Sports Business

24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Three German cities at ‘candidate phase’ to host NFL games

The National Football League (NFL) has confirmed that three cities in Germany are in discussions to host regular-season games. The NFL, which has staged 30 matches in London since 2007, is aiming to find a partner city for a possible expansion of the International Series into Germany. After an initial period in which expressions of interest were received from multiple cities, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich have been invited to proceed to the “candidate phase” of the process. Those cities will now participate in deeper conversations about staging games in Germany. “Regular-season games are a key part of continuing the development of our German fan base by creating more excitement for the sport and more connectivity with fans and communities,” said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe a...

Read More

24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

NBA and Formula 1 reveal promotional partnership

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Formula 1 (F1) has announced a first-of-its-kind content and promotion partnership. This will bring together the global fanbases of both brands in celebration of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season and the return of F1 to the United States at the 2021 F1 US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.  To commemorate the US Grand Prix and the NBA’s anniversary, exclusive imagery featuring F1 cars in custom liveries representing all 30 NBA teams will be posted on NBA and F1 social channels around the world, with the first ten cars showcasing the central and pacific divisions. On 21 October ESPN hosted F1 drivers as they battled it out off the track in a free throw challenge at an NBA 75th Anniversary-themed basketball half-court within the Circuit of the Amer...

Read More

24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Business, Sports Travel

New senior leadership team announced at Sports Tours International

UK-based Sports Tours International has announced a new senior leadership team, bringing a range of new skills and experience to the specialist sports travel business. As well as a series of internal promotions chief executive Chris Bird has welcomed a number of new additions to the team based in Walkden, Greater Manchester, England.   The new executive team includes Claire Dyson as deputy CEO. Dyson is the longest serving member of the team with 26 years in the business. Still maintaining her role as head of sales and customer services for Club La Santa UK & Ireland, Dyson will support Bird in the day to day running of the business, enabling him to focus on future strategy and development.   New to the executive board are three new appointments and three internal prom...

Read More

29Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sports event in focus: Super League Triathlon 2021 championship series

Super League Triathlon’s 2021 championship gets under way on 5 September with the opening event of the series in London.  Following the championship opener in the UK capital, the swim-bike-run series will continue with back-to-back events in Munich, Jersey and Malibu, which will crown the fastest triathletes in the world.  Super League Triathlon 2021 Championship Series- 5 September: London, UK- 12 September: Munich, Germany- 18 September: Jersey, Channel Islands - 25 September: Malibu, USA The final start lists for the 2021 Super League Triathlon championship will contain 20 male athletes, 20 female athletes and a number of wildcards - who will confirmed ahead of each event. Race formats include Enduro, Triple Mix, Equalizer and Eliminator. Spain’s Mario Mola, who w...

Read More

29Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Rugby League World Cup: 2022 dates confirmed for rescheduled event

Following the postponement of the 2021 event, Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) organisers have now confirmed the dates for 2022.  Taking place in 2022 from Saturday 15 October to Saturday 19 November, the RLWC in England will feature the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments - the first time all three will be held simultaneously.  A statement said: “The dates see the tournament move one week earlier than scheduled in 2021 to maximise attendance and viewership. Work now continues to release a full revised match schedule by no later than the end of the year.” As originally planned St James' Park in Newcastle will host the opening match while the men’s and women’s finals will be held in a double header at Old Trafford in Manchester.  The earlier start date in 2022 means the...

Read More

21Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Football with no fans: study reveals effect of empty stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic

With the 2021-2022 English Premier League season kicking off with crowds of fans cheering on their teams, new research has revealed the hugely negative effect of playing professional football games in empty stadiums last season, with home advantage almost halved. Home advantage describes the benefit a sports team playing at their own venue is said to enjoy over the visiting team. This could be attributed to the effect of fans on the players or referee; playing in familiar surroundings and the effects of travel on the visiting team. The new study, by researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Leeds, used the unique opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic to test whether home advantage applies when fans are not present in the stands. The researchers found th...

Read More

15Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

SportsNOVA: new sports tourism alliance launched in Northern Virginia

The destination marketing organisations of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties have announced the launch of SportsNOVA, a new regional sports tourism partnership that will market Northern Virginia as a premier destination for sports travel events.  With the goal of generating economic impact and fostering community development in the US region, destination partners will work collaboratively to attract multi-sport and large single-sport events that can only be accommodated through a collective effort. Along with this new brand announcement, the group also launched its website – SportsNOVA.com – to promote the region’s top-tier sports facilities, full- and select-service hotels, world-class attractions, shopping, award-winning wineries and breweries, and convenient...

