Media

Major League Baseball star Ken Griffey Jr has signed a sponsorship deal with Pepsi-Cola ? just one week after Sammy Sosa signed terms with the fizzy drink giant.

Yazaki North America, a supplier of vehicle power and data solutions to the automotive industry, has expanded its involvement in motor sports through a sponsorship agreement with LC Racing.

English soccer fans are to lobby the British government at Westminster today after demanding more say in the running of the sport.

Adidas UK has appointed Gordon Baird as managing director with sole responsibility for the company's UK and Ireland operations.

Vulcan Ventures, headed by Microsoft co- founder Paul Allen, will add The Sporting News to its extensive Internet portfolio, which includes Oxygen Media, ZDTV and DreamWorks.

Research undertaken by Sport England has revealed that spending on sports-related activities in England has increased from #8.8bn in 1995 to #11bn in 1998.

Marla Messing, the CEO for the successful 1999 Women's World Cup, has moved onto the web.

Orad?s virtual advertising systems will be used during the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games. to be held February 17-20 in Lake Placid, NY.

The Los Angeles city council could increase city funding for an NFL expansion team. While council members rejected more public funds up front, they did agree to negotiate with the league and the state to see if future public funds could be used.

Eurosport has appointed Jean-Pierre Paoli as its new managing director.

FOX Sports World (English-language) and FOX Sports World Espanol (Spanish-language), have announced their acquisition of the exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the premier international club competition for CONACAF members, beginning September 28.

Over the years sport has been shaped by many great teams and partnerships. Now there is a new pairing which promises to impact on the sports business in a most dramatic way.

Rick Raducha, president of Driver Connection, in Connecticut, and Patricia Baker, media and marketing director of The Big Picture Agency in Massachusetts, have formed `Corporate Motorsports? to support businesses scrambling to sign race teams in an attempt to cash in on the high marketing value found in autoracing.

Fast Track has won a major contact outside its core athletics business as it looks to expand its consultancy operation into other sports.

A recent research project by Sports Marketing Surveys on the Cricket World Cup has shown how successful sponsorship is amongst cricket fans in creating brand awareness.

NBC Quokka Ventures, has announced that Randy Falco, the president of NBC Television Network and chief operating officer of NBC's Olympic broadcast group, has joined its board of directors.