Atlanta’s MLS Cup win over Portland breaks Fox streaming records
December 12 – Atlanta United’s 2-0 win over Portland Timbers at the weekend is the most watched MLS Cup since 1997.
Football Marketing
Barca reject Miami fixture but Tebas says LaLiga is still set on staging a league match in US
By Andrew Warshaw
December 11 – La Liga’s much-publicised – and also much criticised – plans to play a groundbreaking overseas game in Miami in January have been abandoned after Barcelona pulled out of the Catalan derby against Girona due to a “lack of consensus”.
Betting: Sky boss argues against TV match ad ban, Luton Town reject bookies’ money
By Paul Nicholson
December 11 – The debate over gambling ads in the UK has intensified with League One side Luton Town saying it has rejected sponsorship from betting companies while Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen (pictured) has argued that banning gambling ads from being broadcast during matches will only drive that marketing spend online.
Adidas move into Chinese esports market with Lyon EDG sponsorship
December 11 – Adidas have signed their first eFootball sponsorship deal focussed on the Chinese market with Olympique Lyonnais backed Lyon EDG for their FIFA Online 4 team.
PSG angrily denies Neymar and Mbappe will leave, Brazilian then signs QNB deal
December 10 – Two days after PSG issued a statement saying it would be selling neither Neymar or Kylian Mbappé to avoid any potential financial fair play sanctions, the Qatar National Bank (QNB) has announced star striker Neymar as its Global Brand Ambassador.
CSL club Jiangsu Suning leverage owner network with $43m Samsung deal
December 10 – Chinese Super League Jiangsu Suning have signed Korean electronics brand Samsung as a main sponsor for three seasons starting with the 2019 season.
Europe is the growth opportunity for DFS gaming, say Malta summit speakers
December 7 – The Daily Fantasy Sports sectoris alive and well, was the message coming out of the Summit of iGaming Malta (SiGMA) session on the fantasy gaming sector.
UEFA Women’s Football signs Visa in ground-breaking 7-year sponsor deal
December 6 – UEFA Women’s Football has signed a landmark seven-year sponsorship with Visa that will run until 2025.
Online bookies agree ‘whistle-to-whistle’ TV ad ban in UK
December 6 – British gambling companies have struck a ground-breaking deal which will see the end of their tv adverts during live matches.
Otro launches world’s biggest player driven digital fan club and content platform
December 4 -A new digital platform has launched curating content from some of the world’s biggest players that focusses on their lives off the pitch.
Home from home: Mexico agree 4-year deal to play in Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium
November 30 – The Mexican football federation (FMF), which has long been touring the US with its national team, has agreed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, MLS’ FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission to make the AT&T Stadium its official home in the US four the next four year.
Malta draws Fantasy Sports big hitters for second summit on challenges facing DFS
November 28 – The second edition of the European Fantasy Sports Summit (EFSS)will be held in Malta tomorrow (November 29), as part of the Summit of iGaming Malta (Sigma).
Liverpool dials in Mitel to speed up operations and boost fan engagement
November 27 – Premier League Liverpool has added global business communications provider Mitel, already a partner of club owner Fenway Sports Group’s Boston Red Sox major league baseball team in the US, as the club’s Official Global Unified Communications Partner.
Sky defend £595m for EFL as a good deal, but clubs angry at losing OTT control
November 26 – The English Football League’s Championship clubs, still furious at the £595 million TV rights deal signed by the league with Sky Sports, were sent a message from Sky’s managing director Barney Francis that the money is a fair offer and the only one that was on the table.
Spanish FA strikes deal with Footters to stream Segunda B and Tercera División
November 26 – The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has signed a three-year agreement with streaming platform Footters to broadcast matches from the Segunda B and Tercera División.