SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
BMW signed on as a Worldwide Partner of The Ryder Cup for the next two matches between the US and Europe at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, in 2020 and Marco Simone, in Italy, in 2022. As part of this commitment, BMW has also renewed its status as an Official Partner of the European Tour for a further four years and will continue as title sponsor of the BMW PGA Championship and BMW International Open until 2022.
Travel site VRBO reached an agreement with ESPN and Florida Citrus Sports to become the title sponsor of the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The game kicks off at 1p on New Year’s Day on ABC and hosts teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences. VRBO will receive national exposure through television, radio and online media and will be recognized in all game promotion. VRBO will also be featured on signage and event collateral throughout bowl week and in the stadium on game day.
AIG locked in a deal to sponsor the Women’s British Open for the next five years. American International Group replaces Ricoh in the role. The global insurance company will partner the R&A and IMG in promoting and staging the tournament.
Major League Soccer team the Houston Dynamo have signed a multi-year shirt sponsorship deal with MD Anderson Cancer Center, marking the first season-long cause-related jersey partnership in the history of MLS. The deal kicks in with the 2019 MLS season. As part of the multi-year partnership, the Dynamo and MD Anderson plan to stage cancer prevention education, survivorship celebrations and philanthropic initiatives, to support the organization’s mission to end cancer.
DIGITAL, DATA & TECH
CBS Sports HQ streams live coverage to break down the college football bowl selections throughout the afternoon and night on Sunday, starting at noon. CBS Sports college football writers and experts including Dennis Dodd, Chip Patterson, Jerry Palm, and Barton Simmons, along with SportsLine’s Vegas insiders, will break down all of the bowl selection news and deliver reactions and analysis for every game. Nick Kostos and Tommy Tran will host the coverage from CBS Sports HQ studios in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Stamford, CT.
Gaming Innovation Group signed a contract with Hard Rock International for the provision of its omni-channel Sportsbook solution in the newly opened US market of New Jersey. Launch date is estimated for Q1 2019.
ESPORTS
Blizzard is reshuffling its esports plans for Hearthstone ahead of the 2019 season, dealing out more than $4 million in prizes in the new year, up from the $2.8 million that will be paid this year, with the bulk of tournaments shifting to digital platforms. The current version of the Hearthstone Championship Tour will wrap up in the spring with the HCT World Championship, where the best Hearthstone players in the world will compete for $1,000,000 in prizing. Afterward, a new three-tiered competitive system will be implemented, consisting of qualifiers, live global tournaments, and an exclusive top tier. Blizzard will then host three invite-only tournaments around the world, with more planned for 2020 pitting the top Hearthstone players who will ompete for $250,000 per event.
100 Thieves is reuniting CEO Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag with former sponsor Red Bull, which sponsored Haag during his playing career. “Together we will push the limits of our teams, creators, and the entire 100 Thieves organization,” the team posted when announcing the news.
ROSTER MOVES
The XFL named Scott Parker as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, responsible for overseeing fan engagement, promotions, publicity, branding, consumer insights and corporate social responsibility for the new league. He most recently developed the Marketing and Communications department at TuneIn.
Nashville’s Major League Soccer team announced today the hiring of Nashville native Will Alexander as Chief Revenue Officer. Alexander will join the new soccer club from Hall Capital, where he served as managing director.
THE MAIN EVENT
Alabama/Georgia on CBS at 4p.
