Asia Sports Business Weekly | 13th September

Hello Industry Friends, here is the very latest news and insights from Asia.

?? Headlines: Ant International and Tottenham Hotspur partner up, LaLiga returns to CCTV, UEFA and OPPO renew partnership, the world’s largest indoor ski resort opens in Shanghai, Wolves tap new Korean sponsor and the Philippines is set to host eFiba World Finals.

???? Key Industry News

Ant International Partners with Tottenham Hotspur

The global arm of Chinese fintech?giant Ant Group?has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with the English Premier League, as the company looks to expand its reach across overseas markets. Singapore-based Ant International, through digital payment solutions provider Alipay+?and merchant payment processing service Antom, will serve as Tottenham Hotspur’s exclusive global payments provider and digital wallet partner. Read more on SCMP?(English)

?? Our Take: A very strong partner for Spurs and one that will be more than just a name on a sleeve. Both sides are leading their respective industries in innovation, with the Alipay integration at the club’s stadium set to help the brand reach wider audiences through football games, NFL matches, music concerts and plenty more.?

?LaLiga Returns to CCTV

LaLiga has signed an agreement with China Media Group (CMG) as the league continues to expand its presence in the country. The league is returning to state broadcaster CCTV for the first time in nine years under the deal with CMG, with which it signed an MOU last month. Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

?? Our Take: Nine years is a long time for one of Europe’s top leagues to be off-air on China’s most powerful traditional sports broadcast channel. However, the writing has been on the wall in recent years for LaLiga to return to CCTV’s screen, given the improving relationships, LaLiga’s investment into grassroots football, and LaLiga’s President paying a recent visit to the country.

UEFA and OPPO Renew UEFA Champions League Partnership

Under the renewed partnership, OPPO and UEFA will collaborate closely to deliver exceptional viewing experiences for fans, showcasing how OPPO's innovative technologies - including smartphones, smartwatches, and AI solutions - enhance the excitement and engagement of UEFA competitions. Read more on UEFA?(English)

The World's Largest Indoor Ski Resort Opens in Shanghai

Despite going through its hottest summer in 60 years, Shanghai opened the world's largest indoor ski resort last week. The building has a skiing area of 90,000 square meters and incorporates other facilities such as shops, hotels, and a water park. Located in Shanghai's Pudong district, the L*SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest on its opening day, overtaking another Chinese facility in northern Harbin.?Read more on DW?(English)

?? Our Take: The Beijing Winter Olympics, despite taking place in a protective bubble with limited spectators in 2022, has done wonders to grow participation and excitement for winter sports in China. Easy access to facilities has the tricky part for those wanting to try winter sports, but with China now building new facilities in the middle of its biggest cities, we expect participation to skyrocket.?

Wolves Tap Into Hwang Appeal with New Korean Sponsor

The English Premier League club announced a sponsorship deal with Korean TV streaming platform Kocowa+ since the club’s Korean fan base has grown in recent years following the arrival of Hwang Hee-chan. The club reported a 95-per-cent increase in Korean viewers of matches and an increase of over 63 million impressions across club social channels in Korea during the 2023-24 season. Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

?? Our Take: Kocowa+ is a streaming platform headquartered in Los Angeles that is a joint venture between the three largest Korean broadcast companies in South Korea: KBS, MBC, and SBS along with SK Telecom, the largest telecommunications company in South Korea. Korean athletes joining western sports teams and bringing not only new Korean fans to their respective teams, and by extension a new source of revenue, but also allowing South Korean corporate interests to increase their brand exposure to western audiences, unlocking a vast new demographic of consumers, is not only a sign that South Korea’s soft power has not slowed but is on the continuous rise.

Linglong Joins Chelsea's Second Sponsor Tier

Through the deal, which names Linglong as Chelsea’s official global tyre partner, the company will provide the tyres for the men’s team bus in the UK. In addition, Linglong will further activate the partnership through bespoke content as well as exclusive interactions between star players and the brand. Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park to Open in March, Minister Vows

Hong Kong’s new flag stadium, Kai Tak Sports Park, will open next March, the city’s sports minister has vowed, while revealing the government will consider buying broadcasting rights again for the next Olympic Games. Read more on SCMP?(English)

Philippines to Host eFiba World Finals

The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has announced that the Philippines will host the finale of its eFiba esports competition in December. The eFiba World Finals will take place December 11-12 in the city of Clark at the SMX Clark Convention Center. Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

Rolex Adds PGA of Australia to Golf Portfolio

The Swiss watchmaker has enhanced its golf sponsorship portfolio by agreeing a deal with the PGA of Australia. The deal names Rolex as the official timekeeper of the Australian PGA Championship, and a major partner of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.?Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

Chinese Athletes Eye New Sports at Next Olympics, Including Flag Football

Flag football's Olympic inclusion means the non-contact, fast-paced team sport will soon become more widely played and competitive. Read more on Channel News Asia?(English)

?? Our Take: Flag football is taking off globally, and none more so than in Asia. The NFL is putting its weight behind it, the low barrier to entry and opportunity for boys and girls to play together means participation is growing, it’s being implemented into education systems, and now it’s an upcoming Olympic sport. Get ready - flag football is coming!

The Agricultural Bank of China Maintains WTT Support

The state-owned ABC began supporting WTT in 2019 through its sports sponsorship and financial services initiative. The deal initially began with ABC’s sponsorship of the ITTF World Tour Finals and has since expanded into a broader WTT collaboration. Read more on SportBusiness?(English)

?? Esports

Shanghai Major 2024 Venues Revealed

Chinese esports tournament organiser Perfect World has revealed the venues for Counter-Strike 2’s Shanghai Major 2024. The opening and elimination stages will take place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, whilst the Major playoffs will be hosted at the Shanghai Pudong (SDP) Bank Oriental Sports Center. Read more on Esports Insider?(English)

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