Licensing & Merchandising
TaylorMade makes McIlroy prize asset in golf portfolio
Golf’s world No.2, Rory McIlroy, has signed another lucrative endorsement deal after agreeing a long-term partnership with sports equipment manufacturer TaylorMade.
J. League signs Rakuten deal to centralise merchandise operations
The J. League has hailed a partnership with ecommerce giant Rakuten that will see merchandise operations for the top division of Japanese football move to a centralised process.
Indian sportswear brand targets growth through ICC deal
Fledgling Indian sportswear company Zeven has agreed a four-year merchandising contract with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as it seeks to build its business.
NFL engages IMG to enhance brand presence in Europe and Asia
The NFL American football league has signed a multi-year deal with the IMG agency as its exclusive licensing representative across select markets in Europe and Asia.
Real Madrid to exclude Christian cross from logo under Middle East partnership
The club crest of Real Madrid will be altered under a new retail partnership the Spanish LaLiga football club has signed for the Middle East market.
Juventus unveils major rebranding project
Italian Serie A football team Juventus has unveiled a rebranding initiative that it states will seek to expand the business side of the club, targeting both existing fans and those with less of an interest in the sport.
Intellectual property | The opportunities and threats of new-age sports licensing
SportBusiness International looks at the impact of e-commerce and globalisation on sports licensing, as well as the evolving challenges of IP theft and quality control.
DFL unveils change in branding
The German Football League (DFL) has announced that the organisation will enter the 2017-18 season with a new brand positioning for itself and the top two divisions of the domestic game.
NHL’s Vegas expansion franchise gains its identity
The NHL ice hockey league’s new expansion franchise in Las Vegas has revealed that it will be known as the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ronaldo pens mega-money Nike extension
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has renewed a lucrative endorsement deal with sportswear giant Nike.
IMG launches first-of-its-kind agency for former NFL players
The IMG agency has today (Monday) unveiled the Football Greats Alliance (FGA), an entity created to manage the collective marketing and licensing rights of retired players from the NFL American football league.
Ascot engages IMG to develop global licensing programme
The UK’s Ascot Racecourse has agreed a multi-year deal with IMG under which the agency will serve as its worldwide licensing representative and develop a new offering for its leading horse racing events.