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Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders look set to take their 2019 National Football League (NFL) pre-season fixture to Winnipeg, Canada.

When the Raiders pre-season schedule was released it did not include the location of the home game against the Packers. Green Bay president Mark Murphy has since told ESPN that the game is likely to head north of the border. Investors Group Field, home to the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, represents the most natural fit as host venue.

The Raiders usual home, the Almeda Coliseum, is being used by its main tenant, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Oakland A’s, at that time, meaning that the venue is not available for the NFL outfit, who are leaving for Las Vegas at the end of the 2019 season.

Should the game be hosted away from the Bay Area it means that the Raiders will only have one pre-season game in Oakland before the start of their final campaign in Northern California.

The Packers’ Lambeau Field stadium remains fall back option should the teams not be able to get a deal in Winnipeg.

The Raiders will also play their scheduled week five home game against the Chicago Bear at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the UK as part of the four-game NFL London Series.

Sponsorship

The International Federation of Automobiles (FIA) has confirmed Holmatro as an official supplier for hydraulic cutting and spreading equipment at worldwide FIA circuits.

Mencap has been named as the official charity for the 2020 London Marathon, securing 250 runner places.

Brazilian top flight soccer outfit Santos has signed an extension to its sponsorship agreement with the Algar Group until March 2020.

Media Rights

SuperGT, the Japanese motorsport series, has sealed an international rights deal with over-the-top (OTT) platform Motorsport.tv and an agreement with Malaysian pay-TV broadcaster Astro for domestic and Brunei coverage.

OTT platform FloSports has acquired the rights to the NCAA Track and Field East and West Preliminary Championships for a second consecutive year.

Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, which is owned by Mediaset, has acquired the rights to this year’s final of the Copa de la Reina – the domestic cup competition for women’s soccer.

Swedish pay-TV broadcaster C More has sealed a five-year extension with HockeyAllsvenskan, domestic ice hockey’s second tier, for domestic broadcast rights until 2026.

Brazilian broadcaster Bandeirantes has secured a three-year deal with the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) to air women’s and youth soccer competitions.

Politics & Governance

The Danish government has announced an esports strategy to help develop and support the sector’s growth.

Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Philadelphia Union has contacted planners over the 100 acre development of the land surrounding the Talen Energy Stadium. Plans include multi-sports facility with indoor and outdoor fields and possibly a venue for esports.

US media giant Discovery has seen its turnover drop below the US$1 billion mark in a 13 per cent fall from the same period last year.

Investment

NFL franchise the Chicago Bears have launched a team-branded fitness centre called Bears Fit.

Personal Endorsement

Double Masters winner Bubba Watson has become a brand ambassador for CBD oil firm – CBDMD.