Esports busts $1.5bn mark 2017 with new leagues to drive growth to $2.3bn by 2023
February 2 – Revenue for the esports industry hit $1.5 billion in 2017 and is predicted to grow by 26% in 2023 to more than $2.3 billion.
Football Marketing
eFootball.Pro turns to Sportradar to build PES league content and commercial programme
February 2 – The fledgling eFootball.Pro e-sports league to be played on Konami’s Pro-Evolution Soccer (PES) game has handed its league media rights to the data and content division of Sportradar.
Nigeria adds Nigerian Breweries to sponsor roster in 5-year deal
February 1 – Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerian Breweries “have consummated a remarkable Sponsorship agreement.”
Pro-eSports gamers earn more than 25% of English pro footballers
February 1 – The fledgling football eSports industry – based predominantly around the EA Sports FIFA game – is growing up fast with professional FIFA gamers often earning more money than professional footballers.
Premier League signs first of new TV rights deals with BBC for £211.5m
January 31 – The first of the Premier League’s new domestic TV deals has been announced with the BBC agreeing a £211.5 million deal, securing its iconic Match of the Day highlights show.
Adidas see red. UEFA opens up referees kit contract to new suppliers
January 30 – The stranglehold that German leisurewear and kit manufacturer had Adidas over the UEFA’s competitions looks to be gently releaseing.
Italy’s Serie A enter €950m a year TV deal talks with Spain’s Mediapro
January 29 – Italy’s Serie A is in talks with Spain’s Mediapro on a €950 million deal for the 2018-2021 seasons. This follows a breakdown in discussion with Sky Italia who had not met the €1.05 billion minimum set by the league’s advisor Infront.
City Football Group boosts sales effort with CAA sports hook up
January 29 – City Football Group (CFG), the expanding ownership group that includes Manchester City and New York City FC, has increased its commercial representation reach via a partnership with CAA Sports.
Enfield Town take moral high ground and vote to turn down betting.net sponsor cash
By Andrew Warshaw
January 26 – A part-time English team is going where bigger clubs fear to tread by taking a stand against betting sponsorship, partly because of the scourge of match-fixing pervading the sport.
‘Leeds Salute’ club crest redesign fails to pass muster as fans up in arms
January 25 – Iconic English club Leeds United, pushing for a return to the Premier League, have got themselves into hot water over a new club crest unveiled ahead of their centenary in 2019.
Chelsea bring in Doyen to lead image rights sales for mens and women teams
January 25 – Premier League Chelsea has signed a two-year representation deal with Doyen Global as its exclusive player endorsement agency. Doyen Global will work with the club’s commercial team on the sale of image rights of Chelsea’s men’s and women’s first teams.
Arsenal sign world-first cryptocurrency sponsorship with CashBet Coin
January 25 – Bitcoin’s value may have crashed from its stunning high before Christmas, but cryptocurrency is alive and kicking and Arsenal are the first Premier League club to take advantage of this announcing a partnership with CashBet ahead of the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) of its new cryptocurrency, CashBet Coin designed specifically for iGaming.
SPFL completes on Ladbrokes title sponsorship in 2-year deal
January 24 – After a long wait the Scottish Premier League (SPFL) has officially announced Labrokes will stay as title sponsors for a further two years taking them to at least 2020.
UEFA secures key broadcast package with Eleven Sports for Belgian market
January 24 – Sports broadcaster Eleven Sports secured exclusive TV rights in Belgium for a host of major international matches, reasserting its market position in the Belgian TV landscape.
Bad bet. FUN88 logo stripped from Newcastle United youth team shirts
January 23 – Newcastle United has removed online betting firm FUN88 from the club’s youth team shirt. The sponsor’s logo was deemed by the club as a potential breach of FA regulations and comes after growing pressure on the UK government to look harder at the gambling advertising from betting companies in broadcast media and club sponsorships.