Manchester City have revealed the brand identity for The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel.
The booking system for the new property has gone live today. The announcement marks the next phase of the Club’s wider entertainment destination development.
Set to open in partnership with Radisson Hotel Group, the hotel features 401 rooms and includes a penthouse suite. It will be operated by hotel management company Valor Hospitality.
The design is inspired by the River Medlock and the city’s industrial heritage. The location targets business and leisure visitors.
Richard Pearson, General Manager, The Medlock, said, “Today marks a key milestone as we unveil The Medlock’s brand and full look and feel. Inspired by our location, the identity celebrates the character, energy and spirit of the place we call home: Manchester. With bookings officially open, it’s an exciting step as we move closer to opening later this year.”
Adela Cristea, Chief Development Officer UK, Ireland & Nordics, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “It’s exciting to see the hotel progress and reach this important stage, with bookings now open for guests from October onwards. Together with Manchester City Football Club we are creating a global flagship property within a world-class destination which will offer an exceptional experience for visitors coming to the city for business, leisure and events.”
Sustainability and social impact consultancy Think Beyond has appointed former Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth OBE as Global Advisor.
The move comes as the consultancy scales its work with major events, global rights holders, government bodies and host cities. Hollingsworth will take on a part-time advisory role, working alongside the senior team to support strategy, governance, and impact delivery. The appointment adds public sector and international sport expertise to the consultancy’s advisory capabilities.
Hollingsworth brings over two decades of senior leadership experience, having previously served as Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association and Chief Executive of Sport England, where he oversaw the investment of more than £300m per year into grassroots and community sport. Having stepped down from Sport England in July 2025, he continues to hold external roles including Professor of Practice (Sport) at the University of Bath and Vice Chair of ParalympicsGB.
Sam Shave, Managing Partner at Think Beyond, said, “Tim’s appointment represents an important moment for Think Beyond. It strengthens our ability to advise and support rights holders, federations and major events. Tim brings rare insight from the very highest levels of sport, government and international competition. His credibility will support our continued drive to deliver best in class consultancy services to our major events and rightsholder clients.”
Tim Hollingsworth said, “I am delighted to be joining Think Beyond at a time when sport’s role in society needs to carry real weight. In challenging political and economic climates, sport can both act as a force for good and for cohesion, and evidence the difference it makes. Think Beyond has spent the past decade helping organisations do exactly that, combining purpose with rigour. I look forward to supporting the team in an Advisory role as they continue to work with some of the most influential platforms in global sport.”
Team England has announced Loughborough University as its official university and exclusive education sector partner.
The comprehensive agreement covers the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled from July 23 to August 2, 2026, and the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta.
A key element of the deal will see Loughborough’s logo displayed on the sleeves of all Team England podium kit, including during medal ceremonies. This marks a historic moment as it is the first time in the Games’ 95-year history that such visibility has been granted on podium wear for teams.
Under the agreement, Loughborough University will become the official home of Team England’s pre-Games preparation camp, hosting immersion camps across various sports. The campus will also function as the venue for ‘kitting out’ sessions, where athletes and staff will collect their Kukri-supplied apparel, including ceremonial, village, training, and competition gear. During this preparatory phase, the team will reside at the university’s Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel, as well as the Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel.
Loughborough University was named sports university of the year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and is ranked the world’s number one university for sport-related academia by the QS Rankings. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, athletes associated with the university won 47 medals, consisting of 14 gold, 17 silver, and 16 bronze.
Mark Osikoya, Commonwealth Games England CEO, said, “Loughborough University has been a cornerstone of English sport for decades, and we’re proud to deepen our partnership ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“We are excited that the Loughborough University logo will feature on Team England medal ceremony kit at the Commonwealth Games for the first time ever. As a result of this exciting partnership and collaboration, our team will now benefit from the unrivalled facilities and support available at Loughborough.”
The Netball Super League (NSL) and England Netball have agreed a one-year partnership extension with health and beauty brand Soft & Gentle.
The renewal sees Soft & Gentle continue as an official partner of the NSL, England Netball, and the Vitality Roses. As part of the agreement, Soft & Gentle has secured naming rights to the league’s major flagship events, which will now be known as the Soft & Gentle Netball Super Cup and the Soft & Gentle Grand Final.
As title partner, Soft & Gentle will have on-court and in-arena branding at all NSL events, starting with the Super Cup. The deal also involves continued support for the NETBALLHer initiative. The partnership aims to assist the sport’s ongoing move towards professionalisation, following the league’s relaunch in 2025.
