Soccer

4/24/2024 |  England: What might renovated St James' Park look like? Renderings shown! (StadiumDB.com) Newcastle United is awaiting preliminary findings from a feasibility study on the modernization of St James' Park. The investment is subject to many constraints, including existing buildings near Leazes Terrace, the proximity to the protected area of Leazes Conservation Area, and major transportation arteries.  

4/24/2024 |  Central Europe: Polish Cup final without supporters of a big club? (StadiumDB.com) Wisła Kraków are returning to the Polish Cup final after 16 years. The team's fans have not attended any away games this season. They missed the first two league matches due to a penalty imposed back in the previous season, and then a boycott began. Will they be able to go to Warsaw? 

4/24/2024 |  Spain: New return date to Camp Nou has been set! (StadiumDB.com) FC Barcelona is already planning their return to Camp Nou. The work is progressing well, and President Laporta has publicly stated several times that barring any unforeseen delays, the official inauguration of the upgraded facility will still take place in 2024. According to Mundo Deportivo, the club's management has already chosen a specific date, different from the previous one What is it? 

4/24/2024 |  Ally reaffirms unique NWSLPA partnership in multiyear extension through 2027 (Gist Sports, The)

The GIST: Today, the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) and Ally agreed to a multiyear extension of their existing sponsorship deal through 2027. The recommitment comes as Ally continues to advance its 50/50 Pledge goal and further proves the viability of partnering with pro players unions in women’s sports. A day one right there.

The details: The extension aims to amplify NWSL athlete visibility and equity, specifically through the Ally Award, which allows players to select a peer who represents the perfect teammate. Ally will also help the NWSLPA fight for higher professional standards, such as improved player safety, pay, and benefits while providing access to financial tools and programming.

• Ally CMO Andrea Brimmer recently described the brand’s decision to become the NWSLPA’s first-ever sponsor after its CBA ratification as “an act of solidarity…when the players needed a demonstration of unwavering commitment to their cause.”

The landscape: Sponsorships for players associations are common in men’s pro sports, where more established leagues have a head start in the existence and business scale of their unions. The NFLPA, for example, has a multitude of sponsors. So does the NBPA, which entered a marketing partnership with NBA 2K that allows players to participate in esports activations.

• As women’s leagues undergo rapid business development, the infrastructure of labor unions is also scaling up. Although the NWSLPA has eight additional partners that have strong working relationships and have supported the union since its early years, none have an official agreement in place like Ally.

Zooming out: Recent data affirmed once againthat women’s sports fans are primed to support companies that align with their values. Ally has already boosted brand affinity and consumer trust by supporting women’s sports, but by sponsoring the NWSLPA, it banks further goodwill with players and fans and helps uplift the game overall.

• Even though Ally made waves with its unique NWSLPA partnership in 2022, no one else has really jumped on the bandwagon so far, leaving plenty of green field for other brands.

4/23/2024 |  UEFA picks two video review referees at center of controversy for Euro 2024 duty (Associated Press (AP)) NYON, Switzerland (AP) — The match official accused of bias by English Premier League club Nottingham Forest got UEFA support on Tuesday by being selected for the European Championship as a video review expert in an overall list which included no women.
Forest’s inflammatory social media post on Sunday targeting Stuart Attwell has been widely criticized across English soccer and was even mocked by another club.