Latest news with #NextGen
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Nascar Welcomes Numerous New Partners As Racing Blossoms Again
LONG POND, PA - JUNE 22: Denny Hamlin (#11 Joe Gibbs Racing Progressive Toyota) drives during the ... More NASCAR Cup Series The Great American Getaway 400 on June 22, 2025 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Formula 1 may have a hit Netflix series and a movie that debuted this June, but it is nowhere close to Nascar in terms of popularity in America. With a trio of American events, Formula 1's potential is limited (no other country hosts multiple F1 events), while Nascar is using the newfound interest in racing to grow its own brand. Stock car racing – after a decade-long decline in ratings, attendance and sponsorship – is back with a vengeance since the debut of the Next Gen car. 'Nascar is authentic and quintessential Americana,' Nascar's SVP and Chief Commercial Officer Craig Stimmel, said. "While fandom of our sport continues to grow and expand beyond our borders, we continue to have the most passionate fanbase in the United States in terms of brand loyalty, and that's where our focus is. As Steve Phelps mentioned recently, F1 and Nascar are different products with very different fan bases. As the popularity of motorsports continues to rise, it's a good thing for us - especially being by far the number one motorsport in the United States. A new racecar beginning in 2022 – the Next Gen – reenergized fans and partners alike. Along with the new look, Nascar's leadership has also evolved to modernize the sport in fresh ways, with Commissioner Steve Phelps, President Steve O'Donnell, and Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy Ben Kennedy leading the charge. Nascar is walking the tight rope throughout the reemergence as not only the leading American motor sport, but also as the landing place for brands searching for growth. 'More than anything, I think you're seeing these brands realize the momentum Nascar is carrying and the exposure to a massive fanbase that our sport offers," Stimmel said. "Look no further than the consistent audience we've seen across our broadcast partners FOX, Prime Video and TNT this season alone, around 3 million average viewers for every Nascar Cup Series race so far this season, with the NBC season upcoming. Then, you have another million or so on average on The CW for the Xfinity Series. And that's just on TV, and that's a number we deliver for 10 months out of the year!' Through the Amazon Prime portion of the schedule, the Cup Series averaged 2.16 million viewers per race, with the Xfinity Series on The CW averaging 1.1 million viewers, a 19% increase from 2024. On the digital side, Nascar said its digital platforms have increased by 7% over 2024. Additionally, Nascar's cross-platform follower count (FB, IG, X, TikTok, YouTube) is at 17.5 million followers, up by 1.3 million since the start of 2025. With these increases, Nascar has inked 15 new official partnerships between major companies and the sanctioning body, with firms like National Debt Relief, Dave & Buster's, Jack Link's, Ticketmaster, Arby's, Liquid Death, amongst others. 'We're super bullish of the extraordinary brand value, exposure, and opportunities we've been able to create at all levels of the sport," Stimmel said. "The Nascar industry is one of the most uniquely sponsor-friendly sports in the world and we are confident in our proven ability to deliver exceptional value to brands of all sizes and on a variety of terms. With owning 14 tracks and working with our other track partners, as well, we are in a unique position as a league to work with our teams to deliver a message that moves product for brands. 'It's no secret that sponsorship strategies are always evolving and partnerships will inevitably change because of that – especially now with so many ways for brands – both on the legacy side and challenger brands: to promote and activate, whether it be through on-site activation, IP adjacency or social and digital promotion. With that said, we are focused on delivering bespoke solutions based on brand briefs versus just a standard league sponsorship model. With these expanding and quickly evolving options inherently comes a wide variation in how long brands choose to partner. It's truly on a case-by-case basis depending on what a brand's goals are.' Not only has Nascar benefitted from its own return to American glory, but so have teams. Dollar Tree just inked a major multiyear extension with Jimmie Johnson's Legacy Motor Club. National Debt Relief joined Denny Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 team ahead of the 2025 season, as did King's Hawaiian (moved from RFK Racing), Progressive Insurance and Bob's Discount Furniture. New partnerships are not the only ones that Nascar is thrilled about. Red Bull, for example, returned to Nascar after a 14-year hiatus, partnering with Trackhouse Racing, as did Wendy's. Carvana continues to sponsor Johnson, and others like Chipotle are backing drivers (Ryan Blaney in this case through a public endorsement) with partnerships and activations. Aaron's, a longtime Michael Waltrip Racing partner, returned to the Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports this year. Stimmel concluded: 'The success we've been able to experience across all our media partners at this juncture in the season has had a very positive impact on the interest we're seeing in our sport. This is a new Nascar, and the proof is there in the metrics we continue to experience on a weekly basis.'
