Manchester United sign Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook has taken over from Co-operative Travel as the official travel partner of Manchester United in a four-year deal.

Thomas Cook’s sports division will provide worldwide travel for the first team and officials, and will provide fans’ packages for away games in the Champions League and home fixtures.

The tour giant will also offer discounted travel deals to supporters through the club’s holiday club.

Aston Villa Signs New Shirt Sponsor

Aston Villa have signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with FxPro Financial Services Limited - the biggest in the club's history. Villa have agreed a three-year deal with the global retail broker.

Chirayu Amin

Chirayu Amin, with whom only fewer was familiar got a steep boost after IPL fiasco when he appointed as the interim chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in place of the father of IPL i.e. Lalit Modi.

The Glycodin man, Chirayu Amin is the Chairman and Managing Director of pharma giant Alembic Pharmaceuticals and also a former president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Chirayu Amin was born in a business family. His father Ramanbhai Amin and grandfather Raj Mitra - Rajya Ratna Bhailalbhai Amin were trendsetters in India's pharmaceutical and glass industry. They came to Baroda from Virsad village of Kheda district.

Mr Amin, who has steered India’s oldest pharma company since 1983. After the death of Fatesinh Rao Gaekwad in 1988, he took over the reins of the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA).

The Alembic group companies include Alembic Glass Industries (Year Glassses), Shreno, which deals in engineering solutions, and Paushak that is into specialty chemicals.

Sahara Pune Warriors

Sahara India Pariwar, owners of the Pune IPL team, unveiled the name and the logo of the Pune team. Sahara Pune Warriors, is what the team will be called.

The Sahara Pune Warriors logo comprises a spear wielding cavalry-warrior on a horse, might be inspired from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Sahara IPL Awards

The Indian Premier League (IPL) and Sahara India Pariwar have announced a 3 years partnership to organise the IPL awards. The awards will be called ‘Sahara IPL Awards’.

The inaugural Sahara IPL Awards night will be hosted by Karan Johar, who will be joined by co-host, Shah Rukh Khan at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai on Friday, April 23rd, 2010.

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Star Plus & Zee came together against IPL

In a common ad released on the front page of The Economic Times on 13/4/2010, the two channels jointly screamed that the “top Hindi serial outperform IPL.”

A Carbon Audit for IPL

IPL has decided to enter a long-term partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to conduct the carbon audit in India which will ensure that the IPL 4 can be made climate-neutral. It is the first of its kind in South Asia, and puts IPL in the league of events such as the Olympics. The carbon footprint analysis, which is being undertaken by a firm called no2co2.

The IPL may have the largest carbon footprint among the subcontinent’s major sporting events.

A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organisation, event or product.

IPL 3 comprises eight teams playing 60 matches across 12 venues nationwide. An average contingent for an outstation match consists approximately of 70 persons, and a good number are offered plush five-star rooms. With its many matches - at different venues with substantial electricity requirements — entailing the movement of hundreds of players, support staff, broadcast crew and fans across the country, the sheer logistical requirement of IPL is staggering.

Coke Dare Series for Daredevils fans

Coca-Cola has tied up with C2W Digital, the digital agency of contests2win.com. The 'Coke Dare Series' has been launched and features two advergames, made for the fans of the Delhi Daredevils.The series is based on the IPL tournament where players can step into the shoes of the Delhi Daredevils and play matches. The game is being positioned as a complete package from the toss to batting and bowling.

The twist in this game is a ‘Dare’ that the bowler / batsman can throw at the opposition, winning which will ensure the game will be won by the team / player at that moment itself.

The second game, Runathon, emulates a game that involves challenging friends to beat the score. The player has to keep the cricket ball up in the air for as long as possible while collecting runs which appear on the screen.

The games are hosted on www.delhidaredevils.com/cokedaredevils and can be played without registering also.

Kingfisher ''Ooh la la la'' for IPL

Kingfisher is back with its copyright jingle “Ooh la la la”.

