Latest news with #forProposal
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Football's digital frontier is shifting: How UEFA wants to lead charge?
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has ignited the engines of change, launching a sweeping evaluation of its over-the-top (OTT) platform, in what could lead to a complete technical reboot. This move signals the governing body's intent to future-proof its streaming presence, potentially replacing its current tech partner, Endeavor Streaming, and reimagining the service from the ground up. From modest beginnings to monumental ambitions which debuted in June 2019 as a free global service, has steadily offered fans a taste of European football beyond the mainstream. Powered by Endeavor's Vesper technology, the platform currently hosts over 250 live events per season, covering youth, women's, and futsal competitions. Now, UEFA is preparing to blow past those numbers, envisioning a quadrupled output of up to 1,000 live events annually. This includes not just matches, but draws, real-time data overlays, and sophisticated enforcement of global geo-rights—all wrapped in layers of DRM and anti-piracy protection. Monetisation mission: Beyond free access No longer content with an ad-supported model, UEFA is actively exploring tiered pay-per-view pricing, including per-match, competition-wide, monthly, and annual payment plans. Also on the agenda: dynamic ad insertions, branded content hubs, and strategic sponsorship integration. The goal? To elevate from free platform to revenue engine, without losing its global reach or integrity. In a strategic move, UEFA has issued a Request for Information (RFI), a precursor to a possible Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFI invites leading tech providers to reimagine the future of while making it crystal clear that nothing is set in stone. "UEFA seeks to gather insights from industry-leading suppliers… whether through enhancing the existing service or transitioning to a new technical partner," the organisation stated. Importantly, UEFA emphasised that the RFI is informational, not contractual. The outcome might be a refinement, or a full supplier switch. Endeavor's position under review Earlier this year, Endeavor Streaming led a user experience refresh, updating interface and expanding its content offerings. But even those enhancements may not be enough to secure their future role. A new agreement, should UEFA move forward with an RFP, would come into effect in April 2026. From niche to necessity: The expansion blueprint While traditionally focused on less mainstream competitions, has shown glimpses of its growing ambition. In early 2024, it streamed Nations League matches for Italian users in English, until Sky Italia swooped in with a third-party deal covering the semis, final, and qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Clock Ticking: Who will stream UEFA's Future? The deadline for RFI submissions is August 22 at noon CET. UEFA plans to issue the full RFP in mid-October, with first-round bids due by December 5. In an increasingly crowded streaming landscape, stands at a crossroads—and the world's biggest tech players may soon battle to control the screen where Europe's future football stories unfold.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Is the Olympia Theater giveaway a done deal? Miami officials sure act like it
Monday night, the city of Miami held the first of three so-called 'community meetings' to unveil its backroom deal with Academica, the politically connected charter school giant poised to take over the historic Olympia Theater. What unfolded wasn't a forum — it was a coronation, a staged performance in which the public was cast as silent observers. From the outset, it was clear: This was not a conversation. It was a declaration. City officials and Academica executives spoke with the entitlement of a done deal. No artistic vision. No competitive process. No public mandate. Just the quiet conversion of Miami's most iconic cultural landmark into a taxpayer-funded playground for a charter empire. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis's budget, Florida charter schools receive $9,130 in public funds for each enrolled student. Academica's proposed SLAM school would enroll over 1,000 students — more than $9 million a year handed to a private operator occupying a city-owned theater rent-free. Yet they claim the plan uses 'zero public funding.' Public assets are very much in play. The city owns the air rights to the Olympia — undeveloped vertical space valued in the tens of millions of dollars. These rights exist because the building is historically protected and can't be replaced with luxury towers. Under city code, these Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) can only be sold to fund restoration of the building itself. Public dollars should and must be spent on the Olympia. To claim otherwise is false. Public comment at the meeting was a farce. Questions were screened, answers vague and the presentation bloated with self-congratulation. One attendee asked about traffic — thousands of students being dropped off daily in a congested downtown core. Officials waved it off with talk of 'public transit.' As if Miami's transit system is on par with New York's. It's not. When asked why the deal was being rushed, Academica said they needed to get it done before the school year starts. Never mind that renovations haven't begun and won't be completed for over a year. The rush