NordicBet renews CHL commitment until 2019 20

As the commercial value of the pan-European ice hockey platform continues to grow, the online betting company is the latest addition to confirm for another three seasons

Zug, Switzerland - Infront Sports & Media, a Wanda Sports company, has announced that NordicBet extends its sponsorship involvement with the Champions Hockey League (CHL) as Official Sponsor. The new agreement was negotiated by Infront as the exclusive media and marketing partner of the CHL and covers the next three seasons 2017/18 to 2019/20.

Leading in ice hockey, NordicBet is an online betting company that offers high-quality gaming experiences in a safe and user-friendly environment. The sports betting offering is primarily focused on European top sports such as football, ice hockey and tennis paired with a unique coverage on lower division Nordic leagues.

Comprehensive rights building maximum brand impact

As Official Sponsor, NordicBet is guaranteed exclusivity in the sports betting category and will present the official Most Valuable Player Award – the ‘NordicBet MVP Award’ – of the tournament as well as hold the rights as Exclusive Presenter of the official stats on the CHL website. The comprehensive package of rights also includes key branding and logo visibility in TV camera view across the bully circle and advertising boards as well as full brand integration on the CHL website, communications and interview backdrops. Furthermore, NordicBet will continue to benefit from networking opportunities inside the arenas through a ticketing and hospitality contingent.

Immersed in the heart of the sportive competition

Magnus Linder, Head of Sponsorships & Brand Alliances at NordicBet: “With our online betting and gaming portfolio already fully integrated into the CHL, we are aiming at further strengthening our position as number one ice hockey sports betting company. We appreciate the multiple activation possibilities of the platform as well as the ability to offer a personal element of suspense for the fan beyond the event itself and for spectators outside the arenas. We are able to increase the level of engagement of the fans through our gaming as well as expanding awareness of our brand across Europe.”

Bruno Marty, Executive Director Winter Sports at Infront: “As the level of sportive competition continues to climb for the CHL, the platform will gain even more momentum over the next seasons. It is good to see that initial sponsors extend their involvements as they have seen the advantages of this sponsorship platform. NordicBet will continue to consolidate all benefits from their involvement, with the value of the brand’s relationship soaring even further as a result of being fully immersed at the heart of the teams’ performance.”

2017/18 season kicks off in August

For the upcoming season, played between August 2017 and February 2018, the Champions Hockey League will feature an adapted qualification system - based purely on sporting merit to grant entry to 32 professionally ranked teams. Within the new criteria, 24 of the best teams from the founding national leagues and eight from the Challenge Leagues (with a maximum of five teams per country) will be accepted into the competition. The previous season’s CHL Champion and the Continental Cup Winner will be granted automatic qualification.

About the Champions Hockey League

The league is fully owned and operated by the Champions Hockey League AG/Ltd which includes, as its shareholders, 26 Founding Clubs, six national Founding Leagues and the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Founding National Leagues are: Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The best teams from the Challenge Leagues (Belarus, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Norway, Poland and Slovakia) are extended Wild Cards. The 2017/18 season will open 24 August 2017 with 32 teams from 13 leagues.

About NordicBet

NordicBet was founded in Tromsø, Norway in 2002, and is one of the oldest gaming companies in northern Europe. Today, NordicBet offers a premium betting experience in a wide range of national and international sports, as well as casino and poker games. Their wholehearted devotion to sports and ice hockey in particular is manifested in their long-term commitments as Main Sponsor of CHL as well as the SHL (Swedish Hockey League) and enables the company to provide unique offers and experiences for hockey lovers all over Europe. NordicBet was awarded Best Bookie of the Year by the betting Magazine Tips in their latest ranking. In January 2017, NordicBet was also named the best Sports Betting Operator at the 2017 EGR Nordic Awards. Since 2013, NordicBet is part of Betsson Group, one of the world's largest gaming companies, that has delivered gaming entertainment for over 50 years.

About Infront Sports & Media

Infront Sports & Media, a Wanda Sports company, is one of the most respected sports marketing companies in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with close to 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Holding, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.

About Wanda Sports

Wanda Sports is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Led by President & Vice Chairman Philippe Blatter, Wanda Sports incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.