Read More

9Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel, Stadiums & Venues

Olympic fever points the way to Paris 2024

Team GB secured 65 medals in Tokyo, an amazing haul during any normal Olympic Games, but truly historic when considering this achievement against the backdrop of COVID. Tokyo sits in the history books as Team GB's second-best overseas Olympics and may well be the springboard to greater things in three years time for Paris 2024! France officially becomes the proud host nation of the next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Games of the 33rd Olympiad), receiving the flag from Tokyo at its glittering Closing Ceremony yesterday. Set to take place exactly 100 years after France's last summer Games, Paris 2024 will be the largest event ever organised in the country, running from Friday 26 July until Sunday 11 August 2024. It promises to be an inclusive, interactive and sustainable c...

Read More

29Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Delving into Australia’s Sporting Heritage

Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAOA) is a collective of some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, each with their own heritage, narrative and position in the country’s DNA. The CAOA forms part of Tourism Australia’s initiative “Signature Experiences of Australia Program”. CAOA introduces the global travel industry and traveller to some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, through ‘experiential’ means, allowing them to engage with the deep-rooted culture of the nation using all the senses. These behind-the-scenes experiences are aimed at bringing to life the many cultural, creative and sporting stories of Australia, and to give voice to the bricks and mortar of these venues which have witnessed so much; “If only these walls could talk” is a well-used adage, yet CAOA is a vehicle whic...

Read More

27Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2021 F1 British Grand Prix set for full capacity at Silverstone

The 2021 Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix has been included in the latest phase of the UK Government’s Event Research Programme (ERP) allowing a full capacity crowd for the event from 15-18 July. Silverstone will be in touch with all ticket holders in the coming days with further details about how the Formula 1 British GP will run as a pilot event. Ticket holders will be asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the first day of attending the British GP. The Silverstone team will be working closely with the ERP experts and particularly the Director of Public Health in Northamptonshire on the specific conditions of entry that w...

Read More

19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

The Open: 32,000 daily capacity confirmed for 149th championship

Up to 32,000 golf fans will be allowed to attend each day of The Open Championship. The 149th Open will be taking place from 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England.  Last year’s event was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and there had been concerns over the capacity for the 2021 edition, Sky Sports reports. However, it has been confirmed that the championship will be included in the UK government’s “Events Research Programme”, which will enable a number of events to take place with higher capacities than present guidance permits. Of the 32,000 fans allowed each day, this will include existing ticket holders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We are pleased to now be a...

Read More

19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Events, Sports Business

Video: ‘It’s a Wimbledon thing’ campaign pays tribute to tennis fans

With The Championships just around the corner, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has launched a new campaign - It’s a Wimbledon thing - to celebrate the “uniqueness of Wimbledon fandom”.  The campaign focuses on “the passion that goes beyond tennis”, AELTC said. “No matter where they are around the world, Wimbledon fans take the traditions for which our tournament is known and loved, and make them their own. This campaign is a tribute to them.” After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the 2021 Championships will start on 28 June and fans will be welcomed back to SW19.  AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton OBE said of the new It’s a Wimbledon thing campaign: “Last year’s cancellation provided a timely reminder of the immense passion that our fans have for Wimbledo...

Read More

19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

‘Women’s boxing has never been this good’: WBSS launch new tournament

World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) has announced its first ever tournament for women’s boxing.  The WBSS Women’s Super-Featherweight, the sixth edition and third season of WBSS since September 2017, will see one woman from one weight class raise the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.  Andreas Benz, CEO of WBSS, says the tournament will provide a “worthy stage” for the world’s top women boxers. He added: “In season one and two we delivered the best tournaments in men’s boxing, but it was always our dream to not only deliver the best tournament in men’s boxing but to prepare a worthy stage for women’s boxing and support these fantastic fighters, too. Now it’s time to realise it.  “It will be much more than the greatest women’s boxing tournament. We plan to strategically help to broade...

Read More

19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Lions partner with British Airways for rugby tour of South Africa

British Airways has been named as the global airline partner of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series. The airline will fly the British & Irish Lions rugby squad to South Africa for the summer tour and both the Lions and Springboks will be carried across the country to matches by BA’s franchise partner, Comair.  The Lions play Japan at BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 26 June and a day later the 37-man squad will board a BA charter flight from the Scottish capital to Johannesburg. In South Africa the Lions will play five warm-up matches and then three Tests against the Springboks.  Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chairman and CEO, said: “We are honoured to be flying the British & Irish Lions to South Africa ahead of their tour. After a difficult year, we look forward to uniting the ...

