Sports Business

7Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Open cancelled: 2020 golf major calendar is revised

There will be no Open Championship in 2020 after the British golf major was cancelled due to the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.  The 149th Open was scheduled for 12-19 July, but The R&A has announced that it will now next take place at Royal St George’s from 11-18 July 2021. The 150th Open will be played at St Andrews from 10-17 July 2022. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We care deeply about this historic Championship and have made this decision with a heavy heart. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world but this pandemic is severely affecting the UK and we have to act responsibly. It is the right thing to do.  “I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year but ...

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2Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

British Horseracing Authority: jump racing in the UK suspended until July 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed that jump racing in the United Kingdom is suspended until the beginning of July.  However, detailed proposals are being developed for a resumption of flat racing from 1 May, if possible, with meetings held behind closed doors. The BHA added: “Racing will begin on the flat and behind closed doors to minimise demands on emergency services.” Newsletter: sign up for a weekly update from Sports Tourism Media Richard Wayman, chief operating officer of the BHA, said in a statement: “The decision to lose jump racing until July was not one which was taken lightly and we are very conscious of the impact this will have on many across our sport.  “We are working closely with the horsemen, racecourses and Levy Board to ensure the sport is ready...

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1Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Wimbledon cancelled: official statements from the All England Club 

The All England Club (AELTC) has confirmed that this year’s Wimbledon Championships are off.  London’s grand slam event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis and tennis fans will have to wait until the summer of 2021 to watch the world’s best players compete on the grass courts in SW19.  The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021. Official statements Ian Hewitt, AELTC chairman “This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and the wellbeing of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen.  “It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars but, following thorough and extensive consideration of al...

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30Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

‘A light at the end of this dark tunnel’: 2021 dates confirmed for Tokyo Olympics

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach believes the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will provide a light at the end of the “dark tunnel” that is the coronavirus. This summer’s mega-event was postponed for one year because of the pandemic and the new dates for 2021 have now been confirmed.  The summer Olympic Games will take place in Japan’s capital city from 23 July to 8 August and the Paralympic Games will be held from 24 August to 5 September.  IOC chief Bach said: “I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we ...

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29Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

European football season would ‘probably be lost’ if not restarted by end of June, says Uefa president Ceferin

Aleksander Ceferin, president of European football’s governing body Uefa, has revealed that a number of plans have been drawn up to try and complete the 2019-20 season.  However, should fixtures not be resumed by the end of June then the season will “probably be lost”. Football across Europe is currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic and the May finals of Uefa’s two major men’s competitions - the Champions League and Europa League - have been postponed.  The Uefa European Championship - Euro 2020 - has also been delayed for a year and will now take place in the summer of 2021. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Ceferin said: “Nobody knows when the pandemic will end. We have a plan A, B or C: to restart in mid-May, in June or at the end of June. “If t...

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29Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto: 2020 F1 season may be extended with races in January

Mattia Binotto, the team principal of Scuderia Ferrari, says the 2020 F1 season could be extended into next year with races taking place in January.  The opening eight grands prix of this year have been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic and as things stand the next scheduled race on the 2020 championship calendar is the Canadian GP on 14 June in Montreal. However, Canada is also under threat of being postponed or cancelled. Last week Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey issued a statement saying “when the situation improves, we’ll be ready to race” and it’s hoped that the 2020 calendar could feature between 15 and 18 races. Carey said: “While at present no-one can be certain of exactly when the situation will improve, it will improve and when it does, we will be ready to go racing again. ...

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29Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Australia wins right to host the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup

Amid the cancellations and postponements of many major sporting events in 2020, there is some good news from the world of women’s basketball.  FIBA, the sport’s global governing body, has announced that Australia will host the Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2022.  Basketball Australia and the Russian Basketball Federation were the two candidate countries vying to host the flagship tournament. Following a video conference it was confirmed that Australia will host the event for a second time. The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held for ten days in September and October 2022. A total of 38 matches featuring 12 international teams will be played in two venues in Sydney’s Olympic Park. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media What the officials said  Hamane Nian...

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15Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Etihad Arena: naming rights deal signed for new venue at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has secured the exclusive naming rights for a new 18,000-capacity venue at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.  Called the Etihad Arena, the multi-purpose indoor entertainment facility is being developed by Abu Dhabi-based Miral and according to reports will open this year.    Operated by Flash Entertainment, the Etihad Arena has been designed to accommodate large-scale and private events, offering a capacity ranging from 200 to 18,000 people. Once open, the venue will host a variety of events including sporting competitions, corporate events, cultural performances and concerts.  The Etihad Arena will be a major addition to Yas Bay Waterfront, which will also include the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, a beach club as well as a pier that boasts 12 licensed cafes and restaurants, and 19...

