Blue Sq ad account changes hands; Coral ad business up for pitch; Betfair sponsors the boxers

blue square logoOne of Rank Interactive’s best-known brands has handed over its multi-million pound advertising account to a new firm. Arnold KLP will take on Blue Square’s £4 million account, according to CampaignLive, and Robert May, brand director at Rank, commented: “This investment signals a new beginning for us. The sector has come a long way in the last 13 years, and we are determined to play a major role in the future of sports betting and gaming.

“We have some valuable assets in both racing and football, and we are looking forward to working with our new agencies to maximise these along with a number of new product launches in 2012.”

Arnold KLP will be charged with creating advertising campaigns to capitalize on the summer of sporting events ahead.

Coral has put its advertising business up for pitch. CampaignLive reports that Olly Raeburn, managing director at Coral, has contacted agencies with the plan they’ll have a major brand campaign by the summer.

Betfair has signed a long-term deal to sponsor Great Britain’s boxing teams. The “five-figure” deal was signed with the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) ahead of the summer Olympic Games with the men’s and women’s teams both benefitting from the agreement. Head of UK brand marketing, Andy Lulham, commented: “It’s an exciting time to be involved with BABA. There are a number of promising boxers in its ranks who are more than capable of delivering success in what I’m sure will be a standout year for the sport.”

It becomes BABA’s “official gaming partner” and is an extension to an earlier agreement that saw Betfair sponsor the GB Amateur Boxing Championships at York Hall in London in November.