Twenty-one players from the IPL teams Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals have come together to sing for Kingfisher.

Cricket stalwarts Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Gautam Gambhir, Andrew Symonds along with 15 others feature in the latest advertising campaign launched by Kingfisher for IPL 2010.

IPL born Products

(Binocular to watch only Chennai Super Kings b'coz it wouldn't last beyond one match as its paper made)

(Fantastic bottles by Delhi Daredevils Ohh Vijay Malya missed this.)

 (Horns by Deccan Chargers, How Symonds look when we'll wear these.)

 (Trumpet by Delhi Daredevils)

Yog Sports got its place in IPL Brand Wagon

Yog Sports has acquired exclusive rights to distribute branded merchandise of IPL and all 8 teams across India for a 10-year period. Merchandise will include Jerseys, T-shirts, Caps, Key chains, Wrist bands, Backpacks, Gym bags, Flags, Trumpets, and other accessories including those of the official kit sponsors like Reebok, Adidas and Puma.

Yog will set-up exclusive “IPL Match Stores” at stadiums, multiplexes, airports, railway stations, and ISBT’s, in addition to select malls, high streets, and IT parks.

IPL is going to be 3D

UFO Moviez, the official broadcaster for the IPL in cinema theatres, has tied up with Threeality, a California-based company; to bring the last four matches with a three-dimensional (3D) effect in select theatres. This would be the first time in Indiathat any sport event will be screened with 3D effect.

IPL 3 Update

Shemaroo Entertainment comes up with Rajasthan Royals – The Road to Victory, an inspirational film on the IPL success story of the Royals in 2008 on DVDs and VCDs. 

The film peeps into behind-the-curtain happenings and takes us through the nostalgic journey of the victory of Rajasthan Royals in 2008. It also features the highlights of the first season of the IPL tournament, interviews with Shane Warne, Yousuf Pathan and other players and some breathtaking extraordinary performances of the team that created the history.

IPL 3 Brand Update: Graphiti Board Campaign by Linc Pen

Linc Pen, an associate sponsor for the Rajasthan Royals has launched its Graffiti Board Campaign.

 

The Graphiti Board Campaign will be conducted mainly in Ahmedabad and Jaipur where the graffiti boards will be placed within the stadium and both fans and the players can interact via writing on the board.

Wanna party with the IPL stars??? Try Tata Docomo ...

Tata Docomo, India’s youngest and fastest growing GSM mobile service operator on DO-ing the new yet once again have renovated and simplified their offer of letting you meet with the IPLstars.
The offer was initially launched as “Daily Plans” where a customers had to dial through USSD *141# and subscribe to their daily plans. Lucky winners would win a couple pass to the 40 parties that is going to be held all around the IPL season across India at Tata DOCOMO’s Karbonn IPL Nights.

Hi 5 from CavinKare will be the official deodorant of Kings XI Punjab

CavinKare launched Hi 5, a new deodorant body spray for men and Kings XI Punjab will officially use that.

Trivia:-

Hi 5 is inspired by the West Indies cricket team’s victory sign - the High Five – which they liberally flashed and popularised on the cricket field.

IPL 3 Brand Update: Yahoo India is the online partner for Chennai Super Kings

Yahoo! India has become the official online partner Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

IPL 3 Updates & Trivia

Brand IPL has not only enriched cricket brand but also provide a chance for others to encash its Brand Equity. Those who have washed their hand in this are,

- HBO which is continuing its Hollywood Premier League with its Season II. 

- Colors has lined up three shows centering around the IPL one of them is IPL Rockstar. 

- Star has introduced "Star Cintaa Superstars Ka Jalwa". The entertainment extravaganza, brought in partnership with Cine and TV Artist Association (Cintaa).

- Star Gold has started Indian Bollywood League which will air movie @ 8 pm.

Quick Bytes;

=) eBay India has tied up with leading apparel companies like Puma, Adidas and Reebok for selling IPL merchandise of all the eight teams.

