Macesport Touch Down as NFL UK Agency

Macesport have touched down as the NFL's new retained UK public relations agency.

The specialist sports communications consultancy has won the tender to provide a full range of sports media and public relations support services to the NFL's in-house UK team for the 2011-12 campaign.

Macesport will have specific responsibility to help promote the forthcoming International Series fixture featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears at Wembley on Sunday October 23.

As well as promoting the Super Bowl to a UK audience, Macesport will focus on maximising television and radio audience figures for NFL coverage cross their Sky Sports, BBC, Channel 4 and ESPN portfolio.

Macesport Managing Director Paul Mace said: "Winning a contract with one of the world's greatest and most successful global sports leagues is a very proud moment for us.

"On a personal note, I have been hugely impressed by the NFL's approach to marketing and public relations for many years.

"As a guest of the NFL over a decade ago, I was able to see their Super Bowl programme in operation at first hand.

"And back in my early days running a communications department at Leicester City, I was eternally grateful for the support the NFL head office and clubs afforded me."

NFL UK Director of Public Affairs David Tossell said: "Macesport have a good knowledge of the NFL and understand our requirements in the UK media arena. As we enter our fifth year of playing live regular-season games and continue to enjoy a broad and deep broadcast presence, we are looking to Macesport to help cement our place as an important part of the UK sports agenda.”

The NFL is the most-watched professional sport in the United States and has played four sold-out regular-season games at Wembley Stadium over the past four years. The fifth International Series game takes place on Sunday October 23 at 6pm. The NFL can be followed in the UK on Sky Sports, Channel 4, ESPN, BBC TV and BBC Radio 5Live and 5Live Sports Extra.

As  Britain's leading independent sports communications agency, Macesport handle sports pr for Vauxhall Motors' football Home Nations sponsorship of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

They also act as the retained agency for leading football events Leaders in Football and the Grass Roots Football Show, Pukka Pies and sports brands including Precision Training, Mantis and ACA Sports.

Macesport also manage media pundit Robbie Savage who is currently in training for this year's BBC hit television programme Strictly Come Dancing.

Macesport Expansion

Macesport have two extremely rare vacancies to join our talented team.

As a result of several important client acquisitions in the past few weeks, our award-winning Nottingham-based agency is looking for two additional account managers.

You'll need to love your sport, have experience in the sports media landscape, be extremely hard-working, enthusiastic and totally committed to the cause.

A strong knowledge of digital sports activation is also desirable.

You'll be working across our diverse sports portflio which includes national associations, national team sponsors, governing bodies, elite athletes ..... and Robbie Savage !!!

In the first instance, drop us an email with cv to our Media and Communications Director Ben Thompson at ben.thompson@macesport.co.uk

Baroness Grey-Thompson to speak at BASL

The 19th Annual British Association for Sport and Law (BASL) conference will play host to a high profile debate on the issues arising from the Court of Arbitration in Sport's decision to allow double amputee Oscar Pistorius to compete against able bodied athletes in the IAAF World Championships in Daegu on the 22nd of September in the Nursery Pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground. One of Great Britain’s most successful Paralympians , Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will headline a distinguished panel assembled to discuss the Court's ruling and consider its wider implications. Baroness Grey-Thompson will be joined on the panel by leading human rights lawyer Tim Otty QC and the British Olympic Association's Head of Sports Science and Research Dr Marco Cardinale. The London 2012 Olympics will also be high on the agenda at the annual BASL conference as will the issue of corruption in sport. Keynote speakers four time Olympic Gold medalist Sir Matthew Pinsent and Leyton Orient FC Chairman Barry Hearn will be joined by sports reporter, film maker and outspoken FIFA critic Andrew Jennings, journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed and a number of other leading speakers in what promises to be a fascinating day of informed debate. A BASL spokesman said; “Oscar Pistorious’ amazing story has been a hot topic this summer and posed some very interesting questions for sport in general. "For 18 years the annual BASL conference has discussed and debated the issues arising from sport's hottest topics. We are maintaining that tradition this year. “We are delighted to welcome such a high profile group of speakers to the BASL conference to discuss these issues.” The BASL conference is in its 19th year and a limited number of places are still available for more information go to www.britishsportslaw.org