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1Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

March 2020 sports business events, conferences and exhibitions

There’s plenty of events on the #SportsBiz schedule in March 2020.  Highlights include SXSW’s sports conference in Austin, World Football Summit Africa in South Africa, Sport Events Congress in Canada, Sports Business European Congress in Barcelona, and The Scottish Golf Show in Glasgow. Here we take a look at the sports business and sports tourism conferences, events and exhibitions during the month. 2020 sports business and sports tourism calendar: events, conferences, exhibitions, awards Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media #SportsBiz events in March 2020  Sportel Miami When: 3-6 March Where: Miami, Florida, USA Website: sportelamerica.com ITB Berlin What: the world’s largest travel show When: 4-8 March Where: Berlin, Germany Sport exhibitors: adventure, golf, ...

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22Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

SportsPro OTT Summit Asia: Singapore event rescheduled due to coronavirus outbreak

The 2020 SportsPro OTT Summit Asia in Singapore in March has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak and will now take place from October 21-22.  In a statement London-based SportsPro said: “Following consultation with domestic stakeholders, partners and advisory board members, SportsPro has decided to postpone the OTT Summit Asia, previously scheduled to take place in Singapore on 25-26 March 2020. “Amid continued uncertainty as to the spread and impact of the coronavirus, the decision has been taken to avoid further impact to schedules and minimise any health risks for attendees that may exist at the time of the event.  “SportsPro can confirm the OTT Summit Asia will now take place later in the year on the 21-22 October 2020, in Singapore.” SportsPro says that any passes previ...

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2Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

February 2020 sports business events and conferences

In February 2020 there's many sports business and sports tourism events being held across the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. There's also a new addition on the #SportsBiz event circuit with Global Sports Week Paris taking place in the French capital city for the first time. Here we look at the conferences, exhibitions and events in February. Related articles 2020 sports business and sports tourism calendar: events, conferences, exhibitions 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details February 2020 #SportsBiz events ICE London When: 4-6 February Where: Excel, London, UK Website: icelondon.uk.com Global Sports Week Paris Theme: Making the future of sport When: 5-7 February Where: Les Salles du Carrousel, Louvre Museum, Paris Website: globalsport...

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23Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Rugby World Cup 2023: Groupe Couleur to manage official travel agent selection process

World Rugby and the France 2023 organising committee have announced that Groupe Couleur has been appointed as exclusive global rights holder for the Rugby World Cup 2023 official travel programme. Groupe Couleur will manage the official travel agent appointment process, which kicks off with agents around the world invited to register their interest from now until 31 March 2020. Rugby World Cup 2023 official travel agents will be appointed in September 2020, marking a major milestone for fans planning on attending rugby’s showcase event. Ticket-inclusive packages sales will be launched in early 2021.  Groupe Couleur will manage all operational responsibilities of the official travel programme, from appointing the official travel agents to delivering the tickets and ensuring all marketing...

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7Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Endeavor buys majority stake in NFL On Location Experiences 

Entertainment giant Endeavor has completed its takeover of NFL-backed On Location Experiences (OLE).  The deal sees Endeavor acquire a majority equity ownership stake while the NFL, through its strategic investment arm 32 Equity, will continue to be a minority shareholder and retain its seat on the board of directors. According to a news release, ex-Bloomberg, Westwood One and Time Inc executive Paul Caine will lead the newly-integrated entity. John Collins, OLE’s CEO for the past four years, will serve as an advisor to the company and Endeavor through the integration period.  Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor said: “By bringing together a leader like On Location with Endeavor’s access and reach, we can advance the way consumers and brands think about money-can’t-buy experiences.  “Partne...

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22Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Event focus: International Sports Convention London | June 2020

The International Sports Convention (ISC) will be held for the first time in London in 2020.  Previous editions of the event have taken place in mainland Europe, but from Wednesday 17 June to Thursday 18 June the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium makes its debut as host venue. Headlined as the “meeting place for sports business”, ISC London 2020 will feature seven conferences and three masterclasses.  Organisers predict there will be 1,500 delegates attending the event at the new Spurs stadium and more than 150 speakers will take part in the various conferences, masterclasses, round tables and networking sessions.  Nigel Fletcher, CEO of ISC, said: “The move to this unique entertainment and sporting venue will provide delegates around the world with the best possible sports business event expe...