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Aussie qualifier schools young gun Fonseca in Toronto
The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from last November. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he dealt out the number 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his spot in the Masters main draw. "I'm very happy with the result," Schoolkate said. "I played a good match and made it tricky throughout. "He's so young (18) but already an established player. I'm looking forward to my next match." That will be against 2024 Canadian semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi of Italy. Schoolkate advanced with 10 aces among his 23 winners. He caught Fonseca in a first-set tiebreaker and broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set on his way to victory in windy and quick court conditions. "The conditions suit the way I play," he said. "I like to serve big and get forward to make things uncomfortable for the opponent." The Aussie said he had given some thought to his potential top-100 breakthrough but is not stressing over any self-imposed deadlines. "My goal now is to be in the top 100 but I'll just keep playing week-in, week-out, pushing hard and it will come," he said. With seeds all receiving byes at the pre-US Open event, the supporting cast again dominated the programme. American Mackenzie McDonald beat Belgian veteran David Goffin 6-4, 6-4 while Spain's Jaume Munar put out Canadian wild card Dan Martin with the loss of just three games. "I've been improving my serve a lot," Munar said. "I'm putting more pressure on the baseline and my mindset is clear. "I still need to be more aggressive to compete against the best ones, I'm going that more and more but I have a long way to go." Munar next faces Czech Jiri Lehecka. France's Hugo Gaston advanced when Italian opponent Mattia Bellucci quit injured, handing over a 3-6, 6-4, 2-0 win. Australian Christopher O'Connell joined Schoolkate as a winner with his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Taiwan's Tseng Hsin Chun. World number three Alexander Zverev is the top seed of the expanded 12-day event, which will play its final on a Thursday instead of the more traditional Sunday. ATP number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz along with Novak Djokovic all withdrew with various injuries and fatigue issues prior to the tournament, which began only a fortnight after the Wimbledon final.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie qualifier schools young gun Fonseca in Toronto
Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on Monday in the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world ranking top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from last November. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he dealt out the number 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his spot in the Masters main draw. "I'm very happy with the result," Schoolkate said. "I played a good match and made it tricky throughout. "He's so young (18) but already an established player. I'm looking forward to my next match." That will be against 2024 Canadian semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi of Italy. Schoolkate advanced with 10 aces among his 23 winners. He caught Fonseca in a first-set tiebreaker and broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set on his way to victory in windy and quick court conditions. "The conditions suit the way I play," he said. "I like to serve big and get forward to make things uncomfortable for the opponent." The Aussie said he had given some thought to his potential top-100 breakthrough but is not stressing over any self-imposed deadlines. "My goal now is to be in the top 100 but I'll just keep playing week-in, week-out, pushing hard and it will come," he said. With seeds all receiving byes at the pre-US Open event, the supporting cast again dominated the programme. American Mackenzie McDonald beat Belgian veteran David Goffin 6-4, 6-4 while Spain's Jaume Munar put out Canadian wild card Dan Martin with the loss of just three games. "I've been improving my serve a lot," Munar said. "I'm putting more pressure on the baseline and my mindset is clear. "I still need to be more aggressive to compete against the best ones, I'm going that more and more but I have a long way to go." Munar next faces Czech Jiri Lehecka. France's Hugo Gaston advanced when Italian opponent Mattia Bellucci quit injured, handing over a 3-6, 6-4, 2-0 win. Australian Christopher O'Connell joined Schoolkate as a winner with his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Taiwan's Tseng Hsin Chun. World number three Alexander Zverev is the top seed of the expanded 12-day event, which will play its final on a Thursday instead of the more traditional Sunday. ATP number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz along with Novak Djokovic all withdrew with various injuries and fatigue issues prior to the tournament, which began only a fortnight after the Wimbledon final. str/js
Fashion Value Chain
