,” a digital destination for veterans, active duty service members and their families to share personal stories of how hockey has impacted their lives. Navy Federal will also be an official partner and the presenting sponsor for military-themed ceremonial elements at the NHL Winter Classic, the NHL All-Star Weekend and the NHL Stadium Series.
LaLiga North America launched its #BringUStheGame campaign, highlighting the growth of soccer in America and “the desire from American fans to bring the greatest soccer league in the world to the US to play the first ever European club regular season match held outside of Europe.” The scheduled match between LaLiga champions FC Barcelona and Girona FC will take place at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan 26 in Miami, Florida.
E-Poll released its E-ScoreCelebrity rankings of the NBA’s most marketable players. Topping the list is Stephen Curry with an E-Score of 93, driven by the combination of his high Awareness (37%) and Appeal (56%). Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki hold the second and third places, while LeBron James comes in at fourth, down two spots from 2017, likely due to a dip in his Appeal, which often happens after changing teams, according to the company.
DIGITAL & STREAMING
FanSided named Jason Cole as Editor-in-Chief of FanSided.co where he will manage content and editorial operations for the flagship site. “As a former NFL beat reporter I know how much the home team means to its fans,” says Cole. “FanSided has built and grown a powerful platform that connects the most passionate fans to their teams in fresh, original ways. Our priority is to continue to meet that rabid appetite for conversation, debate and enlightenment around the more than 300 communities that we cover, and continue FanSided’s successful expansion into not just new sports communities, but also new corners of the pop culture zeitgeist. There is still so much opportunity to be mined here.”
International Speedway Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Racing Electronics. The company is known for its motorsports communications technology and equipment for motorsports drivers, teams, series, venues, and fans, as well as the exclusive provider of FanVision technology to NASCAR and NHRA. Beginning Jan. 1, ISC will assume operation of Racing Electronics. Leadership and nearly 70 full-time employees will remain intact with Racing Electronics President of Motorsports Chad Willis continuing in his role and reporting to Schwartz.
ESPORTS
Riot Games booked host regions for the next three years of the League of Legends World Championship. The company confirmed that the annual event will see take place in Europe in 2019, before moving back to Asia in 2020 with China as host before coming back to North America in 2021. The European stop will take place in Paris in 2019, marking a return to the continent after four years and taking place at the AccorHotels Arena. Meanwhile, Nov. 3 will see Europe's Fnatic takes on China's Invictus Gaming for all the marbles from Incheon Munhak Stadium in South Korea.
Turner & IMG’s ELEAGUE will continue to showcase top action from its recent charity streaming event featuring Activision’s Call of Duty : Black Ops 4 in the second episode of its three-part series tonight at 11p on TBS. The latest hour-long show focuses on a team led into the event’s various exhibition matches by long-time Call of Duty pro Anthony “NAMELESS” Wheeler, who recently transitioned his career from playing to casting.
ROSTER MOVES
fuboTV is adding its first chief strategy officer to the live TV streaming company’s management team with the appointment of sports media executive Hannah Brown. Brown is tasked with all strategic development and execution as fuboTV accelerates its sports-first cable replacement business in the U.S. and enters new territories internationally.
Super Soccer Stars named Adam Geisler as CEO. Geisler spent the first ten years of his career at Everlast, the 118-year old half a billion dollar global fitness and lifestyle brand.
THE MAIN EVENT
Alabama/LSU on CBS at 8p.