isn't about students. It's about locking down the property before political terms expire and scrutiny intensifies. The city manager pointed to a failed 2022 RFP (Request for Proposal) as justification, claiming no serious proposals were received. What he didn't say: The RFP was designed to fail. It demanded a $40 million restoration at the proposer's sole expense — plus rent — on a building they would never own. Unsurprisingly, no one applied. Now compare that to what Academica gets: full control, no rent, no cultural obligations and millions in state funding. Had those terms been offered transparently, developers would have lined up around the block. In fact, I submitted a serious proposal with preservation architect Richard Heisenbottle. We offered a boutique hotel, jazz club, rooftop speakeasy and a programming team with experience at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and New York City Center. No handouts — just vision, stewardship, and revenue. The city never replied. Academica's proposed 'Theater Programming Plan' includes LED walls, a SiriusXM affiliate, Verizon Innovation Lab and Telemundo Academy. It's not a vision for a historic landmark. It's a sandbox for vocational branding. For 16 years, the city has starved the Olympia — not for lack of funds or ideas, but for lack of will. Now, with months left in office, they're handing it off — not to cultural stewards, but to a for-profit school chain. This is not redevelopment. It's abandonment wrapped in the language of progress. The Olympia Theater is not a vacant lot. It is Miami's Carnegie Hall. Its fate should not be decided behind closed doors. It demands vision, transparency and public trust. The outcome of these public meetings should be the realization that the only ethical way forward is a transparent procurement process — one that is fair to all interested parties and that maintains city ownership of one of its most treasured assets. Orlando Alonso is a Cuban-American concert pianist, conductor and arts entrepreneur. He is leading a civic coalition to preserve and reimagine the historic Olympia Theater as a world-class cultural center.
Hamilton Spectator
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Swim Club Dispute Spurs Questions About Fairness, Procurement, and Youth Sport Priorities in Burlington
On July 7, Burlington City Council held its monthly Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss various items relevant to the city and its residents. Several delegates from both the Burlington Aquatic Devil Rays (BAD) and the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC), both competitive swim clubs, spoke to council about the ongoing dispute between the two organizations about the Request for Proposal (RFP) process that was used to bid for swim time at City of Burlington pools. The successful RFP bid would get 2000 swim hours for their club members. BAD's RFP was never evaluated by staff due to missing documentation, and a contract was instead awarded to GHAC. Both BAD and GHAC are not-for-profit organizations, per the requirements for the RFP process. Dr. Katie Lebel, a sports business professor at the University of Guelph's Lang School of Business and Economics, former competitive swimmer, BAD vice president, and parent of a child who competes with BAD, delegated to council first. 'I've delivered talks around the world on the power of sport, but I'm not sure I've ever spoken with more at stake than I do today,' Lebel said. 'What's at risk isn't just pool time. It's community, continuity, and the systems we count on to support our children and protect what matters in civic life.' Lebel said that while the club did file for a judicial review after their proposal was rejected without evaluation, they have paused that process because they believe a 'collaborative solution' is still possible. 'We're not asking for special treatment,' Lebel said. 'We're here to advocate for fairness, for transparency, and for a shared use model that reflects Burlington's values.' Lebel said that the club serves over 400 swimmers from Burlington and its surrounding areas and has helped to fund diving blocks and timekeeping equipment at Nelson and Centennial pools. She also said BAD has raised money for the Terry Fox Foundation, the Burlington Food Bank, and the Compassion Society. Lebel elaborated on why BAD's proposal was rejected. 'That legacy and everything we've built was destabilized by a process that disqualified our proposal over a document that doesn't exist in the form requested,' Lebel said. 'The language in the RFP asked for a current and valid Certificate of Incorporation, a document that, in Ontario, is not reissued after initial incorporation.' 'What's typically used to verify legal status is a Certificate of Status or a Corporation Profile Report from Service Ontario,' Lebel continued. 'This technical ambiguity in language had real consequences. Our proposal was rejected outright without review. The result was not a level playing field. It's a signal that the process, while well-intentioned, may not be aligned with the realities of youth sport.' Lebel claimed that BAD 'met every substantive expectation laid out in the RFP' and 'has an impeccable track record as a responsible facility partner.' 'We were disqualified because these strengths could not even be considered or evaluated,' Lebel said. Lebel questioned whether or not the RFP model was appropriate for evaluating youth sport delivery. 