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Intertextile Fringe 2025 Champions Design, Tech & Green Focus
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2025 is set to elevate the sector's conversation with a redesigned fringe programme, running from 20 – 22 August 2025 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. Asia's leading home textiles trade show will present a sector-focused, four-theme initiative: NextGen, Palette, Connector, and Go-Green, inviting international experts to foster creativity, sustainability, and strategic growth. NextGen – The Future of Interior Textiles: Led by circular design advocate Anja Bisgaard Gaede, this segment in the Future & Textile Zone will explore next-gen materials and AI-powered innovations. Attendees can experience: A curated display of over 20 sustainable textiles, from waste-derived to bioengineered materials Hands-on textile previews AI demonstrations for efficient design and production A Textile Hunt game with prizes Palette – Celebrating Creative Expression: Guided sessions with renowned designers Camilla Rudnicki (Denmark) and Akiyuki Sasaki (Japan) will explore East-West design synergies, offering valuable insights into textile aesthetics, trends, and functionality. Connector – Building Global Market Bridges: Industry leaders from Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam will present actionable insights into international partnerships, export dynamics, and textile sector evolution. The Home Textiles x Interior Decoration Summit will address trends like Gen Z preferences, aging-friendly home upgrades, and category innovation. Go-Green – Elevating Sustainable Impact: Professor Yuen of Hong Kong Polytechnic University will lead discussions on green business models and brand transformation. Key presentations include: Patternsfrom Agency (Finland): Manufacturer strategies for a greener future Fu-tex Co Ltd (Hong Kong): Innovation in blackout fabrics via physical weaving Additional highlights include the 31st Intertextile Home Textile Design Carnival, Designer's Pick Awards, 2026/27 Trend Zone, and the 11th Top Business Matching Event. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, CCPIT-Tex, and CHTA, the 2025 edition positions the show as a hub for strategic dialogue, cutting-edge design, and actionable sustainability in home furnishings. More info:
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
PGTI announces golf league; more prize money
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Amandeep Johl has said that talks are now ongoing for the forming of a golf league for professional golfers in the country. This development comes after the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), which is not affiliated with the PGTI, was announced earlier this year. The PGTI held a press conference on Saturday to announce the prize money for the second half of the golf season in India, and onboarding new sponsors like Indian Oil and Amul to PGTI events. The premier golf body of India announced that there would be a minimum of 15 tournaments in the second half of the season from August to December with a total prize money of Rs 17 crores. This takes the total season's prize money to Rs 33 crores and does not include the Indian Open and the DP World India Championships. It was also announced that the prize money for the current season had risen by Rs 8 crores from last season. The crowning event for the PGTI will be the DP World India Championships, where newly-minted Masters winner Rory McIlroy is set to headline the field at the Delhi Golf Club. With a prize purse of $4 million, that event will be the richest ever golf event to be staged in India. Johl also announced that India would host three NextGen events with prize money of Rs 20 lakh in Patna, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar. The talks for a new league are ongoing as well, and PGTI CEO Johl said that the league would take place this year itself. 'We have got very good offers and in the next few weeks we will sign a deal. It will be the PGTI League and it will only be for professional players. The league has to be about pro golfers and can't have amateurs in it,' Johl added. Franchise based model Johl also spoke about the format he envisaged for the league, saying it would be a franchise based model. 'In my opinion, it would be head-to-head games between players from different franchises. Can you imagine Gaganjit Bhullar playing Jeev Milkha Singh one-on-one? That's golf and that's what we're trying to do with the league,' said Johl. Also present at the press conference was PGTI president Kapil Dev. The former India captain said that his organisation had no issues with IGPL and praised the organisation for bringing more cash into the sport. He then said that his responsibility wasn't to take care of twenty top golfers but rather 250 golfers from the country. 'I think loyalty is very important. Like the cricket board has established themselves, we want to establish ourselves. This organisation looks after all professionals, not just a group of people,' said the 1983-World Cup winning captain at the press conference.