=) HomeShop 18 has launched the ‘Reebok Fangear’ combos in association with Reebok. It give an option to choose from teams viz. Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers. 

=) MRF has joined the bandwagon of IPL. It is sponsoring the Blimp. The Blimp is a balloon that floats over the stadium. This is the first time that the Blimp will be a part of the IPL.

Trivia:)-

IPL has remain a launchpad for companies to introduce some thing new from their bags like in IPL 1, Videocon has revealed its new identity while IPL 2 was remembered for lovable ZooZoo's from Vodafone. Lets see what IPl 3 will give?

IPL 3 Trivia

-KXIP unveiled their two new mascots - Rocky and Ranjit. The mascots in animation form would be aired on multitude of digital channels.

-Kannada superstar Puneet Raj Kumar is the new brand ambassador for the Bangalore Royal Challengers cricket team, he replaces Upendra.

-As per the Nielsen's survey, blogs and message boards are the top two social media platforms for IPL-related discussions. Also, Twitter.com, is the third most popular platform for IPL-related discussions.

-First 4 was hit by Pujara on the bowling of RP Singh and the first 6 was by Hodge on the bowling of Jaskaran Singh..hmm not a "SINGH IS A KING"...first match of the IPL 3

-Mumbai Indians are the first team to play less than four overseas players in any IPL. (on 13-03-2010, against RR)In the match 4 ex-ICL player played ( 2 a side). In that match Yusuf went from 15 off 14 balls to 69 off 25 against Mumbai by hitting 11 consecutive balls for 6,6,6,6,4,4,6,4,4,4 and 4.

-Gilly is the first batsman in the IPL to reach 1000 runs. Also he is the first one to score more 50 sixes in IPL.

-During 2008 KKR started high by beating Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers, but Super Kings stopped their winning run and then they ended up last in table, result remain same in 2010 also.
-During the match between KKR vs. CSK (on 16-03-2010), KKR team was the first IPL team to feature 11 players who have played international cricket. In the same match 3 Murali were playing.

-The blue on the Mumbai Indian jersey has been shaded to a darker tone . The inspiration behind the new design was the state-of-the-art Bandra-Worli sea-link, which connects the northern suburbs to south of Mumbai. The idea was to create a design that would not only be new, but also resemble the enterprise and growth of Mumbai - the golden stripes across the bust of the shirt depicts the two pillars of the sea-link and the blue is the shade of the Arabian sea.

-As part of their corporate social responsibility, KXIP pledged their support towards the UNAIDS commitments towards PLHIV (People living with HIV in India). In addition to the existing merchandise, KXIP launched the red bands. The proceeds of the sale would be dedicated for the cause of UNAIDS.

-Two interesting stats about the IPL 2010 finalists. Mumbai hit most fours (261) whileChennai conceded most fours (224).

-70 ducks in IPL 2010 with 31first-ball ducks.

-Spinners opened the bowling 25 times, with Yusuf Pathan (7) and R Ashwin (5) doing so on most occasions

-Right-handed openers averaged 32.80 (22.28 in '08), while left-handed openers averaged 25.83 (36.36 in '08).

-The most productive over for the chasing side was in fact over # 4 that produced 9.35 runs per over.



IPL 1 Trivia
IPL 2 Trivia

Mongoose Cricket Bat

Hey folks, now there will be a mass destruction weapon in the hands of Batsman, hopefully it can be seen in IPL 3. The Mongoose cricket bat specifically designed by Mr Marcus Codrington Fernandez to meet the new distilled demands of Twenty20, was unveiled first at Lord’s.

The Mongoose bat with a handle as long as the blade, MCC has given its approval to this bat’s design as well as ICC. It will be a nightmare for bowlers & fielders too,  means even if the balls hit on the tip of the bat too it can easily cross the ropes. The first person to use this bat was former Australian batsman Stuart Law during a county Twenty20 match.

Chennai Super Kings' Matthew Hayden is signed as a Brand Ambassador for it. 

Read & See More @ here, here and here also.