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22Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Four million grand prix fans attend Formula 1 races in 2019

Formula 1 has announced that 4,164,948 spectators attended at least one of the 21 grands prix during the 2019 season.   According to data supplied by race promoters, 2019 had a +1.75% attendance increase compared to the previous season, despite the Saturday cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix due to Typhoon Hagibis.  Adding to this total the 80,118 F1 Paddock Club ticket holders (+7.15% compared to 2018), the average attendance per race was 202,146 (+1.85%).  Three GPs had an attendance of more than 300,000 spectators over a race weekend – Great Britain (351,000), Mexico (345,694) and Australia (324,100) – while a total of eight attracted crowds of more than 200,000, including Singapore and USA (268,000 each), Belgium (251,864), Hungary (230,000) and Austria (203,000).  Five circui...

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15Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Clarity Sports named official team travel partner of the Football Association of Wales

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Clarity Sports have announced a new partnership that will see Clarity provide all domestic and international travel for the Welsh national teams.  Clarity Sports, who also work with a number of top-flight English and Scottish football teams, has signed a three-year contract that will see the business provide its best-in-class services at an exciting time for the FAW, with Euro 2020 on the horizon. Wales have been drawn against Italy, Switzerland and Turkey and will play games initially in Baku and Rome.  The women’s international team will continue their 2021 European Championship qualifying campaign, where they currently sit second in the table, in April 2020.  Rob Slawson, director of sports travel at Clarity, said: “The role we play is to t...

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15Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Event focus: Global Sports Week Paris | February 2020 | Paris

More than 1,000 international leaders will be in Paris in February 2020 when the French capital city hosts its Global Sports Week. Taking place at the Louvre Museum’s Les Salles du Carrousel from 5-7 February, the main event of Global Sports Week Paris will see leaders, delegates and speakers discuss sports industry themes and trends.   The event’s official website says: “Sport has a two-way relationship with society. On one hand, it enjoys greater cultural and societal influence than ever before. The rise of the purpose economy, combined with the changing lifestyles of a new generation, is driving a new emphasis on sport’s capacity to positively impact the world.  “But the world itself is changing. And the forces of economic, technological and societal disruption are als...

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15Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Wales to host International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in 2020

Wales’s golf industry is celebrating the announcement that the 2020 International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) will be hosted in the country. IGTM 2020 will take place from 19-22 October at the Celtic Manor Resort and the brand new International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales). The event will be held in partnership with The Vale Resort, Marriott St Pierre and Royal Porthcawl. More than 1,000 golf travel professionals are expected to be in Wales for the first ever IGTM in the United Kingdom. It will coincide with the ten-year anniversary of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.  In a statement Ian Edwards, chief executive of Celtic Manor Resort and ICC Wales, said: “Being the first UK venue to host IGTM is something I am incredibly proud of. “In our first month of opening at ICC Wales, we ha...

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15Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

China International Boat Show and The Lifestyle Show return to Shanghai in 2020

The 25th anniversary of the China International Boat Show (CIBS) will be marked with its 2020 edition at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai from 31 March to 2 April.  Organised by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets, the four-day CIBS 2020 will cover more than 28,000sqm of the NECC with 600 companies exhibiting. It’s also expected that 40,000 professional visitors will attend.  Highlights in 2020 include more real boats from major brands such as Beneteau and Jeanneau. Among the models on show include high-speed boats, official business boats, sailboats, fishing boats, motorboats and leisure boats.  There will also be a wide range of boat equipment and accessories.  Boat engines, spare parts, safety equipment, boat furniture and electric...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

4,000 meetings take place at 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week

The 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week (SGTW) was a resounding success with more than 4,000 meetings taking place during the event. Held from 28 October to 1 November at the five-star Fairmont St Andrews in Fife, the fourth edition of the trade event saw golf businesses network with international tour operators.  Organisers said on Twitter: “The Scottish Golf Tourism Week is the biggest tourism event for all businesses deriving revenue from the golf market. Over 100 businesses carry out more than 4,000 face-to-face meetings with over 100 international tour operators.” The 2018 SGTW is expected to directly contribute £19.1m worth of additional business to Scotland by 2021, and organisers expect the 2019 edition to be even more successful.  It’s also been announced that next year’...

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