Read More

14Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Holger Gassler, head of markets & events, Tirol Tourist Board

Holger Gassler is head of markets & events at the Tirol Tourist Board in Austria. He grew up in the Alpine village of Nassereith in the Tyrolean “Lake District”, right on the border to Bavaria. Travelling the world for Holger, continues to be a lifelong passion, in order to "learn about new cultures and gain new insights"; he has lived and worked in Chicago and Melbourne too. With nearly 20 years' experience under his belt with the Tirol Tourist Board and a passionate sportsman who hikes, mountain bikes, road cycles, swims, skis, ski-tours and dives, we are delighted he has found time to be our next interview guest. Here at Sports Tourism Media we love to cover anything related to Austria, one of Europe's great active, adventure and sports travel destinations and have found the r...

Read More

11Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business

Lionel Messi signs for Hard Rock International as a brand ambassador

Hard Rock International is 50-years-old this year and to celebrate its milestone anniversary the restaurant, entertainment and hospitality brand has announced a partnership deal with superstar footballer Lionel Messi. The Argentina and FC Barcelona forward has become a brand ambassador for five years - the first athlete to partner with Hard Rock.  “I am honoured to partner with such a renowned brand as Hard Rock, and even more so at this historic moment – its 50th anniversary!” Messi said. “Sports and music are an integral part of my life, a perfect combination between my profession and my leisure time. Uniting both is a great success, and I am very happy that they have counted on me for this special outcome. It is an honour to be the first athlete to partner with a brand who has a his...

Read More

23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Valentin Popescu interview: an expert look at sports marketing in Romania

Valentin Popescu is the director of sports marketing for the Alexandrion Group. Alexandrion is a global producer of Spirits & Wines, with divisions and investments in the renewable energy, agricultural, tourism and real estate sectors. Under the stewardship of the founder and president Nawaf Salameh and his philanthropic pursuits, the company inaugurated the Alexandrion Foundation in 2003 which supports the Cultural, Creative and Sporting endeavours of Romanian nationals. Three major gala events have evolved under the patronage of the foundation: the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’, the ‘Matei Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’ and the ‘Alexandrion Trophies Awards Gala’. The latter supports and rewards sporting achievement at the highest level. Sports Tourism Media puts some questions to R...

Read More

15May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Chess & Company: newly launched sports agency will focus on chess talent and events

Whether you are a chess player or not, it is most likely you have watched or at least heard of Netflix’s hit show The Queen’s Gambit. Released in October last year, the series amassed a staggering 62 million viewers in its first 28 days  and set in motion a renewed passion for chess. In November The Guardian reported that the show, based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, had “sparked a huge boom in people playing the game in the US and around the world". Similarly, Bloomberg also reported a “surging popularity of chess spurred on by the success of The Queen’s Gambit and this has has spilled over from retail to websites and streaming services, adding to the growth of chess content online during the pandemic”. Image: chessandcompany.com Following the huge success of the show it is...

Read More

3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Flying high: professional sport fuels trend towards private jet use

Whilst the majority of us were unable to travel further than our home office, elite athletes and professional sport continued behind closed doors in the past year, despite a series of lockdowns. To enable teams to do this in the safest and most efficient way, many have taken to the skies through private jet charters. Sports Tourism Media spoke to Clive Chalmers, VP Charter UK, at Air Partner to find out more about the rising demand in sports travel and overall trend pointing towards greater private jet travel from other industries too. Private jets have largely been the preserve of royalty, high-net-worth individuals, CEOs and superstars – but are you seeing new clients and demand especially from the sports sector and first-time users?   Over our 60 years in aviation we have worked ...

Read More

3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

£30m relaunch: Apes Hill in Barbados aims to become ‘the best golfing experience in the Caribbean’

A golf performance and teaching centre featuring a state-of-the-art Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), the first of its kind in the Caribbean, will open at Apes Hill Golf & Beach Club in Barbados in January 2022.  Utilising the latest technology and a science-based approach, Apes Hill's Golf Performance and Teaching Centre will evaluate every aspect of a player's game to perfect their swing and unlock their full potential. Apes Hill has worked with experts Dave Phillips and Tim Cutshall in designing and fitting the centre. Key features will include a specialised swing analysis teaching bay with a PuttView ball tracking green and an agnostic club fitting system with trackman technology. Currently undergoing a £30m renovation, Apes Hill Golf & Beach Club is relaunchi...

Read More