Sponsorship & Marketing

The official 2000 US Open web site, www.usopen.org, has gone live allowing tennis fans from around the world to experience the action wherever they are, at any time.

Mi Services Group, the IT solutions and services organisation, has become associate sponsor of the Newcastle Falcons rugby club throughout the 2000/2001 Zurich Premier Season.

A study has found that English football fans had difficulty identifying the 12 official sponsors of Euro 2000 from other football-related sponsors.

Portugese soccer club Benfica and sports marketing agency Global Sportnet have signed an exclusive marketing deal for the club?s television rights to home matches.

Microcast will showcase its live streaming video technology when it powers the upcoming internet broadcast of the 1st and 18th holes from the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.

The Promotion Marketing Association, the trade association representing the multi-billion dollar promotion marketing industry, has named ESPN as Promotion Marketer of the Year.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and the Breeders? Cup are close to a merger deal which includes an estimated $3.5 million in cash.

Orad Hi-Tec Systems Ltd. has established OradNet Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orad, dedicated to the development, marketing and commercialisation of immersive sports webcasting technologies.

Strong winds have damaged the Goodyear Blimp, putting in doubt the airship's ability to provide key aerial television shots for next month's Sydney Olympics.

The new XFL football league, created by the World Wrestling Federation and the NBC television network has developed its new trade mark ball.

Cycling's world governing body has launched a fresh attack on a French anti-drugs agency for claiming that almost half the riders tested in this year's Tour de France showed signs of banned substances.

Fans will have to pay higher prices to help finance the soaring costs of the new Wembley Stadium, due for completion in three years.

Sport Supply Group, the US-based suppliers of sporting goods to sports organisations has launched the second phase of its development of BSNSports.com and US-Games.com

Global Sportnet, the Hamburg-based sports marketing agency, and Rayo Valleceno, the Spanish side with a place in this season?s UEFA Cup have closed a deal that covers the worldwide and exclusive marketing of the club?s television and advertising rights to European matches.

SportsYA! (www.sportsya.com), the Spanish-and Portuguese-language sports portal serving Latin American, Spain and U.S. Hispanic markets, has appointed Hugo Sanchez, the most widely recognized player in the history of Mexican soccer, as brand representative and e-columnist.

The Golf Channel is to revamp its web site during the PGA Championship next week to offer visitors more than just the latest news about the day?s golf.