'It is not designed to capture the depth of community relationships, the values of consistency for youth, or the contribution of legacy volunteer-run organizations,' she said. Cody Bradt, the chief operating officer and associate head coach of GHAC, also delegated to council and explained why the city initially adopted the RFP model in 2020. '[It was] based on growing public need,' Bradt said. 'According to the city, the overall demand for pool time has increased over the past four years, surpassing the city's ability to meet all needs. There were over 600 people on the swim lesson waitlist in 2019 alone. Managing multiple user interests, needs, and expectations while attempting to maintain broad community access became exceedingly difficult. To meet that challenge, the city committed to rebalancing the mix of programming to ensure that the interests and needs of the broader community are met first, while still ensuring support for youth and master's competitive swimming.' Bradt defended the RFP process and stressed the need for decisions to be made by non-political actors. 'The RFP process was not only justified, it was essential,' Bradt said. 'It was governed by clear and ethical standards as stated by Mayor Meed Ward on her website in 2020 when the initial competitive swimming youth RFP process launched. Purchasing decisions are best made on value for service, not political influence. It's imperative that the process be administered by staff and continue to be fair and impartial in manner. The city's procurement bylaw prohibits elected officials from engaging with or influencing the bid process.' Lebel said that, to her knowledge, competitive swimming is the only youth stream in Burlington currently operating under an RFP process. 'That fact alone suggests we should stop and consider,' Lebel said. Lebel said that since their proposal was rejected, there have been significant disruptions in the club, including many swimmers leaving for other organizations, and swimmers feeling uncertain about their future in the sport. 'This kind of disruption doesn't just cause uncertainty, it risks pushing families out of our sport altogether,' Lebel said. 'Some are now exploring new clubs in different cities, adding cost, travel, and logistical strain, especially for working families.' Volunteer staff are demoralized and coaches are 'stuck in limbo,' she continued. Bradt provided a more optimistic outlook on the situation. 'The reality is that the youth of Burlington are not losing their place to swim,' Bradt said. 'They're gaining a new opportunity to continue their development with a different organization if they so choose.' Lebel spoke about what she called a 'broader shift in how sport is being delivered across Canada.' 'Our club reflects a community model,' Lebel said. 'Affordable, team-based, volunteer-run, and grounded in long-term athlete development. In contrast, we're seeing the rise of market-based models and regional fee-for-service programs that function more like private providers than community-rooted teams.' 'This isn't just about two swim teams,' Lebel continued. 'It's about two different visions for youth sport. One prioritizes access, development, and community. The other prioritizes flexibility, expansion, and the ability to scale, at a significantly higher cost to families.' Lebel said that while she believes that there is room for both organizations to exist in the city, she said that 'giving public pool time to a fee-for-service provider should never come at the expense of a long-standing, community-based club that's served Burlington for more than 40 years.' 'That's not innovation, that's displacement,' Lebel said. She also warned that this situation may set a precedent for other Burlington organizations, such as Student Theatre and Teen Tour Band, to be excluded as well. Bradt offered GHAC's side of the story. 'The Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club negotiated the contract in good faith with the understanding that the City of Burlington was also acting in good faith throughout the process,' Bradt said. 'We trusted the integrity of the city's procurement framework, and we continue to uphold our end of the agreement with the same level of professionalism, transparency, and commitment we bring to all of our partners.' Bradt said that in February of this year, GHAC reached out to BAD to request a meeting to discuss jointly approaching the city to return to a shared-pool use model, which had been in place prior to 2020. 'This conversation included their head coach, their president, and their past president,' Bradt said. 'However, the offer for the meeting was declined by their head coach. We respected that decision and informed them that, in light of that, we would be submitting a proposal, just as we did in 2020.' Bradt said that if the city and council were to intervene in the RFP process, GHAC would still be open to having that conversation. BAD has started a petition to reinstate their pool access, which has received over 2000 signatures. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward asked Lebel if she had any advice for the city on crafting a different process to allocate pool time. Lebel suggested a rental agreement, which is how the city allocated pool time and other resources prior to 2020. '[With the RFP], there's no weighting for community legacy, and I don't think that it's able to capture the difference between the community model and the market-based model that we're starting to see show up,' Lebel said. The club is willing to work with staff and other organizations that want pool time to sort the issue out for the 400 swimmers currently in BAD's program. However, Lebel noted that if the process goes through as it stands, she is not sure the club will be able to continue to exist. Kimberly Calderbank, BAD president, also delegated on behalf of the club and further elaborated on the RFP process. 