Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships and products across the sports business industry.

Íñigo Aznar Named CRO of Inter Miami CF and Nu Stadium

Inter Miami CF announced Iñigo Aznar has been named chief revenue officer of the club and Nu Stadium. Aznar brings 25 years of international experience across soccer, sports and entertainment, having held senior leadership positions with Real Madrid CF, Atlético Madrid, Legends, the Volvo Ocean Race and the Rafa Nadal Academy. In his new role, Aznar will oversee the club’s revenue and marketing functions, including partnerships, ticketing, retail and merchandise, food & beverage and marketing, as well as Heron Sports & Entertainment, the company’s newest commercial platform.

Nobull Appoints New President Frank Bracken

Nobull announced the appointment of Frank Bracken as president. A global consumer and retail executive with more than 25 years of experience, Bracken will aim to lead Nobull into a chapter of sustained growth. Bracken joins following a 15-year career at Foot Locker, most recently serving as president where he was responsible for leadership across global retail, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty and real estate operations.

World Rugby’s Clare Barrell Joins ACG Advisory Board

African Collaborations Group (ACG), a platform that aims to industrialize sports in Africa “through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems,” announced the appointment of Clare Barrell to its advisory board. Barrell serves as director of international relations and member services at World Rugby, the global governing body of the sport. In this role, she oversees World Rugby’s institutional engagement with its network of member unions and regional associations across the world, and is responsible for shaping and delivering the framework that connects World Rugby’s central administration to the national federations that constitute it.

Crystal Palace Announces Brooks Running Partnership

Crystal Palace FC announced a new multiyear partnership with Brooks Running, which will become the club’s Official Footwear Partner. As part of the agreement, the Brooks logo will feature prominently on the front of all training, travel, walkout and warm-up apparel worn by Crystal Palace’s men’s and women’s first-teams. The partnership will also give Brooks a major presence at Selhurst Park, with branding across pitchside and digital ribbon LEDs, stadium screens and TVs, static stadium assets and the club’s media backdrops.

Athleta Named Off-Court Apparel Partner of WNBA’s Valkyries

Athleta, a Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) brand catering to women’s performance and lifestyle apparel, announced a multiyear partnership with the Golden State Valkyries as the team’s Official Off-Court Apparel Partner. To mark the milestone, Athleta will feature a limited-time Off-Court Edit modeled by Valkyries guard Veronica Burton. And on Sept. 18, Athleta and the Valkyries will bring the partnership directly to Chase Center, with limited-edition T-shirts available for the first 400 attendees.

Patriots WR Romeo Doubs Named Guardian Cap Official Partner

Guardian Sports, the Atlanta-based sports safety equipment company behind the Guardian Cap, announced a partnership with New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs, naming him a Guardian Signature Athlete. While playing for the Green Bay Packers in 2024, Doubs made the personal decision to wear a Guardian Cap during games when it was not required amid concussion concerns.

Manchester City Announces Ticketing Technology Partnership With SeatGeek

Manchester City has announced a global partnership with SeatGeek. Since 2018, the club has utilized SeatGeek for its ticketing operations, hospitality and concerts at both the Etihad Stadium and Joie Stadium. The club will continue to manage the direct sale and resale of Manchester City tickets, with SeatGeek providing the technology. The platform’s branding will be visible to fans across the club’s digital and social estate and in-stadia during men’s and women’s match days.

Sports Illustrated Tickets Expands Global NFL Partnership Into UK

Sports Illustrated Tickets, a member of NFL Ticket HQ, announced the expansion of its relationship with the NFL into the U.K., becoming an Official NFL Fan Experience Partner of the London games this season. The agreement will include a Sports Illustrated Tickets presence around all three 2026 NFL London Games: the Colts vs. Commanders on Oct. 4 and the Eagles vs. Jaguars on Oct. 11, both at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by the Texans vs. the Jaguars on Oct. 18 at Wembley Stadium. The company said it will engage ticket holders through a range of fan-focused experiences and marketing initiatives.

Science in Sport Named Official Partner for Nike After Dark Tour

Science in Sport has been named the Official Performance Fuel & Hydration Partner of the Nike After Dark Tour, a series of seven night-running events in cities around the globe. Nike and SiS created the first co-branded nutrition range of its kind to support more than 55,000 runners across seven global events. The range includes “bespoke recovery products developed with female nutrition in mind.” Every participant will receive a race-specific SiS x Nike Race Pack covering hydration, energy and recovery.

SharkNinja Joins McLaren Racing as Official Partner

SharkNinja—a global product design and technology company—announced a global partnership with McLaren Racing. As an Official Partner, SharkNinja will join McLaren Racing across Formula 1, IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship and F1 Academy. Taking this beyond a traditional sponsorship, SharkNinja will also participate in the McLaren Racing Accelerator Program, where engineers from both organizations will collaborate to apply advanced racing methodologies to the development of future SharkNinja products.

T-Mobile Arena Adds Vegas-Based SMKD BBQ as New Venue Partner

T-Mobile Arena and SMKD BBQ, the Henderson-based barbecue company from chef Alex Reznik and Ogden Hospitality Group, announced a new sponsorship naming SMKD BBQ a T-Mobile Arena Venue Partner. The agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, will bring SMKD to a location on the arena’s Upper Concourse, where the brand will operate a dedicated food cart featuring a completely separate menu created specifically for games, concerts and other live events.

Dubai Premier Padel P1 Announces Emaar as Title Partner

Dubai Premier Padel P1 has announced Emaar as the title partner of its 2026 edition, taking place from Nov. 8-15 at Hamdan Sports Complex. The partnership once again brings international men’s and women’s padel competition to Dubai, alongside hospitality, entertainment and fan experiences throughout tournament week. The 2026 edition is set to feature leading players from the Premier Padel circuit.

Nike and University of Miami Announce Multiyear Partnership

Nike and the University of Miami announced a multiyear partnership reconnecting two brands with a long history. Miami was the first university to sign an all-sport partnership with Nike in 1987. Under the new agreement, Miami will join Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite program, representing athletes across disciplines and creating tailored NIL opportunities for them.

Savannah James Joins LOVB Los Angeles as Investor

LOVB Los Angeles, the newest professional sports franchise in Southern California, announced that Savannah James, founder and philanthropist, has joined the team as an investor ahead of its inaugural 2026-27 season. The announcement comes as LOVB Los Angeles builds momentum toward its inaugural season. The franchise recently announced Intuit Dome as its home venue and welcomed actress, writer and entrepreneur Issa Rae to its ownership group.