Claire Nelson, Managing Director, Netball Super League, said, “Partnerships like this are vital as we continue to build the Netball Super League and support its journey towards professionalisation. Soft & Gentle’s renewed commitment, including taking title rights to our flagship events, is a strong vote of confidence in the League and the future of the sport. Together with Soft & Gentle we’re building on the values that make netball special, creating opportunities for women and girls, and helping the League reach new heights.”
Triathlon organiser Supertri has signed a partnership agreement with TriDot to become its official training platform, with a specific focus on boosting participation numbers.
The deal supports the organisation’s aim to bring 10,000 first-timers into triathlon in 2026. TriDot will become the presenting partner of the expanded ‘First-Timer Programme’ across the organisation’s eight-event portfolio, providing novices with 12 weeks of free personalised training and access to expert coaching.
Additionally, the two parties will launch a technology-driven global rankings programme. Powered by FitLogic, this system enables competitors to compare performances across Supertri’s global portfolio by normalising results based on course, weather, and conditions. Supertri recently expanded its events to include the Blenheim Palace Triathlon and the New Jersey State Triathlon.
The collaboration also supports the Limitless: Women in Triathlon initiative. Furthermore, every athlete signing up for a race will be offered three months’ access to the platform for the price of two.
Michael D’hulst, CEO and Co-Founder, Supertri, said, “TriDot is at the cutting edge of innovation in triathlon and has a huge drive to both widen the appeal of triathlon and to ensure that athletes regardless of ability maximise their potential. As we enter 2026 with a focus on our participation events with 30,000 athletes set to race with us, it is the perfect time to work together to promote our sport and provide value to the athletes that are part of it.”
Specsavers has launched a sponsorship activation across 15 London padel clubs.
The campaign, devised by sponsorship agency 1986, covers branding across 69 courts throughout the capital. Using the slogan ‘No glasses beyond this point’, the activation aims to engage urban audiences and highlight the benefits of wearing contact lenses during sport.
In addition to court-side branding, the deal provides the optical retail chain with direct email and social access to over 200,000 players. The campaign features a player-incentive model, offering a free game of padel to consumers who sign up for a Specsavers contact lens subscription, designed to drive footfall to stores and encourage trials.
Neil Liddle, Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships Lead, Specsavers, said, “Padel is a highly social, fast-growing sport built around strong local club communities, which makes it a genuinely relevant place for Specsavers to be present. The fit is practical rather than promotional. For many glasses wearers, contact lenses can make playing more comfortable and confident, which players quickly recognise once they’re on court.
“By working directly with clubs, our focus is on supporting padel communities in a way that adds real value to the playing experience. Linking participation to local Specsavers stores allows us to put people first, strengthen community connections, and create meaningful value for the brand.”
British Esports has signed a partnership agreement with Loughborough University to elevate standards across the esports ecosystem.
The national federation and the university have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on elite performance pathways, coaching frameworks, and safeguarding policies. The partnership aims to connect the university’s expertise in sports science with British Esports’ National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland.
Loughborough University has announced it is expanding its esports provision with the creation of a new Esports Gaming Lab. This facility, part of the DigiLabs development on campus, features 40 high-spec gaming machines intended to support teaching, research, and industry engagement.
The collaboration will focus on developing professional standards that extend beyond players to include coaches and performance staff. It will also utilise the university’s research capabilities to inform policy development and sustainable frameworks within the sector.
Professor Jo Maher, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport at Loughborough University, said, “This collaboration reflects Loughborough’s ambition to play a leading role in the future of esports, building on our global reputation for excellence in sport, education and research. By working closely with the British Esports Federation, we can help shape high-quality pathways, professional standards and inclusive opportunities across the esports ecosystem.”
Collette Roche, Manchester United’s CEO for New Stadium Development, has been appointed to the board of University Academy 92 (UA92).
The move strengthens the board structure and follows a recent agreement in which the Premier League club committed to providing teaching spaces for the higher education institution within Old Trafford stadium.
Roche brings extensive executive experience to the role, having held positions at FTSE-listed companies including Ford Motor Company, Siemens, United Utilities, and Manchester Airport Group. She joined Manchester United as Chief Operating Officer in 2018, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the club’s history, and will provide operational and strategic expertise to help support the institution’s continued growth.
Co-founded by the Class of ’92 and Lancaster University, the appointment coincides with the release of UA92’s annual statutory accounts for 2024/25. The institution reported a 30% increase in student numbers to 1,217 and a 26% rise in revenue to £14.8m. Furthermore, UA92 recorded its first positive EBITDA of £0.2m, representing a £1.1m year-on-year improvement.
Collette Roche said, “UA92’s mission to widen access to higher education and develop industry-ready talent is something that I strongly support. Being part of the board provides an opportunity to contribute to an organisation that is making a real difference, and I am proud to be a part of that.”
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