'The city RFP was clear,' Calderbank said. 'This contract should prioritize Burlington families. It asked applicants to demonstrate how they would deliver high-quality programming for our Burlington youth. Our club is already doing exactly that. We serve more than 320 Burlington swimmers across our competitive and pre-competitive programs. There are no projections. These are the kids who live here, who go to school here, and who have built a community here.' Calderbank said that GHAC is not Burlington-based and is listed as a Dundas club operating in the Hamilton region according to Ontario's not-for-profit registry and Swim Ontario. Bradt addressed this claim in his delegation. 'First and foremost, the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club is not a Hamilton club,' Bradt said. 'We are proud to serve swimmers from across the entire Golden Horseshoe, including Burlington, Hamilton, Dundas, and Stoney Creek, and we've been a part of those communities for over 20 years.' Bradt also addressed the criticism around the fact that only 28% of GHAC's members reside in Burlington, as reported by Swim Ontario. 'This number reflects home addresses across our full membership,' Bradt said. 'It does not reflect where swimmers train. Over 85% of swimmers training at our Burlington practice locations and private facilities are Burlington residents, and that figure has remained consistent.' Calderbank also claimed that GHAC has not followed Swim Ontario's standard process for regional expansion. Accordingly to Calderbank, BAD met with city staff before the meeting to discuss the situation. BAD is currently asking the city for 40 hours of pool time per month so that they can continue to hold their swim meets, which Calderbank calls a 'financial lifeline' for the club. 'With less than 40 hours, we'll be forced to cut full training groups, turn away families, and potentially lose coaches who rely on consistent scheduling to sustain their livelihoods,' Calderbank said. 'This threatens the viability of our club.' BAD also wants the city to conduct a formal review of the RFP process with regard to how it is used to allocate youth sport resources. Calderbank said that the RFP process resulted in 50 hours per month for GHAC and zero for BAD. Calderbank also said that BAD is losing swimmers every day to other clubs as a result of this decision. She said that any less than 50 hours means BAD will have to secure private pool time, and that they have been looking at those contingency plans. Bradt also said that the city is not the only provider of pools. 'Alternative arrangements can be made by organizations to access pool time in non-city pools if they so choose. Also, swimmers will have the opportunity to join the chosen organization or continue to follow their organization to their alternate location if they so choose.' Calderbank said that non-city pool time is hard to come by. 'There are not a lot of private pools here in Burlington,' Calderbank said. 'There is not a lot of accessible pool time for us. So we went right down to looking at condos and apartments. We're desperate to pull this together. It just doesn't exist here in the City of Burlington.' Calderbank said that without their facilities, BAD would no longer be viable as a club, whereas GHAC will 'just become a bigger club with more pools to practice in.' Bradt said that in 2020, they were on the losing end of the RFP process. '[In 2020] we submitted a proposal and narrowly missed being selected,' Bradt said. 'We respected the outcome and requested a formal debrief and used that feedback to improve our organization. Although we lost nearly 150 Burlington members that season, we remained committed to our mission and continued to provide high-quality programming outside of city-owned pools.' 'It's also important to clarify that the incumbent organization did not lose their pool time,' Bradt continued. 'They completed their contract term. The 2020 agreement was for three years with two possible one-year extensions, and it ran its full course.' Calderbank said that after their proposal was rejected in the RFP process, BAD requested a review, and the city created a committee to do so. Many of the committee members were from departments of the city not related to youth sport, including those involved in parks and roads, as well as engineers, Calderbank noted. In the closing of his delegation, Bradt further defended the RFP process and questioned whether or not the merits of why it was adopted in 2020 have changed. 'The city's rationale for launching the RFP in 2020 remains valid today, if not more urgent, as there has not been a new pool built in the city yet,' Bradt said. 'The population continues to grow. Yet here we are, facing public pressure not because the process was flawed, but because the unsuccessful bidder was simply louder this time. Has the standard shifted from the merit of the proposal to the volume of its protest?' Bradt said that GHAC will not 'engage in tearing down other organizations,' and will instead 'focus on facts, solutions, and a commitment to putting the youth of Burlington first within the competitive use swimming contract.' Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte asked Bradt if he would agree that GHAC has benefited from an error in the administrative process. Stolte said that if both proposals had been evaluated, this situation probably would have been avoided. Bradt said that procurement is there to 'protect the city, its taxpayers and its constituents,' and indicated that the city can't simply overlook administrative errors. July 10 saw a Special Meeting of Council that went into closed session on the potential litigation for aquatics procurement. Bradt delegated to council again and presented supplementary material that included a host of letters from GHAC swimmers' parents, many from Burlington, testifying to GHAC's strengths. Questions from councillors focused on the possibility of shared swim space, which Bradt was open to discussing further. After the closed session, Meed Ward reported that council had 'discussed and provided direction to staff on the confidential verbal update regarding aquatics procurement ADM-09-25,' and that council would update the community as soon as they had more information. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to launch 100 electric vehicle charging stations for sustainable urban transport
In a major step towards sustainable urban transport , the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) plans to establish 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. With over 60,000 EVs already on the roads, the move aims at addressing the growing demand for accessible charging infrastructure. Under the project, which is to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, a private firm will be hired to install and operate the charging stations, while the MC will provide land for the installations. In return, the firm will share a fixed portion of its revenue with the civic body. Before installation begins, the selected company will conduct a survey of major roads to identify suitable locations for the stations. A detailed list will be compiled to determine whether the land falls under the jurisdiction of the MC or whether it belongs to other departments. For locations outside city limits, land under Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) will be considered. MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal confirmed the development, stating, "We will soon float the Request for Proposal (RFP) to initiate the project. Having more EVs on the road will reduce pollution, making this a timely and necessary move." The initiative comes at a time when rising fuel prices are pushing residents toward electric mobility . The popularity of electric two-wheelers and e-rickshaws is surging, and the city is also set to receive electric buses under the central government's PM E-Bus Sewa scheme . These developments further highlight the need for a robust charging network. Currently, Ludhiana lacks sufficient mid-route charging options, which has been a concern for EV users. The proposed stations will not only support existing vehicles but also encourage more residents to make the switch to cleaner transport. Once approved by the Finance and Contracts Committee, the RFP will be floated, and the groundwork for Ludhiana's green mobility future will begin.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
MC's green mobility push: City to get 100 EV charging stations
Ludhiana: In a major step towards sustainable urban transport, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) plans to establish 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. With over 60,000 EVs already on the roads, the move aims at addressing the growing demand for accessible charging infrastructure. Under the project, which is to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, a private firm will be hired to install and operate the charging stations, while the MC will provide land for installation. In return, the firm will share a fixed portion of its revenue with the civic body. Before installation begins, the selected company will conduct a survey of major roads to identify suitable locations for the stations. A detailed list will be compiled to determine whether the land falls under the jurisdiction of the MC or whether it belongs to other departments. For locations outside city limits, land under Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) will be considered. MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal confirmed the development, saying, "We will soon float the Request for Proposal (RFP) to initiate the project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5-year-old girl needs her second heart surgery! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Having more EVs on the road will reduce pollution, making this a timely and necessary move." The initiative comes at a time when rising fuel prices are pushing residents toward electric mobility. The popularity of electric two-wheelers and e-rickshaws is surging, and the city is also set to receive electric buses under the central government's PM E-Bus Sewa scheme. These developments highlight the need for a robust charging network. Currently, Ludhiana lacks sufficient mid-route charging options, which has been a concern for EV users. The proposed stations will not only support existing vehicles but also encourage more residents to make the switch to cleaner transport. Once approved by the Finance and Contracts Committee, the RFP will be floated, and the groundwork for Ludhiana's green mobility future will begin.
